Considering Participant Observation Methods for Nursing Qualitative Research

Authors

Ana Inês Lourenço da Costa, Escola Superior de Enfermagem de LisboaFollow
Maria da Luz Jansénio Monteiro de Almeida Fonseca Rosa, Unidade Local de Saúde Almada SeixalFollow
Paula Manuela Jorge Dioga, Escola Superior de Enfermagem de LisboaFollow

Abstract

Observation is used as a research technique and the selection of the appropriate type depends on the research question and the paradigm underlying each study. The degree of participation and involvement of a nurse researcher varies according to the nature of the setting and the research question. The objective is to reflect on the experience in applying observational techniques in nursing qualitative research. We report on the experience of using 14 observations of interactions between nurse-child-parents in a nursing appointment in a healthcare center. This data collection allowed identification of advantages and limitations in the nurse-child-parent interaction processes, in a healthcare center. We argue that advantages of observation can include overcoming the divergence between what participants say and what they do; capturing the emotional dimension cultivated within the natural environment; flexibility and non-intrusiveness if the researcher gives time to develop a relationship with the participants. Doing observations requires significant time in the natural context, through sustained presence, building trust, and becoming integrated into the context before the research begins. In interpretive and naturalistic qualitative research observational techniques continue to offer a method that can be used alone or conjugated with other data collection techniques.

Keywords

observation, nursing research, qualitative study

Author Bio(s)

Ana Inês Lourenço da Costa, MSc, RN. Adjunct Professor, Escola Superior de Enfermagem de Lisboa, Centro de Investigação, Inovação e Desenvolvimento em Enfermagem de Lisboa (CIDNUR) ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1297-0392; e-mail: a.costa@esel.pt

Maria da Luz Jansénio Monteiro de Almeida Fonseca Rosa, PhD, RN. ORCID. Enfermeira Gestora, Unidade Local de Saúde Almada Seixal, Centro de Investigação, Inovação e Desenvolvimento em Enfermagem de Lisboa (CIDNUR) https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4871-796X; e-mail: mljrosa@hotmail.com

Paula Manuela Jorge Diogo, PhD, RN. Coordinator Professor, Escola Superior de Enfermagem de Lisboa, Centro de Investigação, Inovação e Desenvolvimento em Enfermagem de Lisboa (CIDNUR). ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4828-3452; e-mail: pmdiogo@esel.pt

Publication Date

10-14-2024

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 4.0 International License.

DOI

10.46743/2160-3715/2024.7647

Recommended APA Citation

da Costa, A. I. L., de Almeida Fonseca Rosa, M. d. L. J. M., & Diogo, P. M. J. (2024). Considering participant observation methods for nursing qualitative research. The Qualitative Report, 29(9), 2430-2439. https://doi.org/10.46743/2160-3715/2024.7647