Data from the San Diego Navy Experiment are used to illustrate how findings from nonexperimental evaluations of programs designed to treat men who abuse their cohabitant partners may lead to erroneous conclusions.
This three part series of articles provides a brief overview of relevant research designs in nursing. The first article in the series presents the most frequently used quantitative research designs. Strategies for non-experimental and experimental research designs used to generate and refine nursing knowledge are described. In addition, the importance of quantitative designs and the role they play in developing evidence-based practice are discussed. Nursing care needs to be determined by the results of sound research rather than by clinical preferences or tradition.
An overview of research designs relevant to nursing: Part 1: quantitative research designs