Course Description

Developing nursing knowledge and answering research question is challenging because it requires the researcher to construct logical techniques. The more rigorousness there is in a research design, the more trust one can place in the information obtained. The purpose of the advanced quantitative research methodology is to prepare nursing professionals to design and carry out research with direct implications for practice to build nursing knowledge. The course will address the following topics: introduction; systematic literature review; overview of quantitative research design; sampling; informed consent; ethical consideration; causal modeling; time-series and longitudinal design; secondary data analysis; longitudinal data analysis; triangulation; national research funding priorities; case control study; clinical trial; article critique; interpretation of findings; and the presentation of results

Course Objectives

• On the end of the semester students will be able to:
• 1.Select research designs appropriate to the questions being asked and understand the issues of validity associated with each design.
• 2.Develop appropriate sample designs with attention to power analysis.
• 3.Understand the concepts of clinical trials and familiar with designs and classification of clinical trials.
• 4.Understand longitudinal studies and able to manage longitudinal data.
• 5.Familiar with time series studies and meta analysis.
• 6.Be able to perform analyses of research data and to appropriately communicate the results of these analyses.
• 7.Be able to conduct a rigorous research to contribute to nursing knowledge.
• 8.Be fully cognizant of the ethical issues relevant to conducting research as well as have the ability to conduct research that is inclusive of diverse groups.

Course Contents

1.Select research designs appropriate to the questions being asked and understand the issues of validity associated with each design.

2.Develop appropriate sample designs with attention to power analysis.

3.Understand the concepts of clinical trials and familiar with designs and classification of clinical trials.

4.Understand longitudinal studies and able to manage longitudinal data.

5.Familiar with time series studies and meta analysis.

6.Be able to perform analyses of research data and to appropriately communicate the results of these analyses.

7.Be able to conduct a rigorous research to contribute to nursing knowledge.

8.Be fully cognizant of the ethical issues relevant to conducting research as well as have the ability to conduct research that is inclusive of diverse groups.

Required Textbook

1.Polit, D.F. & Beck C.T.(2004). Nursing Research: Principles and Methods(7th Ed.).Philadelphia: Lippincott Co. 2.Myers, J. L. & Well, A. D. (2003). Research Design and Statistical Analysis(2nd Ed.). Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, Inc. 3.Hamilton, J. D. (1994). Time Series Analysis. Princeton University Press. 4.Bijleveld, C. C. J. H. & van der Kamp, T. (1998). Longitudinal Data Analysis: Designs, models, and methods. Newbury Park: Sage. 5.Brockwell, P. J., & Davis, R. A. (1991). Time Series: Theory and Methods(2nd Ed.). Springer-Verlag New York, Inc. 6.Wang, D. & Bakhai, A. (2006). Clinical Trials - A Practical Guide to Design, Analysis, and Reporting. Andrew Ward. 7.Tonascia, S. & Meinert, C. L. (1986). Clinical Trials – Design, Conduct, and Analysis. Oxford University Press, Inc.

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