Page 202 - Encyclopedia of Nursing Research

EXPLORATORY STUDiES n 169

when the investigator seeks to gather base- decision-making processes. On the other
line information on a particular variable that hand, qualitative or naturalistic designs
is difficult to measure, such as the concepts explore phenomena in the natural setting in E
of loneliness or culture. Other research- which they occur and are commonly carried
ers may wish to investigate a process about out by using semistructured or open-ended
which little is known. An example might be interviewing techniques and by observation.
the types and meanings of caring behaviors There are multiple approaches associated
among elderly nursing home residents or the with qualitative research, but they all focus
meaning of loss of a loved one. Additional on those aspects of human behavior that
rationales for exploratory studies include are difficult to measure in numerical terms.
the need to focus on one concept that has not One example of an exploratory qualitative
been described in any great detail in the lit- study that used a grounded theory approach
erature, such as isolation or comfort, or the is that by McDonnell and Van Hout (2010).
need to determine the feasibility for a more McDonnell and Van Hout sought to describe
extensive study. Lastly, exploratory research opiate users’ experiences of self-detoxifica-
can serve to establish baseline information tion by using a grounded theory approach.
for future studies. The study generated a substantive theory of
Regardless of the intent of exploratory self-detoxification as a subjective process of
research, a flexible design that enables the seeking heroin abstinence.
researcher to investigate and examine all Most critiques of exploratory research
aspects of a phenomenon is encouraged. cite a limited scope and focus, the lack of
Flexibility in the design allows exploration generalizability to a larger population, and
of emerging ideas and changing direction, the lack of a basis for prediction. in spite of
if needed, as data are collected and ana- these limitations, however, exploratory stud-
lyzed. Thus, exploratory research is not lim- ies are useful to uncover or discover infor-
ited to one particular paradigm but may use mation about little-known phenomena or
either a quantitative or qualitative approach. single concepts, to explore the existence of
Studies that propose a hypothesis and seek relationships between and among variables,
to provide a measure of a phenomenon as a to find out more about human behavior in a
description use a quantitative design such naturalistic setting, to lay the groundwork
as that described by Lagan, Sinclair, and for more systematic testing of hypotheses,
Kernohan (2010). in this study, Lagan et al. and to determine the feasibility for a more
sought to discover how pregnant women in-depth study.
used the internet as an information source
and the overall effect that it had on their Kathleen Huttlinger