Evidence-Based Practice for Nurses

What are the variables being measured?

Does the data collection method fit with the study variables?

What is the intervention?

Is there sufficient detail given about the intervention and the control group?

Was the setting described?

What steps were taken to minimize measurement error?

What instruments are used? Were validity and reliability discussed for each instrument?

Was the level of measurement considered?

Were there any difficulties with enrollment, attrition, or missing data?

BOX 10-1 Assessing the Quality of Quantitative Data Collection Methods

10.4 Collecting Qualitative Data

At the end of this section, you will be able to:

‹ Identify the researcher as the most important data collection instrument

‹ Describe various methods used to collect qualitative data

‹ Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of qualitative data collection methods

‹ Recognize questions used to appraise qualitative data collection methods

True/False

1. Validity is concerned with an instrument obtaining accurate and repeatable measures.


2. Content validity is established by having a panel of experts review the instruments.


3. Face validity is the strongest method to establish validity.


4. Equivalence, internal consistency, and stability are tested to ensure instrument reliability.


5. An instrument with a reported Cronbach’s alpha of .65 has good reliability.

TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE 10-3

How did you do? 1. F; 2. T; 3. F; 4. T; 5. F

Collecting Words

In recent years, the use of qualitative methods has become more common in
health services research, resulting in an increase in publication of these studies

10.4 Collecting Qualitative Data 271