Week 10: Qualitative Analysis: Collecting, Analyzing, and Interpreting

“As qualitative research methods achieve ever-wider currency… we need to apply a critical and reflexive gaze. We cannot afford to let qualitative research become a set of taken for granted precepts and procedures. Equally, we should not be so seduced by our collective success or radical chic of new strategies of social research as to neglect the need for methodological rigour” (Holloway & Galvin, 2016).

Qualitative research aims to develop an understanding or interpretation of groups, cultures, or individuals. This research relies on connections and relationships to explore complex emotions and actions of participants, and as such, this type of research can be conducted using a variety of approaches. However, the validity of the research relies on the approach selected to collect the data.

Not all approaches or research designs will be effective for all issues and problems, and it is up to the researcher to analyze and evaluate what research design is determined as the best approach. As a DNP-prepared nurse, you may have the opportunity to conduct qualitative research, and it will be important to understand which approaches work best and why.

This week, you will explore differences in methods when conducting qualitative research. You will consider strengths and weaknesses of the approaches and provide recommendations for improvement. In your Discussion, you will select a topic and analyze how qualitative research can and should be used to explore the problem or issue. You will also submit your Article Critique Assignment.

Reference: Holloway, I., & Galvin, K. (2016). Qualitative research in nursing and healthcare. ProQuest Ebook Central. https://ebookcentral.proquest.com

Learning Objectives

Students will:

• Analyze strengths and weaknesses of research studies
• Analyze impact of research studies on nursing practice
• Recommend changes to study designs and methodologies to support research studies
• Evaluate qualitative research approaches related to topics or issues in nursing practice
• Justify qualitative research approaches to address topics or issues in nursing practice
• Analyze how qualitative research approaches support nursing practice improvement
• Analyze the DNP-prepared nurse’s role on using qualitative research approaches for nursing practice

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Learning Resources

Required Readings (click to expand/reduce)

Required Media (click to expand/reduce)

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Assignment 2: Article Critique

• DNP graduates are expected to apply research findings and integrate nursing science into evidence-based practice. To develop your skills in this high level of nursing practice, you will analyze the strengths and weaknesses of a research study over the next several weeks using the concepts presented throughout the course. Your final analysis will be a 5- to 7-page paper that includes the following:

• Photo Credit: ismagilov / iStock / Getty Images

• A brief, 1- to 2-paragraph overview of the study that you selected.
• An explanation of two to three strengths of the study and support for your selection (i.e., why is this a strength). Be specific.
• An explanation of 2–3 weaknesses of the study and support for your selection (i.e., why is this a weakness). Be specific.
• Note: The strengths and weaknesses that you identified should be in relation to design, sampling, data collection, statistical analysis, results, and discussion of the study that you selected.
• An explanation of proposed changes you would recommend to improve the quality of the study, capitalizing on the strengths and improving on the weaknesses that you identified in the study. Be specific and provide examples.
• A final summary of the implications of this study for nursing practice.

The purpose of the analysis is to help you develop a deeper understanding of the research process, to inspire you to think critically and deeply about research on a specific topic, and to strengthen your ability to integrate research findings into evidence-based nursing practice. This Assignment also gives you practice in analyzing the research literature, which will support you when you begin your DNP project. Before you proceed, please review the rubric for this Assignment.

The Assignment: (5–7 pages)

• Select a research article from the body of literature that you have reviewed related to the practice gap that you have identified and for which you will develop for your DNP Project.
• Review the various quantitative research designs presented in the textbook readings and research articles.
• Consider the research design used in your selected article. Ask yourself the following questions:
  • Is the design appropriate for the study? Why or why not?
  • Would a different design provide better results? Why or why not?

Reminder: The College of Nursing requires that all papers submitted include a title page, introduction, summary, and references. The Sample Paper provided at the Walden Writing Center provides an example of those required elements (available at https://academicguides.waldenu.edu/writingcenter/templates/general#s-lg-box-20293632). All papers submitted must use this formatting.

By Day 7

Submit your Assignment by Day 7 of Week 10.

Submission and Grading Information

To submit your completed Assignment for review and grading, do the following:

• Please save your Assignment using the naming convention “WK10Assgn2+last name+first initial.(extension)” as the name.
• Click the Week 10 Assignment 2 Rubric to review the Grading Criteria for the Assignment.
• Click the Week 10 Assignment 2 link. You will also be able to “View Rubric” for grading criteria from this area.
• Next, from the Attach File area, click on the Browse My Computer button. Find the document you saved as “WK10Assgn2+last name+first initial.(extension)” and click Open.
• If applicable: From the Plagiarism Tools area, click the checkbox for I agree to submit my paper(s) to the Global Reference Database.
• Click on the Submit button to complete your submission.

Grading Criteria

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Week 10 Assignment 2 Rubric

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Submit Your Assignment by Day 7 of Week 10

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Week 10 Assignment 2