Chapter 05: Introduction to Qualitative Research

A characteristic of qualitative research data is that they are what? a. In text form b. Dichotomous c. Free of patterns d. Inappropriate for analysis

ANS: A Feedback A A distinctive characteristic of qualitative research studies is that data consist of text (words), not numbers as in quantitative research. B Dichotomous data are nominal and frequently found in quantitative studies. C Patterns emerge from qualitative research data. D The data generated by qualitative studies are appropriate for content analysis.

Computer management of qualitative data can assist a nurse researcher with which of these processes? a. Organization of data b. Interpretation of data c. Credibility of data d. Synthesis of data

ANS: A Feedback A Computer management of qualitative data allows easier coding of data and assists with grouping or organizing data, as well as finding patterns in the interviews and field notes. B Interpretation of data must be performed by the researchers. C Credibility of data must be established by the researchers. D Synthesis of data must be performed by the researchers.

Which research study characteristic would be inappropriate for qualitative methods? a. Testing a new hypothesis b. Using an intensive approach to data collection c. Employing inductive analysis of the data d. Examining individual responses to a nonmodifiable situation

ANS: A Feedback A New hypotheses are tested by quantitative, not qualitative, studies. B Both quantitative and qualitative studies use intensive data-collection approaches. C Inductive analysis is appropriate for some types of qualitative studies. D Qualitative studies examine the meaning of an experience to individuals.

Which research topic would most likely be studied through a qualitative research approach? a. The meaning of health and health promotion among low-income Southern rural women. b. Changes in hope and coping in older adults during rehabilitation after hip fracture. c. Exercise effects on fatigue and emotional distress during radiation therapy for breast cancer. d. Older adults and HIV/AIDS: The relationship of perceived risk and willingness to interact with individuals with HIV/AIDS.

ANS: A Feedback A Qualitative research focuses on what experiences mean to people. B This topic suggests a descriptive study design. C This topic suggests an experimental study design. D This topic suggests an ex post facto or correlational study design.

How is the number of subjects for participation determined for a qualitative study? a. Data are collected from new subjects until data saturation is reached. b. The number of subjects is the number available at a specific location. c. The number of subjects is the number available within the researcher's specified time frame. d. A power analysis of data collected in a pilot study is used to determine the number.

ANS: A Feedback A Researchers generally continue to recruit participants until they have reached data saturation, which means that nothing new is emerging from the interviews. B At times the researcher may have to locate additional subjects at various locations until saturation is achieved. C The number of subjects is not related to time frame because data will need to be collected until saturation is reached. D Power analysis is used to determine sample size in quantitative research studies.

Which are steps in the qualitative research process? (Select all that apply.) a. Sample selection b. Data collection c. Review of the literature d. Evaluation e. Description of findings f. Implementation of findings g. Discussion of conclusions

ANS: A, B, C, E, G Feedback Correct Sample selection is a step in the qualitative research process. Data collection is a step in the qualitative research process. Review of the literature is a step in the qualitative research process. Description of findings is a step in the qualitative research process. Discussion of conclusions is a step in the qualitative research process. Incorrect Evaluation is not a step in the qualitative research process. Implementation of findings is not a step in the qualitative research process.

Which description is typical of a qualitative research study? a. Deductive reasoning is used. b. Truth is a subject's perception of reality. c. Sample size is determined before the study begins. d. One or more variables are measured in a context-free setting.

ANS: B Feedback A Deductive reasoning is typical of quantitative studies. B Qualitative studies attempt to interpret phenomena in terms of the meaning people bring to them. Thus truth is the subject's perception/expression of reality. C Sample size is predetermined in quantitative studies. D Measurement is characteristic of quantitative studies.

Which of these terms is synonymous with paradigm? a. Empiricism b. Worldview c. Holism d. Viewpoint

ANS: B Feedback A Empiricism refers to the reliance on observation and experimentation, i.e., quantitative research. B A paradigm is a worldview, a philosophical or theoretical framework. C Holism is a theory that the universe and living nature are correctly seen as interacting wholes, more than the sum of their parts. D A viewpoint is a way of looking at or thinking about a subject.

How does the nurse researcher know when data saturation has been reached? a. When the participants all agree on the themes derived from the study b. When the ideas or information coming from new participants have been expressed previously by other participants c. When the emerging themes are congruent with those developed as a result of previous studies of the same phenomenon d. When the participants are no longer interested or willing to discuss their experiences or feelings

ANS: B Feedback A Participant agreement on themes is not an influence on data saturation. B Data saturation occurs when the researcher recognizes that he or she has heard themes before in multiple prior interviews. C Phenomenologists do not use previous studies to determine data saturation because each new group of participants has its own unique set of subjective experiences compared with past groups in similar studies. D Lack of interest of participants does not indicate data saturation.

The determining factor for a researcher in selecting a qualitative research approach should be what? a. The need to test a theory b. The nature of the research question c. The age and gender of the research participants d. The availability of valid instruments to measure the phenomenon

ANS: B Feedback A Qualitative studies are often represented as theory-generating, not theory-testing, studies. B Each research method originates in a philosophy of research and matches the nature of the research question. C These demographic variables may be characteristics of subjects or participants in quantitative or qualitative research studies. D Instruments to measure variables are not used in qualitative research studies.

Which of Kearney's categories of qualitative findings describes a phenomenon portrayed vividly from a new perspective? a. Restricted by a priori frameworks b. Descriptive categories c. Shared pathway or meaning d. Depiction of experiential variation

ANS: B Feedback A The category "restricted by a priori frameworks" describes a discovery aborted because the researcher has obscured the findings with an existing theory. B The category "descriptive categories" describes a phenomenon to be vividly portrayed from a new perspective. C The category "shared pathway or meaning" describes a synthesis of a shared experience or process or integration of concepts that provides a complex picture of a phenomenon. D The category "depiction of experiential variation" describes the main essence of an experience but also shows how the experience varies, depending on the individual or context.

