Types of research
It is important to consider what type of research you would like to conduct to analyze your virtual gaming simulation experience. For example, your research can focus on the learner’s experience, the facilitator’s experience, or the virtual simulation development process. The research approach will depend on the question you want to investigate about your virtual gaming simulation.
Quantitative Research
Quantitative research is a process that uses numerical data to acquire information and examine the relationship betwee variables. It may describe variables using numbers, test relationships between the variables, and/or examine the cause-and-effect interactions. A quantitative approach provides particular answers to specific research questions. Examples of quantitative research include descriptive, correlational, quasi-experimental, experimental design studies, and systematic/scoping reviews. Data may be collected using surveys, questionnaires, scales, interviews, observations, or physiological measures and is analyzed using statistical techniques.
The National League for Nursing (NLN) provides four survey and questionnaire tools for educators to use to evaluate their virtual simulations. The INACSL Research Committee provides a repository of research instruments used in simulation research.
Types of Quantitative Research
There are several types of quantitative research identified in the literature (Chiang et al., 2020). Explore some of the various quantitative methods below to help identify which method may best suit your research question.
Qualitative Research
Qualitative research is an approach that is used to explore meaning in experiences, situations, cultures, and concepts. A qualitative approach focuses on broad research questions, and can provide the researcher with rich detailed descriptions of behaviours and experiences (Price et al., 2015). Examples of qualitative methodologies include phenomenology, grounded theory, ethnography, interpretative description, participatory action research, narrative inquiry, and systematic/scoping reviews. Data is non-numerical and can be collected through interviews (semi-structured; open-end), focus groups, observations, field notes, or examining documents and media (e.g., videos and audio).
Types of Qualitative Research
There are several types of qualitative research identified in the literature (Chiang et al., 2020; Starks & Trinidad, 2007; Thompson Burdine et al., 2021). Explore some of the various qualitative methods below to help identify which qualitative method may best suit your research question.
Mixed Method Research
Mix method research is an approach combining qualitative and quantitative methods when collecting and analysing data. A mixed method approach provides educators to analyze different components of the research question using different methods. For example, a survey questionnaire and open-ended questions during interviews or focus groups.
Literature Review
As you begin to think about your research question and method for study, it is important for you to explore the virtual gaming simulation research that has been completed to see what type of research has been done as well as to see if there are any gaps. Literature reviews can focus on qualitative, quantitative or mixed methodologies. Here are some examples of literature reviews:
Usability Study
Prior to implementing your virtual gaming simulation, you could complete a usability study with a small group of participants to determine the ease of use, assess intuitiveness, technology, and whether the virtual simulation is perceived to be useful to the learner. Any improvements or changes can be made to the virtual simulation prior to implementing into the curriculum. Usability studies are usually qualitative research, however, it can also be quantitative research or mixed methods. Here is an example of a usability study:
Ethics Review
For any research involving human subjects, you will need to obtain ethics review and approval from your academic institution prior to conducting your research. You should check the policies and procedures of your institution, as well as explore the steps when conducting research with external partners, as the procedures may differ slightly between institutions. You can review the Tri-Council Policy Statement 2: CORE (TCPS 2: CORE-2022) 2018 Ethical Conduct for Research Involving Humans for the specifics of when you need research ethics board (REB) approval.
Virtual Gaming Simulation Sample Scenario
For our VGS sample scenario, here are some examples of potential research ideas:
Qualitative Research Ideas:
- Interview participants using semi-structured interview questions (or do a focus group), about their experience applying their medication administration knowledge within the virtual simulation and how it may impact their future nursing practice.
- Conduct focus groups examining their experience and satisfaction with their nursing actions in caring for Mr. Diaz throughout the virtual simulation.
Quantitative Research Ideas:
- Provide students with a pre- and post-questionnaire to examine their COPD knowledge pre- and post-enactment of the virtual simulation experience.
- Use a Likert scale exploring satisfaction and engagement with different game design elements/specific platforms used in the virtual simulation.
Mix Method Study Ideas:
- For the quantitative component, a survey on student confidence learning safe medication administration. For the qualitative component, using a descriptive approach to explore learners’ experience in the nursing role when administering medication.
Insights from the Student Team
If you have taken a post-secondary research course, you might have learned about the TCPS2.
The Tri-Council Policy Statement: Ethical Conduct for Research Involving Humans — TCPS2 (2022) is a joint policy of Canada’s three federal research agencies — the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC), and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC), or “the Agencies.”
This resource also provides case studies on different ethical issues that can arise during the research process.
A great way to learn more about research ethics is completing the TCPS2 Course. You can also receive a certificate for your portfolio if you are interested in applying for Virtual Gaming Simulation or Research Assistant roles.
Additional Resources
International Nursing Association for Clinical Simulation and Learning (INACSL): Healthcare Simulation Standards of Best Practice™
The Healthcare Simulation Standards of Best PracticeTM Evaluation of Learning and Performance provides guidance on how to evaluate your participants and virtual simulation. The criteria includes formative, summative, high stake assessment and use of evaluation tools.
The Healthcare Simulation Standards of Best PracticeTM Professional Development outlines key strategies on how to maintain professional development as you gain more experience in developing virtual simulations.
INACSL Repository of Instruments: https://www.inacsl.org/repository-of-instruments
References
Hallmark, B., Brown, M., Peterson, D. T., Fey, M., Decker, S., Wells-Beede, E., Britt, T., Hardie, L., Shum, C., Arantes, H. P., Charnetski, M., & Morse, C. (2021). Healthcare Simulation Standards of Best PracticeTM Professional Development. Clinical Simulation in Nursing, 58, 5–8. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecns.2021.08.007
McMahon, E., Jimenez, F. A., Lawrence, K., & Victor, J. (2021). Healthcare Simulation Standards of Best PracticeTM Evaluation of Learning and Performance. Clinical Simulation in Nursing, 58, 54–56. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecns.2021.08.016
Attribution
This page was remixed with our own original content and adapted from:
Research Methods in Psychology – 2nd Canadian Edition by I-Chant A. Chiang, Paul C. Price, & Rajiv S. Jhangiani is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License, except where otherwise noted.
References
Baum, F., MacDougall, & Smith, Danielle. (2006). Participatory action research. Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health 60(10):854–857. https://doi.org/10.1136/jech.2004.028662
Starks H, Brown, & Trinidad S. (2007). Choose your method: A comparison of phenomenology, discourse analysis, and grounded theory. Qualitative Health Research. 17(10):1372–1380. https://doi.org/10.1177/1049732307307031
Thompson Burdine J, Thorne S, & Sandhu G. (202i). Interpretive description: A flexible qualitative methodology for medical education research. Medical Education. 55(3):336–343. https://doi.org/10.1111/medu.14380
