Week 9: Qualitative Methods

What is the lived experience of nurses working in healthcare during the year 2020?

What is the experience of patients when nurses utilize evidence-based practice (EBP)?

The above questions are examples of qualitative research questions. Qualitative studies allow for a broader, more complex study of individuals and factors, than that of quantitative studies. These studies provide a depth to the research beyond the data provided in quantitative research.

For example, consider the use of quantitative data in the study of end-of-life care. While quantitative data may certainly provide important data concerning patients, facilities, and caregivers, the data would certainly be missing the complexity of the human experience that qualitative research could offer through interviewing those in the experience.

This week, you will begin your analysis of qualitative research methods. You will consider how you might approach a qualitative study and evaluate the methods and considerations used in qualitative research. You will complete your CITI Program Training and will also continue working on your Article Critique Assignment.

Learning Objectives

Students will:

  • Formulate a research question for a qualitative research study
  • Analyze methods of qualitative research
  • Analyze ethical considerations for qualitative research questions
  • Complete human protection and ethics in research training program
  • 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*

*Assigned in Week 7 of Module 3 and submitted in Week 10 of Module 4


Learning Resources

Required Readings (click to expand/reduce)


Discussion: Using Qualitative Research to Inform Evidence-Based Practice

  • “Qualitative researchers are motivated to know more about a phenomenon, a social process, or a culture from the perspectives of the people who are experiencing the phenomenon, involved in the social process, or living in the culture (Gray & Grove, 2020).
    Qualitative research requires extensive time commitment and dedication. While all research can be rigorous and time consuming, by nature, the qualitative researcher seeks to build connections and trust with participants, which adds an additional layer of dedication. However, before research can even begin, researchers must first develop a research question.

Qualitative research questions tend to be broader than quantitative research questions.  In a qualitative study, the researcher seeks to describe an experience or a phenomenon, so the questions are typically more global in scope. Additionally, many research questions describe and guide the research purpose, versus state it directly.  Oftentimes phrases such as, “lived experience, framework or theoretical development, society, culture, or narrative” are used to describe the purpose (Gray & Grove, 2020).

For this Discussion, reflect on an area of interest and develop your own qualitative research question. How might you approach this topic and purpose? What types of research methods and design might you employ to address your qualitative research question?

Reference: Gray, J. R., & Grove, S. K. (2020). Burns and Grove’s the practice of nursing research: Appraisal, synthesis, and generation of evidence (9th ed.). Elsevier.

To Prepare:

  • Review the Learning Resources for this week and reflect on qualitative research methods and designs.
  • Select a topic or issue in nursing practice to focus on for this Discussion.
  • Consider a qualitative research question that you might develop to address the topic or issue in nursing practice that you selected.
  • Reflect on how a qualitative research design might best support a research study to address your research question.
By Day 3 of Week 9

Post a qualitative research question in relation to your topic or issue of interest. Explain why a qualitative research design is best suited to support this research question. Then, describe potential ethical considerations you should keep in mind in relation to your qualitative research question. Be specific and provide examples.

By Day 6 of Week 9

Read a selection of your colleagues’ responses and respond to at least two of your colleagues on two different days in one or more of the following ways:

  • Ask a probing question, substantiated with additional background information, evidence, or research.
  • Share an insight from having read your colleagues’ postings, synthesizing the information to provide new perspectives.
  • Offer and support an alternative perspective using readings from the classroom or from your own research in the Walden Library.
  • Validate an idea with your own experience and additional research.
  • Suggest an alternative perspective based on additional evidence drawn from readings or after synthesizing multiple postings.
  • Expand on your colleagues’ postings by providing additional insights or contrasting perspectives based on readings and evidence.

Note: For this Discussion, you are required to complete your initial post before you will be able to view and respond to your colleagues’ postings. Begin by clicking on the “Post to Discussion Question” link and then select “Create Thread” to complete your initial post. Remember, once you click on Submit, you cannot delete or edit your own posts, and you cannot post anonymously. Please check your post carefully before clicking on Submit!

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