Sarah

I use qualitative methodology because it’s particularly suited to exploring under researched areas or phenomena – so for exploratory research where early, initial data can shape the direction of future research. In this process of exploring new areas using a qualitative approach, participants play a really key role. They guide researchers as to the key issues to be explored. They help with the framing of the research in terms of language terminology and context and they help the research, such as myself to formulate the best research questions to ask.

Exploring under researched phenomena is difficult to do using a quantitative approach because so little is known about the topic and how best to study it, so for example, you wouldn’t be sure what questions to ask in a quantitative questionnaire. Using qualitative research first however would allow potential variables to be identified for future quantitative work.

As an example, you could use qualitative methodology to explore the experiences of different populations of the COVID-19 pandemic, to inform future support services. So student nurses’ experiences of training during the pandemic, in order to facilitate the effective development of university support processes and provision, for example.

Although, by definition, it’s hard to provide examples of research that is under researched, I’ve added an editorial and an article to the research library at the end of the corridor. The article provides insight into the potential mental health impact of COVID-19 on student nurses and the editorial piece looks at how qualitative insights from students might be used to generate initial ideas of important issues and concepts for more formal exploratory research