NURSING RESEARCH PROJECT

Characteristics of Qualitative Research and the Mogotlane Study of Circumcision

Defining qualitative research as an interpretative, naturalistic and exploratory approach to research, Ritchie and Lewis (2003) state that this approach focuses upon understanding the meanings which people attach to their actions, decisions, beliefs and values within their social world. The authors further note that the general goal of qualitative research is to provide a given understanding of a phenomena (e.g., mortality and morbidity in traditional circumcision in a specified geographic area) within a contextual setting and so provide an explanation of factors central to this phenomenon. When applied to nursing, the purpose of qualitative research is more focused on health. Specifically, the goal is to provide an exploration of reasons, both objective and subjecti

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an emphasis upon the perspective of the study participants, examining how they give meaning to their experience of the phenomenon being researched. In other words, the goal is not to generalize from the sample so much as it is to understand the sample. In Mogotlane et. al (2004), the setting was the actual field in which the phenomenon (circumcision) took place. Moreover, the concern was understanding the particular sample and why mortality and morbidity among these initiates was so high. In this way, it was characteristic of qualitative research. However, this element of the Mogotlane et. al (2004) study did not precisely fit Creswell's specification. This was because there was, to at least some extent, a focus on generalizing to all boys in the district who had or were to be circumcised so that steps could be taken to lower future morbidity and mortality rates. Thus, in this way, the study did reach beyond the boundaries of many qualitative studies. In summary then, the Mogotlane et. al (2004) study had most if not all of the characteristics that are considered core or basic characteristics of qualitative research. Moreover, the study not only satisfied these requirements but even reached a bit beyond the boundaries in t
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Approximate Word count = 1878
Approximate Pages = 8 (250 words per page)

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