Question 1

Which type of clinical application of qualitative research would help a nurse describe the trajectory of an illness?

Accepted Answer

Qualitative research is a type of research that seeks to understand the experiences, perspectives, and behaviors of individuals and groups. This approach is particularly useful in healthcare and nursing, where it can be used to describe the trajectory of an illness.
Assessment of status or progress is a clinical application of qualitative research that is useful in understanding the trajectory of an illness. This approach involves ongoing evaluation of the patient's symptoms, physical and emotional state, and response to treatment over time. By using qualitative methods, such as interviews or observation, a nurse can gain a deeper understanding of the patient's experience of the illness and how it is evolving over time.
Insight or empathy, anticipatory guidance, and coaching are all other types of clinical applications of qualitative research, but they may not be as useful in describing the trajectory of an illness. Insight or empathy may be useful in understanding the patient's emotional experience of the illness, while anticipatory guidance and coaching may be more focused on providing information and support for the patient's future care.

Question 2

An older adult's description of pain, including descriptors, attributed causes, and what constitutes good care during a painful episode, would be an example of which category of qualitative findings?

Accepted Answer

Descriptive categories refer to the identification and labeling of different aspects or themes that emerge from qualitative data. In this example, the older adult's description of pain, including descriptors, attributed causes, and what constitutes good care during a painful episode, would be categorized and labeled as different aspects or themes related to the experience of pain in older adults. Therefore, this example fits within the descriptive categories qualitative findings.

Question 3

The findings of a qualitative research study describe the main essence of an experience but also show how the experience varies, depending on the individual or context. These results fall into which of Kearney's categories of qualitative research findings?

Accepted Answer

The findings described fall into Kearney's category of "Description of experiential variation" as they describe the main essence of an experience and also show how the experience varies depending on the individual or context.

Question 4

Which of Kearney's categories of qualitative findings describes a synthesis of a shared experience or process or integration of concepts that provides a complex picture of a phenomenon?

Accepted Answer

Kearney's categories of qualitative findings are a set of four categories that describe the different ways in which qualitative data can be analyzed and presented. The four categories are:
A) Restricted by a priori frameworks
B) Descriptive categories
C) Shared pathway or meaning
D) Depiction of experiential variation
Of these four categories, the one that best describes a synthesis of a shared experience or process or integration of concepts that provides a complex picture of a phenomenon is C) Shared pathway or meaning. This category refers to the identification of a common theme or shared meaning across participants, which can provide insight into the underlying processes or mechanisms that contribute to a particular phenomenon. This can involve a complex analysis of the data, integrating multiple perspectives and interpretations, to create a nuanced and comprehensive understanding of the phenomenon in question.

Question 5

In which of these circumstances should a nurse researcher select a qualitative research design instead of a quantitative design?

Accepted Answer

Qualitative research designs are chosen to explore phenomena from the perspective of those experiencing them, aiming to understand meanings, experiences, and concepts in depth. This approach is suitable when the goal is to capture the richness and complexity of human behavior and the reasons that govern such behavior, rather than quantifying elements or testing hypotheses with statistical analyses.

Question 6

Which research study characteristic would be $\bold{inappropriate}$ for qualitative methods?

Accepted Answer

Qualitative methods are typically used to explore and understand complex social phenomena in-depth rather than to test preconceived hypotheses. Instead of using pre-existing hypotheses, qualitative research tends to rely on an iterative, exploratory process of data collection and analysis, and is generally more focused on generating new insights and theories. Therefore, testing a new hypothesis would be more appropriate for quantitative methods, whereas qualitative methods would be better suited for exploring and generating new ideas.
In contrast, options B, C, and D are all characteristics that are typically associated with qualitative research. Option B emphasizes the use of intensive data collection methods, such as in-depth interviews, focus groups, or ethnographic observation, that enable researchers to gather rich and detailed information about the experiences and perspectives of participants. Option C highlights the inductive approach to data analysis that is often used in qualitative research, which involves systematically examining the data to identify patterns, themes, and categories that emerge from the data, rather than starting with a preconceived theoretical framework. Finally, option D refers to the examination of individual responses to a nonmodifiable situation, which is a type of qualitative data that can help researchers to better understand how people experience and cope with various life events.

