Differentiating Between Qualitative & Quantitative

Sample Answer

Research methods are broadly categorized into qualitative and quantitative approaches, each serving a distinct purpose in understanding phenomena. As a student nurse practitioner (NP), understanding these differences is crucial for evidence-based practice and for conducting or critically appraising research that informs patient care.

Qualitative Research Methods

Qualitative research focuses on understanding the "why" and "how" of phenomena. It explores experiences, perspectives, meanings, and social processes in depth. It deals with non-numerical data like words, images, and observations. The goal is to gain rich, nuanced insights and a deep understanding of a specific context or group, rather than to generalize findings to a larger population.

Key Characteristics:

Exploratory: Often used when little is known about a topic or when complex social issues need to be understood from the participants' point of view.

Subjective: Acknowledges the researcher's role in the interpretation of data and values the subjective experiences of participants