Answer 3 for NURS 8210 Week 11: Evaluating Health Information Technology Systems
Qualitative and quantitative research methods are used in the research process to serve different purposes. However, both are important as they offer different kinds of data and results. Therefore, it is important for a researcher to know when to use qualitative or quantitative research method. In some cases, a mixed study method that integrates both qualitative and quantitative approaches can be used based on the aims of the research and the nature of the data that needs to be collected (Gray & Grove, 2020). The implication is that a researcher needs to have a clear idea regarding what a proposed research should be exploring, the aims or objectives to be achieved, and the nature of the data to be collected.
In some cases, it might be useful to use both the quantitative and qualitative approaches or mixed methods to support a research design. A mixed method can be used when a researcher wants to explore a phenomenon comprehensively (Tashakkori et al.,2020). For example, when studying an intervention administered to patients, quantitative surveys can be used in obtained numerical data regarding the patient’s satisfaction with the intervention. On the other hand, focus groups or interviews can be used to reveal qualitative data that offers insight into the underlying reasons for potential dissatisfaction. A mixed method can also be used in case there is a need for theory development and triangulation of findings.
A combination of qualitative and quantitative approaches is use in systematic reviews to support evidence-based practice. The approach is a strategy used in a comprehensive understanding of a particular phenomenon to be investigated (Siddaway et al.,2019). The qualitative study offers insights into the meanings, perspectives, and experiences related to the phenomenon under investigation. As such, as part of systematic reviews, qualitative studies are used to explore mechanisms and contexts that underline the phenomenon or intervention under consideration. Besides, quantitative data from quantitative studies such as randomized controlled trials are included to offer insight into the pooled estimates of effect sizes.
References
Gray, J. R., & Grove, S. K. (2020). Burns and Grove’s the practice of nursing research: Appraisal, synthesis, and generation of evidence (9th ed.). Elsevier.
Siddaway, A. P., Wood, A. M., & Hedges, L. V. (2019). How to do a systematic review: a best practice guide for conducting and reporting narrative reviews, meta-analyses, and meta-syntheses. Annual Review of Psychology, 70, 747-770. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-psych-010418-102803
Tashakkori, A., Johnson, R. B., & Teddlie, C. (2020). Foundations of mixed methods research: Integrating quantitative and qualitative approaches in the social and behavioral sciences. Sage publicat
