Evidence-Based Practice for Nurses

primarily linked with quantitative research, is reasoning that moves from
the general to the particular. For example, researchers use a theory to help
them reason out a hunch. If the researcher believes that the position of the
body affects circulation, then the researcher could deduce that blood pressure
readings taken while lying down will be different from those measured while
standing. In contrast, inductive reasoning involves reasoning that moves from
the particular to the general and is associated with qualitative approaches. By
using inductive reasoning, researchers can take particular ideas and express an
overall general summary about the phenomenon (Figure 1-3).

What Makes Up a Research Article?

The development of EBP requires careful attention to research already published.
Therefore, it is essential for nurses to identify research studies from among the
many other types of articles included in the literature. The trick is knowing
what sections are contained in a research article.

Typically, an abstract is the first section of a research article and is usually
limited to 100–150 words. The purpose of the abstract is to provide an overview
of the study, but the presence of an abstract does not necessarily mean that an

Attribute Quantitative Qualitative

Philosophical perspective One reality that can be

objectively viewed by the

researcher

Multiple realities that are

subjective, occurring within

the context of the situation

Type of reasoning Primarily deductive Primarily inductive

Role of researcher Controlled and structured Participative and ongoing

Strategies Control and manipulation of

situations

Analysis of numbers with

statistical tests

Larger number of subjects

Naturalistic; allows

situations to unfold without

interference

Analysis of words to identify

themes

Smaller numbers of

participants

Possible designs Descriptive Survey

Correlational

Quasi-experimental

Experimental

Phenomenological

Ethnographic

Grounded Theory

Historical

TABLE 1-4 Comparisons of Quantitative and Qualitative Approaches

KEY TERMS

inductive

reasoning: Thinking

that moves

from the particular

to the general

abstract: The

first section of a

research article

that provides an

overview of the

study

1.2 What Is Nursing Research? 19