Understanding Paradigms for Nursing Research

Question 1

What is a paradigm?

Answer 1

A set of beliefs that provide a viewpoint and underpins the approach to research

Question 2

What are the 2 divisions of paradigms?

Answer 2

1) Quantitative

2) Qualitative

Question 3

What is the positivist viewpoint?

Answer 3

When someone will only accept something if it can be measured objectively

Question 4

What are the 4 contributions of Quantitative approaches to knowledge research?

Answer 4

1) Generalisable
2) Objective
3) Verifiable
4) Descriptions and Predictions

Question 5

What are the 4 limitations of Quantitative approaches?

Answer 5

1) ‘Context-stripping’
2) No approach can be ‘value-free’ (as approaches will have prior perceptions)
3) Establishing the true is rare
4) Not good at explaining why something happens

Question 6

What are the 4 contributions of Qualitative approaches to knowledge research?

Answer 6

1) The voices of the participants are heard
2) More subjective
3) More holistic
4) Seeks understanding and shared meaning

Question 7

What are the 4 limitations of qualitative approaches?

Answer 7

1) Ignores risk factors
2) Can ignore important explanations due to lack of objectivity
3) Has less explanatory power because it’s more holistic
4) Theorising is limited