Reference no: EM133504003
Qualitative and quantitative methods both have their place in nursing research. Deciding which one to use depends mostly on what is being researched and and the researchers discernment (Gagi et al, 2023). Using as many ways as possible to prove one's research from different perspective and walks of life will only increase the studies validity and reliability in the readers eyes.
Qualitative research methods looks at the "how" and the "why" of the the theory, being researched (Cleland, 2017). This method will look very closely into the human experience or phenomena being examined and ask very hard questions about the theory of which no number value can be placed (Cleland, 2017). Researching and pondering these important question that have not numerical value will really help one expand their own knowledge and understanding in the matter being researched and in life (Cleland, 2017). The disadvantage is that one is relying on more of an abstract or subjective type of data from observing people's experience, or observing phenomenon and this can harbor some bias. As a nursing researcher and reading the qualitative data with a grain of salt in mind to be able to spot the bias, so that one may know if the study is valid or not.
Quantitative research methods are very factual and numerically driven, with having many statistics to prove the theory of the research and proved unbiased validity. Quantitative date provides clarity, reliability , and value to the nursing research methods. The research will use measurement on one or all four levels of nominal, ordinal, ratio, and interval measurement scales (Gagi et al, 2023). These measurements will then specify the subject of examination (Gagi et al, 2023). The disadvantage is that numbers alone to do not provide that "human touch" piece. This is important in nursing because nursing looks at the patient from a holistic approach. Nursing takes the whole patient and their needs into account and in theory that is what the nursing research methods should do as well.