Analysis of Qualitative and Quantitative Research Paper Example

Analysis of qualitative research

The rigor and validity of qualitative research are based on the way the article is written and how the data was collected. Rigor is about being open with the data collected, adhering strictly to some specific philosophical perspectives and collecting data thoroughly. On the other hand, validity is the measure of how well the test measures the things that it claims to measure. A research article that has a high rigor and validity is the one whose information can be trusted and has measured the parameters accurately (Noble, & Smith, 2015). The first measure of the trustworthiness is credibility. Credibility refers to how congruent the results of the research are with the reality. To determine the credibility of the article, one considers the use of random sampling, the use of triangulation which reduces the limitations of different research methods, and an earlier analysis of the culture of the organization. In the article by Adib-Hajbaghery, Ansari, & Azizi-Fini (2013), the credibility is seen in the use of random sampling and the use of a specific philosophical context. The sample selected also included nurses who had at least six years experience in the ICU operations and all participants were from different hospitals.

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The other one is dependability and it is a measure of the stability of data over time and over different conditions. It is the indication of the way the processes of data collection are integrated, the way the data analysis is done and how the theory is generated. The research can be termed as dependable if it has a consistent collection of data and if the researcher did not make mistakes when collecting data, interpreting the findings and reporting the results. The method used when choosing the sample to be interviewed should also be clearly shown in the research (Noble, & Smith, 2015). In the qualitative article, the collection of data and selection of the sample is stated clearly. The sample was from selected university hospitals and ICU centers. The use of questionnaires to collect data is also explained clearly and it is a reliable method of data collection.

The third measure is confirmability, which refers to the bias of the researcher and how it affects the results. When the researcher has a major impact on the results and they have altered the data given by the respondents, then the article has low confirmability. The measure ensures that the data given is a reflection of the ideas of the respondents rather than those of the researchers. A detailed description of the methodology used in the research helps to determine the alterations or bias made by the researcher (Noble, & Smith, 2015). In the qualitative research by Adib-Hajbaghery, Ansari, & Azizi-Fini (2013), the methodology is explained and it is possible to associate the data given directly with the nurses interviewed.

The last measure is authenticity which refers to the essence and genuine nature of the situation under investigation. For example, the authenticity of a research on the nursing practices of nurses can be shown by the genuine analysis of the activities involved in nursing. It is a measure of something which is genuine and not a copy of the original one. The measure is also related to the transferability of the research results, which refers to the possibility of using the research results in different situations and in a wider population. The challenge with transferability is that the results of a qualitative research are a reflection of the small part of the population that was included in the research (Noble, & Smith, 2015). The authenticity of the article is seen in the way the data is presented, the clarity of methods used and the emphasis given to the sources of information used.

Analysis of the quantitative research

The rigor and validity in a quantitative research are determined by several factors which include the data collection and the analysis done. The measure of credibility, as stated above, involves analyzing the congruence of the data with the reality. In this research article, the use of random sampling is evident in the research design part, whereby the researchers used a computerized randomization schedule table to allocate the participating patients into groups. The materials used, for example, the petroleum Vaseline jelly, are clearly stated and the composition stated in percentages. The design shows the credibility of the research and the results can be compared to the true nature of these products. The transferability of the data used is also evident because the research can be applied in different situations. The research results were from random samples and this means that the results could be applied to a wider population.

The dependability if the data is also high because if a similar research is conducted using the same method, it is likely that the same results will be seen. The reason is that the methodology is clear and valid. The article has a separate part that explains the research design and how it was implemented, the collection of data is clearly stated and the information is arranged in a manner that is easy to follow. Due to these reasons, the research article is dependable. The confirmability of the research article is also high because the instruments used are free from bias of the researcher. The use of computerized methods reduces the errors of the research process and increases the chances for the researcher to distort the results. The number of patients used, the clinical measurements, the outcomes and the statistical analysis are clearly stated and this shows the rigor and validity of the research done.

The internal validity refers to the relationship that exists among the variables used in a research while external validity is about the universality of the results. Therefore, internal validity is the extent to which the results of the research are free from errors that are caused by measurements done on the independent variables. It is concerned with the control of the variables and measuring the accuracy of the method and results. The generalizability of the results shows the internal validity in the research (Hussein, 2015). The use of random selection and distribution of the research samples used increased the internal validity of the article by Koeman et al. (2006). The researcher controlled the intrinsic characteristics of the participants by allocating them groups and nurses were trained on how to apply 0.5g of paste on the buccal cavity of the patients to be studied. The activity affected the behavior of the participants and this led to more internal validity.

External validity is the extent to which the same results can be inferred to a larger context or the real world. It measures if the causal relationship observed in the research can be generalized to the larger population, from where the sample was got (Hussein, 2015). The external validity aims at determining whether the results can be used in practical situations and this is shown by the research design and how well the data was collected and analyzed. The research design shows that the administration of the dose four times a day can be done to any other patients and similar results are likely to be observed. The research article has explanations about the procedures followed in collecting and presenting data, the way the data collected was analyzed and how the participation ended through consent withdrawal, death or extubation. The results can be generalized to the real-life situations because they are authentic and easy to confirm. The statistical power of the research is high because it is possible to detect a change if the parameters like the amount of paste and frequency of administering it are changed.

References

Noble, H., & Smith, J. (2015). Issues of validity and reliability in qualitative research. Evidence-Based Nursing, ebnurs-2015.

Adib-Hajbaghery, M., Ansari, A., & Azizi-Fini, I. (2013). Intensive care nurses' opinions and practice for the oral care of mechanically ventilated patients. Indian journal of critical care medicine: peer-reviewed, official publication of Indian Society of Critical Care Medicine, 17(1), 23.

Hussein, A. (2015). The use of triangulation in social sciences research: Can qualitative and quantitative methods be combined?. Journal of comparative social work, 4(1).

Koeman, M., van der Ven, A. J., Hak, E., Joore, H. C., Kaasjager, K., de Smet, A. G., ... & Hustinx, W. N. (2006). Oral decontamination with chlorhexidine reduces the incidence of ventilator-associated pneumonia. American journal of respiratory and critical care medicine, 173(12), 1348-1355.