Building Blocks of Research

Concept Quantitative Term Qualitative Term

Person contributing information Subject Study participant
Study participant Informant
Respondent Key informant
Person undertaking the study Researcher Researcher
Investigator Investigator
That which is being studied Concepts Phenomena
Constructs Concepts
Variables Constructs
Information gathered Data (numerical Data (narrative
values) descriptions)
Links between concepts Relationships Pattern of association
(causal, functional)
Logical reasoning processes Deductive reasoning Inductive reasoning
Quality of evidence Reliability, validity, Trustworthiness
generalizability
 Qualitative and Quantitative
Research
• Logical reasoning
– Processing and organizing of ideas in order to
reach conclusions

2 types of intellectual mechanisms used in LR

1. Inductive reasoning
2. Deductive reasoning
1. Inductive reasoning
- process of developing conclusion from specific
observations.

Example: nurse observes: anxious behaviors &

comments (specific) of hospitalized children and
conclude that (general) children’s separation from
their parents is stressful 
2. Deductive reasoning
- specific predictions from general
principles

Example: (if we assume) separation anxiety

occurs in hospitalized children (general), predict
that the (specific) children in hospitals whose
parents do not room-in would manifest systems
of stress
 Quantitative Research
• Reliability
– refers to the accuracy and consistency of
information obtained in a study

• Validity
– Soundness of the study’s evidence that is whether
the findings are cogent (convincing) and well-
grounded
 Qualitative Research
• Trustworthiness
– Honest or truth

Criteria for trustworthiness

1. Credibility – confidence in the truth of the data
and interpretations of them
=prolonged engagement “scope”
- sufficient time (data collection)
- in-depth understanding culture,
language, & views of group under
study & to test for misinformation
 - builds trust and rapport with
informants

= persistent observation “depth”

- focus on the aspects of a situation that
are relevant to the phenomena being
studied
2. Triangulation
- use of multiple sources to draw
conclusions about what constitutes the truth
– in qualitative research
• Validating the information collected through various
methods
• Triangulation
– In quantitative research this might mean having
alternative operational definitions of a dependent
variable to determine if results are consistent
across the two.
 Quantitative Research
• Generalizability
– Assess the extent to which the findings can be
applied to other groups and settings
END 