This document discusses qualitative research methods. It defines qualitative research as a systematic, subjective approach used to gain insights through life experiences and discover meanings. Qualitative research relies on inductive reasoning and is guided by philosophical perspectives like deductive logic, epistemology, and whether the approach is open-minded. Five common qualitative research approaches are described: phenomenology, grounded theory, ethnography, exploratory research, and historical research. Each has a philosophical orientation and makes a contribution to nursing science.

1. 1Copyright © 2013, 2009, 2005, 2001, 1997 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc.
Chapter 4
Introduction
to Qualitative Research

2. 2Copyright © 2013, 2009, 2005, 2001, 1997 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc.
Qualitative Research
 Definitions
 A systematic, subjective approach to describe
life experiences
 A way to gain insights through discovering
meanings and comprehension of a
phenomenon of interest
 Methods of reasoning are reflections of the
philosophical orientations that direct the
methodology and interpretations of data

3. 3Copyright © 2013, 2009, 2005, 2001, 1997 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc.
Perspective of the Qualitative
Researcher
 Philosophical guides perspective
 Deductive
 Inductive
 Epistemology
 Philosophy guiding criteria of rigor
 Openness and thoroughness, biases

4. 4Copyright © 2013, 2009, 2005, 2001, 1997 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc.
Rigor and Qualitative Research
 Defined differently than for quantitative
research
 Qualitative rigor requires:
 Openness
 Scrupulous adherence to a philosophical
perspective
 Thoroughness in collecting data
 Consideration of all data during analysis

5. 5Copyright © 2013, 2009, 2005, 2001, 1997 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc.
Five Approaches to Qualitative
Research
 Phenomenological: description of experiences (or
phenomena) as they are lived
 Philosophical orientation
 Contribution to nursing science
 Grounded Theory: inductive technique where
meanings are grounded in the concrete world as
experienced by the participants and interpreted at
a more abstract level
 Philosophical orientation
 Contribution to nursing science

6. 6Copyright © 2013, 2009, 2005, 2001, 1997 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc.
Five Approaches to Qualitative
Research (Cont’d)
 Ethnographic: studying cultures from the
perspective of insiders
 Philosophical orientation
 Contribution to nursing science
 Exploratory: descriptive-studies with no
clearly specified method, or ending with a
comprehensive summary of an event in
everyday terms of the events
 Philosophical orientation
 Contribution to nursing science

7. 7Copyright © 2013, 2009, 2005, 2001, 1997 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc.
Five Approaches to Qualitative
Research (Cont’d)
 Historical: examination of past events
describing the events in context of time,
social structures, concurrent events, and
key individuals
 Philosophical orientation
 Contribution to nursing science