Differences in Qualitative and Quantitative Research Methodologies - Essay Example

"Differences in Qualitative and Quantitative Research Methodologies" is a great example of a paper on care. Qualitative and quantitative research methods are all valid and necessary tools in gathering and recording data during any research work. However, the nature and the type of data required will define or determine which of these methods to be applied. The qualitative research methodology is primarily explanatory research that often aims at understanding the opinions, underlying reasons, and motivations for the research subject (Katsirikou et al., 2010). Therefore, qualitative research methods often determine the quality of the obtained data by uncovering the trend in the targeted opinion and thought on the problem under survey. The most common qualitative research methods include observation, interviews, panel, and survey. Notably, the qualitative methods may be structured or unstructured depending on the quality of data expected from the research.

The quantitative research method may not be the exact opposite of qualitative research; however, it should be noted that it often concentrates on numerical data generation; thus, it is suitable in statistical research works. Additionally, it should be noted that even the non-numerical data might be transformed into numerical data if such data need to be analyzed quantitatively. Qualitative research can only be used to quantify variables including behavior, opinion, among other variants without investigating the effect and factors that have contributed to such quantities. Nonetheless, quantitative research methods often generate facts from measured data; thus, apparently, most of its facts are based on assumptions reflected from the statistics generated (Katsirikou et al., 2010).

From the above differences between qualitative and quantitative research methodologies, it is apparent that the most appropriate methodology that can be applied to the evidence-based nursing practice is the qualitative research methods. The qualitative research is appropriate since it will seek the issues directly from the targeted groups. Through interviews, qualitative research will help in improving the quality issues of concern without any form of assumptions. It should be noted that the main aim of the evidence-based nursing practice is to identify problems affecting patients in order to improve the quality of the health care services towards curbing the same problem (Katsirikou et al., 2010). These facts can only be obtained qualitatively through qualitative research methods. However, the quantitative research methods may only be used in such surveys to understand the demographics of the problems affecting people and to locate the regions that are affected the most by the problem under study.

For instance, the quantitative findings on the pilot study that was conducted on kids will only reflect the trend of obesity among kids; however, the health effects related to the results of the study can only be understood through interviews that are significant parts of quantitative research methodology (Fletcher, Cooper, Helms, Northington, and winters, 2009). Moreover, the quantitative research method may be conducted over a wide range of pace including state or country within a short time since it is cheap to conduct; however, it is not an effective means of understanding the underlying problems. On the other hand, the study carried out by the shared medical appointments (SMAs) aims at understanding different chronic diseases and their underlying effects (Watts, Gee, O'Day, Schaub, Lawrence, Aron, and Kirsh, 2009). Through focused group discussions, this problem will be analyzed deeply towards understanding its rationale thereby providing a recommendation of how to improve health care services that would help in handling the identified and discussed chronic diseases. Therefore, qualitative research methodologies are effective in understanding and addressing evidence-based practice problems.

 

Read More