Johns Hopkins Nursing Evidence-Based Practice Thrid Edition: Model and Guidelines

6 Evidence Appraisal: Research 117

Within qualitative design, a researcher may use one of many methods to answer
the research question. Each methodology has its own purpose, and data are often
collected and analyzed in quite different ways. Examples of qualitative methods
are basic qualitative descriptive, ethnography, grounded theory, phenomenology,
narrative inquiry, and case study (see Table 6.5).

Basic qualitative descriptive designs are surface descriptions of events or experi-
ences, and they involve limited interpretation by the researcher (Sandelowski,
2000). This methodology often includes characteristics from the other qualitative
methodologies, such as the use of constant comparison from grounded theory,
and content analysis is frequently used for data analysis (Sandelowski, 2000). Ba-
sic qualitative descriptive studies produce findings that are simple representations
of the data likely to be agreed on by researchers and participants (Sandelowski,
2000).

Example: Basic Qualitative Descriptive Design

Shafir et al. (2016) conducted a basic qualitative descriptive study in order to

understand what homebound older adults and their caregivers described as

quality care. The researchers developed their interview guide from a literature

review and included questions addressing the Department of Health and

Human Services Multiple Chronic Conditions key measurement concepts. The

team also used these key measurement concepts as the framework for their

analysis. Findings from the study included five themes related to quality care; the

researchers suggest changes to the way health was delivered in order to meet

what they found to be quality care.

Ethnography, with roots in anthropology, describes and analyzes characteristics
of the ways of life of cultures or subcultures and is of growing interest to nurses
who seek to provide culturally competent care (de Chesnay, 2014). The research-
er is required to gain entry into the culture being studied, often spending extend-
ed periods observing the behaviors of people in the culture (de Chesnay, 2014).
Researchers immerse themselves in the culture and keep extensive field notes or
reflexive journals, which are categorized and analyzed to discover major themes.