Qualitative and quantitative research styles of nursing research - Essay Example

Qualitative and Quantitative Research Styles of Nursing Research The term Nursing Research refers to the application of scientific inquiry to phenomena of concern to nursing. The systematic investigation of patients and their health experience is the primary concern of nursing. Nursing Research seeks to find new knowledge that can eventually be applied in providing nursing care to patients. It includes both Qualitative and Quantitative methodologies. The distinction between qualitative and quantitative research in nursing is representative of a complex issue which will be simplified for the purposes of clarity and brevity. Qualitative researchers collect their data in real world, naturalistic settings. And, whereas a quantitative researcher usually strives to collect data in one type of setting to maintain constancy of conditions, qualitative researchers may deliberately strive to study their phenomena in a variety of natural contexts. Qualitative research reports are written in a more inviting and conversational style than quantitative ones, which are more impersonal and include information on statistical tests. Qualitative nursing researchers also strive to share their findings with others at conference and in journal articles. Qualitative findings because of their depth and richness, also lend themselves more readily to book-length manuscripts than do quantitative findings. Regardless of researchers' position about when a literature review should be conducted, they usually include a summary of prior research in their reports as a means of providing context for the study. Quantitative reports, almost never present raw data- that is, data in the form they were collected, which are numeric values. Qualitative reports, by contrast, are usually filled with rich verbatim passages directly from participants. The excerpts are used in an evidentiary fashion to support or illustrate researchers' interpretations and theoretical formulations. Example of a Quantitative report: One third of the sample of family respondents indicated moderate to severe decedent pain in the final week of life. Although this rate is somewhat better than rates reported elsewhere, it still concern that control of pain for dying patients is simply not good enough. Interestingly, families had more complaints about the management of pain for decedents who died at home, even though they did not report higher levels of pain. Perhaps this is because in the home setting, family members are more aware of pain management problems and bear more responsibility for direct care of such needs. Research reports tell a story. The style in which many research reports are written- especially reports in quantitative style, makes it difficult for beginning research consumers to become interested in the story. To unaccustomed audiences, research reports may seem stuffy, pedantic, and bewildering. Four factors contribute to this impression: -> Compactness. Journal space is limited, so authors try to compress many ideas and concepts into a short space. Interestingly, personalized aspects of the investigation often cannot be reported. And, in qualitative style, only a handful of supporting quotes can be included. ->Jargon. The authors of both quantitative and qualitative reports use research terms that are assumed to be part of readers' vocabulary, but they may seem esoteric. ->Objectivity. Quantitative researchers normally avoid any impression of subjectivity and thus research stories are told in a way that makes them sound impersonal. For example, most quantitative research reports are written in the passive voice. Use of the passive voice tends to make a report less inviting and lively than the use of the active voice, and it tends to give the impression that the researcher did not play an active role in conducting the study. Qualitative reports, by contrast, are more subjective and personal, and written in more conversational style. -> Statistical information. In quantitative reports, numbers and statistical symbols may intimidate readers who do not have strong mathematic interest or training. Most nursing studies are quantitative and thus most research reports summarize the results of statistical analyses. Indeed, nurse researchers have become increasingly sophisticated during the past decade and have begun to use most powerful and complex statistical tools. Thus, the conduct of quantitative studies requires careful planning and organization. The preparation of a time table with expected a deadline for task completion is recommended. In contrast, the flow of activities in a qualitative study is more flexible and less linear. Qualitative researchers begin with a broad question regarding the phenomenon of interest, often focusing on a little studied aspect. In the early phase of a qualitative study, researchers select a site and seek to gain entre into it and into the specific settings in which data collection will occur. Gaining entre typically involves enlisting the cooperation of the gatekeepers within the site. The research design of qualitative studies is typically an emergent design. Once in the field, researchers select informants, collect data, and then analyze and interpret them in an iterative fashion; filed experiences help in an ongoing fashion to shape the design of the study. Early analysis leads to refinements in sampling and data collection, until saturation (redundancy of information) is achieved. Qualitative researchers conclude by disseminating findings that can subsequently be used to (1) shape the direction of further studies (including more highly controlled quantitative studies) (2) guide the development of structured measuring tools for clinical and research purposes and (3) shapes nurses' perceptions of a problem or situation and their conceptualizations of potential solutions. CONCLUSION: Qualitative Research style or Nursing Research is more preferable. The reason behind this being the various advantages like more flexibility option, strategies, involvement of the researchers, and so on is being provided in this type of research. Besides, it also overcomes the various demerits of other types of researches. REFERENCES: Gerrish Kate (2006). The Research Process in Nursing. United Kingdom, Blackwell Publishing. Morse & Peggy (1995). Nursing Research: the Application of Qualitative Approaches. Munhall Patricia (2001). Nursing Research: A Qualitative Perspective. Jones and Bartlett Publishers. Polit & Beck (2006). Essentials of Nursing Research; Methods, Appraisal, and Utilization. 6th ed. Philadelphia, Pa. Lippincott, Williams, & Wilkins Read More