nothing had been previously written or studied. So, qualitative methods are
useful to answer descriptive and exploratory questions.
The Basics of Qualitative Research
Before nurses can apply findings from qualitative studies to nursing practice,
they must have the ability to critically appraise and evaluate qualitative studies.
Understanding the basics of sampling, collecting data, analyzing and interpret-
ing data, and evaluating findings is necessary so that nurses can ensure that
qualitative evidence is trustworthy.
Sampling
In qualitative research, the volunteers who participate in a study are called par-
ticipants rather than subjects. Participants are also known as informants. The
sampling method used is purposive rather than random, which is preferred in
quantitative methods, because in qualitative methods, the researchers wish to
obtain information from specific persons who could provide inside information
about the subject being studied. Such people are sometimes referred to as key
informants because they have intimate knowledge of the subject being investigated
and are willing and able to share this with the researcher. A purposive sample is one
selected intentionally, yet it includes volunteers who are willing to tell their stories.
Another type of sampling often used alone or in combination with purposive
is called snowball sampling. This refers to the accumulation of participants
based on word of mouth or referrals from other participants. For example, if a
researcher interviewed a participant in his home and he mentioned that he at-
tended a support group with others who might wish to talk with the researcher,
this referral to the support group could be an additional source of participants
for the study. If those in the support group suggest others who might be in-
cluded in the study, the number of participants snowballs by referrals from the
existing sample. Qualitative researchers often find this to be an effective way
to identify key informants.
The number of participants in a qualitative research
study is also different from the numbers involved in
quantitative methods. Generally, a smaller number is
involved (often 6 to 10 participants in many studies).
Instead of being determined by the number of variables
the researchers might include in a quantitative study,
in qualitative designs sample size is determined by the
information being provided by the participants. Data col-
lection stops when no new information is being obtained
and repetition of information is consistently heard. This
is called data saturation.
KEY TERMS
participants:
Individuals in a
qualitative study;
informants
informants:
Individuals in a
qualitative study;
participants
purposive:
Sampling method
to recruit specific
persons who could
provide inside
information
key informants:
Individuals who
have intimate
knowledge of a
subject and are
willing to share it
with the researcher
snowball sampling:
Recruitment of
participants based
on word of mouth
or referrals from
other participants
data saturation: In
qualitative research,
the time when no
new information
is being obtained
and repetition
of information is
consistently heardFYI
Researchers in nursing have only recently
begun to embrace qualitative methods
as equal in value to quantitative research
to advance the science and provide foun-
dational evidence for best practice. How-
ever, qualitative research is still gaining
acceptance in the EBP process because
of the subjective nature of data analysis
and interpretation.9.1 What Is Qualitative Research? 223