Data Collection in the Literature

¶ … second type of most commonly conducted research, the first being quantitative. Quantitative research uses broad study groups to analyze and interpret results based exclusively on the numbers. Unlike quantitative research, qualitative research allows the researcher the ability to integrate their own opinions and biases into the research. Qualitative research seems to conduct much smaller more isolated studies and interpret the data based on minimal facts. The real advantage to qualitative research in the medical field is the ability of an insider to utilize observable facts and improve hospital procedures through a simple, cost, and time effective study.

The first study reviewed was a qualitative study on the preparedness of EMS providers to deal with WMD situations. That study was conducted by interviewing participants in a program where WMD emergency preparedness was taught and determining how ready the staff felt to deal with those scenarios. Out of those studied, rough half felt prepared to handle these emergencies and as noted in the study this made the remaining hospital staff feel relieved that so many of the staff are prepared for these emergencies. It seemed as though the entire focus of the study was to persuade the readers that this training is necessary for EMS providers. This bias was made clear and much emphasis was placed on it, including the use of persuasive language throughout the study.

The second qualitative study was an analysis of hospital staff's ability to handle WMD emergencies. This study combined legislative data on the requirements of preparedness for hospitals and the reality that there was never sufficient funding given for such programs to be implemented. In this study, over half of the agents had training to handle the scenarios, but only 18.1% had the necessary equipment for handling the emergencies. Once again, the study relies on very little actual data. In fact, only a few statistics and instead offers insight from the person conducting study as to what the information means. In this case, the small numbers of preparedness are of concern as being insufficient for the task of making hospitals appear competent at handling the situations.