Quantitative And Qualitative Nursing Research
MS: Number 1 peer post
The two significant nursing research designs are qualitative and quantitative methods. Interviews and focus groups are the considerable methods of collecting data in qualitative research. This is different from quantitative research that employs experiments (Hennink, Hutter & Bailey, 2020). Qualitative research is the description for one that investigates a phenomenon in an in-depth and holistic manner. Most importantly, qualitative research methods tend to compile narratives with a flexible research design (Roni et al., 2020).
On the other hand, quantitative research investigates a phenomenon based on precise measurements. Also, quantitative analysis analyzes with the help of a rigorous and controlled design. Research conducted by Rutberg and Bouikdis (2018) reveals that quantitative research involves numbers based on accuracy. This is different from qualitative research that employs an individual’s perceptions and experiences (Rahman, 2020). In this regard, it can be argued that quantitative analysis involves numeric data from experiments. Here, the study is usually structured, and the researcher is in complete control of the data.
An excellent example of a qualitative research question relevant to nursing states, “How could cachexia be prevented among cancer patients receiving aggressive protocols involving chemotherapy and radiation?” In the future, I would seek to know more about cancer patients. Therefore, I would employ this question to enhance the collection of data based on experience. Based on quantitative research, consider the question, “How many times do you visit the dentist for a teeth checkup despite being healthy in a year?” I would employ this question in the future to determine the exact number of times one should visit a dentist within a year. Regarding the question, one would note that the research is based on accuracy and credible numbers.
Number 2 peer post
In research there are many forms of how we can measure and present the research to the public and in turn create evidenced based practice. Two main methods of nursing research are quantitative and qualitative research. Although they both help us measure research, they are drastically different in their purpose and analysis.
Quantitative research is objective, tests theory, and is considered “hard science” (Hitchcock, n.d). Objective data is not influenced by personal thoughts or opinions and is purely factual. While qualitative research on the other hand is subjective, forms theory, and is considered “soft science” (Hitchcock, n.d). In contrast to objective data, subjective data is based on personal feelings and opinions and not on facts. In deciding what tool to use it is important to look at the type of data you are wanting to receive and what you are testing.
employee satisfaction survey
An example of qualitative research would be an employee satisfaction survey. It is purely based on the employees feelings about their own job satisfaction and is not based on facts. Each employee will have their own opinion as to how they ‘feel’ or ‘do not feel’ satisfied at work. Even though there satisfaction may be based on many different factors, none of them are quantifiable. An example of quantitative research from my current job and department would be recording turn over room time between surgeries.
The time would start when the previous patient leaves the room and ends when the next patient enters the room for surgery. The time is recorded in minutes and includes all necessary turnover actions and procedures to prepare for the next patients surgery. This quantitative research would let us know how long turn over times average and it is a purely objective number. Nothing I say or feel about it or any input from anyone else changes these times. The facts and numbers are simply what they are. When doing nursing research it is important to know what type of data your research is applying so it can be properly presented.