Question 7

A characteristic of qualitative research data is that they are what?

Accepted Answer

One characteristic of qualitative research data is that they are typically collected in the form of text, rather than numerical or quantitative data. This text can take many forms, including transcripts of interviews or focus groups, field notes, or written observations. Qualitative research seeks to understand the meaning and experiences of participants, and text-based data is well-suited to capturing the richness and complexity of these experiences. Qualitative data are often analyzed through methods such as coding and theme extraction to identify patterns and themes within the data.

Question 8

A description of how adolescent girls recovering from addiction to prescription narcotics might or might not move forward to create a new life is an example of which of Kearney's category of qualitative findings?

Accepted Answer

Depiction of experiential variation describes how individuals move forward to create a new life after addiction.

Question 9

A nurse reads a qualitative study concerning the grief process. Later, the nurse explains to a grieving widow that grief is a process and that many others have successfully made their way through the process. The nurse is using which clinical application of research?

Accepted Answer

Anticipatory guidance is a clinical application of research that involves using research findings to provide information and support to patients and families, in order to help them anticipate and cope with potential challenges or changes. In this case, the nurse is using the findings of a qualitative study on the grief process to provide anticipatory guidance to a grieving widow, by explaining that grief is a process and that others have successfully navigated it. This can help the widow to understand her own experiences and expectations, and to feel less isolated or overwhelmed in her grief. While empathy, assessment, and coaching are all important aspects of nursing care, in this scenario, the focus is on providing anticipatory guidance based on research evidence.

Question 10

The determining factor for a researcher in selecting a qualitative research approach should be what?

Accepted Answer

The nature of the research question is the most important determining factor in selecting a qualitative research approach. Qualitative research is a flexible and exploratory approach that is useful in investigating complex phenomena and understanding the subjective experiences of participants. Therefore, the research question should be open-ended, exploratory, and focused on understanding the experiences, perspectives, and meanings of participants. Qualitative research is not well-suited for testing a theory or hypothesis, which is better suited for quantitative research. The age and gender of the participants may be relevant to the research question, but they are not the determining factor in selecting a qualitative research approach. Additionally, the availability of valid instruments to measure the phenomenon is not a relevant factor in qualitative research since the goal is to understand the subjective experiences of participants, not to measure a phenomenon with standardized instruments.

Question 11

Which of these terms is synonymous with paradigm?

Accepted Answer

A paradigm refers to a particular way of thinking or a set of beliefs and assumptions that shapes the way people approach and solve problems in a particular field of study.
A worldview is a set of beliefs and assumptions that shape a person's understanding and perception of the world. It influences their values, decisions, and behavior.
A viewpoint refers to a particular perspective or stance on a particular issue or topic. It reflects a person's beliefs, values, and experiences.
Therefore, both worldview and viewpoint can be considered synonymous with the term paradigm. Empiricism, on the other hand, refers to the belief that knowledge comes primarily from sensory experience and observation, while holism refers to the idea that a system should be viewed as a whole, rather than just a collection of parts. Neither of these terms is synonymous with paradigm.

Question 12

Which of Kearney's categories of qualitative findings describes a phenomenon portrayed vividly from a new perspective?

Accepted Answer

Descriptive categories in Kearney's framework refer to findings that offer a vivid portrayal of phenomena, often providing new insights or perspectives.

Question 13

How does the nurse researcher know when data saturation has been reached?

Accepted Answer

Data saturation is reached when no new information or themes are emerging from data collection, meaning that additional data does not lead to new insights or understanding. This is reflected in choice B, where the ideas or information from new participants have already been expressed by others, indicating that further data collection is unlikely to contribute additional insights to the research.

