Using Qualitative and Quantitative Methods to Inform Evidence-Based Practice
Post an explanation of when it might be most useful to use both qualitative and quantitative approaches or mixed methods to support a research design.
Mixed methods research involves both qualitative and quantitative data being collected and analyzed within the same study. It draws on the strengths of both quantitative and qualitative methods, allowing the research study to explore diverse perspectives and uncover relationships that exist between the intricate layers of the research question as described by the variables being measured. It is especially useful in the health care setting where it is applied to explore contemporary practice and trends across diverse settings (Grove & Grove, 2022)Using Qualitative and Quantitative Methods to Inform Evidence-Based Practice.
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A mixed method research design is most useful under three main conditions. First, when answering a research question that neither qualitative nor quantitative methods can answer alone. Second, in gaining a better understanding of the contradictions or connections between quantitative and qualitative data. It offers the participants an opportunity to share their experiences and have a strong voice across the research process. The different avenues of exploration that it presents help in enriching the evidence and deeply answering the presented research questions. Third, it facilitates greater scholarly interactions and enriches the researchers through presenting different perspectives that illuminate the issue being researched (Gray & Grove, 2020)Using Qualitative and Quantitative Methods to Inform Evidence-Based Practice.
Besides the mentioned factors, mixed method research approach is used when seeking credibility, contextualization and generalizability. It improves credibility through applying different methods to collect data on the same issue, thus making the results more credible. This allows for triangulation as the convergence of the quantitative and qualitative data would strengthen the validity of the research conclusions. In addition, it allows for the research findings to be put in context while adding richer details to the conclusion. Besides that, it improves generalizability as the quantitative data can be collected from a large sample, thereby mitigating the smaller sample size weakness of qualitative data thereby improving generalizability. Furthermore, mixed method approaches are less tied to established research paradigms and disciplines as they are more flexible even as they allow the researcher to combine aspects of different research approaches to distill the most informative results (Suresh, 2018). In essence, mixed method research approach brings in the best of quantitative and qualitative research approaches, allowing the research to benefit from the externally valid, generalizable insights of quantitative data and contextualized, details insights of qualitative data, with the strength of one mitigating/offsetting the weaknesses of the other. Using Qualitative and Quantitative Methods to Inform Evidence-Based Practice
Explain whether a combination of qualitative and quantitative approaches are used in systematic reviews to support evidence-based practice.
A combination of qualitative and quantitative approaches is useful in systematic reviews to support evidence-based practice for two reasons. First, mixed method approaches offer a more complete picture of the issue as they combine the benefits of quantitative and qualitative approaches. It collects and analyzes qualitative and quantitative data within a single study to answer the research question thereby offering depth and breadth of understanding on the specific concept while offsetting any inherent weaknesses in either approach when used alone (Hall & Roussel, 2022). In essence, it offers a more holistic view of the concept in question, allowing the evidence to be externally valid and generalizable due to the quantitative data, and contextualized and detailed due to the qualitative data. These strengths offset the weaknesses in each approach such that integrating the two methods offsets the weaknesses in both approaches (Schmidt & Brown, 2019). Second, mixed method approaches offer flexibility. They integrate the elements of both qualitative and quantitative methods, such that the research is not strictly tied to an established research paradigm. This flexibility allows for the aspects of different studies to be synthesized to produce results that are more informative (Suresh, 2018)Using Qualitative and Quantitative Methods to Inform Evidence-Based Practice.
References
Gray, J. R., & Grove, S. K. (2020). Burns and Grove’s the practice of nursing research: Appraisal, synthesis, and generation of evidence (9th ed.). Elsevier Inc.
Grove, S. K., & Gray, J. R. (2022). Understanding Nursing Research: Building an Evidence-Based Practice (8th ed.). Elsevier Inc.
Hall, H. R., & Roussel, L. A. (2022). Evidence-Based Practice: An Integrative Approach to Research, Administration, and Practice (3rd ed.). Jones & Bartlett Learning, LLC.
Schmidt, N., & Brown, J. (2019). Evidence-Based Practice for Nurses: Appraisal and Application of Research (4th ed.). Jones & Bartlett Learning, LLC.
Suresh, S. (2018). Nursing Research and Statistics (3rd ed.). Elsevier Health Sciences.
Review the Learning Resources for this week and consider the differences between qualitative and quantitative research designs and methods. Consider an example of a topic or issue in nursing in which both qualitative and quantitative research approaches might be necessary, Reflect on how a mixed methods approach lends itself to evidence-based practice. By Day 3 of Week 11 Post an explanation of when it might be most useful to use both qualitative and quantitative approaches or mixed methods to support a research design. Be specific and provide examples. Then, explain whether a combination of qualitative and quantitative approaches are used in systematic reviews to support evidence-based practice. Be specific. Using Qualitative and Quantitative Methods to Inform Evidence-Based Practice