DNP 830 Examining Methods and Designs

Sample Answer

Examining Methods and Designs

Data forms a vital part of research and projects. Therefore, it is important for the collected data to be verifiable and valid. Besides, verifiable and valid data is key in making conclusions.

The implication is that various strategies are used to make the data valid and verifiable. For example, good research should have strong data collection, sampling techniques, and data analysis strategies that support the research or study (Singh et al., 2021).

In addition, the research design also determines that quality of the study, and such designs are dictated by the type of data and the aims of the research. Therefore, it is important for a researcher to have adequate knowledge regarding research methodology and design. As such, the purpose of this assignment is to formulate a comparison of designs and methods used in three articles by using the information from the comparison table of methods and design.

Description of the Characteristics Associated with the Method of Each Article.
The methods used by the researchers in the three articles have various differences and characteristics. Cheng et al. (2018) used purposive sampling in selecting the approved psychiatric hospital known for offering home visits.

As part of the study, there were both experimental and control groups which were vital in measuring the impact of the intervention in enhancing patient satisfaction. Therefore, the analysis of the impact of the intervention was determined using the observed difference between the control and the experimental groups.

The partnership was connected to the provision of appropriate resources, enhanced communication, and improvement of daily living abilities and stabilization of disease conditions.

Gilad et al. (2020) used interviews to collect data from the study participants, where the patients and staff in the dialysis unit were interviewed. Since the researcher wanted to collect data using open-ended questions, the use of semi-structured interviews was selected. This approach was also important in studying beliefs and feelings regarding the topic in question.

As opposed to the first two articles, Zimmerman et al. (2020) used a two-phased descriptive method to collect the targeted data. The researchers used a paper-based validated questionnaire in the initial phase to obtain data from the participants.

The next phase entails the use of interviews designed to cover various study topics. Therefore, the use of the two-phased approach sufficiently helped in collecting both qualitative and quantitative data.

Description of the Characteristics Associated with the Design of Each Article
The researchers also used various research designs to help achieve the study’s aims. In the first study, Cheng et al. (2018) used a quasi-experimental study design to study the impact of the intervention on the chosen study group.

The quasi-experimental study design is commonly used in health research to explore the effect of a designed intervention on the behavior and health of a chosen population. The total number of participants in this study was two hundred and forty. As such, the design was most fitting as it limited a random selection of study participants.

In the next article, Gilad et al. (2020) employed a two-phase descriptive, mixed-method research design approach. The design was key in helping the researcher have an enhanced understanding of the phenomenon, experiences, and context. Through this research design, the researcher can ask questions and arrive at solutions to questions that cannot be answered numerically but are key to understanding the human experience.

Zimmerman et al. (2020) used a mixed-method study design to help achieve the study objectives. It was used as in helps increase the generalizability and precision of the study. The main advantage of combining both qualitative and quantitative study designs is that the researchers are capable of gaining a more comprehensive picture which is not possible with a single approach.

Therefore, this design was used to collect data from a total of two hundred and twenty-five study participants to help achieve the study objectives. Description of the Statistical Analysis Associated with the Method and Design of Each Article.

Data analysis is important in the interpretation of the meaning of the data and in making decisions. Cheng et al. (2018) used SPPS software for data analysis. As part of the analysis, the researchers used percentages, standard deviations, and means to describe satisfaction scores, demographics, and clinical status.

T-tests are the major statistical tests used in this study to study the effect of the intervention. Therefore, it was performed between the groups, and between-group variations were noted in the demographics, clinical status, and satisfaction scores. The other statistical tests used in this study include ANOVA and chi-square.

Gilad et al. (2020) used thematic analysis to analyze their data as directed by their chosen design. The thematic analysis was key in analyzing the responses obtained from the patients and the staff. The responses were mainly on medication use and reports. From the thematic analysis, it was evident that there was a triangular relationship between the patients, physicians, and nurses on medication care and breakdowns in communication and discrepancies.

On the other hand, Zimmerman et al. (2020) used percentages and means in analyzing the demographic data. As part of the analysis, they used thematic analysis of the student responses; the researcher noted satisfactory knowledge of IPC among the first and second years.

Discussion of the Reliability and Validity issues Associated with each Methodology and Design. Reliability and validity is also an important part of research. Therefore, there were various reliability and validity issues connected with each methodology and design.

While Cheng et al. (2018) used content validity and Cronbach’s Alpha of 0.93 on reliability, the next article relied on content validity and internal reliability in approving the data collection instruments. Comparatively, Zimmerman et al. (2020) applied content validity and internal reliability to help in approving the data collection instruments.

Summary Comparing the Different Methods and Designs Used In the Studies
As earlier indicated, it is important for researchers to be well conversant with study design and methodology. The researchers who authored the three articles used different methods and designs to support their samples, dictated by financial resources and answered the research questions.

They used different levels of measurements, data analysis strategies, validity, reliability, and population samples which could best help in achieving the study aims. The researchers also collected different kinds of data depending on the research methods and design used as well as the study aims and objectives, with a major focus on answering the research questions.

