Quantitative research and qualitative research are two types of original research that you will come across when you are researching for original nursing research.
While both contain useful data to use, you may be required to use one particular type of data for a paper or presentation.
Quantitative research: A traditional approach to research in which variables are identified and measured in a reliable and valid way (Houser, 2018, p. 34)
Qualitative research: A naturalistic approach to research in which the focus is on understanding the meaning of an experience from the individual's perspective (Houser, 2018, p. 35)
Houser, J. (2018). Nursing research: Reading, using, and creating evidence (4th ed.). Jones & Bartlett Learning.
Think of quantitative research as a scientific experiment. You have your hypothesis, an item you want to change, an item you are comparing the change against, and then the results of your experiment.
At its core, quantitative research involves a control variable and an independent variable. Typically with nursing research, the independent variable will be the proposed change or intervention that you are looking to implement in your practice. Results of a quantitative research study should be something that can be replicated. Data results for quantitative research typically involve hard data, such as blood pressure, temperature, oxygen levels, etc.
Ovid. [OvidWoltersKluwer]. (2015, October 6). Types of research used for evidence- based practice [Video file]. YouTube. https://youtu.be/jwOu24btBVk
Qualitative research focuses more on soft data, meaning it observes an individual's experience and cannot be replicated (Houser, 2018). Types of research studies that are qualitative include: "observations, in-depth interviews or focus-groups, case studies, and social interaction studies" (Houser, 2018).
Houser, J. (2018). Nursing research: Reading, using, and creating evidence (4th ed.). Jones & Bartlett Learning.