Qualitative Research in Nursing
Date of last revision : January 28, 2011 “Not everything that counts can be counted, and not everything that can be counted counts” -Albert Einstein
INTRODUCTION
• Qualitative research methods have become increasingly important as ways of developing nursing knowledge for evidence-based nursing practice. Qualitative research answers a wide variety of questions related to nursing's concern with human responses to actual or potential health problems. (Ploeg J, 1999)
• Qualitative research is a type of scientific research which has its roots in philosophy and human sciences.
• Qualitative research plays an important part in providing evidence for practice in nursing, and is gaining greater
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DIFFERENCE BETWEEN QUALITATIVE AND QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH
• The key difference between quantitative and qualitative methods is their flexibility.
• In qualitative methods, the relationship between the researcher and the participant is often less formal than in quantitative research Quantitative Research Qualitative Research
General framework • Seek to confirm hypotheses
• Postivist paradigm • Seek to explore phenomena
• Naturalistic paradigm
Objectives • To predict & control • To understand (what, how, & why)
Tools • Highly structured methods: questionnaires, surveys, and structured observation • Use semi-structured methods: in-depth interviews, focus groups, and participant observation
Design • Rigid design
• Controlled & experimental • Emergent design
Focus • Prediction
• Outcomes
• Generalisability • Rich “thick” description
• Similarities & contrasts
• Process & context
Nature of data analysis • Statistical • Non-statistical
Sampling • Relatively large samples using often random sampling • Small samples using purposive, convenient or snaw ball sampling technique.
METHODS OF COLLECTING DATA
Obtrusive
• Semi structured interviews
• In-depth interviews
• Focus Group Discussions
• Ethnography
• Participatory Action Research
• Narrative and Life History
• Participant observation
Unobtrusive methods
• Simple observation
• Document analysis (written records)
• Audio-visual
• Text analysis / Discourse analysis
•
Parahoo, K (2014). Nursing Research: Principles, Process and Issues. 3rd ed. Hampshire: Palgrave Macmillian . p122 - 123.
Researchers need to clarify the underline theory assumptions, particularly in action or qualitative research, so as to be transparent and effective.
Discovering new information applicable to the field of nursing begins by asking a focused clinical research question. According to Stone (2002), asking the appropriate question is essential for the research process that follows. Although there are countless nursing problems that are worth investigating, it is imperative to narrow the focus of the problems so they can be empirically tested (Adams, 2012). Personal clinical experience, professional literature, previous research, and current nursing theories are a few examples of sources where research questions can be identified (Adams, 2012). The purpose of this paper is to explain the connection between research and evidence-based practice, discuss how
This paper will address and evaluate the research problem itself, the design of the study, the sample, how the data is collected, its limitations, and its findings. Furthermore, how does this study impact the overall nursing process?
I will methodically analyze all parts of the study to assess the validity of the article, by contrasting and comparing the information provided, with previous literature. I will try to make sure that recommendations provided by the authors are congruous with nursing practice and beneficial to the advancement of it. I will as much as possible provide in depth detail of previous studies on the same topic that either support or contradict the analysis provided by this study and its authors.
One phase of the Evidence-Based Nursing is the critical reading. The critical reading of sa nursing research literature is an indispensable tool that any professional who wants to base their practice on evidence should be handled with fluency. Qualitative research is sometimes surrounded by certain misconceptions, as thinking that it is not scientific or objective, that is subjective and it is less important than quantitative research. It is important to clarify that work primarily by assessing the importance of the research studie, and conducting a detailed analysis of the research in order to prove if the research is or not reliable. It is important to respect as much as possible the original text in the description of the diferents
Burns, N., & Groves, S. K. (2009). The Practice of Nursing Research: Appraisal, Synthesis, and Generation of Evidence (6th ed.). St. Louis, MO: Elsevier.
Qualitative research is used to describe life experiences from the viewpoint of the people involved. Qualitative research is an important method of developing evidence-based practice. As advanced practice nurses, we must rely on evidence-based practice to ensure the best outcomes for our patients. The term ‘descriptive qualitative’ refers to the physiological perspective that guides the researcher. While other qualitative approaches are more analytical and interpretative, the qualitative descriptive approach describes the informants’ experiences in much the same language as the informants’ own (Grove, Burns & Gray, 2013).
A systematic review of the existing literature on nursing and its various dimensions was done prior to the conduct of the research to have an in-depth understanding of the field as well as the various factors that have an effect on nursing. This also aids in exploring the extent to which the field of nursing have been explored.
Throughout the 21st century, the role of the nurse has evolved drastically. While nurses have different roles and responsibility the primary goal is to provide the quality care for the patient. This is where nursing research plays a vital role in professional nursing. According to Polit and Beck (2008), Nursing research is an inquiry design to develop knowledge about the issue of important to nurses which include nursing practice, nursing education and administration.
Nursing research has been a part of nursing practice for many years, consisting of both qualitative and quantitative research; it is essential in guiding nursing practice. Many nurses have a baseline understanding of research in general, but it is important for the researcher to understand their own values and beliefs when determining the type of research they will be performing. By understanding the differences between epistemology, methodology, and methods, the researcher can confidently conduct a valid research project.
Conducting research and understanding research is now an expectation for nurses. A vital part of the conduction and consideration of research is relevant questions. Asking a question is the single most essential element for formulating evidenced based practice (EBP) (Davies, 2011). Developing a question that can be answered is often a challenge of researcher who formulates EBP. The purpose of this assignment is to successfully develop a relevant and pertinent research question, identifying variables and provide research elements that would prove valuable to answering the question.
Nursing is an exciting, challenging, satisfying and rewarding profession. Nurses are required to have a wide and an extraordinary range of skills and talent in managing their clinical duty and responsibilities. Nurses are urged to deliver the highest achievable of quality care in a compassionate approach. In order to achieve these nurses need to access and evaluate extensive clinical information and integrate it to improve clinical decision making. Nurses are seen as lifelong learners, having the ability to reflect on, evaluate and modify their clinical practice based on new knowledge and thoughts. Nurses are advised to become producers of new knowledge via nursing research (Fink, et. al. 2005).
The overall purpose of nursing research is to answer questions or solve problems of significance to the nursing profession. The specific purpose of nursing research includes identification, explanation, investigation, clarification, prediction, and control (Polit & Beck, 2017). Inside each purpose, numerous types of questions are focused by nurse researchers; specific inquiries are more responsive to qualitative than to quantitative analysis and vice versa. Many qualitative studies concentrate on phenomena about which little is known. In some cases, so little is known that the phenomenon has yet to be clearly identified or named- or it has been inadequately defined or conceptualized. The comprehensive, exploratory nature of
In nursing, evidence-based practice relates to the preferential usage of interventions for which qualitative and empiric research has rendered evidence of substantial efficacy for certain issues in nursing care. The collection, analysis, and integration of crucial, relevant, and pertinent research-driven, patient-reported, and nurse-observed evidences are promoted by evidence-based practice. Another instance or illustration of evidence-based practice is the systematic study of care theories and their implementation to patients. Hence, these attempts act upon against rationalizing of nursing practice on shaky knowledge—solely on the basis of other nurses’ experience—devoid of scientific evidence on which nursing practice can be established.