NRS 433 Discuss two strategies that would help a researcher manage and organize the data
NRS 433 Discuss two strategies that would help a researcher manage and organize the data
NRS 433 Discuss two strategies that would help a researcher manage and organize the data
Qualitative data is obtained by evaluating nonnumeric variables which can be over whelming for researchers to comb through. One strategy used to help a researcher organize data is through inductive reasoning. This method is used to help identify patterns or commonalities by asking open ended questions (Helbig, 2022). Another strategy for researchers to manage and organize data is through the use of surveys. Surveys help to guide the researchers’ questions so they can organize the data accordingly. One of the reasons qualitative data is so difficult to evaluate is that is is often unstructured data that needs to be analyzed (Schoonenboom, 2023). The volume of most data is intimidating for researchers to find patterns to quantify.
Helbig, J. (2022). Nursing Research: Understanding Methods for Best Practice. (GCU). https://bibliu.com/app/#/view/books/1000000000588/epub/Chapter1.html#page_30
Schoonenboom, J., (2023). The Fundamental Difference Between Qualitative and Quantitative Data in Mixed Methods Research. Forum: Qualitative Social Research, 24(1). https://doi-org.lopes.idm.oclc.org/10.17169/fqs-24.1.3986.
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Qualitative data refers to non-numerical data that is collected through observations, interviews, focus groups, and other forms of inquiry that seek to understand complex phenomena. Qualitative data are often voluminous and complex, making it challenging for researchers to manage and organize the data effectively. In nursing research, qualitative data are frequently collected to explore the experiences, perspectives, and meanings of individuals in relation to health and illness.
Two strategies that can help researchers manage and organize qualitative data are coding and memoing. Coding is the process of systematically identifying themes and patterns within the data, while memoing involves writing down personal reflections and interpretations of the data as the researcher progresses through the analysis process (Hsieh & Shannon, 2005). These strategies can help researchers to reduce the complexity of the data, identify key concepts and themes, and develop a deeper understanding of the research participants’ experiences.
In nursing research, coding and memoing are commonly used to manage and organize qualitative data. For example, in a study exploring the experiences of cancer patients receiving chemotherapy, researchers used coding and memoing to analyze interview data and identify themes related to the patients’ emotional experiences (Pereira et al., 2019). The researchers found that coding and memoing helped them to organize the data, identify key themes, and develop a more nuanced understanding of the patients’ experiences.
Managing and organizing qualitative data can be challenging for researchers due to the complexity and volume of the data. Strategies such as coding and memoing can help researchers to reduce complexity, identify key themes, and develop a deeper understanding of the research participants’ experiences. These strategies are particularly useful in nursing research, where qualitative data are often collected to explore the experiences of patients and healthcare providers in relation to health and illness.
References:
Hsieh, H. F., & Shannon, S. E. (2005). Three approaches to qualitative content analysis. Qualitative health research, 15(9), 1277-1288.
Pereira, M. G., Roque, A. T., Maroco, J., & Monteiro, E. (2019). Emotional experiences of chemotherapy: A qualitative study with breast cancer patients. European Journal of Cancer Care, 28(3), e13044.
I really like how you explained qualitative data as non-numerical. The CDC also breaks down how to manage and organize the qualitative data as you stated. It states that qualitative data can be divided into four stages which are data management, data display, drawing and clarifying conclusions, and data management. I can see you condensing the data is a really important stage due to the immense amount of information qualitative data consists of. (Wolff et al., 2019)
Condensing the qualitative data selects and focuses the data so it can then be analyzed. Just imagine collecting data from a one-hour interview that needs to be transcribed. It is very challenging to adhere to clear instructions when condensing the interview data.
It makes sense to use coding to help break down the interviews into more useful and accessible filing systems which is a team effort. Some studies using qualitative methods must stick to formal analysis in order to minimize bias with the subjective data.
Reference:
Wolff, B., Mahoney, F., Lohiniva, A. L., & Corkum, M. (2019). Collecting and Analyzing Qualitative Data. CDC. https://www.cdc.gov/eis/field-epi-manual/chapters/Qualitative-Data.html
Qualitative data analysis is a vital part of nursing research, but it can be challenging due to the volume and diversity of data. Two strategies used to manage and organize qualitative data are data reduction and thematic analysis. Data reduction involves summarizing data by eliminating unnecessary details while retaining critical elements, such as note-taking, transcription, and coding. Thematic analysis involves identifying patterns and themes in the data by examining content, context, and structure. Using these strategies can assist in drawing conclusions and making recommendations.
According to Creswell (2013), “Qualitative inquiry is used to understand and interpret the meaning individuals or groups ascribe to a social or human problem.” As such, it is essential in nursing research to understand the experiences of patients, families, and healthcare providers. By using data reduction and thematic analysis, nurses can manage and organize qualitative data, making it more accessible for analysis and interpretation. This information can then inform clinical practice, improve patient outcomes, and identify areas for further research.
