Qualitative Research: Empirical and Analytical Methods

This article provides an overview of empirical and analytical methods of qualitative inquiry. Four common qualitative methods - qualitative descriptive, grounded theory, case study, and ethnography - are presented and briefly discussed. Nurses Announcements Archive Article

Updated:  

Qualitative Research: Empirical and Analytical Methods

Research can be classified into two broad categories: qualitative and quantitative. The choice depends on the type of research question. Both research categories are designed to build knowledge, and can be used in a complementary fashion.

Qualitative research describes methodologies that use an inductive process to explore issues, investigate phenomena, and understand peoples' interpretations in a holistic fashion. Inductive reasoning is reasoning from small observations to general principles or a larger theory. This method of inquiry generates rich, detailed comprehensive information. Using a flexible design, it investigates variables under natural conditions in the setting in which they are found. The goal is to capture a phenomenon as it naturally unfolds. It is a nonstatistical method of inquiry, in which themes and categories emerge and data are categorized into patterns. Samples are small and purposively selected. The researcher is the primary data collection instrument.

Quantitative research, on the other hand, gathers and analyzes numerical data, using deductive reasoning. Deductive reasoning starts with a general principle and moves to the particular. This method of inquiry investigates phenomena using precise objective measurement and quantification, often with a rigorous and controlled design. It is characterized by a deductive approach, standardized measures, highly structured instruments, and large samples to collect data for hypothesis testing and constructing statistical models.

In this article, we will explore four empirical and analytical methods in qualitative research: qualitative descriptive studies, grounded theory, case study, and ethnography. These methods are data centered, in that the researcher stays in close proximity to the data to capture the genuine experiences. The data collection and analysis process is not linear and straightforward, but goes back and forth (iterative). Data are collected and analyzed simultaneously. The ways to generate data include interviews, focus groups, participant observation, documents, and artifacts.

Qualitative descriptive studies

These are the least theoretical and least interpretive of all qualitative approaches. Interpretive methodologies focus on meanings and theory building through an inductive thinking process. However, this type of qualitative research is still interpretive in nature, and much more interpretive than quantitative description. With this type of research, investigators stay close to the data and to surface meaning. It is not as in-depth as other forms of qualitative research, but accurately conveys events/facts in their proper sequence. Qualitative descriptive is the ideal method when straight descriptions of an observable fact or event are desired. It serves as a comprehensive summary of the event in everyday terms.

Grounded theory

This is a systemic process for discovering, developing, refining, or testing theory using any kind of data. This is in contrast to quantitative research, which seeks to verify hypotheses, rather than generate theory. This methodology combines both theory and research, in that it fundamentally seeks explanations for phenomena. This type of qualitative research can produce either substantive theory (limited areas of inquiry) or formal theory (more abstract concepts) using patterns, themes, and common categories derived from the data. The theory should be grounded in the research and backed by the data. The ultimate goal of grounded theory is to move from substantive to formal theory.

Case study

This study design is a detailed investigation of individuals, groups, institutions or other social units within the real-life context. The focus of attention is the individual case and not the larger population. The researcher seeks an in-depth holistic understanding of the phenomenon being studied, in its natural setting. This methodology is useful for answering "how" or "why" questions concerning a unique situation or case. Case studies can follow either quantitative or qualitative approaches.

Ethnography

This is a qualitative research design aimed at studying a cultural group or a human society in its natural surroundings. It is based on data obtained primarily from fieldwork in natural settings, as the ethnographer immerses himself or herself in the culture for extended periods of time. The aim is to gain a deeper understanding of the society. This brings together many methods in data collection and analysis techniques.

This has been an overview of four common empirical and analytical methods of qualitative inquiry. More information on other types of qualitative research will be presented in a later article.

Resources

Ethnography

1
Up Vote Up Vote ×
VickyRN

About VickyRN, MSN, DNP, RN

VickyRN, PhD, RN, is a certified nurse educator (NLN) and certified gerontology nurse (ANCC). Her research interests include: the special health and social needs of the vulnerable older adult population; registered nurse staffing and resident outcomes in intermediate care nursing facilities; and, innovations in avoiding institutionalization of frail elderly clients by providing long-term care services and supports in the community. She is a Professor in a large baccalaureate nursing program in North Carolina.

49 Articles   5,349 Posts

Share this post

Specializes in NICU, ICU, PICU, Academia.

A subset of qualitative descriptive is template analysis. I used this is my MSN program research project as I wanted to record the entire range of response to an open-ended series of questions.

I have found is useful in my clinical practice as well. For example, in the PICU, the professional development committee is working on a needs assessment. Rather than give our nurses a pre-selected list of topics to choose from, we are asking THEM to supply topics under VERY broad headings.

Example: What topic(s) related to the cardiovascular system would you like more education about? As opposed to: I would like more education on (choose one) Tetralogy of Fallot, transposition or coarctation of the aorta.

1
Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Nursing Professional Development.

Thanks for the link, Mary. I'm going to check into that site and method.

1
Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Gerontological, cardiac, med-surg, peds.
marycarney said:
A subset of qualitative descriptive is template analysis. I used this is my MSN program research project as I wanted to record the entire range of response to an open-ended series of questions.

I have found is useful in my clinical practice as well. For example, in the PICU, the professional development committee is working on a needs assessment. Rather than give our nurses a pre-selected list of topics to choose from, we are asking THEM to supply topics under VERY broad headings.

Example: What topic(s) related to the cardiovascular system would you like more education about? As opposed to: I would like more education on (choose one) Tetralogy of Fallot, transposition or coarctation of the aorta.

I second llg. Thank you for sharing about template analysis. I had not heard about this before. It sounds intriguing with many possible clinical applications, such as the one you mentioned in the PICU.

Up Vote Up Vote ×