RESEARCH DESIGN

Burns and Grove (2003:195) define a research design as “a blueprint for conducting a
study with maximum control over factors that may interfere with the validity of the findings”.
Parahoo (1997:142) describes a research design as “a plan that describes how, when and
where data are to be collected and analysed”. Polit et al (2001:167) define a research design as “the
researcher’s overall for answering the research question or testing the research hypothesis”.
This study focuses on the opinion of nurses on pain in patients that suffer from dementia.
The research approach is non-experimental, qualitative, exploratory-descriptive and contextual.
Non-experimental research
According to Polit et al (2001:178), non-experimental research is used in studies whose
purpose is description and where it is unethical to manipulate the independent variable.
Non-experimental research is suitable for the study of people in nursing for several
reasons. First, due to ethical considerations manipulation of the human variable is not
acceptable because of the potential for physical or mental harm to the participants.
Secondly, human characteristics are inherently not subject to experimental manipulation,

such as health beliefs and opinions. Thirdly, research constraints such as time, personnel
and the type of participants, make non-experimental research more feasible. Lastly,
qualitative studies do not interfere with the natural behaviour of participants being studied;
the type of research question would not be appropriate for an experimental research (Polit
et al 2001:178). In this study data were collected without introducing any treatment.
Literature review

According to Polit et al (2001:43), some qualitative researchers advise against a literaturereview prior to
data collection because the literature review might influence the
researcher’s conceptualisation of the study. Field and Morse (1996:37) maintain that a
literature review may mislead the researcher’s ability to make accurate decisions in the
study. According to this view, the phenomenon should be clarified based on the view of the
participants rather than prior information. However, the researcher belief that a literature

review is necessary to provide guidance in identifying bias in previous studies.

In this study the researcher conducted a literature review prior to submitting the research
proposal as prerequisite. ) Thereafter an extensive literature review was conducted to
orientate the researcher on concepts such as nurses’ opinion, pain and dementia as well
as to put the current study into the context of what is known about the topic (Parahoo
1997:89). Polit et al (2001:121) maintain that a literature review provides a background for
understanding current knowledge on the topic. After the research findings had been
analysed and interpreted, the researcher reviewed the literature again and correlated the
findings in relation to the existing knowledge .
 Sampling DESIGN
Polit et al (2001:234) define a sample as “a proportion of a population”. The sample was
chosen from nurses employed at the Grosvenor Park Nursing Home in Bexhill-on-Sea,
1East Sussex in the UK. A carefully selected sample can provide data representative of the
population from which it is drawn.

Sampling size

Holloway and Wheeler (2002:128) assert that sample size does not influence the

importance or quality of the study and note that there are no guidelines in determining

sample size in qualitative research. Qualitative researchers do not normally know the

number of people in the research beforehand; the sample may change in size and type

during research. Sampling goes on until saturation has been achieved, namely no new

information is generated (Holloway 1997:142).

In this study the total number of different categories of nurses that were listed was 25.The
list was given to both the home manager and the head of care. The researcher worked in
conjunction with the management in choosing participants, based on their level of

experience in caring for patients that suffer from dementia as well as their qualifications.
There were 12 potential participants, of whom seven participated in the study. Some of the
nurses were not available as they were off duty, off sick, on holiday, while others did not
want to participate in the study.
Sampling process
Burns and Grove (2003:31) refer to sampling as a process of selecting a group of people,
events or behaviour with which to conduct a study. Polit et al (2001:234) confirm that in
sampling a portion that represents the whole population is selected. Sampling is closely
related to generalisability of the findings. In this study the sampling was non-probable and
purposive. According to Parahoo (1997:223), in non-probability sampling researchers use
their judgment to select the subjects to be included in the study based on their knowledge
of the phenomenon.

Purposive sampling was used in this study. Parahoo (1997:232) describes purposive
sampling as “a method of sampling where the researcher deliberately chooses who to
include in the study based on their ability to provide necessary data”. The rationale for

choosing this approach was that the researcher was seeking knowledge about the nurses’
opinion of pain in patients who suffer from dementia, which the participants would provide
by virtue of their experience. In this study only nurses who were eligible were purposively
chosen to participate in this study (see section 3.4.1).
Sampling procedure
Sampling of the participants was done as follows:
• The researcher sought the assistance of the home manager and head of care of the
facility to identify potential participants.
• Possible participants were selected after the researcher pre-selected participants
according to the criteria under section 3.4.1.1.

