Readings and Overview
Required Materials:
Text:
Burns, N. & Grove, S. K. (2003). Understanding nursing research. (3rd Ed). Philadelphia, PA: W. B. Saunders.
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Objectives
- Describe the scientific rigor associated with qualitative research.
- Differentiate the purposes of the four types of qualitative research.
- Examine the research processes used in phenomenological, grounded theory, ethnographic, and historical research.
- Describe the use of a decision trail, a qualitative research strategy.
- Examine the data collection issues for a qualitative study, including the relationships between the researcher and the participants and the reflections of the researcher on the meaning of the data.
Readings
Chapter 11: Introduction to Qualitative Research
CHAPTER PURPOSE
The purpose of this chapter is to introduce the reader to qualitative
research. A general overview of the following qualitative approaches is
presented: Phenomenology, grounded theory, ethnography, and historical.
Some methods of data collection and analysis for qualitative research
are described. In addition, examples of published studies are provided
to facilitate your understanding of the different qualitative research
methods.
This chapter is very different to read from the preceding chapters, just as qualitative research is quite different from quantitative research. There are numerous excellent examples of the types of qualitative research and good explanations about the qualitative process in general. I highly recommend that you read the chapter, not just for information purposes, but for enjoyment as well. Also, as you are reading the chapter you will note frequent citations for Sandelowski. This is Margie Sandelowski, R.N., Ph.D., F.A.A.N., an internationally recognized expert in qualitative research who is also a professor here at UNC Chapel Hill.
Journal article:
Thorne, S., Radford, & McCormack. (1997). The multiple meanings of long-term gastrostomy in children with severe disability. Journal of Pediatric Nursing, 12(2), 88-99.