Question

What are the 6 purposes types of research as given by Polit and Beck (2021, page 12-16, table1.3)?

Give an example for each type.

Answer 1

Answer: The 6 purposes of types of research are

1. Identification:

It is used in the quantitative research study only. Because identification purposes mainly focus on the identification of new phenomena that are yet not clearly identified by any researcher. Identification purpose is not applicable to quantitative research study because in this study, mostly the researcher begins with a phenomenon that is already identified or studied.

Example:

2. description

The description purpose is applicable for both the quantitative and qualitative research studies. In the quantitative research study, it includes the description of measurable phenomena like prevalence, incidence, survey method, etc that can be interpreted in numerical data as the outcome of the research study. Example: A study to assess the prevalence of anemia among teenage girls in a selected school.

In a qualitative research study, it focuses on the description of variations, importance, the dimension of the unknown phenomena. In this, the interpretation of the study will in words or non-numerical form and not able to measure it.

Example: A study to assess the experiences of the people living in the society after recovered from the coronavirus illness

3. exploration

it is also included in both the quantitative and qualitative research types. In quantitative study includes the exploration of the full nature of the phenomena, the factor related to the phenomena, and how it is manifested. Example: A study to assess the incidence of the stroke to the patient with hypertension, explore the manifestation of stroke, and the relation between the stroke and hypertension.

In the qualitative research study, it includes exploration of full nature of unclear phenomena, the various way that the phenomena manifested and the underlying process. Example: A study to assess the experience of the nurses who are caring for terminally ill patient in the ICU.

4. explanation

In quantitative study, it includes the explanation of the relationship or association between the defined phenomena, factors that cause the phenomena,and based on the previous developed nursing theory to support the phenomena.

example: To test environmental theory to explain the relationship between the unhygienic environment and the spread of infection among the children.

In qualitative study, the researcher focus on searching for the answer why and how a phenomena exist and in this mostly the researcher focus on development of new nursing theory.

Example: A study for the development of nursing theory to explained the relationship between the environmental changes and increase demand of nursing care.

5. prediction

it is used in the quantitative research study only. In this, there is include the prediction of the outcome after manipulation of the defined phenomena.

Example: A study to evaluate the use of alcohol base hand rub in the decrease of nosocomial infection in the hospital.

6.Control

It is also present only in the quantitative research study. There is use of manipulation to some phenomena and no manipulation is some phenomena. At last, compare of the result of the two phenomena with or without manipulation.

Example: A study to evaluate the effectiveness of insulin therapy among the diabetic patient admitted in the hospital for the reduction of blood glucose level.