It is important to note that both quantitative and qualitative methods of analysis and research provide a divergent set of advantages and address questions at hand from different perspectives. Both methods are especially critical in the field of nursing, where the subjects of interest are primarily patients, who are complex and possess a wide range of individual differences. Quantitative methods of research are mainly focused on numeric elements of the analysis, which means that it is, in most cases, precise and accurate with little room for error. However, qualitative methods focus on descriptive aspects of a phenomenon rather than measurement. In other words, the former allows drawing precise conclusions with statistical or mathematical confidence, whereas the latter enables a more in-depth assessment of a problem. In regards to qualitative studies in the nursing field, it is stated that “it can be difficult to clearly differentiate what constitutes a descriptive research design from the range of other methodologies at the disposal of qualitative researchers” (Doyle et al., 2020, p. 443). In addition, another study suggests that the implementation of qualitative methods in the nursing field is more challenging compared to other healthcare or non-healthcare areas (Squires & Dorsen, 2018).
In the case of my own interests, my quantitative research question would be what is the optimal working hour range for nursing professionals in order to provide care with the highest degrees of patient satisfaction and nursing satisfaction. The qualitative research question would be what are the key elements of patient safety perception and emotional exhaustion experienced by nurses in regards to workplace violence. Therefore, the former question would want to find a precise numeric value for an optimal working hour and shift length, whereas the latter is more open-ended, where the goal is to identify the key aspects of the topic
References
Doyle, L., McCabe, C., Keogh, B., Brady, A., & McCann, M. (2020). An overview of the qualitative descriptive design within nursing research.Journal of Research in Nursing, 25(5), 443–455. Web.
Squires, A., & Dorsen, C. (2018). Qualitative research in nursing and health professions regulation.Journal of Nursing Regulation, 9(3), 15–26. Web.