Author Question: Intervention research shifts the focus from causal connection to causal explanation. What does this ... (Read 114 times)

segrsyd · **on:** Jul 8, 2018

Intervention research shifts the focus from causal connection to causal explanation. What does this mean?

a. It allows correlational research determining connection to stand in the place of causal explanation.
b. It provides theoretical explanations of why an independent variable produces an effect, rather than merely reporting findings.
c. It may use studies that establish causal connection as impetus points, but it proceeds on to descriptive research whenever possible, to explain.
d. It utilizes experimental research, whenever possible, to establish cause definitively.

Question 2

What happens when outcomes are not clearly linked to structure and process? (Select all that apply.)

a. There is no clear justification for mandating changes to either structure or process.
b. Structure will not change without evidence as to outcomes.
c. Processes will be altered according to whim and guesswork.
d. Without evidence of clear links, general bundle or package changes are enacted, and these are less likely to gain staff support than are single changes.
e. Outcomes may be assumed to be reflective of structures and processes that actually are associated with different outcomes.

wshriver · **Reply #1 on:** Jul 8, 2018

Answer to Question 1

ANS: B
Intervention research is a methodology that holds great promise as a more effective way of testing interventions. It shifts the focus from causal connection to causal explanation. In causal connection, the focus of a study is to provide evidence that the intervention contributes to the outcome. In causal explanation, in addition to demonstrating that the intervention causes the outcome, the researcher must provide scientific evidence to explain why the intervention contributes to changes in outcomes and how it does so. Causal explanation is theory based. Thus, research focused on causal explanation is guided by theory, and the findings are expressed theoretically (see Chapter 7). Researchers employ a broad base of methodologies, including qualitative studies, to examine the effectiveness of an intervention. Qualitative approaches offer substantial value to the development, feasibility, and validation of nursing interventions.

Answer to Question 2

ANS: A, C, D, E
Donabedian proposed a theory of quality health care and the process of evaluating it.
Its three dimensions are health, subjects of care, and providers of care, and its three objects of evaluation in appraising quality are structure, process, and outcome. Donabedian's theory requires that identified outcomes be clearly linked with the process that caused the outcome.