COMPREHENDING KEY CONCEPTS IN QUALITATIVE AND QUANTITATIVE

RESEARCH
Selected Key Research Terms
Quantitative Term
Qualitative Term
Subject
Informants
Study participant
Study participant
Concepts, constructs
Concepts, constructs
Variables
Phenomena
Data (numeric values)
Data (narratives)
Relationships
Patterns of association
Reliability, validity
Trustworthiness
Variable
A characteristic or quality that takes on different values, i.e., that varies from one
person to the next
Examples:
Blood type
Weight
Length of stay in hospital
Body temperature
Heterogeneity a term frequently used in connection with variables
Ex: for the variable height, a grouped of 2 year old children is likely to be more
homogeneous than a group of 16 year old adolescents
Types of Variables
Continuous (e.g., height, weight)
Assume an infinite number of values among two points
Discrete variable has a finite number of values between two points. ex;. If
people were asked how many children they had, definitely the answer would
a whole number.
Categorical (e.g., marital status, gender)
TYPES OF CATEGORICAL
DICHOTOMOUS- VARIABLES THAT TAKE ONLY TWO VALUES, ex.
Gender
POLYCHOTOMOUS VARAIBLES THAT TAKE MORE THAN TWO
VALUES EX. RELIGION
Attribute variable vs. created variable
Active variable the variable that the researcher creates
Types of Variables (contd)
Independent variablethe presumed cause (of a dependent variable)
Dependent variablethe presumed effect (of an independent variable)
Example: Smoking (IV) Lung cancer (DV)
Definitions of Concepts and Variables
Conceptual definition: the abstract or theoretical meaning of a concept
being studied
Operational definition: the operations (measurements) a researcher must
perform to collect the desired information
IT MUST BE CONGRUENT WITH CONCEPTUAL DEFINITION
Box 2.1 Example of Quantitative Data
Box 2.2 Example of Qualitative Data
DATA the information collected during the course of the study
May take the form of narrative information (qualitative)
Numeric values (Quantitative)
Data saturation redundancy of information
Relationships
A bond or connection between variables.
It is usually expressed in quantitative terms, such as more than, less than,
greater than and so on.
Quantitative researchers- examine the relationship between the IV & DV.
Ex. Taller people will weigh more than shorter people.
People with higher caloric intake will be heavier than those with lower
caloric intake

The lower the amount of exercise, the greater will be the persons
weight
Cause-and-effect (causal) relationship (e.g., cigarette smoking and lung
cancer)
Functional (associative) relationship (e.g., gender and life expectancy)
Key Challenges of Doing Research
Conceptual
Clinical
Financial
Methodologic
Practical
Ethical
Major Methodologic Challenges
Designing studies that are:
Reliable and valid (quantitative studies)
Trustworthy (qualitative studies
Criteria for Evaluating Quantitative Research
Reliability
The accuracy and consistency of obtained information
Validity
The soundness of the evidencewhether findings are convincing, wellgrounded
Dimensions of Trustworthiness in Qualitative Studies
Credibility
Confirmability
Dependability
Transferability
Bias
An influence producing a distortion in study results
Examples of factors creating bias:
Lack of participant candor
Faulty methods of data collection
Researchers preconceptions
Faulty study design
Research Control in Quantitative Studies
Achieved by holding constant factors (extraneous variables) that influence the
dependent variable, to better understand its relationship with the independent
variable
RandomnessAn important tool for achieving control over extraneous variables
Generalizability and Transferability
Generalizability (Quantitative research): The extent to which study findings are
valid for other groups not in the study
Transferability (Qualitative research): The extent to which qualitative findings can
be transferred to other settings
SAMPLE QUESTIONS
The dependent variable in the research question Is the quality of life of nursing
home residents affected by their functional ability or hearing acuity? is:
a. Quality of life
b. Functional ability
c. Hearing acuity
d. Residence in a nursing home
SAMPLE QUESTIONS
The independent variable in the research question What is the effect of
noise levels on postoperative pain and BP fluctuations in ICU patients?" is:
a. BP
b. ICU patients
c. Noise levels
d. Postoperative pain
SAMPLE QUESTIONS
In the prediction Baccalaureate degree prepared nurses will practice more
rehabilitative nursing measures on a client in an ICU than will associate
degree prepared nurses," The independent variable is:
a. Associate degree prepared nurses

b.
c.
d.

a.
b.
c.
d.

