The document discusses research methodology in nursing. It defines qualitative and quantitative research, and differentiates between the two approaches. Quantitative research uses numerical data to obtain objective information, while qualitative research takes a subjective approach to understand human experiences. The key methods of quantitative research covered are descriptive, correlational, quasi-experimental, and experimental designs. Qualitative methods discussed include phenomenological, grounded theory, ethnographic, exploratory-descriptive, and historical designs. The document provides examples of how each method is applied in nursing research.

1. Presented by : Abid Ali
MLT
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
IN NURSING

2. At the end of this session, the learners will be able to:
 Define Research, Meaning of Nursing Research
 Define the terms of Qualitative and Quantitative research.
 Differentiate between Qualitative and Quantitative research.
 Describe methods/types of Quantitative research and
Qualitative Research
OBJECTIVES
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3. 3
RESEARCH
 RE – SEARCH The word was derived from the old
French word cerchier, meaning to “seek or search”.
 The prefix re means “again” and signifies
replication of the search.

4. CONTI…
 “Research is an attempt to gain solutions to problems.
 Research is a process of systematically searching for new
facts and relationship

5. 5
Meaning of Nursing Research
N- Nurturing Clients
U- Understanding Clients with Empathy
R- Reviewing client’s problems to select priority
S- Systematically Planned Nursing Protocol
I- Interventions are based on rationale.
N- Need for more Nursing Theories
G- Generalized research findings are applied.

6. CONTI…
R- Rational way of thinking
E-Exploratory, Evaluative and Experimental
S-Survey is to search for facts
E-Empirical
A-Analysis of data
R-Review of Literature is Essential
C-Confirmed facts are communicated
H-High standard of Nursing isAssured.

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8.  Quantitative research is a formal, objective, systematic process
in which numerical data are used to obtain information about
the world.
 The quantitative approach toward scientific inquiry emerged
from a branch of philosophy called logical positivism, which
operates on strict rules of logic, truth, laws, and predictions.
 Quantitative researchers hold the position that “truth” is absolute
and that a single reality can be defined by careful measurement.
Quantitative Research
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9.  To find truth, the researcher must be objective, which means that
values, feelings, and personal perceptions cannot enter into the
measurement of reality.
 Quantitative research is conducted to test theory by describing
variables (descriptive research), examining relationships among
variables (correlational research), and determining cause-and effect
interactions between variables (quasi-experimental and
experimental research) (Burns & Grove, 2009; Creswell, 2009).
QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH
CONT..
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10. 10

11.  Qualitative research is a systematic, subjective approach used to
describe life experiences and situations and give them meaning
(Munhall, 2007).
 This research methodology evolved from the behavioral and
social sciences as a method of understanding the unique,
dynamic, holistic nature of human beings.
 The philosophical base of qualitative research is interpretive,
humanistic, and naturalistic and is concerned with
understanding the meaning of social interactions by those
involved (Standing, 2009).
Qualitative Research
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12.  Qualitative researchers believe that “truth” is both complex and dynamic
and can be found only by studying people as they interact with and in their
sociohistorical settings (Creswell, 2009; Munhall, 2007; Patton, 2002).
 Qualitative research is conducted to promote understanding of human
experiences and situations and develop theories that describe these
experiences and situations.
 Because human emotions are difficult to quantify (i.e., assign a numerical
value to), qualitative research seems to be a more effective method of
investigating emotional responses than quantitative research
Qualitative Research
CONT..
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13.  Quantitative and qualitative research methods complement each other
because they generate different kinds of knowledge that are useful in
nursing practice.
 Familiarity with these two types of research will help you identify,
understand, and critically appraise these studies in journals and books.
 Quantitative and qualitative research methodologies have some
similarities; both require researcher expertise, involve rigor in
implementation, and generate scientific knowledge for nursing
practice.
QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE
RESEARCH
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14. Characteristic Quantitative Research Qualitative Research
Philosophical origin Logical positivism Naturalistic, interpretive, humanistic
Focus Concise, objective, reductionistic Broad, subjective, holistic
Reasoning Logistic, deductive Dialectic, inductive
Basis of knowing Cause-and-effect relationships Meaning, discovery, understanding
Theoretical focus Theory testing Theory development
QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE
RESEARCH CHARACTERISTICS
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15. VIDEO CLIP
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16. The quantitative research methods are classified into four
categories:
1. Descriptive
2. Correlational
3. Quasi-experimental
4. Experimental
QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH:
DESIGNS
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17.  Descriptive research explores new areas of research and describes
situations as they exist in the world.
 Correlational research examines relationships and is conducted to
develop and refine explanatory knowledge for nursing practice.
 Quasi-experimental and experimental studies determine the
effectiveness of nursing interventions in predicting and controlling the
outcomes desired for patients and families
CONTI….
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18. 18

