Introduction to Quantitative Research

Through clear explanations and real-world neonatal examples, this session demystifies quantitative research by exploring common study designs, key research concepts, and foundational statistical principles. Learners are guided to keep a clinical lens throughout, focusing on how research findings translate into meaningful outcomes for infants and families. By the end of the session, participants will be better equipped to critically evaluate research, understand study results, and thoughtfully consider whether evidence supports changes in NICU practice.

This course empowers neonatal nurses to move beyond simply following protocols to understanding the evidence that underpins them, and to confidently engage with research as informed consumers and contributors to evidence-based care.

Learning Outcomes:
Define quantitative research and describe its role in neonatal nursing practice.
Differentiate among descriptive, correlational, and experimental quantitative study designs.
Identify key components of quantitative studies, including independent and dependent variables, confounding variables, and bias.
Interpret basic descriptive and inferential statistics commonly reported in neonatal research.
Apply a clinical lens to evaluate whether quantitative research findings are both statistically and clinically meaningful for NICU practice.

Presenter Information:
Elizabeth S. Schierholz, PhD, NNP-BC

Elizabeth S. Schierholz, PhD, NNP-BC

Elizabeth Schierholz, PhD, NNP-BC has worked in the NICU for the past 20 years as a nurse and a nurse practitioner.  She obtained her PhD at the Center for Health Outcomes and Policy Research at the University of Pennsylvania focused on health services research, health policy, innovation and improvement of health care systems with an emphasis on the impact of patient safety and patient outcomes.