Question 14

A nurse researcher who is considering whether to use a qualitative research design should be aware that the focus of qualitative research is what?

Accepted Answer

Qualitative research is a research method that focuses on studying human experiences in their natural setting. Qualitative research does not involve measuring human characteristics, controlling variables, or viewing human beings as composites of many body systems. Instead, qualitative research aims to understand the perspectives, attitudes, and behaviors of individuals through their own words and actions. Qualitative research often involves in-depth interviews, observations, and analysis of written or visual materials to gain insights into the meaning and significance of human experiences. Therefore, a nurse researcher who is considering using a qualitative research design should be aware that the focus of qualitative research is on studying human experiences that occur within a person's natural setting.

Question 15

Which aim of research is characteristic of or appropriate for qualitative research methods?

Accepted Answer

Qualitative research methods are primarily focused on gaining a deep understanding of a particular phenomenon or situation. This involves exploring complex and multifaceted social and human issues in their natural setting, and trying to make sense of them through the collection and analysis of non-numerical data such as interviews, observations, and case studies. Qualitative research is not primarily concerned with control, prediction, or explanation, but with the exploration and interpretation of the meaning and significance of human experience in all its richness and diversity. Thus, the aim of understanding is most characteristic and appropriate for qualitative research methods.

Question 16

Computer management of qualitative data can assist a nurse researcher with which of these processes?

Accepted Answer

Organization of data is a process that can be assisted by computer management of qualitative data.

Question 17

Which description is typical of a qualitative research study?

Accepted Answer

Qualitative research studies often focus on understanding and interpreting subjective experiences and perceptions, which aligns with the idea that truth is a subject's perception of reality. Qualitative research tends to use inductive reasoning, rather than deductive reasoning, and typically does not involve measuring variables in a context-free setting. Sample size in qualitative research is often determined by reaching a point of data saturation, rather than specifying a fixed sample size before the study begins.

Question 18

How is the number of subjects for participation determined for a qualitative study?

Accepted Answer

The number of subjects for participation in a qualitative study is typically determined by the concept of data saturation. Data saturation is the point at which new data no longer yield additional insights or information, and the researcher is confident that the data collected is sufficient to answer the research question. This means that the number of participants can vary depending on the research question, the sample population, and the complexity of the study. Researchers collect data from new participants until they reach data saturation, which can vary based on the nature of the study. Therefore, option A is the most appropriate choice.
Option B and C are not appropriate choices as they rely on convenience sampling, where the participants are selected based on their availability and accessibility, rather than their relevance to the research question. These methods may not produce a representative sample, and the data collected may not be sufficient to answer the research question adequately.
Option D is not typically used for qualitative studies as power analysis is used in quantitative research, which requires a large sample size to detect small effects. Qualitative studies aim to understand the nuances and complexities of a phenomenon, and as such, a smaller sample size may be sufficient to achieve the research objectives.

Question 19

Which research topic would most likely be studied through a qualitative research approach?

Accepted Answer

Qualitative research is concerned with exploring and understanding the experiences, attitudes, and perspectives of participants. It is often used when the research question is complex, and the researcher aims to understand the meaning and context of participants' experiences. The research topic of the meaning of health and health promotion among low-income Southern rural women would require an in-depth exploration of the participants' experiences and perspectives, making it a suitable topic for qualitative research. The other topics mentioned in the options could also be studied using a qualitative research approach, but the topic of health promotion among low-income Southern rural women is the most suitable for this approach.

Question 20

A nurse's research question is, "What is the grief experience of women older than 30 years from rural Mexico who have a late-stage pregnancy loss?" Which aspect of the question represents the study's context?

Accepted Answer

The context of a research question refers to the setting or population being studied. In this case, the research question specifically focuses on women older than 30 years from rural Mexico, which is the study's context. Late-stage pregnancy loss, women older than 30 years, and grief experience are all elements of the research question, but they are not the study's context.

Quiz 5: Introduction to Qualitative Research