Qualitative and Quantitative Research Designs
Directions for Preparing the Scholarly Paper:
• A baccalaureate nurse understands, relates, and values the fundamental elements of research,
process, and designs as a foundation for an evidence-based practice (AACN, 2008; QSEN,
2018). This assignment provides a learning activity for students to demonstrate understanding of
quantitative and qualitative research, the purpose and importance of designs, and how research
is critical for creating a credible evidence-based nursing practice.
• Two or more supporting scholarly references are required.
• No more than two direct quotes are allowed. You should be using mostly your own words to
demonstrate your understanding of the topics/criteria for this assignment. Citations and
references must be included.
• This is a short, scholarly paper. The assignment should be 3-4 pages in length not including the
title page and references page.
The guideline below is the required outline:
For the introduction paragraph section, summarize your learning using mostly your own words
(see the grading rubric for details):
o The need for nursing research.
o The importance for nurses to understand the basic principles of research.
o The purpose of your paper.
For the quantitative research section, summarize your learning using mostly your own words
(see the grading rubric for details):
o The importance of quantitative research.
o One type of quantitative design; explain one important feature of this type of design.
o How quantitative research can help improve nursing practice.
For the qualitative research section, your learning using mostly your own words (see the grading
rubric for details):
o The importance of qualitative research.
o One type of qualitative design; explain one important feature of this type of design.
o How qualitative research can help improve nursing practice.
For the research sampling section, your learning using mostly your own words (see the grading
rubric for details):
o What is sampling and why is sampling important.
o One sampling strategy used in quantitative research.
o One other sampling strategy that you learned.
For the credible nursing practice section, your learning using mostly your own words (see the
grading rubric for details):
o How research can help to make nursing practice safer.
o Why research is critical for creating an evidence-based nursing practice.
For the conclusion section, summarize your learning using mostly your own words (see the
grading rubric for details):
o Short, concise, thorough summary of the main points of the paper.
