Answer 3 for NRS 445 Provide an example of a nursing practice problem that could be studied using a mixed methods approach
NRS 445 Provide an example of a nursing practice problem that could be studied using a mixed methods approach
While the theoretical foundations of both qualitative and quantitative methods are different utilizing both methods in a research study can have many advantages as well as disadvantages.
Qualitative research is looking at opinions and personal experiences that are not based on numbers and is typically low cost to the researcher. Whereas quantitative research is based on numerical data using a very large sample population to pull from and is more accurate in determining outcomes.
With quantitative research a major disadvantage is that the design of the study and interpretation of the data can be biased or manipulated depending on who pays for the study. The benefactor can skew the results in a way that can benefit. A disadvantage of qualitative research is because its based on opinion and personal experience it can take years to collect data and results can’t be replicated or measured.
An area in nursing practice that can benefit from both qualitative and quantitative research methods is the pain scale. Pain is both subjective and objective. Subjective in how the patient feels the pain and objective in the cue that we obtain such as increased blood pressure. The more data that is collected on how patient react to pain the better and more equipped we as nurses can be to help them reduce and eventually become pain free.
Falkner, A., Green, S., Helbig, J., Johnson, J., McNiff, P., Petrick, M., and Schmidt, M. (2022) History and Process of Nursing Research, Evidence-Based Nursing Practice, and Quantitative and Qualitative Research Process. Nursing Research: Understanding Methods for Best Practice (Second Edition). https://bibliu.com/app/#/view/books/1000000000588/epub/Chapter1.html
Noyes, J., Booth, A., Moore, G., Flemming, K., Tunçalp, Ö., & Shakibazadeh, E. (2019). Synthesising quantitative and qualitative evidence to inform guidelines on complex interventions: clarifying the purposes, designs and outlining some methods. BMJ global health, 4(Suppl 1), e000893. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjgh-2018-000893
Sample
You have put it well that the application of the qualitative and quantitative methods has major advantages to the researchers and as well is characterized by a few challenges. Qualitative methods as seen in your work is aimed at analyzing and evaluating non-numerical data and focuses on the personal experiences and opinions to understand phenomena. The quantitative methods on the other hand evaluate numerical or rather statistical methods in evaluation of concepts (Pyo et al., 2023). There is need to ensure that the two methods are applied appropriately and in most effective ways. A combination of the two methods goes a long way towards enhancing the reliability and validity of research as they embrace a comprehensive and thorough approach.
Reference.
Pyo, J., Lee, W., Choi, E. Y., Jang, S. G., & Ock, M. (2023). Qualitative Research in Healthcare: Necessity and Characteristics. Journal of preventive medicine and public health = Yebang Uihakhoe chi, 56(1), 12–20. https://doi.org/10.3961/jpmph.22.451
