Introduction to Qualitative Nursing Research

Introduction to Qualitative Nursing Research

In the nursing profession, acquiring relevant evidence-based information is an indispensable task. This information serves as the foundation for conducting research, requiring extensive knowledge, research skills, and a deep understanding of current nursing concepts. In the pursuit of valuable data, nurses often employ either quantitative or qualitative research methods.

Research methods in nursing are essential for effectively exploring various concepts. Among these methods, qualitative research holds a prominent place due to its emphasis on nursing theories. Nevertheless, many students encounter challenges when trying to grasp both qualitative and quantitative research in nursing. This article aims to provide insights into qualitative nursing research methods. To begin, let’s delve into the definition and scope of qualitative nursing research.

What is Qualitative Nursing Research?

Defining qualitative nursing research can be a complex endeavor, as scholars argue that simplifying its definition contradicts the philosophy underpinning this research approach. Qualitative nursing research typically commences by addressing an unknown phenomenon, often a clinical problem, with the goal of comprehending its multifaceted aspects. This characteristic makes qualitative research particularly valuable when there is limited existing information about a concept, as it aids in identifying critical components and frameworks.

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Qualitative research not only lays the groundwork for future qualitative and quantitative nursing studies but also stands alone as a valuable approach. Despite the diversity within qualitative research, certain characteristics define its methodology. These characteristics include holism, subjectivity, inter-subjectivity, and contextual situatedness.

Holism underscores the importance of examining each individual as a holistic system influenced by their environment. Subjectivity acknowledges that each person constructs their subjective world, which is shaped by their interactions with others and their surroundings. Inter-subjectivity recognizes that individuals’ experiences are influenced by their relationships with others. Finally, contextual situatedness emphasizes that an individual’s history and interactions impact their perceptions of the world. In essence, qualitative research seeks to compile factual data and information by exploring these various dimensions.

Diverse Approaches to Nursing Research

Qualitative research encompasses a wide array of topics and investigates phenomena about which little is known. Consequently, the designs and methodologies employed in qualitative research can vary significantly. Despite this diversity, most qualitative research methods share common features: emergence and holism. These methods require the integration of data collection strategies and the involvement of skilled researchers.

While qualitative nursing research approaches continue to evolve with technological advancements, it is crucial to adhere to thorough planning and careful consideration. This includes selecting a research topic, choosing an appropriate research design, and outlining comprehensive strategies for data collection, all aimed at enhancing the quality of the study.

Many qualitative nursing research templates are intricate and demand a high level of skill and focus. Some methodologies have originated in other disciplines, while others have no specific disciplinary lineage. Models that are not tied to a particular discipline, such as descriptive designs, may draw from various approaches. However, some scholars do not consider them to be comprehensive methods.

1) Sampling Methods

The selection of sampling methods in qualitative research depends on the chosen research design. Qualitative nursing research samples are typically small, nonrandom, purposively selected, and intensively studied. Qualitative research sampling revolves around accurately describing and deciphering the meaning within experiences.

Researchers seek out informative participants who are considered “information-rich” because they contribute to a deeper understanding by representing diverse demographics and a range of experiences. As the study progresses, students engage with reliable participants who either confirm, question, adjust, or enrich their understanding of the phenomenon of interest.

Many researchers argue that the principles and conceptual frameworks of qualitative research elevate not only a specific study but also have the potential for broader application. For instance, a qualitative study on the lived experiences of minority nursing faculty and the incivility they encounter may yield insights relevant to populations beyond nursing or minority faculty, including foreign-born students, nurses, or faculty members.

2) Data Collection and Analysis

The selection of data collection and analysis methodologies in qualitative research is guided by the study’s design. Common data collection methods include interviews (both unstructured and semi-structured), focus groups, observations of individuals, environments, or contexts, document analysis, record examination, artifact examination, photography, and journaling. Researchers must balance the task of gaining participants’ trust while maintaining a level of emotional detachment. This entails ensuring comprehensive data collection and analysis, organizing data management effectively, and practicing reflexivity during data collection.

Reflexivity involves a thorough examination of each stage of the research process. In contrast to quantitative researchers who often employ validated instruments, qualitative researchers themselves serve as the research tools. Consequently, they must remain attentive when collecting and managing high-quality data. Journaling can aid researchers in identifying and managing how their behavioral patterns and viewpoints influence their study outcomes.

