Classification Of Research Methods In Nursing

Research methods commonly used in nursing can be classified in different ways. The following is a discussion of the most common classifications. First, research methods are classified as quantitative, qualitative, or mixed. This is the most common classification.

Quantitative Research

Qualitative research involves the construction of knowledge hypothesis and grounded theory from the data collected during fieldwork. The ontology can be described as subjective, mental, personal, and constructed. It delves into understanding human experiences, behaviors, and social phenomena. According to Creswell and Creswell (2023, p. 46), this research method involves collecting qualitative data such as in-depth interviews, participant observations, and open-ended questions. Qualitative methods in nursing research include interviews, focus groups, content analysis, and ethnographic studies. Qualitative designs include descriptive methods, narrative, phenomenological, grounded theory, ethnography, and case studies.

Butler, A., Battista, K., Leatherdale, S. T., Meyer, S. B., Elliott, S. J., & Majowicz, S. E. (2021). A comparison of repeat cross-sectional and longitudinal results from the COMPASS study: design considerations for analysing surveillance data over time. International Journal of Social Research Methodology, 25(5), 597–609. https://doi.org/10.1080/13645579.2021.1922804

Creswell, J. W., & Creswell, J. D. (2023). Research design: Qualitative, Quantitative, and Mixed Methods Approaches. Sage Publications, Incorporated.