Which type of clinical application of qualitative research would help a nurse describe the trajectory of an illness? a. Insight or empathy b. Assessment of status or progress c. Anticipatory guidance d. Coaching

ANS: B Feedback A The mode "insight or empathy" would help a nurse to understand patients better and to offer more sensitive support. B The mode of clinical application "assessment of status or progress" enables a nurse to describe the trajectory of an illness. C The mode "anticipatory guidance" enables a nurse to share qualitative findings with the patient. D The mode "coaching" enables a nurse to advise patients of steps they can take to reduce distress or improve adjustment to an illness according to the evidence in the study.

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? a. Restricted by a priori frameworks b. Descriptive categories c. Shared pathway or meaning d. Depiction of experiential variation

ANS: B Feedback A This is not an example of "restricted by a priori frameworks," which describes a discovery being aborted because the researcher has obscured the findings with an existing theory. B This is an example of "descriptive categories," which describes a phenomenon vividly portrayed from a new perspective. C This is not an example of "shared pathway or meaning," which describes a synthesis of a shared experience or process or integration of concepts that provides a complex picture of a phenomenon. D This is not an example of "depiction of experiential variation," which describes the main essence of an experience but also shows how the experience varies, depending on the individual or context.

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? a. Insight or empathy b. Assessment of status or progress c. Anticipatory guidance d. Coaching

ANS: C Feedback A Insight or empathy means that the nurse would be better able to understand the behaviors of a patient. B Assessment of status or progress means that the nurse can assess how the patient is moving through the grief process. C Anticipatory guidance means that the nurse can explain the various stages of grief to the patient and reassure her that others have successfully made their way through the grief process. D Coaching would involve coaching the patient to recognize signs that she is progressing from one stage of the grief process to another.

In which of these circumstances should a nurse researcher select a qualitative research design instead of a quantitative design? a. The time for data collection is limited. b. The research question is clinical in nature. c. The goal is to view the phenomenon in the same way as those who experience it. d. The researcher is a novice with minimal experience in scientific problem solving.

ANS: C Feedback A Some qualitative studies take extended times to complete. B Both qualitative and quantitative research designs may be used to answer research questions that are clinical in nature. C This describes qualitative research designs. The interpretive, naturalistic approach values the lived experience from the perspectives of participants and informants. D Novice researchers are challenged by both qualitative and quantitative research studies.

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? a. Restricted by a priori frameworks b. Descriptive categories c. Shared pathway or meaning d. Depiction of experiential variation

ANS: C Feedback A The category "restricted by a priori frameworks" describes a discovery being aborted because the researcher has obscured the findings with an existing theory. B The category "descriptive categories" describes a phenomenon vividly portrayed from a new perspective. C The category "shared pathway or meaning" describes a synthesis of a shared experience or process or integration of concepts that provides a complex picture of a phenomenon. D The category "depiction of experiential variation" describes the main essence of an experience, but it also shows how the experience varies, depending on the individual or context.

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? a. Late-stage pregnancy loss b. Women older than 30 years c. Grief experience d. Rural Mexico

ANS: D Feedback A "Late-term pregnancy loss" describes the precipitating cause of the topic (grief) to be studied. B "Gender and age" designate demographic characteristics of participants. C "Grief experience" is the phenomenon to be studied. D "Rural Mexico" is the location (context) where the experience occurred for the participants.

Which aim of research is characteristic of or appropriate for qualitative research methods? a. Control b. Prediction c. Explanation d. Understanding

ANS: D Feedback A A characteristic of quantitative or empirical research is the control of variables. B A characteristic of quantitative or empirical research is prediction of outcomes. C A characteristic of quantitative or empirical research is providing explanation of events. D Meaning and understanding of human experience are characteristics of qualitative research.

A nurse researcher who is considering whether to use a qualitative research design should be aware that the focus of qualitative research is what? a. Measuring one or more human characteristics b. Controlling variables that interfere with the phenomenon being studied c. Viewing human beings as composites of many body systems d. Studying human experiences that occur within a person's natural setting

ANS: D Feedback A Measuring variables (one or more human characteristics) is not a focus of qualitative research. B Control of variables is consistent with quantitative research design. C Qualitative studies view human beings in a holistic way, not as the sum of parts. D Human experience occurring in a person's natural setting is the focus of qualitative studies, although investigators may not always go to the setting where the person experienced the phenomenon.

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? a. Restricted by a priori frameworks b. Descriptive categories c. Shared pathway or meaning d. Description of experiential variation

ANS: D Feedback A The category "restricted by a priori frameworks" refers to a discovery aborted because the researcher has obscured the findings with an existing theory. B The category "descriptive categories" refers to a phenomenon vividly portrayed from a new perspective, which provides a map into previously uncharted territory. C The category "shared pathway or meaning" refers to the synthesis of a shared experience or process, as well as the integration of concepts that provide a complex picture of a phenomenon. D The findings describe the category "description of experiential variation."

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? a. Restricted by a priori frameworks b. Descriptive categories c. Shared pathway or meaning d. Depiction of experiential variation

ANS: D Feedback A This is not an example of "restricted by a priori frameworks," which describes a discovery being aborted because the researcher has obscured the findings with an existing theory. B This is not an example of "descriptive categories," which describes a phenomenon vividly portrayed from a new perspective. C This is not an example of "shared pathway or meaning," which describes a synthesis of a shared experience or process or integration of concepts that provides a complex picture of a phenomenon. D This is an example of the category "depiction of experiential variation," which describes the main essence of an experience but also shows how the experience varies, depending on the individual or context.