Qualitative data is typically captured in detailed notes, memos, and audio or video recordings, which are often transcribed verbatim and reviewed manually or with software programs like ATLAS.ti, HyperRESEARCH, MAXQDA, or NVivo. Analyzing qualitative data can be a complex endeavor. Researchers act as reductionists, distilling vast amounts of data into concise yet rich and meaningful insights. They employ coding or thematic identification to transform abstract concepts into tangible data. What distinguishes qualitative research is its presentation in the form of narratives conveyed in everyday language, making it generally accessible and understandable.

3) Evaluating Qualitative Research

Assessing the quality of nursing research methods can be a challenging task. Various terms are used to define study quality, including rigor, validity, integrity, and trustworthiness. Nursing professionals must determine whether research outcomes accurately and comprehensively represent the phenomenon of interest. Many researchers adopt a quality framework when discussing strategies to enhance quality. Examples of such frameworks include:

– A set of trustworthiness criteria that enhance integrity, dependability, confirmability, transferability, and validity.
– Validity in the context of qualitative nursing research encompasses factors like credibility, authenticity, criticality, integrity, explicitness, clarity, creativity, diligence, unity, and sensitivity.

Numerous methods can be employed within these frameworks to meet established criteria and improve research quality. To assess rigor, it is essential to look for concise and informative descriptions of the research and design. Additionally, providing an abstract that succinctly summarizes key points, including the background, purpose, methods, results, and conclusions, is crucial.

The Role of Qualitative Research in Evidence-Based Practice (EBP)

Qualitative research plays a vital role in generating evidence and aids nurses in understanding patient preferences. Qualitative research enables nurses to gain insight into the perspectives, meanings, needs, and desires of individuals. While qualitative research may not always be generalized in the traditional sense, it allows nurses to appreciate the unique experiences of each person.

In practice, qualitative research helps preserve patient autonomy by recognizing patients as individuals rather than reducing them to standardized protocols or plans. It acknowledges that everyone encountered in the healthcare setting contributes to understanding what is best for them. Qualitative nursing research deepens our comprehension of complex issues and multiple facets of a problem, offering valuable insights that complement other forms of evidence.

When integrated with patient assessments and other sources of information, qualitative research enhances the successful implementation of evidence-based practice. For instance, a conceptual exploration of the personal experiences of disaster response workers may reveal the strengths and weaknesses of individuals, populations, and systems, allowing for targeted interventions. Similarly, a phenomenological study of the lived experiences of critical-care patients could unveil factors influencing delirium.

The importance of Qualitative Nursing Research

Qualitative nursing research not only contributes to the implementation of practical interventions but also serves as a foundation for future quantitative and qualitative research endeavors. Developing expertise in initiating

and evaluating qualitative research can effectively support nurses in implementing evidence-based practice.

Perspectives of Qualitative Nursing Researchers

Qualitative nursing researchers believe that by carefully examining what individuals share with us, or what we can perceive as we assess their condition, we gain insight into different perspectives. For instance, the experience of pregnancy may have some similarities but is inherently unique for each woman and distinct, particularly for a mother with a disability.

According to qualitative researchers, reality is socially constructed and context-dependent. Even as you read this article, your experience may vary from that of other students. Some may be wholly engrossed in the content, while others may be reading it with concern about the approval of their financial assistance.

Qualitative researchers assert that meaningful discoveries form the bedrock of knowledge; their survey questions, perspectives, and actions often diverge significantly from those of quantitative researchers. For instance, qualitative researchers seek to understand the “lived experience” of research participants. They may gather new data through interviews or observations and use this information to construct narratives about research phenomena.

Qualitative researchers recognize the imperative need to fully define the phenomenon under investigation. Even a reader moderately familiar with the concept should find a well-written qualitative research report enlightening. Such a report should prompt an “aha!” moment, as it sheds light on previously unexplored aspects of a topic.

Types of Research Design in Nursing

A qualitative study in nursing encompasses various facets, including a review of existing literature, the research process, study structure and sample composition, data collection methods, empirical evidence analysis, and implications for both practice and further research. Exploring these elements of qualitative studies sheds light on how nurses employ the qualitative research approach to generate fresh insights for practice. Let’s delve into these aspects of qualitative research.

1) Literature Examination

When professionals determine that a qualitative nursing research approach is the most suitable method for addressing a research question, they begin by examining relevant literature to understand what is already known about the phenomenon of interest. In cases where there is limited literature on the specific topic under investigation, researchers may need to adopt a creative approach.

