Caregiver stress and quantitative research designs for evidence evaluation

In undertaking a quantitative research study, a researcher seeks to highlight the relationship between two variables, i.e. a dependent and an independent variable. The four kinds of quantitative research designs, according to Burns and Grove (2010), are “descriptive, correlational, quasi-experimental, experimental” designs (p. 34).
Grant, J.S., Weaver, M., Elliott, T.R., Bartolucci, A.A. & Giger, J.N. (2004). Family Caregivers of Stroke Survivors: Characteristics of Caregivers at Risk for Depression. Rehabilitation Psychology, 49(2), 172-179.
The authors in this article make use of a correlational research design. Correlational research, in the words of Burns and Grove (2010), “involves the systematic investigation of relationships between or among variables” (p. 35). In this case, the authors of this particular article make use of statistical analyses to highlight various predictors of stroke survivors’ family caregiver depression risk. In essence, the research piece is largely observational as far as the collection of data is concerned as it does not aim to identify cause and effect. In my opinion, the research design the authors adopt is appropriate for a research of this nature, especially given that the researchers set about to highlight the most valid factors predicting the status of ‘at-risk’ against a backdrop of other predictor factors sharing covariance to a significant extent. Further, sample allocation was also not applicable in this case whereas the outcome was largely tilted towards tentative explanations.
Liu, L.W. & McDaniel, S.A. (2015). Family Caregiving for Immigrant Seniors Living With Heart Disease and Stroke: Chinese Canadian Perspective. Health Care for Women International, 36, 1327 – 1345.
The authors of this particular study make use of a descriptive research design. Taylor (2006) points out that “a descriptive design only describes a phenomenon” (p. 173). In essence, the study sought to define associations between several factors (i.e. age and gender) and strategies/approaches utilized in an attempt to manage, withstand, or endure caregiving challenges. These were associations whose current status the authors were seeking to define. The research design was in this case appropriate given that the underlying intention of the authors was to highlight associations between the variables identified above. On the strength of the study’s move towards the enhancement of further understanding of the phenomenon described above, the authors set a good foundation for future research undertakings of a similar nature.
Selecting an Inappropriate Research Design for a Research Study: Ramifications
There are a variety of factors that ought to be taken into consideration in the selection of a research design for a research study. These, according to Weil (2017), include but they are not limited to availability as well as access to data, sample and population option, and purpose. With this in mind, it is import ant to note that in seeking to tackle the study’s main research problem, a good research design provides a logical analysis method as well as a well-defined conceptual structure. It therefore goes without saying that in general, an inappropriate research design not only renders findings of a particular study unreliable, but also leads to the output of conclusions that are largely misleading. An inappropriate research design also contributes towards ambiguity and thus makes the replication of a particular study impossible.
References
Burns, N. & Grove, S.K. (2010). Understanding Nursing Research: Building an Evidence-Based Practice (5th ed.). Maryland Heights, MO: Elsevier Health Sciences
Taylor, B.J. (2006). Research in Nursing and Health Care: Evidence for Practice (3rd ed.). Belmont, CA: Cengage Learning
Weil, J. (2017). Research Design in Aging and Social Gerontology: Quantitative, Qualitative, and Mixed Methods. New York, NY: Taylor and Francis.