...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 acceptance within medicine. (Bailey C, 2002) • Definition: "A quantitative approach is one in which the investigator primarily uses post-positivist claims for developing knowledge (i.e. cause and effect thinking, reduction to specific variables and hypotheses and questions, use of measurement and observation, and the test of theories)." (Creswell, 2003) • Qualitative research is used to gain insight into people's attitudes, behaviours, value systems, concerns, motivations, aspirations, culture or lifestyles. • Qualitative researchers aim to gather an in-depth understanding of human behavior and the reasons that govern such behavior. • Qualitative research is often associated with naturalistic inquiry. • Naturalistic methods of inquiry attempt...
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...Qualitative Research: Clinical Scenario You are a community nurse working with Vera, an 88 year old female. She lives in her own home and has done so for 35 years but her two daughters are often present. You know the family well as you have been coming in for over a year to dress Vera's venous leg ulcer and to help manage her chronic pain from osteoporosis. Twice in the last year she has fallen and she recently fell again sustaining severe bruising to her face and left side. Both the family and (independently) Vera have suggested to you that she is finding it difficult to cope and that a spell in a nursing or residential home might be a possible solution. On your last visit, Vera's daughter stated that she is planning to broach the subject with her mother and wondered what factors Vera is likely to be considering and what areas of concern the family should expect Vera to raise when they discuss the future with her. You explain that you do not have much experience in this area, and that you would like to discuss it at the next visit after you have had time to reflect and examine the experiences of others. You formulate the question, In elderly people living at home, what are the likely issues they will be considering when deciding to seek out long-term care services? Searching terms and evidence source You decide to search the CINAHL (Cumulated Index of Nursing and Allied Health Literature) database to identify qualitative studies that have considered this topic. Qualitative...
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...Running Head: QUALITATIVE RESEARCH ARTICLE CRITIQUE Qualitative Research Article Critique Corey J. Ivany (MUN ID#: 009435660) Education 6100 Memorial University of Newfoundland Abstract This paper is an academic critique of a qualitative research article written by Karen Dorgan (2004) entitled: A Year in the Life of an Elementary School: One School’s Experiences in Meeting New Mathematics Standards. Throughout the course of the 1999-2000 school year, Dorgan observed and interviewed teachers who were members of the faculty of an economically and racially diverse elementary school in Virginia. The purpose behind the case study was to examine how the changes in the state Standards of Learning would effect pedagogical decision making, teaching and learning, and methods of instruction and evaluation. My evaluation/critique of this article is an holistic interpretation of the study as an example of a qualitative research project and is based on my understandings of this type of study from my involvement in Education 6100: Research and Design Methods from Memorial University of Newfoundland. My concern is to develop a systematic and analytical discussion based around the degree to which this case study exemplifies the characteristics of qualitative research. Qualitative Research Article Critique In her article A Year in the Life of an Elementary School: One School’s Experiences in Meeting New Mathematics Standards, Karen Dorgan (2004)...
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...Qualitative research is growing in importance as marketing professionals recognize its vital role in providing depth of understanding about customers and their behaviour. Twenty-first century business environment characteristics are rapidly changing global market place and the need for effective, accurate information and timely decision making. In today's business market is so much competitive to take decisions in an uncertain environment that is influenced by many factors. Qualitative research means any type of research that produces findings not arrived at by statistical procedures or there means of quantification. It can refer to research about person's lives, lived experiences, behaviours, emotions, and feeling as well as about organizational functioning, social movements, cultural phenomena and interaction between nations (Anselm strauss & Juliet corbin, 1998) Qualitative research addresses questions about how social experience is created and given meaning and procedures representations of the world that make the worlds visible (Denzin and Lincoln, 2003:3) Beyond this, qualitative research is particularly difficult to pin down because of its flexibility and emergent character (Van Maanen, 1998:xi) There are three main methods for qualitative research. The resulting data is usually transliterated then analyzed by using one of the different analyzing techniques. These methods are focus groups, direct observation and in-depth interviews. In focus group method the...
