UNIT 4 QUALITATIVE/QUANTITATIVE COMPARISON AND CONTRAST 1

Unit 4 Qualitative/Quantitative Comparison and Contrast

Candyce Barnwell

ECPI University

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Signature: Candyce Barnwell

Date: April 26, 2020

NUR561: Nursing Research & Evidence-based Practice

 UNIT 4 QUALITATIVE/QUANTITATIVE COMPARISON AND CONTRAST 2

Unit 4 Qualitative/Quantitative Comparison and Contrast

Introduction

Nursing research just like other researches involves both qualitative and quantitative

research studies. According to Rutberg & Bouikidis, (2018), quantitative research mostly deals

with numbers and statistics where measurable data is collected and analyses using statistical

procedures. On the other hand, qualitative research studies are dynamic with data collected

though observations and interviews analysis using themes hence allowing for the exploration of

ideas and experiences. The conceptual and methodological approaches that the two types of

research studies are different. For instance, qualitative research studies are aimed at

understanding aspects from informant’s perspectives while quantitative research studies are

aimed at discovering facts thorough the utilization of statistics. Both these types of research

studies are applied in nursing depending on the purpose and nature of a research. In this context,

this paper aims at comparing and contrasting a qualitative and quantitative research studies. The

selected quantitative study is a study by Solvik & Struksnes, (2018), about training nursing skills

while the qualitative study is a research by Sharif & Masoumi, (2005), about nursing student’s

experiences. This papers specifically compares and contracts the studies in terms of population,

sampling, sample sizes, credibility, validity, data analyses, bias and reporting of results.

Comparison and Contrast

Studies Training Nursing Skills: A A qualitative study of

Quantitative Study of nursing student experiences
Nursing Students’ of clinical practice
Experiences before and
after Clinical Practice
Population Specific population – 160 Specific population – 200
students students
 UNIT 4 QUALITATIVE/QUANTITATIVE COMPARISON AND CONTRAST 3

Sampling Cluster sampling – The Simple random sampling –

population was randomly The sample was randomly
divided into two classes selected from the population
(control group and project then arranged into 9 groups
group) (Solvik & Struksnes, each consisting 10
2018). participants (Sharif &
Masoumi, 2005).
Sample Sizes No specific sample - The A specific sample - A sample
population was treated as the of 90 students was randomly
sample selected from the population.
Credibility Credible – Questionnaires Credible - The question
were well translated process was more of a
discussion session.
Validity Not specified, although Specified - Data documents
participants has to mandatory were submitted to two
participate in training assessors for validation
sessions (Solvik & Struksnes, (Sharif & Masoumi, 2005).
2018).
Data Analyses Questionnaires were coned Focus group data analysis
and SPSS version 22 was steps and coning levels were
used for analysis (Solvik & assumed (Sharif & Masoumi,
Struksnes, 2018). 2005).
Bias No bias - Participants were No bias – All groups were
requested fill the asked the same questions
questionnaires individually (Sharif & Masoumi, 2005).
(Solvik & Struksnes, 2018).
Reporting of results Statistical - Results are Explanation - Results are
reported in table form and reported in paragraph form
inferences made from the that is theoretically (Sharif &
tables (Solvik & Struksnes, Masoumi, 2005).
2018).
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Conclusion

As depicted by the above analysis of both the qualitative and the quantitative researches,

there is exist a difference between the two types of studies. Both studies have a specific study

population and assumes a certain sampling procedure. However, the quantitative study in our

case utilized the entire population as the sample maybe to enable them come up with better

results as compared to when a smaller sample is used. There is a big difference in data analysis

and hoe the results are reported in both the types of studies. Generally, quantitative research is

more based on statistics while qualitative is theory based. Under quantitative, numeric data is

used and a data analytical method used to analyses the data with the results reported in tables. On

the other hand, observations and interviews are used in qualitative researches with group focus

analyses adopted. The results are reported in paragraph forms with the participants responses

linked to certain theories. Therefore, every researcher should been keen in deciding the type of

study to utilize. The selection is always influenced by the study objectives.

 UNIT 4 QUALITATIVE/QUANTITATIVE COMPARISON AND CONTRAST 5

References

Rutberg, S., & Bouikidis, C. D. (2018). Focusing on the fundamentals: A simplistic

differentiation between qualitative and quantitative research. Nephrology Nursing

Journal, 45(2), 209-213.

Sharif, F., & Masoumi, S. (2005). A qualitative study of nursing student experiences of clinical

practice. BMC Nursing, 4(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/1472-6955-4-6

Solvik, E., & Struksnes, S. (2018). Training nursing skills: A quantitative study of nursing

students’ experiences before and after clinical practice. Nursing Research and

Practice, 2018, 1-9. https://doi.org/10.1155/2018/8984028