The Theoretical Foundations
The theoretical foundations of qualitative and quantitative methods are very different, but many researchers believe both methods should be used in the research study to increase validity and reliability. What advantages or disadvantages do you see in using both types of methods in a nursing study? Support your answer with current evidence-based literature. 2 references.
Sample Answer
The Theoretical Foundations
In contemporary times, numerous researchers in the nursing discipline have preferred adopting qualitative and quantitative research methods in their research to enjoy the benefits of both instead of choosing only one of the research methods. A mixed-method approach increases the reliability and validity of study results (Almeida, 2018). The mixed-method approach has its advantages and disadvantages. One of the main advantages of a mixed-method approach in a research study is that it allows a comparison of qualitative and quantitative data. This helps to point out any contradictions between the qualitative findings and quantitative results. The mixed-method approach also allows research participants to provide their point of view to ensure that all the study findings are grounded on the participants’ experiences (Regnault et al., 2017). A combination of qualitative and quantitative research study methods in a research study allows the researcher to have a methodology of flexibility. This is because the mixed method approach is adaptable to different study designs such as randomized trials and observational studies and also provides more information than can be obtained in the utilization of one research method. The mixed-method approach also assists in the collection of comprehensive and rich data because the method mirrors the way individuals naturally collect information through the integration of both qualitative and quantitative data (Almeida, 2018).
On the other hand, the mixed-method approach’s main shortcomings are that it increases the complexity of evaluations in the study. This requires the researchers to carefully plan for the study, which might be challenging for many researchers (Regnault et al., 2017). Most researchers are not skilled in quantitative and qualitative methods and may have to rely on someone else’s expertise or different teams in a mixed-method approach. This will increase the costs and the time taken to conduct a research study (Almeida, 2018).
References
- Almeida, F. (2018). Strategies to Perform a Mixed Methods STUDY. European Journal of Education Studies, [S.l.], Aug. 2018. ISSN 25011111. http://dx.doi.org/10.46827/ejes.v0i0.1902.
- Regnault, A., Willgoss, T., & Barbic, S. (2017). Towards the use of mixed methods inquiry as best practice in health outcomes research. Journal of Patient-Reported Outcomes, 2(1). doi:10.1186/s41687-018-0043-8.
