NR 439 Week 4 Discussion: Designs – A Plan to Study for the Truth
NR 439 Week 4 Discussion: Designs – A Plan to Study for the Truth
Please see that there are THREE questions you must answer here. Students frequently have difficulty differentiating between quantitative and qualitative studies. Quantitative studies are fairly straightforward. If you think of the word “quantity”, it means how many, expressed in numbers. So, quantitative studies are always expressed in numbers – the percentage of respondents with BSNs, the overall course rating of 3.8 (mean), or the statistical difference between the intervention group and the control group.
It gets tricky when qualitative studies are described as dealing with perceptions, feelings, and experiences. This is very true, but it all depends on how you collect and analyze the data. Let’s say I want to research nurses’ perceptions of administrative support when a change is initiated. On the surface, that sounds like a qualitative study. However, let’s say I collect the data with a survey instrument that has Likert-type response with a number assigned to the responses (Strongly agree = 5, Agree = 4, Neither agree or disagree = 3, disagree = 2, strongly disagree = 1). My questions are somewhat as follows: My charge nurse was available to help implement the change, Time was given during work hours to attend seminars related to the change, There was time given to practice the change before it was implemented, etc. This survey is definitely exploring nurses’ perceptions and feelings. However, their answers to the questions can be quantified by calculating the mean. Therefore, it is a quantitative study, not qualitative, even though it is not comparing outcomes, or finding a correlation between events.
In the same scenario, let’s say instead of using a survey with forced-choice, Likert-style questions, I used open-ended questions – How do you feel about the preparation you were given related to this change? That would make it a qualitative study. I would be examining feelings, but instead of having quantifiable answers, I would have to analyze the responses for themes. The same holds true for interviews “Tell me about the support you received from administration when the change was implemented” or focus groups discussing the concepts.
So, the bottom line is – determining whether a study is going to be (or is) quantitative or qualitative frequently boils down to the data collection and analysis methods. Is the data collected with an instrument that can be quantified? Are the results expressed in numbers? If so, it is a quantitative study. Is the data collected through open-ended questions, interviews, focus groups, or narratives of observations? Are the data analyzed by identifying themes? If so, it is a qualitative study.
For the third question, please remind the class of your clinical nursing priority problem from your Week 3 assignment.
Week 4 discussion:
Reflect on your learning about Quantitative and Qualitative research; share two ways that helped you understand how they are different.
The word “quantitative” to me is related to quantity or numbers, and the word of “qualitative” is related to quality. When I do grocery shopping, with same amount of money, I could buy two times volume on non-organic produce than organic produce (quantitative vs qualitative).
Professor Charneia’s example gives me a clear distinguish of these two terms. Quantitative study is a type of study conducted in a traditional method, it measures the identified variables of interest in a trust and valid way. (Houser, 2018). Quantitative research is a process of objectively collecting data and analyzing numerical data. Its’ goals are to test the relationships between variables, generalize results to audience (Houser, 2018). Quantitative research use satistics to identify the significant differences between groups of data. Quantitative research can be counted, measured, and represented with data. Quantitative research is structured, objective and conclusive.
Qualitative study is an exploratory study. It focuses on an understanding of underlying reasons, opinions, and motivations (Houser, 2018). Qualitative study provides insights of an issue, help the researchers to understand a situation, develop ideas. Qualitative study is a process of collecting, analyzing, and interpreting non-numerical data, such as concepts, and descriptions. It can be conducted through observations, interviews and case studies (Houser, 2018). The study usually uses open-ended questions, facilitates the responders to response with their own words. Qualitative study required less or no structure. It is interpretive and subjective (Houser, 2018).
Choose one category of study design that you found interesting and describe; include what you learned about the design and how you believe it can help study nursing problems.
Quantitative study interests me the most. This type of research is most useful in nursing evidence-based practice. It is used to improve nurses’ clinical intervention, and outcome. It allows nurses to determine if the intervention has resulted a desired effect or if the intervention is needed to be changed or modified. Through presenting numerical data, quantitative study answer questions about nursing intervention that can influence outcomes (Houser, 2018). Quantitative study offers strong evidence for the benefit of an intervention and the cause and effect in nursing practice, the vital of nursing evidence-based practice.
