Qualitative Data
Qualitative Data Has Been Described as Voluminous and Sometimes Overwhelming to the Researcher. In What Ways Could a Researcher Manage and Organize the Data?
Qualitative research plays an important role in scientific development. They may be also very helpful in some practical areas, including nursing. However, the process of research should be properly organized and implemented. The results obtained from qualitative research may be broader and even more objective, in comparison with quantitative ones as you can see in thesis hypothesis.
Qualitative data allows investigating qualitative aspects of human life and activity. As a large fraction of human activity may not be expressed in a quantitative form, it may be effectively analyzed from a qualitative perspective. For example, nursing research may be focused on feelings and experience of patients, the possible development of nurses throughout their career, and some multidisciplinary effects of nursing practices. All of these spheres include qualitative aspects. Experience and feelings are always subjective and cannot be objectively examined through quantitative techniques. The possible career development of nurses includes their personal expectations and a number of different macroeconomic and social scenarios. Thus, qualitative research may contribute to solving these issues.
The process of qualitative research should be examined in more detail. It should be understood as a systematic process that aims at complex investigation of qualitative aspects of individual and social life. Qualitative research typically deals with social processes, as they have a large number of qualitative characteristics. Qualitative research activities should be logical and well-planned. At the beginning, the objectives of the study should be determined. Then, the most appropriate methods should be outlined. Then, the relevant information should be collected. Objective information is very significant for objective research and conclusions.
Nursing qualitative research may be closely related to evidence-based practice. It will provide relevant evidences regarding patient care. After the collection of all available current evidences, the individual preferences of clients and patients should be considered. They may be included in the broad analytical model. On the basis of qualitative research, the practitioners may be able to make more developed and correct decisions.
It should be pointed out that qualitative research is not homogeneous. It includes a large number of methodological, epistemological, and ontological aspects. However, some general aspects may be outlined. First of all, the data collection process differs significantly from quantitative research. The collected information is generally presented in a pictorial or verbal form. Thus, its form is different from typical numerical representation. Qualitative research aims at integrating all relevant aspects of reality and it may be rather complex.
A researcher may manage and organize relevant data in a number of ways, as qualitative research may include both inductive and deductive reasoning. Inductive research is focused on observation and generalizing. The researcher collects data from empirically observable facts. Then, he/ she organizes them in accordance with the research objectives. If some tendency is determined, the adequate hypothesis may be introduced. If it is accepted by additional empirical evidences, it may be accepted. However, inductive research has some shortcomings related to the fact that there is a possibility of falsifying current theory and hypothesis in the future. Therefore, deductive approaches may be used, as well. They begin from generally accepted facts and try to establish new facts and laws through the system of logical conclusions. Thus, if the premises and logical structure are correct, then the conclusions should be correct, as well. In this respect, the researcher should be focused on the selection of correct initial premises and rational logical structure. When the theory is developed, the empirical data may be observed, collected, and interpreted accordingly.
Thus, qualitative research includes a significant number of techniques. All of them are interrelated and may be implemented in a complex way. They may contribute to a deeper understanding of qualitative aspects of social processes including nursing.
Qualitative research plays an important role in scientific development. They may be also very helpful in some practical areas, including nursing. However, the process of research should be properly organized and implemented. The results obtained from qualitative research may be broader and even more objective, in comparison with quantitative ones as you can see in thesis hypothesis.
Qualitative data allows investigating qualitative aspects of human life and activity. As a large fraction of human activity may not be expressed in a quantitative form, it may be effectively analyzed from a qualitative perspective. For example, nursing research may be focused on feelings and experience of patients, the possible development of nurses throughout their career, and some multidisciplinary effects of nursing practices. All of these spheres include qualitative aspects. Experience and feelings are always subjective and cannot be objectively examined through quantitative techniques. The possible career development of nurses includes their personal expectations and a number of different macroeconomic and social scenarios. Thus, qualitative research may contribute to solving these issues.
The process of qualitative research should be examined in more detail. It should be understood as a systematic process that aims at complex investigation of qualitative aspects of individual and social life. Qualitative research typically deals with social processes, as they have a large number of qualitative characteristics. Qualitative research activities should be logical and well-planned. At the beginning, the objectives of the study should be determined. Then, the most appropriate methods should be outlined. Then, the relevant information should be collected. Objective information is very significant for objective research and conclusions.
Nursing qualitative research may be closely related to evidence-based practice. It will provide relevant evidences regarding patient care. After the collection of all available current evidences, the individual preferences of clients and patients should be considered. They may be included in the broad analytical model. On the basis of qualitative research, the practitioners may be able to make more developed and correct decisions.
It should be pointed out that qualitative research is not homogeneous. It includes a large number of methodological, epistemological, and ontological aspects. However, some general aspects may be outlined. First of all, the data collection process differs significantly from quantitative research. The collected information is generally presented in a pictorial or verbal form. Thus, its form is different from typical numerical representation. Qualitative research aims at integrating all relevant aspects of reality and it may be rather complex.
A researcher may manage and organize relevant data in a number of ways, as qualitative research may include both inductive and deductive reasoning. Inductive research is focused on observation and generalizing. The researcher collects data from empirically observable facts. Then, he/ she organizes them in accordance with the research objectives. If some tendency is determined, the adequate hypothesis may be introduced. If it is accepted by additional empirical evidences, it may be accepted. However, inductive research has some shortcomings related to the fact that there is a possibility of falsifying current theory and hypothesis in the future. Therefore, deductive approaches may be used, as well. They begin from generally accepted facts and try to establish new facts and laws through the system of logical conclusions. Thus, if the premises and logical structure are correct, then the conclusions should be correct, as well. In this respect, the researcher should be focused on the selection of correct initial premises and rational logical structure. When the theory is developed, the empirical data may be observed, collected, and interpreted accordingly.
Thus, qualitative research includes a significant number of techniques. All of them are interrelated and may be implemented in a complex way. They may contribute to a deeper understanding of qualitative aspects of social processes including nursing.
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