• The research project was explained to the

prospective participants who were on the
short- list and they were asked personally if they wanted to take part in the research.
• The researcher selected the prospective participants for a focus group discussion.
• In the event of a problem with identifying participants who met the criteria for selection
for the study, each eligible participant was asked to refer colleagues with similar
by virtue of their experience. In this study only nurses who were eligible were purposively
chosen to participate in this study.

Questionnaire DESIGN

Questionnaires usually form an integral part of descriptive and opinionrelated surveys. Questionnaires
can either be in the form of a selfadministered questionnaire i.e. where the respondents is requested to
complete the questionnaire in his/her own time or in the form of a structured interview, where the
interviewer (very often the researcher) writes down the answers of the respondent during a telephone
or face-to-face interview.
Irrespective of which method is used, the formulation of the questions and the structure of the
questionnaire are critical to the success of the survey.

We have :

Closed-ended questions

o Dichotomous or two-point questions (e.g. Yes or No, Unsatisfied or Satisfied)

o Multiple choice questions

Eg:

Are these things can help graduate student to have opportunities to be an employee?

Computer science 1/2

English 1/2

Driving 1/2

o Scaled questions that are making use of rating scales such as the Likert Seale (three-point

scales, semantic differential scales, and seven-point scales).

Examplel: levels of students are decreasing due to the Government?

Yes, undecided, No

Strongly agree, Agree, Undecided, Disagree, Strongly disagree.

Outstanding, Above average, Average, below average, completely unsatisfactory.

Example 2: Among the following Footballers which one is your favourite?

Messi, CR7, M'bappé, Sadio Mané

Open- ended questions

What do you think of the transition process in Guinea?

Name the footballers that you know?

Semi-open/ Semi-closed Questions

Are there those sicknesses in your village?

Malaria, Diarrhea, Yellow fever, and others to precise

Contingency questions

Yes

No

If YES, how many times do you drink Hawa Dji?

Once

2-5 times

6-10 times

more than 10 times

Matrix questions

This type of questions is closed-ended question

How satisfied or dissatisfied are you with each of the following.

3.5 DATA COLLECTION

According to Parahoo (1997:52, 325), a research instrument is “a tool used to collect data.
An instrument is a tool designed to measure knowledge attitude and skills.

Data were collected during the focus group discussion. Obtaining data from participants

with different experience prevents information bias and thus increasing credibility regarding

the information.

3.6 DATA COLLECTION TECHNIQUES

The researcher was the main research instrument in this research. The role of the
researcher was to elicit information, during the focus group discussion.
3.6.1 Discussion of the instrument
The types of questions for the focus group discussion are discussed in section 3.6.3.
3.6.2 The researcher’s role

Data analysis

Data analysis means to organise, provide structure and elicit meaning. Analysis of
qualitative data is an active and interactive process (Polit et al 2001:383). Data analysis
commenced after conducting the first interview.
3.7.2 The researcher’s role in data analysis

The researcher used reflexivity, bracketing and intuiting (see sections 3.3.2, 3.3.3 and
3.3.4, respectively) to lay aside her preconceptions regarding the phenomenon under investigation. Data
analysis occurs simultaneously with data collection (Holloway &
Wheeler 2002:235). Field and Morse (1996:82) identify intellectual processes that play a
role in data analysis:
• Comprehending: The researcher wants to learn about what is going on. When
comprehension is achieved, the researcher is able to prepare a detailed description of
the phenomenon under study. Saturation is achieved when new data cannot be added.
• Synthesising: This involves sifting data and
putting the pieces together. This enables
the researcher to make sense of what is typical regarding the phenomenon. The
researcher makes general statements regarding the phenomenon and participants.
• Theorising: This is the systematic sorting out of data. Alternative explanations of the
phenomenon are developed by the researcher to determine their correlation with the data.
To make sense of the data, Parahoo (1997:355) states the following steps are necessary:

• Responses during the focus group interview were transcribed verbatim and read in
order to get used to them.
• Significant statements that pertain to the
experience under investigation were extracted.
• Statements were used to formulate meanings.
• Statements were then organised into clusters
• Themes were used to provide full description of the experience.
• The researcher returned the description to the original source for confirmation of
validity.
In this study meanings were formulated from extracted statements and then clustered into
themes to provide full meaning of the experience. The participants were consulted to
ensure or confirm the credibility of the description.