This paper examines the value of qualitative research by analyzing the article "Listening to Voices of Hospitalized High-Risk Antepartum Patients" by Richter, Parkes, and Chaw-Kant, published in the Journal of Obstetrics Gynecological Neonatal Nursing. It contrasts the qualitative, narrative approach of that study with the quantitative methods employed in a separate study on antepartum bed rest and multiple gestations. The paper argues that while quantitative research offers scientific breadth and measurable data, qualitative interviewing uniquely captures patient experiences, elicits unexpected insights, and can empower participants. The limitations of each approach — including sample size constraints in qualitative work and the absence of patient voice in quantitative designs — are also considered.
The value of qualitative, narrative, and descriptive forms of research is exemplified by the article "Listening to Voices of Hospitalized High-Risk Antepartum Patients" in the Journal of Obstetrics Gynecological Neonatal Nursing by M.S. Richter, C. Parkes, and J. Chaw-Kant. Qualitative research seeks to provide a human face for individuals undergoing difficult circumstances, such as the aftermath of a high-risk pregnancy. The style of the piece begins, like a more quantitative work, by justifying the research, but the article evolves in a more discursive format, addressing themes that emerged from interviews rather than trying to quantify participants' feelings in a format that can be placed into a statistical table.
Of course, it is possible in a quantitative study to allow patients to rate subjective feelings — such as pain or depression — on a scale of 1 to 10. However, the process of open interviewing can elicit responses that researchers might not have predicted, such as a patient's need for privacy during a fearful life change, a patient's concern for family members in the hospital environment, or worries about being a burden on others.
Qualitative interviewing techniques also allow patients to offer suggestions to researchers and can even serve as a potentially therapeutic process — however unintentionally — for the patient. Interviewing gives patients the opportunity to provide input and thus fosters a sense of self-empowerment. This is especially important for the subjects in this article, who often feel helpless given the circumstances of their pregnancy. The women in the study recommended that the unit should try to allow for easier and more frequent visits from the patient's family and include more activities to keep the new mothers' minds active.
"Small samples and time constraints limit qualitative scope"
"Quantitative study measures stress and depression with validated scales"
"Quantitative breadth versus qualitative patient voice and accessibility"
Always verify citation format against your institution’s current style guide requirements.