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...Abbreviated Qualitative Research Plan Introduction Stress is the result of emotional, physical, social, economic, or other factors that require a change in one’s behavior, thought process, environment, or response. Robbins & Judge, (2008), defines stress as, “a dynamic condition in which one is confronted with an opportunity, constraint or demand related to what he wishes and for which the outcome is perceived to be both uncertain and important”. This definition can be broken down into three dimensions, as followed: 1) Environmental (stressors), 2) adaptive responses, and 3) individual differences Robbins et al. (2008). In essence, stress can be looked at from three different viewpoints; 1) Medical, 2) clinical, and 3) organization. Stress in the workplace has been recognized throughout the world in the workplace as a major challenge. Stress in the workplace has been noted to adversely impact on the employees’ psychological and physical health, as well as the effectiveness within organizations. Purpose Statement The purpose of this study is to determine is stress among the employee’s existed. If so, the nature, the causes, and related aspects. Stress causes health concerns both physically and emotionally. This is to reduce and/or eliminate stress in the workplace. The study will focus on two primary objectives: 1. To determine what management and employers can do to reduce stress while at work 2. To establish a program which will provide training for...
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...RUNNINGHEAD: Abbreviated Qualitative Research Plan Abbreviated Qualitative Research Plan Tiana Parisa Mash Walden University RSCH-8100Y-6 Dr. David Horner February 2nd, 2014 Introduction The term “corrections” mean many different things to the average citizen. Some of these connotations have created several myths surrounding what a correctional institution is and what it does. Ideally, mentally ill offenders that are assigned to a correctional facility are supposedly “rehabilitated” through such an assignment. However, as a state or sheriff office representatives- we as a community of professional are not at liberty to mistreat other human beings- morally and ethically. Conversely, prison, jail, and correctional environment are different. This is a subculture within a subculture- with its own rules, regulation, and policies for both employee’s and inmates a like. (Mash, 2013, Para. 2) International Association for Correctional Psychology and Forensic (IACFP) standards discussed in chapter 12 of Bartol and Bartol (2012) holds an institutional psychologist responsible for their actions even though the client population are in secure custody, and in most events in segregation. As the authors elaborate on page (pp. 411-413)… “Both jails and prisons… can be violent, noisy… demeaning places that promote isolation, helplessness and subservience through the use of overwhelming power, often by instilling fear”( Bartol and Bartol, 2012, p...
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...Qualitative Approaches to Classroom Research 1 Qualitative Approaches to Classroom Research with English Language Learners Patricia A. Duff University of British Columbia Address: Department of Language & Literacy Education University of British Columbia 2125 Main Mall Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4 Canada Courier: 2034 Lower Mall Road University of British Columbia Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z2 Canada Qualitative Approaches to Classroom Research 2 ABSTRACT This chapter provides an overview of recent qualitative research in classrooms examining English language learners (ELLs). I first present common features of qualitative research and review debates regarding research paradigms in the social sciences and humanities. I also discuss the role of triangulation and capturing participants’ insider or emic perspectives in qualitative research and highlight various data collection methods and ways of combining macro-level and micro-level analyses, particularly in ethnographic research. Ethical issues, difficulties obtaining informed consent in classroom research, and criteria for evaluating qualitative research are then considered. Three qualitative studies that have been deemed exemplary and meritorious by scholars in English language education are then presented and some common themes in current qualitative classroom research with ELLs are identified. The chapter concludes with directions for future qualitative research. Introduction Over the past 2 decades, research...