Reference:
Creswell, J. W. (2013). Qualitative inquiry and research design: Choosing among five approaches (3rd ed.). SAGE Publications.
Qualitative research is a type of research that tells a story by developing a narrative that reflects realities and viewpoints of study subjects (Green & Johnson, 2018). This type of research is holistic, flexible, involves merging various data collection strategies, requires researchers to become deeply involved, and relies on ongoing analysis of data to formulate subsequent strategies (Green & Johnson, 2018). Researchers who are managing qualitative data can be overwhelmed but two strategies to manage and organize the data are journaling and reflexivity. Reflexivity involves systematically analyzing each step of the research process (Chicca, 2020). Through journaling it can help researchers identify and manage how their behaviors and thoughts may be influencing their study findings (Chicca, 2020).
Reference
Chicca, J. (2020). Introduction to qualitative nursing research: This type of research can reveal important information that quantitative research can’t. American Nurse Journal, 15(6), 28+. https://link-gale-com.lopes.idm.oclc.org/apps/doc/A627597849/AONE?u=canyonuniv&sid=bookmark-AONE&xid=151d6fa3
Green, S. & Johnson, J. (2018). Grand Canyon University (Eds.) Nursing Research: Understanding Methods for Best Practice. Research Ethics and Evaluation of Qualitative Research. Retrieved from https://lc.gcumedia.com/nrs433v/nursing-research-understanding-methods-for-best-practice/v1.1/#chapter/2
Qualitative research at its core, ask open-ended questions whose answers are not easily put into numbers such as ‘how’ and ‘why’. Due to the open-ended nature of the research questions at hand, qualitative research design is often not linear in the same way quantitative design is. One of the strengths of qualitative research is its ability to explain processes and patterns of human behavior that can be difficult to quantify. Phenomena such as experiences, attitudes, and behaviors can be difficult to accurately capture quantitatively, whereas a qualitative approach allows participants themselves to explain how, why, or what they were thinking, feeling, and experiencing at a certain time or during an event of interest. Quantifying qualitative data certainly is possible, but at its core, qualitative data is looking for themes and patterns that can be difficult to quantify and it is important to ensure that the context and narrative of qualitative work are not lost by trying to quantify something that is not meant to be quantified.
However, while qualitative research is sometimes placed in opposition to quantitative research, where they are necessarily opposites and therefore ‘compete’ against each other and the philosophical paradigms associated with each, qualitative and quantitative work are not necessarily opposites nor are they incompatible. While qualitative and quantitative approaches are different, they are not necessarily opposites, and they are certainly not mutually exclusive. For instance, qualitative research can help expand and deepen understanding of data or results obtained from quantitative analysis. For example, say a quantitative analysis has determined that there is a correlation between length of stay and level of patient satisfaction, but why does this correlation exist? This dual-focus scenario shows one way in which qualitative and quantitative research could be integrated together.
References
- Moser A, Korstjens I. Series: Practical guidance to qualitative research. Part 1: Introduction. Eur J Gen Pract. 2017 Dec;23(1):271-273. – PMC – PubMed
- Cleland JA. The qualitative orientation in medical education research. Korean J Med Educ. 2017 Jun;29(2):61-71. – PMC –PubMed
- Foley G, Timonen V. Using Grounded Theory Method to Capture and Analyze Health Care Experiences. Health Serv Res. 2015 Aug;50(4):1195-210. – PMC – PubMed
- Devers KJ. How will we know “good” qualitative research when we see it? Beginning the dialogue in health services research. Health Serv Res. 1999 Dec;34(5 Pt 2):1153-88. – PMC – PubMed
According to Aspers & Corte (2019), qualitative research is geared to form an iterative process to improve the understanding of the scientific community, by identifying significant distinctions that enable the phenomenon being studied to be better understood. According to Lester et al. (2020), there are 7 approaches to qualitative research such as affixing codes to set field notes from observations or interviews, noting reflections or other remarks in margins, sorting through to identify similar phrases, assessing relationships between variables, and patterns, themes and distinct differences between subgroups and common sequences Isolating patterns and processes, commonalities and differences, and applying them the next data collection, elaborating generalizations that cover the consistencies in the data and lastly confronting generalizations with a formalized body of knowledge in the form of constructs or theories. These are a few ways that researchers are able to manage and organize their data.
Aspers, P., & Corte, U. (2019). What is Qualitative in Qualitative Research. Qualitative sociology, 42(2), 139–160. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11133-019-9413-7
Lester, J. N., Cho, Y., & Lochmiller, C. R. (2020). Learning to Do Qualitative Data Analysis: A Starting Point. Human Resource Development Review, 19(1), 94–106. https://doi.org/10.1177/1534484320903890