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Niroshan Siriwardena is a family doctor and Visiting Professor of Primary Healthcare at the University of Lincoln. He trained at ‘Barts’ and Lincoln. His work is aimed at improving the quality of healthcare through evaluative research, teaching and clinical practice. He has published on multiprofessional learning, evidence-based practice, performance assessment, and innovation diffusion to improve healthcare quality on a variety of topics in primary and pre-hospital settings. He sits on the editorial board of the British Journal of General Practice and is editor of Quality in Primary Care. He is an examiner for the Royal College of General Practitioners.

Chapter overview

The chapter provides an overview of experimental and quasi-experimental methods. It explains the language of experimentation and discusses the advantages, disadvantages, and applications of methods.

Suggested Online Readings

Creedon, S.A. (2006) ‘Health Care Workers’ Hand Decontamination Practices: An Irish Study’, Clinical Nursing Research, 15 (1): 6-26.

This paper discusses quasi-experimental research to observe health care workers’ compliance with hand-hygiene guidelines during patient care in an intensive care unit in Ireland before (pre-test) and after (post-test) implementation of a multifaceted hand-hygiene programme. Health care workers’ attitudes, beliefs, and knowledge in relation to compliance with hand washing guidelines were also investigated. A convenience sample of nurses, doctors, physiotherapists, and care assistants (n = 73 observational participants, n = 62 questionnaire respondents) was used. Data (n = 314 observations, 62 questionnaires) were analyzed descriptively and cross-tabulated using chi-square (Pearson’s) and Mann-Whitney statistical tests. Results revealed that a significant shift occurred in health care workers’ compliance with hand washing guidelines and changes in their attitudes, beliefs and knowledge were also recorded following the interventional hand-hygiene programme.

Farrell, K., Wicks, M.N. and Martin, J.C. (2004) ‘Chronic Disease Self-Management Improved with Enhanced Self-Efficacy’, Clinical Nursing Research, 13 (4): 289-308.

This paper uses a quasi-experimental pre-test-post-test design to examine if participation in a chronic disease self-management program (CDSMP) improved self-efficacy, self-efficacy health, and self-management behaviours in an underserved, poor, rural population. The sample, recruited from two clinics in a south central state, consisted of 48 adults. Programme-specific paper-and-pencil instruments were completed prior to and immediately after completion of the 6-week programme. Significant improvements in self-efficacy, self-efficacy health, and self-management behaviours occurred.

McDevitt, J., Wilbur, J., Kogan, J. and Briller, J. (2005) ‘A Walking Program for Outpatients in Psychiatric Rehabilitation: Pilot Study’, Biological Research For Nursing, 7 (2): 87-97.

The purposes of this quasi-experimental pilot study were to determine adherence to a 12-week group-based moderate-intensity walking program for sedentary adult outpatients with serious and persistent mental illness and to examine change from a baseline to after the walking program, in health status and exercise motivation. The 15 volunteers in the study were aged 21 to 65 years and enrolled in psychosocial rehabilitation; they participated in a 12-week walking program meeting three times per week for one hour, supplemented with four health information workshops delivered at the beginning of the study. Participants received individual exercise prescriptions determined by pre-programme fitness testing and used heart rate monitors during walking sessions.

Further Reading

Shadish,W.R., Cook, T.D. and Campbell, D.T. (2002): Experimental and Quasi-experimental Designs for Generalized Causal Inference. Boston: Houghton-Mifflin

This is an updated version of a classic text, in which experts in the field of quasi-experimentation discuss key issues relating to the theory and practice of experimental and quasi-experimental designs in comprehensive fashion.

Trochim, W. M. The Research Methods Knowledge Base, 2nd edition. http://www.socialresearchmethods.net/kb/

This excellent site provides a very readable and accessible account of quasi-experimental methods, written by an expert in quasi-experimental research methods.

Ukoumunne, O.C., Gulliford, M.C., Chinn, S., Sterne, J.A.C. and Burney, P.G.J. (1999) ‘Methods for Evaluating Area-wide and Organisation-based Interventions in Health and Healthcare: A Systematic Review’, Health Technology Assessment, 3 (5): 9.

This report is a systematic review of methods for cluster-based interventions and evaluations covering issues of design and analysis of complex organizational-level interventions and including key recommendations for those employing non-randomized approaches.

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