Assignment Prompt & Instructions
Introduction
The nursing profession advances through research, which forms the bedrock of evidence-based practice and betters the care we provide. We need to understand these methodologies to improve our practice and ensure the safety and health of our patients. There are two main types of research that we are especially interested in, as they form the basis of the knowledge we use in our day-to-day work to care for patients. They are quantitative research, which is all about numbers and working with large groups of people, and qualitative research, which is more about "story" and working with smaller groups of people. Knowing the difference between them, and also understanding how both relate to evidence-based practice is essential for nurses who would improve the outcomes of healthcare
Differences Between Qualitative and Quantitative Research
In nursing research, two approaches serve as the foundation for various studies: qualitative and quantitative. The quantitative approach is rooted in the use of and reliance on numbers and statistical conclusions. In the University of Idaho's (2019) doctoral program, Jennifer Vinson explains that "the overarching aim of most nursing studies using a quantitative approach is to identify variables that can be counted and establish the patterns or relationships that may exist between them." We find that it emphasizes testing hypotheses and measuring variables through the use of numerical data and statistical analysis.
Conversely, qualitative research endeavors to grasp phenomena from a more individual and, hence, subjective vantage point. It attends to the experiences, feelings, and motivations, which are often more whispered than shouted, of individuals (Smith & Tobiano, 2023). It is a method of research that revels in the richness and variety of human existence. We, as members of the human family, exist in a multiplicity of ways; hence, there is a lot of living data to capture, in either a still or moving manner, through the experiences of phenomena we share across our various existences. This is the realm that qualitative research strives to comprehend and then articulate. Qualitative research provides tools to gain a deeper understanding, which can be highly beneficial in nursing and healthcare contexts.
Correlation and Differences Between Research and Evidence-Based Practice
The interconnected but distinct concepts of research and evidence-based practice (EBP) underpin nursing. Research, in this context, refers to a systematic probe that targets the generation of new knowledge or the validation of existing knowledge (Vinson, 2019). Evidence-based practice, then, must be understood as a parallel effort that aims to integrate the best research evidence with the clinical expertise and patient values that inform nurses' decisions about patient care (Smith & Tobiano, 2023).
The connection between the two is that EBP is very dependent on research findings to direct clinical practices. EBP would have no evidence to support its recommendations without research. Nonetheless, research is all about generating knowledge. EBP, on the other hand, is all about applying that knowledge in the real world. While they are interdependent, research and evidence-based practice (EBP) serve very different purposes within the nursing profession. Thus, while the foundation of EBP is research, what EBP really is, at its core, is a clinical decision-making framework that allows for the best use of the evidence currently available.
Conclusion
Understanding the distinction between qualitative and quantitative research is essential for nurses who wish to engage meaningfully with the research process. The two methodologies have made unique and significant contributions to the nursing knowledge base. Both qualitative and quantitative methodologies are replete with valuable information that can sharpen the focus of nursing and make it more relevant to the population we serve. Their integration has provided a much richer evidence base for effective and efficient EBP. Increasingly, our nursing practices need to be grounded in solid data. Qualitative research and the EBP process can enhance our understanding of human behavior, which should also form the foundation of our nursing practices.
References
Vinson, J. (2019). Be the Change: Understanding Quantitative, Qualitative, & Mixed Methods in Holistic Nursing Research. _Beginnings_, _39_(5), 14–16.
Smith, J. G., & Tobiano, G. (2023). What are "emerging methodologies" in nursing research? Our perspectives as early career researchers. _Journal of Advanced Nursing (John Wiley & Sons, Inc.)_, _79_(11), 4091–4093. https://doi.org/10.1111/jan.15876
– a year ago