Baccalaureate degree prepared nurse

Rehabilitative nursing measures
Type of educational background of the nurse
SAMPLE QUESTIONS
The purpose of an operational definition in a quantitative study is to:
Assign numeric values to variables
Specify how a variable will be defined and measured
State the expected relationship between the variables under investigations
Designate the conceptual underpinnings of a variable
SAMPLE QUESTIONS
Which of the is a datum from quantitative study of the labor and delivery of a
woman age 40?
a. 9 lbs alive baby girl
b. Good APGAR
c. Midline episiotomy
d. Fourth stage of labor crowning occur
SAMPLE QUESTIONS
Which of the following is a datum from a qualitative research study on the labor and
delivery experience of women over age 45?
a. 14. 6 hours in labor
b. Apgar score of 8
c. Very painful delivery
d. Every 15 minutes BP monitoring
SAMPLE QUESTIONS
For which of the following pairs of variables is there most likely to be a
relationship that could be described as causal?
a. Degree of physical activity and heart rate
b. Stress and coping style
c. Age and health beliefs
d. Gender and depression
SAMPLE QUESTIONS
Deductive reasoning is the process of:
a. Verifying assumptions that are part of our heritage
b. Developing specific predictions from general principles
c. Empirically testing observations that are made known through our senses
d. Forming generalizations from specific observations
SAMPLE QUESTIONS
The criterion used by quantitative researchers involving the soundness of the
findings is:
a. Reliability
b. Validity
c. Credibility
d. Dependability
SAMPLE QUESTIONS
Which of the following is an aspect of trustworthiness used in evaluating the
strength of evidence in a qualitative study?
a. triangulation
b. Reflexivity
c. Reliability
d. Credibility
SAMPLE QUESTIONS
A nurse researcher compared men's and women's level of stress following
cardiac surgery and made sure that both groups were comparable with
regard to length of stay in hospital. Length of hospital is a(n):
a. IV
b. DV
c. Mediating V
d. Extraneous V
SAMPLE QUESTIONS
In a study of the health acre needs of immigrants in urban versus rural,
immigration status (native born vs. foreign born) would be the IV:

a.
b.

a.
b.

a.
b.

a.
b.

a.
b.

a.
b.

a.
b.

a.
b.
c.
d.

a.
b.

True
False
SAMPLE QUESTIONS
An operational definition specifies the procedures and tools required fo
measurment of a concept:
True
False
SAMPLE QUESTIONS
Conceptual definitions are used in Qualitative studies, while operational
definitions are used in quantitative ones
True
False
SAMPLE QUESTIONS
In a study of the effectiveness of massage in reducing pain of oncology
patients, researcher is investigating a functional relationship:
True
False
SAMPLE QUESTIONS
The relationship between systolic and diastolic BP is an example of causal
relationship:
True
False
SAMPLE QUESTIONS
Triangulation is a strategy used to enhance a qualitative studys credibility:
True
False
SAMPLE QUESTIONS
Deductive reasoning is the process of developing generalizations from
specific observations:
True
False
SAMPLE QUESTIONS
Pulse rate is:
Not a variable
DV
IV
None of the above
SAMPLE QUESTIONS
Randomness is a tool that can be used to combat bias in quantitative studies
True
False

Understanding the Research Process in Qualitative and Quantitative

Studies
Major Classes of Quantitative Research
Experimental research
Researchers actively introduce an intervention or treatment
Nonexperimental research
Researchers collect data without intervening or introducing
treatments
Major Research Traditions in Qualitative Research
Grounded theory research
Phenomenological research
Ethnographic research
Phases in a Quantitative Study
Phase 1: Conceptual Phase
Phase 2: Design and Planning
Phase
Phase 3: Empirical Phase
Phase 4: Analytic Phase

