Preventing Nosocomial Infections

Is the use of soap and water or alcohol-based rubs more effective in preventing nosocomial infections?

Identify an appropriate research design.

An appropriate research design for this research question is quantitative research with an experimental design.

Discuss the strengths and weaknesses of the design.

According to Roger Watson (2015), quantitative studies produce numbers that should be interpreted before conclusions may be drawn. This can be considered a strength for this design as numbers allows the researcher to draw conclusion easily. An area of weakness is the idea that the opportunity for error cannot be eliminated entirely. According to Watson (2015) “it is essential to store data carefully, once it has been entered into any package, since loss can jeopardize the study”.

Provide a rationale for the design you selected

This design allows the research to manipulate the independent variable in order to study the effect it has on the dependent variable. In this case, the researcher is able to identify the effect of soap and water on the prevention of nosocomial infections and the effect is alcohol-based rubs on the prevention if nosocomial infections. The number of occurrences will be compared to draw a conclusion

How effective are anti-depressive medications on anxiety and depression?

Identify an appropriate research design.

An appropriate research design for this research question is qualitative design.

Discuss the strengths and weaknesses of the design.

According to Leslie Gelling (2014), while utilizing qualitative research, nurses to understand health and illness experiences and offer ‘compassionate, person-centered care. This is considered to be a strength for this design. Gelling also stated that “a poorly worded question might lead the research in the wrong direction, wasting the researcher’s time and, more importantly, wasting the research participants’ time if the chosen methodology is unable to answer the question (Gelling, 2014). This is the weakness of this design.

Provide a rationale for the design you selected

Qualitative research is an approach to scientific inquiry that allows researchers to explore human experiences in personal and social contexts, and gain greater understanding of the factors influencing these experiences.

What is the difference in attitudes of male and female college students toward condoms?

Identify an appropriate research design.

An appropriate research design for this research question is a qualitative descriptive design. In a descriptive study without manipulating any variables.

Discuss the strengths and weaknesses of the design.

According to Pathak, Jena, and Kalra (2013), qualitative research is now recognized for its ability to add a new dimension to interventional studies that cannot be obtained through measurement of variables alone. This can be considered to be a strength of this design. Qualitative studies should be well-designed and the aims of the study should be meticulously adjudicated (Pathak, Jena, & Kalra, 2013). On the other hand, descriptive research also presents the possibility for error and subjectivity. Confidentiality is the primary weakness of descriptive research (Murphy, n.d.). Often subjects are not truthful as they feel the need to tell the researcher what they think the researcher wants to hear (Murphy, n.d.).