Qualitative Research Critique

Article: Van Oostveen, C. J., Mathijssen, E., & Vermeulen, H. (2015). Nurse Staffing Issues are Just the tip of the Iceberg: A Qualitative Study About Nurses’ Perceptions of Nurse Staffing. International Journal of Nursing Studies, 52(8), 1300-1309. http://daneshyari.com/article/preview/1076172.pdf
According to Polit & Beck (2017), the primary parameters of evaluating a qualitative research article include the research methods, the research design and its tradition, the setting and sampling methods, data collection and measurement, procedures, and ethics and protections of human rights. The Van Oostveen, Mathijssen & Vermeulen (2015) study uses qualitative methodology to examine the Dutch nurses’ perceptions of staff-to-patient ratio, staffing levels, and also the patient classification system. The research was motivated by preliminary studies showing that staffing levels have become low enough to potentially endanger patient safety. Ultimately, the researchers found that nurses perceive their role in the hospital as being subordinate, which is exacerbating existing tensions and staffing problems.
Research Methods
The descriptive phenomenological approach uses multiple methods of data collection including focus groups and interviews. The Managing Complex Change model was used to generate topical questions for the focus groups and interviews. Using an established model helped add validity to the study.
Research Design and Tradition
Phenomenology is the tradition underlying this research. The researchers were interested in the lived experiences of nurses at a Dutch hospital. Specifically, a descriptive phenomenological design is used in this in depth case study of a 1000-bed Dutch university hospital. The researchers employ multiple methods in order to detect common concerns or themes among the nursing staff. Focus group and interview data was then “cross-pollinated,” (p. 1300).
Setting and Sampling
The population sample was taken from one Dutch hospital including twenty-four different wards and five areas of clinical specialization. Different methods were used to select the samples for the interviews and the focus groups. The authors used a convenience sample to select the forty-four participants in the focus groups. Their head nurse supervisors also nominated each of the focus group participants. Therefore, the sampling method detracts somewhat from the validity of the results.
However, the researchers also attempted to gain as much diversity in their population sample by ensuring gender diversity and diversity in terms of level of education and experience. The authors used purposive sampling methods for the twenty-seven in-depth interview subjects. The researchers selected twenty head nurses, four nursing directors, and three policy advisors, selecting also on the basis of maximizing diversity in the sample.
Data Collection and Measurement
Data was collected over the course of several months between September and December 2012. One researcher served as moderator and another as note-taker, but audio recordings were used to collect the data for both focus groups and interviews. Transcripts were analyzed using MAXQDA version 11. The researchers used codes to detect thematic categories. The researchers made sure to triangulate their findings to maximize validity and reliability.
Procedures
Different procedures were used for the interviews and the focus groups. Focus groups were held during the last hour of the day shift, between 3 and 4 PM. The researchers used a “brown paper session” to write down the discussion questions, allotting ten minutes for each one. Discussions were open-ended. Interviews lasted between 30 and 60 minutes and were conducted at the participants’ convenience. The same questions were asked during interviews as during the focus groups, based on the Managing Complex Change model.
Protection of Human Rights
All participants were informed about the nature of the study, but given the nursing staff who participated in the focus groups had been nominated by their supervisors, the researchers do not indicate how they would protect the subjects’ anonymity. No coercion was used to encourage participation but it is possible that the nurses may have felt pressured to participate given they were nominated by their supervisor.
Quantitative Research Critique
Allen, B. C., Holland, P., & Reynolds, R. (2015). The Effect of Bullying on Burnout in Nurses: The Moderating Role of Psychological Detachment. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 71(2), 381-390. https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/bfa0/a66f81e5930599df9391ccdf504c3cf1aac2.pdf

According to Polit & Beck (2017), quantitative studies should be evaluated according to methods, research design, population and sample, data collection and measurement, procedures, and the protection of human rights. The Allen, Holland & Reynolds (2015) study uses quantitative methodology to examine the effect of workplace bullying on psychological detachment and burnout. As predicted, bullying does lead to psychological detachment and burnout, with detachment mitigating burnout.
Design
The design used was cross-sectional, in order to determine the relationship between one independent variable (experience of bullying) and two dependent variables and their relationship with one another (psychological detachment and burnout).
Methods
The researchers prepared an online anonymous survey administered to nurses registered and paid to work in Australia. Participants voluntarily participated in the survey, which was promoted on the Australian Nursing and Midwifery website. Data was collected from June to September 2011 and then analyzed.
Population and Sample
The researchers recruited active working nurses in Australia on the Australian Nursing and Midwifery (ANMF) website, thereby limiting their population sample to nurses who visit this website. A total of 762 nurses completed the survey. The researchers compared their sample with national statistics of nurses in Australia and concluded that the sample is representative of the population.
Data Collection and Measurement
The Quine bullying scale was used to measure the independent variable. The scale includes twenty different bullying behaviors, and uses a binary (yes/no) scale. Psychological detachment was measured using the Recovery Experience Questionnaire, which uses a Likert scale and thus could yield an alpha score. Burnout was measured using a sub-scale from the Copenhagen Burnout Inventory, which uses a five-point frequency scale. The software SPSS was used for all data analysis, including hierarchical regressions.
Procedures
The researchers solicited participation from nurses on the ANMF website. Participants completed the survey anonymously and in their own time. Data from these surveys, which included different components to measure the independent and dependent variables, were collected and analyzed.
Ethics and Human Rights
Anonymity was ensured, as was confidentiality. Nurses were also informed that they did not have to answer questions they did not want to answer and that participation was totally voluntary. An ethical committee provided further approval of the research methods.







References
Allen, B. C., Holland, P., & Reynolds, R. (2015). The Effect of Bullying on Burnout in Nurses: The Moderating Role of Psychological Detachment. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 71(2), 381-390. https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/bfa0/a66f81e5930599df9391ccdf504c3cf1aac2.pdf
Polit, D. F., & Beck, C. T. (2017). Nursing research: Generating and assessing evidence for nursing practice (10th ed.). Philadelphia, PA: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.
Van Oostveen, C. J., Mathijssen, E., & Vermeulen, H. (2015). Nurse Staffing Issues are Just the tip of the Iceberg: A Qualitative Study About Nurses’ Perceptions of Nurse Staffing. International Journal of Nursing Studies, 52(8), 1300-1309. http://daneshyari.com/article/preview/1076172.pdf