A total of three research articles have been analyzed and compared, especially based on the methodology and design. Each article employed a different design to help answer the research questions and achieve the study objectives. The researchers also used different statistical tests and analyses to analyze the collected data and answer the research questions.

References
Cheng, J. F., Huang, X. Y., Lin, M. C., Wang, Y. H., & Yeh, T. P. (2018). A mental health home visit service partnership intervention on improving patients’ satisfaction. Archives of Psychiatric Nursing, 32(4), 610-616.https //doi.org/10.1016/j.apnu.2018.03.010
Gilad, L., Haviv, Y. S., Cohen-Glickman, I., Chinitz, D., & Cohen, M. J. (2020). Chronic drug treatment among hemodialysis patients a qualitative study of patients, nursing and medical staff attitudes and approaches. BMC Nephrology, 21(1), 1-9. https //doi.org/10.1186/s12882-020-01900-y
Singh, M., Thirsk, L., Stahlke, S., Venkatesaperumal, R., LoBiondo-Wood, G., & Haber, J. (2021). Nursing research in Canada-E-book methods, critical appraisal, and utilization. Elsevier Health Sciences.
Zimmerman, P. A. P., Sladdin, I., Shaban, R. Z., Gilbert, J., & Brown, L. (2020). Factors influencing hand hygiene practice of nursing students A descriptive, mixed-methods study. Nurse Education in Practice, 44, 102746. https //doi.org/10.1016/j.nepr.2020.102746

Appendix

• Comparison Table of Methods and Designs
• APA Reference (Include the GCU permalink or working link used to access the article.)
• Research Methodology and Design Setting/Sample
• Setting characteristics Sampling type (e.g., convenience, purposive, systematic)
• Number of participants
• Instrumentation
• Identify the instrument
• Number of questions and how they are answered (e.g., open-ended, multiple choice, Likert scale)
• Include how the data was collected. Reliability
• Reliability type (e.g., interrater, test-retest, internal)
• Psychometric data (e.g., Cronbach’s alpha)

Validity

Validity type (e.g., construct, content, face)
Psychometric data (e.g., sensitivity, specificity) Levels of Measurement
(Identify independent and dependent variables and the associated levels of measurements.)

• Data Analysis
• Statistical significance
• Analysis test used

Cheng, J. F., Huang, X. Y., Lin, M. C., Wang, Y. H., & Yeh, T. P. (2018). A mental health home visit service partnership intervention on improving patients’ satisfaction. Archives of psychiatric nursing, 32(4), 610-616.https //doi.org/10.1016/j.apnu.2018.03.010 Quasi-experimental quantitative design. The research was done in a psychiatric hospital offering home visits.

The researcher used purposive sampling to select the study participants. A total of 240 participants were chosen to take part in the study. The scale of Satisfaction with the Mental Health Home Visit Service of the patients was used to measure satisfaction.
The scale has 26 items on a 5-point Likert scale, ranging from 1 (very dissatisfied) to 5 (very satisfied)

The evaluation consisted of one pre-test (one week before the intervention) and two post-tests (carried out six and 12 months after the intervention. The study’s findings are trustworthy because the scale used to gather the data is a trustworthy assessment (Cronbach’s Alpha = 0.93). Content validity Level of evidence Ordinal.

Dependent variables Patients satisfaction
2. Independent variables community-based and hospital-based home visit Statistical significance was identified when p < 0.05. T-test, ANOVA, and Chi-square were used
Gilad, L., Haviv, Y. S., Cohen-Glickman, I., Chinitz, D., & Cohen, M. J. (2020). Chronic drug treatment among hemodialysis patients a qualitative study of patients, nursing and medical staff attitudes and approaches. BMC nephrology, 21(1), 1-9. https //doi.org/10.1186/s12882-020-01900-y

The study used qualitative research design The research was conducted at Hadassah Medical Hospital, Jerusalem, Israel. 50 patients, 20 nurses and eight physicians took part in the study The researcher used in-depth interviews which integrated closed and open-ended questions.

Internal reliability of the findings. Content validity Level of evidence Nominal.
Dependent variables patient and staff thoughts and attitudes
Independent variables medication use A thematic analysis was used in analyzing the interviews.

Zimmerman, P. A. P., Sladdin, I., Shaban, R. Z., Gilbert, J., & Brown, L. (2020). Factors influencing hand hygiene practice of nursing students A descriptive, mixed-methods study. Nurse Education in Practice, 44, 102746. https //doi.org/10.1016/j.nepr.2020.102746 A mixed-method design was used in this research.

Students enrolling in the first three years of a Bachelor of Nursing program at an Australian institution were included in this research.

A total of 225 students participated in the study. The study used surveys where participants were asked 11 multiple-choice questions. Internal reliability. Content validity Level of evidence Nominal.

Independent variables elements that have an impact on how IPC and HH are practiced.
Dependent variables IPC and HH theoretical understanding Thematic analysis was used.

Categorical variables were presented as counts (percentages) and continuous variables by medians and interquartile ranges (IQR) for nonparametric data. Chi-squared statistics were used to calculate dependence among categorical variables.