 Phase 5: Dissemination Phase

Major Steps in a Quantitative Study
Phase 1: Conceptual Phase
1. Formulating/delimiting the problem
2. Reviewing related literature
3. Undertaking clinical fieldwork
4. Defining the framework and developing
conceptual definitions
5. Formulating hypotheses
Major Steps in a Quantitative Study (contd)
Phase 2: Design and Planning Phase
6. Selecting a research design
7. Developing intervention protocols
8. Identifying the population
9. Designing the sampling plan
Major Steps in a Quantitative Study (contd)
Phase 2: Design and Planning Phase (contd)
10. Specifying methods to measure
variables and collect data
11. Developing methods to protect
human/animals rights
12. Finalizing the research plan
Major Steps in a Quantitative Study (contd)
Phase 3: Empirical Phase
13. Collecting the data
14. Preparing data for analysis
Major Steps in a Quantitative Study (contd)
Phase 4: Analytic Phase
15. Analyzing the data
16. Interpreting results
Major Steps in a Quantitative Study (contd)
Phase 5: Dissemination Phase
17. Communicating the findings
18. Utilizing findings in practice
Activities in a Qualitative Study
1. Conceptualizing and Planning the Study
2. Conducting the Study
3. Disseminating the Findings
Activities in a Qualitative Study (contd)
1. Conceptualizing and Planning the Study
Identifying the research problem
Doing a literature review
Selecting sites and gaining entre
Making broad design decisions, planning to go into the field
Addressing ethical issues
Activities in a Qualitative Study (contd)
2. Conducting the Study: Iterative Activities
Making sampling decisions
Collecting data
Evaluating trustworthiness
Analyzing data
Interpreting data
Activities in a Qualitative Study (contd)
3. Disseminating the Findings
Seeking publication outlets
Providing rich descriptions
SAMPLE QUESTIONS
In quantitative studies a basic distinction is between:
a. Grounded theory and phenomenological research
b. Empirical and no empirical research

c.
d.

Experimental and nonexperimental

Population based an sample based research
SAMPLE QUESTIONS
Which of the following is not a research tradition widely used by
qualitative nurse researchers?
a. Experimental
b. Phenomenological
c. Ethnographic
d. Grounded theory
SAMPLE QUESTIONS
The qualitative research tradition that focuses on understanding
phenomena within a cultural context is:
a. Experimental
a. Phenomenological
b. Ethnographic
c. Grounded theory
SAMPLE QUESTIONS
The qualitative research tradition that is an approach to
understanding peoples experiences as they are lived is:
a. Experimental
b. Phenomenological
c. Ethnographic
d. Grounded theory
SAMPLE QUESTIONS
All of the following activities occur during the conceptual phase of a
quantitative study, except:
a. Formulating research questions
b. Doing a literature review
c. Defining a framework
d. Developing intervention protocol
SAMPLE QUESTIONS
At what point does a qualitative researcher typically make most
decisions about data collection and the research sample?
a. While reviewing the literature
b. During the development of a research design
c. While the study is in progress in the field
d. After a pilot study has been conducted
SAMPLE QUESTIONS
Qualitative research reposts almost always include:
a. Raw data
b. Statistical analyses
c. Excerpts from the measuring instruments
d. Evidence of reliability
SAMPLE QUESTIONS
An intervention protocol is likely to be developed in which type of
study?
a. A grounded theory study
b. An ethnographic study
c. A phenomenological study
d. Nonie of the above
SAMPLE QUESTIONS
Grounded theory studies are inherently quantitative
a. True
b. False
There are no IV in nonexperimental research:
a. True
b. False
SAMPLE QUESTIONS
Phenomenology is to nonexperimental research what grounded
theory is to experimental research:
a. True

b. False
The analytic phase of quantitative studies involves statistical procedures:
a. True
b. False
SAMPLE QUESTIONS
The final phase in a research project is the dissemination phase:
a. True
b. False
Raw data are rarely presented in Qn research reports
a. True
b. False
SAMPLE QUESTIONS
Q and Qn researchers always perform a literature before collecting
their data to learn what the state of the art is:
a. True
b. False