Examples of Nursing Research Using
Phenomenology
There are many examples of nursing research using phenomenology. Some
of the better-known nursing theories coming from this type of research are
Parse’s (1991) theory of human becoming and Watson’s (1989) theory of
human caring. Probably the best-known research of this type is Benner’s
(1984) work From Novice to Expert in which she identified five stages of
nursing competence that are still used to guide practice. Dr. Benner based
her work on dialogue with nurses who were interviewed individually or in
small groups. Her research offers examples of excellence in nursing practice
and a framework demonstrating the development of nurses as they move
through five stages: novice, advanced beginner, competent, proficient, and
expert. This is indeed an example of how qualitative research translates into
EBP as nurses all over the world study ways in which nurses develop into
expert clinicians. In many healthcare facilities, professional promotion and
clinical ladders are based on this model.
Lapidus-Graham (2012) examined the lived experiences of nursing students
who participated in a student nurse organization. The sample was 15 nursing
students who had graduated from schools in Long Island. The themes that
emerged from the data were “(1) leadership: communication, collaboration
and resolving conflict; (2) mentoring and mutual support; (3) empowerment
and ability to change practice; (4) professionalism; (5) sense of teamwork; and
(6) accountability and responsibility” (p. 4). The author concluded that student
nurse associations (SNAs) were important to the development of future nurses
and that instructors should integrate SNA activities into the existing curricula
to foster leadership behaviors.
Grounded Theory Research:
Creating Theory Through Induction
Grounded theory is the method of choice when the researcher wants to
discover the process of something. The general question being asked is,
“What is the process of. . .?” This method is most commonly used in areas
where there is little or no previous research. The grounded theory method
was originated by Glaser and Strauss in 1967 when they looked at the way
people approach the process of dying. The researchers specified a system-
atic set of procedures that is used to inductively create a theory that is
grounded in the data about a phenomenon (Strauss & Corbin, 1990). These
theories can be useful in explaining and predicting phenomena (Glaser &
Strauss, 1967).
9.2 The Four Major Types of Qualitative Research 233