Evidence-Based Practice for Nurses

participants either during or after the study, or both, and sharing the results
with them to be sure that the end product reflects what the participants said.

Transferability relates to whether the findings from one study can be trans-
ferred to a similar context. The goal of qualitative research is to understand a
particular phenomenon (Leininger, 1985) rather than generalizing to a popula-
tion as in quantitative methods. Transferability is accomplished through tech-
niques such as eliciting thick descriptions, executing adequate sampling, and
achieving data saturation. Thick descriptions involve rich, written comments
and narrative related to the situation being studied. Journals and mementos
that help to enlighten the process can be kept. Deep and detailed description
is needed to establish the scientific rigor of the study. Therefore, researchers
must maintain an audit trail that can demonstrate the researcher’s decision
making throughout the study. Adequate sampling means that the researcher
took enough time to be sure that data saturation was reached. That is, enough
subjects were interviewed so that consistent patterns and themes emerged prior
to stopping data collection. When no new information is being obtained, data
saturation is said to have been achieved.

The criterion of dependability is satisfied when the researcher has established
sufficient audit and paper trails through accurate and detailed journaling and
logs. Record keeping and reflective writing are essential in this type of research.
Other people, such as peer debriefers, should be able to look at the researcher’s
writings and see that the theory or results accurately reflect the data.

Confirmability means that the researcher made rigorous attempts to be
objective and that audit trails were kept to document the research process.
Evaluating interview questions to ensure that they are open ended and not
leading is important for ensuring confirmability. The reader must be satisfied
that the researcher has revealed that data were confirmed with the participants
through member checks. The researcher’s written records should reveal a detailed
review of the data, careful analysis and coding, and detailed logs and field notes.

KEY TERMS

persistent

observation: When

the researcher has

spent sufficient

quality time with

participants while

attempting to

describe and

capture the

essence of the

phenomenon

peer debriefing: A

technique used in

qualitative research

in which the

researcher enlists

the help of another

person, who is a

peer, to discuss the

data and findings

referential

adequacy: A

technique used

in qualitative

research in which

multiple sources of

data are compared

and the findings

hold true

Which of the three types of data collection would you use to answer each of the following

questions? How would you defend your choice of data collection method for each of these items?

Would a combination of methods be appropriate for any of the questions below? If so, why?

1. What factors influence a student nurse’s decision in choosing his or her first job after
   graduation?


2. How did Florence Nightingale choose elements to focus on when she began to formalize
   nursing as a profession?


3. What influences whether a nurse reports a medication error to his or her supervisor?

CRITICAL THINKING EXERCISE 9-1

9.1 What Is Qualitative Research? 229