Week 3 Response-Nursing Theory
Respond to 1 classmate and discuss which methodology you have chosen for your research and why. A method that allows for a survey may be a great place to start. (Minimum 200 words)
Comparing and Contrasting Qualitative, Quantitative, and Mixed Methods Research Methodologies
Qualitative Research explores events by gathering non-numerical data, mostly through interviews, focus groups, or observations. This method is used to understand people’s experiences, behaviors, and social contexts and is useful for understanding complicated, subjective aspects of human behavior. The data is analyzed in themes, identifying patterns and themes. Qualitative research is often flexible and gives way to an in-depth understanding of a particular topic but may lack generalizability due to smaller scale sizes and subjective interpretations (Creswell & Poth, 2018).
On the other hand, Quantitative Research uses numerical data to measure and analyze variables. It uses statistical techniques to determine variables’ relationships, effects, or differences. This research approach is often used in experimental studies, surveys, and clinical trials. Quantitative research offers objective, generalizable results due to large sample sizes, and the data collection is often standardized. However, it may lack a detailed understanding of the qualitative methods that it provides, as it focuses on numbers rather than the context behind the data (Polit & Beck, 2017).
Mixed Methods Research combines both qualitative and quantitative standpoints, targeting to provide a detailed view of the research problem. It can verify findings across different methodologies and provide a much better and full understanding by integrating statistical analysis with in-depth qualitative insights. While mixed methods research can be valuable, it also takes a lot of time and requires expertise in both qualitative and quantitative techniques, making it challenging to execute properly (Creswell & Plano Clark, 2017).
Comparing and Contrasting Non-Experimental and Systematic Review Research Methods
Non-Experimental Research is a method in which researchers study and observe subjects in a natural setting without tampering with any variables. Examples include observational studies, correlational studies, and surveys. The main strength of non-experimental research is that it depicts real-world situations and is beneficial for studying relationships between variables when ethical or practical concerns do not allow experimental manipulation. However, this method cannot provide causation, as it only shows associations between variables (Babbie, 2020).
Systematic Reviews differ significantly from non-experimental research, as they involve the combination of multiple studies to provide a detailed overview of evidence on a particular topic. A systematic review follows a structured or standard approach to search, select, and evaluate research articles, targeting to answer a specific research question based on the collective findings. This method is highly valuable for evidence-based practice because it combines results from numerous studies to get more generalizable conclusions. However, systematic reviews can be limited by the quality of the studies included and may introduce bias if the literature search is not thorough (Higgins et al., 2019).
References
Babbie, E. (2020). The Practice of Social Research (15th ed.). Cengage Learning.
Creswell, J. W., & Poth, C. N. (2018). Qualitative Inquiry and Research Design: Choosing Among Five Approaches (4th ed.). SAGE Publications.
Creswell, J. W., & Plano Clark, V. L. (2017). Designing and Conducting Mixed Methods Research (3rd ed.). SAGE Publications.
Higgins, J. P. T., Thomas, J., Chandler, J., Cumpston, M., Li, T., Page, M. J., & Welch, V. A. (Eds.). (2019). Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions (2nd ed.). John Wiley & Sons.
Polit, D. F., & Beck, C. T. (2017). Nursing Research: Generating and Assessing Evidence for Nursing Practice (10th ed.). Wolters Kluwer.