Qualitative Analysis Nursing

As any form of qualitative or quantitative analysis is not a purely technical process, but influenced by the characteristics of the researchers and their disciplinary paradigms, critical reflection throughout the research process is paramount, including in the design of the study, the construction or collection of data, and the analysis. “The Framework Method is becoming an increasingly popular approach to the management and analysis of qualitative data in health research; however, there is confusion about its potential application and limitations” (Gale, Heath, Cameron, Rashid, & Redwood, 2013). “Theory is almost always present in studies that are embedded in a qualitative research tradition such as ethnography or phenomenology” (Polit & Beck, 2014). The Framework Method sits within a broad family of analysis methods often termed thematic analysis or qualitative content analysis. These approaches identify commonalities and differences in qualitative data,
before focusing on relationships between different parts of the data, thereby seeking to draw descriptive and/or explanatory conclusions clustered around themes. Materialistic theories and ideational theories are cultural theories that most ethnographers adopt to shape their framework (Polit & Beck, 2014). Grounded theory is a general inductive method that has two unique characteristics: constant comparative analysis and theoretical sampling. The purposes of comparative analysis are to obtain accuracy of evidence in the conceptual category and to establish the generality of a fact. Theoretical sampling is the process of collecting data for comparative analysis, which means insight from initial data collection and analysis leads to subsequent data collection and analysis (Gale, Heath, Cameron, Rashid, & Redwood, 2013). Additionally, in the grounded theory, the data is collected by a variety of means. The most frequently collected are observations & interviews, but are not limited to these types. Just about any observed, typed or written material can be used.
“In recent years, a growing number of qualitative nurse researchers have adopted a perspective known as critical theory as a framework in their research, which is a paradigm that involves a critique of society, social processes and structures” (Polit & Beck, 2014).
There are many purposes of theory in nursing research. These include, but are not limited to; identifying meaningful and relevant areas for study, proposing plausible approaches to health problems, developing or refining theories, defining the concepts and proposed relationships between concepts, interpreting research findings, developing clinical practice protocols, and generating nursing diagnoses (Gale, Heath, Cameron, Rashid, & Redwood, 2013). The relationship between research and theory is undeniable, and it is important to recognize the impact of this relationship on the development of nursing knowledge. So interface theory and research by generating theories, testing the theories and by using it as a conceptual framework that drives the
study.