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...Qualitative Design Assessment : Research Problem (750 words) STUDENT NAME: | STUDENT ID: | PLEASE DO NOT RE-FORMAT THIS TEMPLATE Please note: this assignment is 750 words so only that word count will be marked. The 750 word count includes in-text references but excludes the Reference List. (1) Introduction Care can be defined in terms of who delivers the care or the quality of care. Informal care is provided by the assistance of family and friends, while formal care can be thought of as government programs such as Home and Care Community Packages. For older adults, these kinds of care programs are “provided in the person’s own home, in special living accommodations, or in a mixture of these two” (From, Johansson, & Athlin 2009). People over the age of 65 years are defined as older adults (Ables et al. 1998). And apart from disabilities, older adults generally receive care in the area of instrumental daily activities. Instrumental daily activities include “shopping, meal preparation, housekeeping, laundry, managing finances, taking medications, and using transportation” (Jarvis, 2012, p. 833). Although the quality of care received is subjective, a study by From, Johansson , and Athlin (2009), showed that there is “a considerable amount of research reported on what constitutes good quality in the care of older people in a community setting, from the point of view of caregivers, relatives, and older adults”. Good quality care consists of being able to...
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...obtained are broadly classified into two categories; Qualitative Research and Quantitative Research. The purpose of this paper is to translate my course learning into a reflective question paper on the topic of Qualitative Research. This paper will also seek to describe a research project where qualitative research would be most appropriate, discuss key challenges in collecting and evaluating qualitative data, recommend actions for addressing the challenges identified for each of the three qualitative methodologies, and discuss whether mixing qualitative and quantitative methods would result in better research for your particular learning community. Qualitative Research Qualitative research, also called naturalistic inquiry, developed within the social and human sciences, and refers to theories on interpretation (hermeneutics) and human experience (phenomenology). They include various strategies for systematic collection, organization and interpretation of textual material obtained while talking with people or through observation. The aim of such research is to investigate the meaning of social phenomena as experienced by the people themselves." (Malterud, 2001, p. 398). It is important to understand that qualitative research is not a single type of social inquiry. It surfaces from a number of different research traditions or disciplines. Qualitative research developed in the social and human sciences such...
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...SS3150 – Six Approaches to Qualitative Research The chosen qualitative research approach that I chose to use for my research is Case Study. The particular type of case study that I decided to use is the critical instance case study. These examine one or more sites for either the purpose of examining a situation of unique interest with little to no interest in generalizability, or to call into question or challenge a highly generalized or universal assertion. This method is useful for answering cause and effect questions. Some of the strengths of case studies are as follows; they are a good source of ideas about behavior, they give good opportunity for innovation, they are a good method to study rare phenomena, they provide good method to challenge theoretical assumptions, and also are a good alternative or complement to the group focus of psychology. Some of the weaknesses of case studies are that they can be hard to draw definite cause-effect conclusions; they are hard to generalize from a single case and also the possible bias in data collection and interpretation (due to it being a single person that gathers and analyzes the information). In my opinion the case study approach best fits my research paper because it will allow me to look at both the causes and effects that domestic violence has on children. Although, there have been several scholarly reviews that have been conducted of this literature there is still more research that needs to be done in order to fully...
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...[pic] Exploring qualitative research online The aim of this document is to provide students with some extra insight into qualitative research methods by guiding them to specific, useable, and comprehensible websites. It aims to provide a series of ‘snippets’ of information that should broaden and deepen students’ knowledge of this subject area. This document is designed primarily to extend students’ learning and should be completed in conjunction with other course material such as textbooks. Students should click on the links and answer the questions, expanding the boxes as they go. |Participant observation, grounded theory and action research | | | |Click on the Wikipedia entry for participant observation: | |http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Participant_observation | | | |What is participant observation? ...
