Evidence-Based Practice for Nurses

in healthcare journals (Sandelowski, 2004). Qualitative researchers collect

data that are in-depth and descriptive in order to understand the phenomena

being studied. The methods allow participants to express their thoughts and

describe their actions and intentions in their own words. The researcher is the

most important data collection instrument (Miller, 2010). Researchers gather

qualitative data through questionnaires, interviews, focus groups, case studies,

direct observations, and storytelling. Table 10-4 lists data collection strategies

associated with the four major qualitative methods.

Questionnaires

Questionnaires are frequently used to collect qualitative data from individuals or

groups of participants. The questionnaire is typically a list of written questions

that can be self-administered. It can also be administered using the Internet

or can be read to the participant by the data collector. Questionnaires can use

open-ended questions, closed-ended questions, or both. Open-ended questions

are used to elicit statements without providing a fixed answer. An example of an

open-ended question is, “Tell about your experience as a caregiver for a person

with Parkinson’s disease.” Closed-ended questions offer fixed choices that must

be selected. For example, a closed-ended question may ask participants to

Method Instrument/Tool

Phenomenology In-depth interviews

Diaries

Artwork

Grounded theory Observations

Open-ended question interviews with

individuals or small groups

Ethnography Participant and direct observations

Open-ended question interviews

Diagrams

Documents

Photographs

Historical Open-ended question interviews

Interviews

Documents

Photographs

Artifacts

TABLE 10-4

Qualitative Research Methods

and Instruments

KEY TERMS

interviews: A

method for

collecting data in

person or over the

telephone

focus groups: A

strategy to obtain

data from a small

group of people

using interview

questions

case studies: A

description of a

single or novel event

direct observations:

Observing

phenomena

using the five

senses; capturing

information

by watching

participants

storytelling:

A method of

data collection

associated with

qualitative methods

when researchers

and participants tell

their stories about

the phenomenon of

interest

272 CHAPTER 10 Collecting Evidence