The three types of qualitative research designs are phenomenological, grounded theory, and ethnographic research.
The three types of qualitative research designs are phenomenological, grounded theory, and ethnographic research. Compare the differences and similarities between two of the three types of qualitative studies and give an example of each.
Initial discussion question posts should be a minimum of 200 words and include at least two references cited using APA format. Responses to peers or faculty should be 100-150 words and include one reference. Refer to “RN-BSN Discussion Question Rubric” and “RN-BSN Participation Rubric,” located in Class Resources, to understand the expectations for initial discussion question posts and participation posts, respectively.
Sample Expert Answer
Qualitative research takes different forms, among them being phenomenological research and grounded theory. Each of these approaches takes a different form of inquiry, with phenomenological research focusing on understanding the lived experiences of individuals and how they perceive a phenomenon (Alhazmi & Kaufmann, 2022). Grounded theory, on the other hand, aims to generate or discover a theory by systematically gathering and analyzing data (Charmaz & Thornberg, 2021).
Phenomenology seeks to capture the essence of personal experiences by focusing on how individuals perceive and make sense of a particular phenomenon. Researchers use in-depth interviews and observations to gather detailed descriptions of participants’ lived experiences, aiming to uncover the underlying meaning and structure of those experiences. The goal is to explore how individuals interpret their world and the significance they attach to it, while bracketing any preconceived notions to allow for a pure understanding of the phenomenon (Alhazmi & Kaufmann, 2022).
On the other hand, grounded theory works toward developing a conceptual framework that explains social processes (Charmaz & Thornberg, 2021). Both methods prioritize deep, contextual exploration, but they differ in their goals, data collection processes, and analysis techniques. In phenomenological research, an example could be exploring how patients experience living with chronic pain, focusing on their perceptions, emotions, and coping mechanisms.
In grounded theory, an example could involve studying how nurses perceive the use of telemedicine compared to traditional approaches. Data would be collected through interviews and observations to develop a theory on how nurses adapt their practices, address challenges, and perceive the effectiveness of telemedicine in patient care, particularly in comparison to conventional in-person interactions.
References
Alhazmi, A. A., & Kaufmann, A. (2022). Phenomenological qualitative methods applied to the analysis of cross-cultural experience in novel educational social contexts. Frontiers in Psychology, 13, 785134. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.785134
Charmaz, K., & Thornberg, R. (2021). The pursuit of quality in grounded theory. Qualitative Research in Psychology, 18(3), 305–327.
Sample Peer Response
Hello
Your essay presents a compelling comparison between phenomenological research and grounded theory, effectively highlighting that each approach brings something unique to the field of qualitative inquiry. I appreciate the way you described phenomenology, with its emphasis on lived experiences and the researcher’s role in bracketing their preconceptions to understand the perspectives of participants better. The grounded theory case of how nurses adapt to telemedicine that you presented is especially timely in the modern healthcare context: it shows that theory can be a direct result of the practice in the field.
Both methods contribute to the development of nursing research by providing context-specific data on patient and provider experiences. According to Adeniran and Tayo-Ladega (2024), phenomenology is particularly effective in revealing the more profound significance individuals attribute to their experiences; thus, it is an invaluable methodology when researching complex human responses in health.
References
Adeniran, A. O., & Tayo-Ladega, O. (2024). Critical analysis of phenomenological research design in a qualitative research method. Management analytics and social insights, 1(2), 186-196.https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6870-1212
