Blending qualitative and quantitative approaches to instrument development and data collection

Abstract

A growing emphasis in nursing concerns the combining of various methods in a single study. In this article, the experiences with combining qualitative and quantitative approaches in an investigation of nurse researchers employed in clinical settings are described. The presentation focuses on the efforts to integrate guidelines from both qualitative and quantitative methodology texts and articles during the course of instrument development and data collection. Included in the discussion is an evaluation of the extent to which the study succeeded in integrating the two approaches so as to maximize the strengths and minimize the weaknesses of each. The feasibility of combining qualitative and quantitative approaches is supported, and the need for investigators to report their experiences with combining methods is stressed.