Quantitative and Qualitative Methods in Research Evidence-based practice is a crucial part of nursing. To reach the goal of evidence-based practice it all starts with first obtaining research. It is important to understand the different research models and be able to identify reliable research from unreliable. While qualitative and quantitative research models differ in many ways, they both play a critical part in obtaining evidence-based practice in nursing. The objective of this paper is to analyze qualitative and quantitative research models and how they relate to practical application.
Research Methods
Qualitative Research
Qualitative research focuses on exploratory research that looks at personal opinions, motivations, and emotions behind the information gathered. Qualitative research helps give insight into understanding the deeper meaning and answering the why and how behind the research. When conducting qualitative research one must first decide on a sample selection, which means picking a target population, community, or study area to obtain information from. Qualitative data collection is usually left open-ended using methods such as interviews, observations, focus groups, case studies, and assessments to produce common themes during data analysis (Yates & Leggett, 2016). There are two different kinds of data analysis, inductive and deductive. “Inductive analysis involves discovering patterns, themes, and categories in one’s data, whereas deductive analysis begins
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
Compare and contrast quantitative and qualitative methods on each of the elements listed. Please use scholarly, academic literature to support your response.
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
Nursing research is quite unique in that it explores practices that are current and methods to improve those practices. With the goal of providing excellent and quality patient care outcomes, nursing research is dependent on the questions that are being asked. Therefore, it is imperative prior to beginning any type of research to decide the best format to acquire the answers to the questions proposed. As such, there are two methods that classify research and how it is done, qualitative and quantitative. Thus, contingent on the investigators will ultimately determine the type of research that is used, compared, and concluded to obtain the results that provide the best answers to the posed questions and the
The act of nursing practice requires the application of competent evidenced based practice (EBP) nursing care, supported by current research and theory development. Through the critical analysis and evaluation of studies, nurse leaders evaluate the components of research for its effective use in the daily practice of nursing. Moreover, this allows nurses to remain current with recommendations for patient care practices (Grove, Gray, & Burns, 2015). The Alzheimer-Europe organization in 2009 compared the different types of research that impact patient care and are involved in the development of EBP. The organization compared a top down and bottom up approach to differentiate the methods used for research. However, recognizing each method impacts nursing practice and patient care. The use of the nursing research method of Outcomes research starts with a sample, then predict what might occur. The exact data indicators, look at what occurred or the end results in programs, practice, or patient care strategies (Alzheimer-Europe.org, 2009). This approach can inform thoughts about research and the process of forming conclusions or theories about the practice of nursing (Grove, Gray, & Burns, 2015). While qualitative and quantitative research, begins with a defined population and then develops a research sample. This top down approach for quantitative
Qualitative researchers are focused on interpreting and making sense out of what they observe rather than trying to simplify and quantify these observations by collecting and observing people, places and things in their natural setting. In doing this, researchers are able to investigate hypothesis with more freedom and rigidity while accepting the fact that they relinquish their ability to control direct and indirect elements of their query. What the lose in predictability, they gain in individuality. To put it simply, qualitative research is aimed at watching and explaining in order to develop a complete understanding of whatever phenomena they are
The investigators that conducted the study indicated they struggle with the research process at the beginning. However, they express to received training by nurse faculty to understand and applied the use of evidence-based practices. Also, these professional nurses express that the research process was
Burns, N, Grove, S K (2007) Understanding nursing research: Building an evidence-based practice. 5th ed. Elsevier Saunders, United States of America
The second learning goal for this course centers on the subjects of qualitative and quantitative research. According to the Qualitative Research Consultants Association, qualitative research is defined as research “designed to reveal a target audience’s range of behavior and the perceptions that drive it with reference to specific topics or issues”(Qualitative Research Consultants Association, 2015, para 2). Conversely, quantitative research is defined as” any research based on something that can be accurately and precisely measured” (University of Wisconsin-Madison Ebling Library, 2016). The understanding of these terms and their place in nursing research will be required in the synthesis of data acquired through research. Modules that will address these topics are three and
Part 1 - All research activities begin with a question. Research, in its most basic form is the process of answering that question, or questions. Academic research, though, is a systematic process of collecting and analyzing information so that it increases the understanding of the phenomenon under study (Holton & Burnett, 2005). Regardless of the complexity or nature of the research project, there are at least eight characteristics that help define the process: 1) Research originates with a question or a problem; 2) Research requires a clear articulation of a goal; 3) Research follows a specific plan of procedure; 4) Research usually divides the principal problem into more manageable sub-problems; 5) Research is guided by the specific research problem, question, or hypothesis;6) Research accepts certain critical assumptions. These assumptions are underlying theories or ideas about how the world works; 7) Research requires the collection and interpretation of data in attempting to resolve the problem that initiated the research (Leedy & Ormrod, 2009).
Qualitative research explains, describes and characterizes the subject of investigation by focusing on words rather than numbers. It mainly collect the non-numerical data to describe a problem and helps to create ideas for further research. In qualitative research, data is collected through focus groups, interviews, direct observation or evaluation of archival material such as newspapers. Qualitative research has a qualitative dimension and relies on background and context to analyze data. In this study, researchers are interested in understanding the meaning people have constructed, that is, how people make sense of their world and the experiences they have in the world. Though a qualitative research, a wide array of dimensions of the social world can be explored, including the texture and weave of everyday life, the understandings, experiences and imaginings or our research participants, the ways that social processes, institutions, discourses or relationships work, and the significance of the meanings that they generate. Qualitative research involves an explanatory, naturalistic approach to the world. This means that qualitative researchers study things in their natural settings, attempting to make sense of, or to interpret, phenomena in terms of the meanings people bring to them (Pennsylvania State University, 2016).
Both qualitative and quantitative research methods have their specific qualities which make them useful to a researcher, however in the course of this short essay I will explain why, for several reasons, qualitative research is better. As both methods operate within different assumptions, it is important to stem criticism for each method 's respective theoretical base in order to adequately judge them. In the course of this essay I will highlight each method 's theoretical assumptions and then I will assess each method by pointing out their positive and negative factors.
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.
In order to ensure that quantitative data is obtained from an acceptable instrument, it is necessary to determine the validity and reliability of the instrument being used. It is important to minimize subjectivity in quantitative research. The researcher must ensure that the surveys, questionnaires, and tests, used are not open for interpretation or the results may be skewed. Researchers can verify the usefulness of an instrument through validity and reliability. Validity “refers to the extent to
I would like to see whether growth can be predicted for a certain company with introduction of a certain product.