Understanding paradigms for nursing research

Question 1

What is a paradigm?

Answer 1

• patterns of belief or general assumptions
• sets of philosophical underpinnings from which research approaches follow
• (research traditions, world views, methodologies)
• provide viewpoint, process and principles –> investigation conducted and interpreted

Question 2

What are the paradigms in nursing research?

Answer 2

Quantitative and Qualitative

Question 3

What are other words for quantitative?

Answer 3

positivism (empiricism), post positivism

Question 4

What are other words used for qualitative?

Answer 4

• Interpretive and constructivism (underpinned by these)

- critical social theory

Question 5

Use the example of red to describe the 2 paradigms

Answer 5

Quantitatively:
-measured objectively (wavelengths)
-accept something if it can be objectively measured
Qualitatively:
-wish to know what red means regardless of an objective definition
-subjective view

Question 6

Quantitative strengths?

Answer 6

• generalisability
• description and prediction
• objective
• varifiable

Question 7

Quantitative limitations?

Answer 7

• context stripping
• explanation needed
• value-free oobservations not possible
• absolute truth rarely established

Question 8

Qualitative strengths?

Answer 8

• articulates voices of pps
• deliberately subjective
• multiple realities
• seeks understanding and shared meaning

Question 9

Qualitative limitations?

Answer 9

• may ignore risk factors
• less objective (may not discriminate important patterns)
• less explanatory power
• theorising limited