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