The theoretical foundations of qualitative and quantitative methods are very different, but many researchers believe both methods should be used in the research study to increase validity and reliability. What advantages or disadvantages do you see in using both types of methods in a nursing study? Support your answer with current evidence-based literature.
Advantages to using quantitative research studies rely on numerical or measurable data. Whereas qualitative research studies rely on gathering and interpreting non-numerical data. The researcher would conduct interviews or focus groups to rely on data not available by documentation or records. As qualitative and quantitative studies collect different data, their data collection methods differ considerably. Quantitative studies rely on numerical or measurable data. In contrast, qualitative studies rely on personal accounts or documents that illustrate in detail how people think or respond within society. Qualitative research methods include gathering and interpreting non-numerical data. During a qualitative study, the researcher may conduct interviews or focus groups to collect data that is not available in existing documents or records. To allow freedom for varied or unexpected answers, interviews, and focus groups may be unstructured or semi-structured. An unstructured or semi-structured format allows the researcher to pose open-ended questions and follow where the responses lead.
The responses provide a comprehensive perspective on everyone’s experiences, which are then compared with those of other participants in the study. In contrast, quantitative studies require different data collection methods. These methods include compiling numerical data to test causal relationships among variables. The above collection methods yield data that lends itself to numerical analysis. Questionnaires in this case have a multiple-choice format to generate countable answers, like yes or no, which can be turned into quantifiable data. One of the factors distinguishing qualitative from quantitative studies is the nature of the intended outcome. Qualitative researchers seek to learn from details of the testimonies of those they are studying, also called their informants. Throughout a study, conclusions are drawn by compiling, comparing, and evaluating the informants’ feedback and input. Qualitative research is often focused on answering the “why” behind a phenomenon, correlation, or behavior.
In contrast, quantitative data are analyzed numerically to develop a statistical picture of a trend or connection. Such statistical results may shed light on cause-and-effect relationships. They may either confirm or disprove the study’s original hypothesis. Whether positive or negative, the outcome can spark awareness and action. Quantitative research is often focused on answering the questions of “what” or “how” regarding a phenomenon, correlation, or behavior. Each form of research has benefits and shortcomings. (What is qualitative vs. Quantitative Study? 2021)Researchers must consider their hypotheses and what forms of data collection and analysis are likely to produce the most relevant findings. The qualitative method allows for creativity, varied interpretations, and flexibility. The scope of the research project can change as more information is gathered. However, qualitative studies are more subjective in their results and interpretation than quantitative studies. (What is qualitative vs. Quantitative Study? 2021)
The expertise and perspective of the researcher may strongly influence the interpretation of results and the conclusions reached, as personal bias can be hard to manage. In addition, qualitative studies often test a smaller sample size because of the costs and efforts associated with qualitative data collection methods. Quantitative studies produce objective data, free from the subjectivity of a qualitative study. Results can be communicated through statistics and numbers. Quantitative studies can be quickly produced with the benefit of data computing software. Yet, while objectivity is a benefit of the quantitative method, it can be viewed as a more restrictive form of study. Participants cannot tailor their responses or add context. Further, statistical analysis requires a large data sample, which calls for a large pool of participants. Both quantitative and qualitative methods seek to find patterns in the data they collect that point to a relationship between elements. Qualitative and quantitative data are both instrumental in supporting existing theories and developing new ones. The researcher must determine which kind of research b
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