Nurses knowledge, attitudes and practicesFurthermore non-experimental designs are employed to observe an outcome by first looking at the effects of a phenomena and working out the links to the causes (Kumar 2011:391). A non-experimental design of research is employed when manipulation of the independent variable is not possible for example if they are attribute variables. This type of design may also be applied if for ethical reasons such manipulation is unacceptable (Belli 2009:60). Quantitative Quantitative research is based on numbers or quantity measurements; therefore, the processes and results are expressed as numbers (Rajasekar, Philominathan & Chinnathambi 2013:9). A quantitative research design is based on a positivist paradigm which is focused on non-deductive reasoning and objective reality in which natural phenomena is researched by utilising predictable, measurable quantifiable information (Polit & Beck 2008:763). According to Creswell (2014:4), quantitative research deals with numbers and statistics that are collected by a structured instrument, analysed and structured into an organised report to examine relationships between phenomena. Descriptive This aspect of research design is essential in the identification of the respondents or subjects characteristics as they exist. This statement is consistent with those of Hulley, Cummings, Browner, Grady and Newman (2007:5) who state that descriptive designs aim at defining the state in which these characteristics exist in at the time of the study. In addition, Du Plooy-Cilliers et al (2014:75) state that descriptive studies are designed to describe characteristics of an inquiry in science and to draw on the relationship that links the variables of the phenomena in question. Kumar (2011:10) further iterates that descriptive studies systematically describes phenomena and provides information about the attitude of respondents towards the phenomena under investigation. Cross sectional In a cross-sectional research design, the observations of the phenomena under study is done once, which implies that the outcome presents is a snap-shot view (Hulley et al 2013:5). Cross-sectional designs is unique in its nature has its aim is to synthesise causal problems occurring over a period of time but based on conclusions derived from observations made at only one time (Rubin & Babbie 2010:281). This statement is affirmed by Burke and Christensen (2013:403) that state that cross-sectional designs occur when data is collected from respondents at a single point in time. It is worth noting that this type of design takes a closer look at subgroups of a population rather than only one specific group (Holland & Rees 2010:119). Research methods Your research methods will be those things you will use during data collection. Here is an example Research methods aim to structure the study, gather and analyse information relevant to provide answers to the research questions (Polit & Beck 2008:15). Bowling (2002:75) points out that various methods and tools are used for different tasks and change according to research paradigms and questions. Population These are all the nurses that you mentioned in the table under background. It is the large number and excludes nobody. A population consists of all the individuals that possess certain characteristics of interest to the researcher (Hulley 2007:28). There are two categories to consider here namely target population, and accessible population. The International Epidemiological Association (2008:243) defines a target population as the collection of individuals, items, measurements about which the outcome of the study can be generalised. In addition, the accessible population is the fraction of the total population that the researcher can access for the study (Hulley 2007:28). In addition, Norwood (2010:484) defines the term population as a set of elements that possess certain criteria that engenders common ground amongst elements. Nieswiadomy (2012:147) argues that a target population constitutes people, things, objects and data, thus these are utilised to confer generalisations about a phenomena of interest.