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...1. What considerations must one take into account when dealing with qualitative research? There are many considerations when dealing with qualitative research. One of the considerations I must take into account is where the information is coming from for the qualitative research (Christensen, Johnson, & Turner, 2010). The information should make sense and contain reputable or honest data. Another consideration is the data should be validated (Christensen, Johnson, & Turner, 2010). This can be done through peer-reviews to see if the data makes sense and has been known in other cases. This can also be done through other resources that have stated and proven similar facts. A third consideration is that the data is non-numerical and exploratory (Christensen, Johnson, & Turner, 2010). Many times there is some confusion between qualitative and quantitative research as qualitative research focuses on narrative or pictures while I would prefer more numerical data. 2. What factors should go into determining the sample size used in a qualitative study? When conducting research, quality sampling may be characterized by the number and selection of subjects or observations. Obtaining a sample size that is appropriate in both regards is critical for many reasons (Patel, Doku, and Tennakoon, 2003. A large sample size is more representative of the population, limiting the influence of outliers or extreme observations. A sufficiently large sample size is also necessary to produce...
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...Using Qualitative research to improve tissue viability care LaFleur Kennedy Grand Canyon University November 11, 2012 Using Qualitative Research to Improve Tissue Viability Care This study was conducted to show how key qualitative studies investigating patient experiences can act as an indicator of quality and guide healthcare professionals in service development and evaluation in tissue viability. The study shows how leg ulcerations affect individuals’ quality of life. Consent was sought from participants as they were asked to complete a questionnaire before and after each procedure during the study. The participants seemed to have voluntarily participated in the study as they voluntarily answered the questionnaires as requested. The world class commission’s approval was obtained prior to the study. The major variables were pain and the patients’ perception of and response to pain. Analgesia and patient’ response to same, patient’s tolerance and non tolerance to therapy and reasons for same, patient’s opinions on quality of life with leg ulcer and coping with ulcer odor. The data was collected using questionnaires before and after each procedure and this was used to demonstrate the role of the intervention in any changes that occurred during the study. It was a way of the commissioners benchmarking services and judging the quality of care provided. A time period was not identified for the length of study. Patients were asked questions at the beginning and at the end...
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...Running head: Qualitative Research Study Qualitative Research Study Grand Canyon University NRS433V 5/30/10 Qualitative Research Study The qualitative research study that I chose to critique is on infections related to patients’ bath basins. The purpose of this patient bath basin study was clearly stated. “Is Patients’ Bath Basin as Potential Sources of Infection: A Multicenter Sampling Study?” Infections can arise from many sources, typically transmitted in the hospital or hospice. Just the touch of an infected person, such as one with MRSA can easily transmit to any object, making any person susceptible to that infection. Nurses and staff members often touch computers, telephones, and other hospital devices after they have had direct contact with a patient, without washing their hands. There should be some changes in the way we as nurses perform our nursing duties while reducing transmission of illness. One important way that nurses can prevent transmission of illness is by hand washing. Relevant information on nosocomial infections were included in this study, providing information that 1.75 to 3.5 million patients in the United States contract nosocomial infections. The study was performed at three acute care hospitals, where the nurses along with other non-nursing staff members were observed bathing the patients using bath basins. It is noted that after the patient is bath the bath water from the basin is discarded into the hospital room sink. Emptying...
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... spiritual, and medical. The article “Exploration of nurse practitioner practice with clients who are grieving” (White & Ferszt, 2009) explores the unique clinical challenges and roles of the nurse practitioner in working with patients who are grieving the death of a loved one. The authors chose a qualitative, descriptive, exploratory method to explore the NP’s practice working with grieving clients within a primary care setting. This approach is suitable for the type of information that was being researched, as it leaves more room for undirected answers and an open forum for the participants of the study to share their phenomenological experiences. The dearth of previous research in this area lends itself to qualitative research, as qualitative research is an appropriate way to open up the discourse and to determine what further questions might be worthwhile to investigate in the future (Polit & Beck, 2012). The authors used the purposive sampling method to select nine NP’s with significant experience grief and primary care, also are known for their holistic, comprehensive nursing approach, with the idea that substantive data could be obtained from these clinicians. The research conducted was a retrospective study about the care of particular grieving patients that these NP’s had provided in the past. After receiving three questions one month in advance of the interview, in order to prepare—pertaining to signs and symptoms of grief, strategies of care, and health outcomes—...
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