I used Quantitative study in my week 3 assignment. Through the accurate numeric data collection, valid measurements, and results analyzing, quantitative study provides trustworthy evidence of nursing intervention. Quantitative study is important due to its’ accurate approach for collecting and analyzing measurable data.
Refer back to your clinical nursing priority problem and evidence you located for your week 3 assignment: The nursing-evidenced practice (NEBP) committee has requested for you to make a recommendation to the team: Describe the type of research and the design that you believe would be the best way to study your problem. Discuss your rationale.
I chose the study of CAUTI as my nursing priority in my week 3 assignment. CAUTI is most prevalent hospital-associate infection (Woten, 2018). ICU patient has the highest risk of developing CAUTI. It is also preventable by nursing interventions. Quantitative approach is the most effective way to conduct this study. The numerical data accurately reflect the declined of CAUTI compared to standardized infection ratio, decreased ICU CAUTI incidents, and shorter in catheter days compared to without nursing interventions (Scanlon, 2020). Quasi-experimental design is the study of the cause and effect by using existing groups to test interventions. I believe this design best to fit my CAUTI research. My research goal is obtaining the most accurate data and prove that multimodal nursing intervention can effectively prevent and reduce CAUTI. It is one of our nursing optimal goals: provide patients with best evidence-based practice, prevent harm, and safe lives.
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Reference
Houser, J. (2018). Nursing research: Reading, using, and creating evidence (4th ed.). Jones and Bartlett.
Scanlon, K. A. (2020). Saving lives and reducing harm: A CAUTI reduction program. Nursing Economic$. May/Jun2017, Vol. 35 Issue 3, p134-141. 8p. 1 Diagram, 1 Chart, 4 Graphs., Database
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Woten, M. & Mennella, H. National patient safety goals (The joint commission, 2018): selecting evidence-based measures to monitor catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs)
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Question1.
Reflect on your learning about Quantitative and Qualitative research; share two ways that helped you understand how they are different.
Quantitative Research focuses on a traditional approach in which the environment is tightly controlled by the researcher. The variables are identified and measured in a reliable and valid way.
Qualitative Research focuses on the individual’s perception rather than that of the researcher. Qualitative research believes there is no one view of reality, but is the individual s perception of what is their reality.
Question2.
Choose one category of study design that you found interesting and describe; include what you learned about the design and how you believe it can help study nursing problems.
The category of design research I choose is the Experimental design. It refers to studies of causes and effects, which are usually under taken to determine the effectiveness of the intervention. Houser(2019). After going back and reviewing the literature, I feel the most suitable research is the mixed approach, which combines quantitative and qualitative elements it involves the description of the measurable state of a phenomenon and the individual subjective response to it. Houser(2018).This translates to patient satisfaction. The nurse/researcher establishes relationship/partnership with the common goal to assist the individual to a healthy state. In my area this means the delivery of a healthy mother and baby
Question 3
Refer back to your clinical nursing priority problem and evidence you located for your week 3 assignment: The nursing-evidenced practice (NEBP) committee has requested for you to make a recommendation to the team: Describe the type of research and the design that you believe would be the best way to study your problem. Discuss your rationale.
For the priority problem that I chose, excessive call light usage. I would suggest that the committee initiate the ‘Nurse hourly rounding survey’ on every patient admitted for delivery. The use of the patient care white board is where the hourly rounds will be marked off. The nurse checks each hour that she interacts with the patient. This is the opportunity for patient teaching and care assistance. The follow-up was conducted in postpartum, by the members of the committee members. 100/100 patients were surveyed about their perspective of their care they had received. The results improved by 38-40%, to 98-100% satisfaction with the Nurse hourly rounding. Patients were impressed by the personalized care they felt they had received. This is quantitative/ qualitative research. I would suggest that survey be initially conducted for 3-6 months and then compare them with the HCAPHS scores.
Reference
Houser, J. (2018). Nursing research: Reading, using, and creating evidence (4th ed.). Jones and Bartlett.