19.  Descriptive research is the exploration and description of phenomena
in real-life situations. It provides an accurate account of characteristics
of particular individuals, situations, or groups (Kerlinger & Lee, 2000).
 Descriptive studies are usually conducted with large numbers of
subjects, in natural setting s, with no manipulation of the situation in
anyway.
 Through descriptive studies, researchers discover new meaning,
describe what exists, determine the frequency with which something
occurs, and categorize information.
DESCRIPTIVE RESEARCH
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20. The outcomes of descriptive research include the description of concepts,
identification of possible relationships between concepts, and
development of hypotheses that provide a basis for future quantitative
research.
CONTI….
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21.  Correlational research involves the systematic investigation of
relationships between or among variables.
 To do this, the researcher measures the selected variables in a sample
and then uses correlational statistics to deter mine the relationships
among the variables.
CORRELATIONAL RESEARCH
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22. Using correlational analysis, the researcher is able to determine the
degree or strength and type (positive or negative) of a relationship
between two variables.
The positive relationship indicates that the variables vary together; that
is, both variables either increase or decrease together.
For example, research has shown that the more people smoke, the more
lung damage they experience.
The negative relationship indicates that the variables vary in opposite
directions; thus, as one variable increases, the other will decrease
(Grove, 2007).
CONT..
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23. However, the relationships identified with correlational studies are the
means for generating hypotheses to guide quasi-experimental and
experimental studies that do focus on examining cause-and-effect
relationships (Porter, 2004).
CONT..
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24.  The purpose of quasi-experimental research is to examine causal
relationships or determine the effect of one variable on another.
 Thus, these studies involve implementing a treatment and examining
the effects of this treatment using selected methods of measurement
(Cook & Campbell, 1979).
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25.  Quasi-experimental studies differ from experimental studies by the
level of control achieved by the researcher.
 Quasi-experimental studies usually lack a certain amount of control
over the manipulation of the treatment, management of the setting,
and/or selection of the subjects.
 When studying human behavior, especially in clinical settings,
researchers frequently are unable to randomly select the subjects or
manipulate or control certain variables related to the subjects or the
setting.
 Thus, nurse researchers conduct more quasi-experimental studies than
experimental studies.
CONT..
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26.  In nursing research, a treatment is an intervention implemented by
researchers to improve the outcomes of clinical practice.
 For example, a treatment of a swimming exercise program might be
implemented to improve the balance and muscle strength of elderly
women.
CONT..
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27. 27

28. Experimental research is an objective, systematic, highly controlled
investigation for the purpose of predicting and controlling phenomena
in nursing practice.
In an experimental study, causality between the independent and the
dependent variables is examined under highly controlled conditions
(Kerlinger & Lee, 2000 ).
 Experimental research is the most powerful quantitative method
because of the rigorous control of variables.
EXPERIMENTAL RESEARCH
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29. The three main characteristics of experimental studies are:
 Controlled Manipulation of at least one treatment variable (independent
variable); Exposure of some of the subjects to the treatment
(experimental group), and no exposure of the remaining subjects (control
group); and
 Random Assignment of subjects to either the control or experimental
group.
 Random Selection of subjects and the conduct of the study in a
laboratory or research facility Strengthen control in an experimental
study. The degree of control achieved in experimental studies varies
according to the Population studied, the variables examined, and the
environment of the study.
CONT..
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30. The qualitative research methods are classified into five categories:
1. Phenomenological
2. Grounded theory
3. Ethnographic
4. Exploratory-descriptive qualitative
5. Historical
QUALITATIVE RESEARCH:
DESIGNS
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32.  Phenomenological research design requires the researcher to bracket
whatever a priori assumption they have about the experience or
phenomenon. In simpler terms, researchers use phenomenological
research designs to understand a phenomenon's universal nature by
exploring the views of those who have experienced it (Mapp, 2008).
 Understanding human behavior or experience, which is a central
concern of nursing, requires that the person interpret the action or
experience for the researcher; the researcher then interprets the
explanation provided by the person.
PHENOMENOLOGICAL RESEARCH
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34.  Instead of studying a single group, you might examine a number of individuals
who have all experienced an action, interaction, or process. Grounded theory
designs are systematic, qualitative procedures that researchers use to generate a
general explanation (grounded in the views of participants, called a grounded
theory) that explains a process, action, or interaction among people.
 The procedures for developing this theory include primarily collecting interview
data, developing and relating categories (or themes) of information, and
composing a figure or visual model that portrays the general explanation. In this
way, the explanation is “grounded” in the data from participants. From this
explanation, you construct predictive statements about the experiences of
individuals.
GROUNDED THEORY DESIGNS

35. You may be interested in studying one group of individuals, in examining
them in the setting where they live and work, and in developing a portrait
of how they interact. An ethnographic study is well suited for this
purpose.
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36. Ethnographic Designs: are qualitative procedures for describing,
analysing, and interpreting a cultural group’s shared patterns of
behaviour, beliefs, and language that develop over time. In ethnography,
the researcher provides a detailed picture of the culture-sharing group,
drawing on various sources of information. The ethnographer also
describes the group within its setting, explores themes or issues that
develop over time as the group interacts, and details a portrait of the
group.
ETHNOGRAPHIC DESIGNS

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38. Exploratory research is usually conducted when a researcher has just
begun an investigation and wishes to understand the topic generally.
Descriptive research aims to describe or define the topic at hand.
Explanatory research is aims to explain why particular phenomena work
in the way that they do.
Exploratory-descriptive qualitative studies are developed to provide
information and insight into clinical or practice problems.
EXPLORATORY RESEARCH

39. Historical research examines events of the past. Many historians believe
that the greatest value of historical knowledge is increased self-
understanding; in addition, historical knowledge provides nurses with an
increased understanding of their profession
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40. The major assumption of historical philosophy is that lessons can be learned
from the past. Historians study the past through oral and written reports and
artifacts, searching for patterns that can lead to generalizations.
For example, to answer the question—“What causes epidemics?”—a historian
could search throughout history for commonalities in various epidemics and
develop a theoretical explanation of their causes.
HISTORICAL RESEARCH
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41. RESEARCH METHOD AND
TECHNIQUE
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42. 42

43. Burns, N., & Grove, S. K. (2010). Understanding Nursing
Research: Building an Evidence-Based Practice. St. Louis,
MO:Elsevier Health Sciences.
Polit, D. F., & Beck, C. T. (2003). Nursing Research: Principles
and Methods. (7th ed.). Philadelphia: Lippincott
REFERENCE
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