They may explore research related to similar topics, involving the same patient population, or centered around closely related principles. For example, if researchers aim to investigate decision-making regarding pregnancy among women with disabling illnesses and find no prior nursing research in this area, they can explore studies on pregnancy decision-making among women without disabling illnesses.

Such related research can guide the literature review process by identifying key concepts and relationships that inform the research inquiry. This approach can unveil the specific areas requiring further exploration in qualitative nursing research, inform the composition of the research sample, and guide the formulation of research questions.

Example

Consider a research team interested in examining adherence to antiretroviral treatment among HIV-infected women. In the absence of prior research on this specific topic, the researchers may turn to studies on treatment adherence in other illnesses, such as diabetes or hypertension. They might also explore research addressing gender disparities in medication adherence.

By conducting a literature review, even when literature on the precise phenomenon of interest is lacking, researchers can uncover related information that informs the investigation of new questions. Following these steps, an effective literature review should reveal both the strengths and weaknesses of prior research. It should also provide a clear understanding of the new research questions and their significance.

2) Study Design

The study design outlines how qualitative researchers intend to address their research questions. In qualitative research, researchers may adopt a straightforward or naturalistic design that adheres to the fundamental principles of qualitative inquiry while not strictly committing to a specific methodology. Qualitative nursing research encompasses various methods, some of which will be discussed in subsequent sections.

It is essential to align the chosen study design with the philosophical underpinnings of qualitative research. Qualitative approaches typically do not employ methods commonly found in quantitative research, such as random sampling or extensive questionnaire batteries. Instead, a qualitative design is characterized by elements such as participant interviews, observations, inductive data analysis strategies, and the use of data to construct narrative accounts that provide detailed descriptions of respondents’ experiences.

The characterization of a study design may also mention a pilot study, which represents preliminary work conducted by the researcher before embarking on the main study. This pilot phase ensures the feasibility of the research project in terms of logistics. For example, it may assess whether the research team can successfully recruit participants and whether qualitative data collection methods yield the required information.

3) Sample Composition

The study sample consists of individuals who will be interviewed or observed by the researcher as part of the data collection process aimed at addressing the research questions. In most qualitative studies, researchers seek a purposive sample, meaning they look for individuals with specific characteristics or experiences relevant to the phenomenon under investigation.

For instance, researchers might seek to engage with women diagnosed with conditions like multiple sclerosis or rheumatoid arthritis. Researchers may also establish inclusion and exclusion criteria, such as requiring participants to be over 18 years old, not using illicit drugs, or specifying first pregnancies as opposed to subsequent ones. Defining these criteria allows researchers to identify and attract participants who possess the requisite experiences to shed light on the phenomenon of interest.

Researchers often make deliberate decisions about who should be included in the research sample, such as defining who qualifies as a “long-term survivor” of a particular illness. In such cases, researchers must provide a comprehensive rationale for these decisions. They may need to address questions like: Is someone considered a long-term survivor after five years of illness? What about ten years? What is the average duration of survival for individuals with this diagnosis? As a reader of nursing research, you should look for evidence of sound scientific reasoning behind the sampling strategy.

Example

Once researchers have determined the composition of the research sample, the next step involves devising strategies to locate and engage potential participants in the research. Recruitment methods are often specific to the research context. For instance, researchers interested in interviewing HIV-infected women regarding adherence to treatment may distribute flyers or publicly announce their recruitment efforts to attract both adherent and non-adherent women.

Some researchers may focus solely on one of these categories. For example, if researchers aim to explore pregnancy decision-making among women with disabling conditions, they would develop recruitment strategies targeting patients who meet the specified criteria or characteristics.

In the results section of a research report, the researcher may include a brief description of the research sample. In any case, a qualitative researcher should provide key demographic details about the study participants, highlighting relevant distinctions within the sample. For instance, in a sample of HIV-infected women, information about the severity of their illness, the number and types of medications they take, the number of children they have, and other pertinent factors should be included. This information helps contextualize the research findings.

In Conclusion

As a nursing practitioner engaged in research endeavors, this article on qualitative nursing research provides valuable insights and guidance. Whether you are completing a research project or seeking relevant information, the examples and principles outlined here can prove invaluable. At onlinenursepapers.com, we offer specialized expertise to assist you with qualitative nursing research.

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