An improved methodology for advancing nursing research: factorial surveys
Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 15, 2026

A Novel Method for Involving Women of Color at High Risk for Preterm Birth in Research Priority Setting
Published on: January 12, 2018
Ruth Ludwick1, Marion Elizabeth Wright, Richard Allen Zeller
1Kent State University College of Nursing, Kent, OH 44242, USA. rludwick@kent.edu
Abstract:
Clinical judgments and decisions are an integral component of nurse work and nurses are increasingly being challenged to account for their judgments and decisions. Nursing research is needed to help explain judgment and decision making in nursing, but most research in this area is almost exclusively characterized by descriptive studies. This article describes the use of the factorial survey method, which combines the explanatory power of a factorial experiment with the benefits of a sample survey. This hybrid technique is an excellent method for studying judgments and decisions across settings, roles, disciplines, and countries. This article outlines the steps of the method and demonstrates its applicability with an exemplar from a study across nurses from 3 countries.
Related Concept Videos
Surveys
Factorial Design
Nursing Interventions II: Selecting and Classifying the Nursing Interventions
The Scientific Method in Nursing Process
When using research findings to change practice, one must understand the process used to guide a study. The scientific method is a systematic, step-by-step process that supports the data's validity, reliability, and generalizability. As a result, findings can be safely...
Cochran's Q Test
Methods of Medium Optimization

