defilippi and crismon 2000 observed dissertation
Excerpt from Essay:
Fields such as human interaction are too unpredictable being manipulated underneath laboratory options. Human patterns, too, differs from place to place, and, therefore , effects of one research that is executed in one circumstance to one specific sample of men and women may not (and rarely do) have the same carryover effects to another group of individuals conducted in a different spot or time. In other words, fresh, or quantitative, experiments necessitate that parameters be closely matched plus more, rather than much less, homogenous. Consequently , they are best used in the hard sciences where they more regularly and most very likely show regular and repetitious results. The field of individuals is, yet , more capricious and ‘messy’. To that end, consequently , I find qualitative experiments more useful here.
This can be particularly thus in this specific case exactly where we strive to zone in on challenging patients and seek to appreciate their purposes. The characteristics of ‘difficult’ patients vary from case to case and every once in awhile with, it appears to me, worker impossibility of structuring any rigid, steady rules. ‘ Difficulty’ is determined by patient, feelings, context, and numerous other variables all of which vary according to individual circumstance. This situation causes it to be particularly challenging to examine within a laboratory type of situation. The best that can be done, therefore , is to use a qualitative way that concentrates on the individual person and uses rich interviewing in order to gain an improved understanding of the situation.
The different problem of quantitative studies in connection with the case is that conditions of a lab setting will be conducted thus tightly that they cannot give us with ‘rich’ or comprehensive information in the study in question. Fieldwork, for instance, contains the edge where the topics can be mined (via observation or selection interviews for example) so that the subject matter can be investigated in a profound way. The laboratory approach, too, are unable to always pin down metaphysical elements – including reasons for violence (as in this case) – or individual characteristics that vary and they are contingent in specific circumstances or moods. Sometimes, as well, cases could be too labor intensive to carry out, or certain groupings, conditions or variables will not exist. It is for all these types of reasons i found the qualitative research useful in supporting me type my decision regarding surgery.
The population of patients with dementia is not something which can be researched in the clinical. It needs empathy on the research’s part as well as recognition why these are people – not subjects – that are going to be used. it, therefore , needs a large amount of patience, creative ideas, and individual observation – all of which can be part of the qualitative approach. Each case, moreover, has to be adjudged on its own value. Each circumstance is different, everyone is someone, and with this at heart, an involvement can finest be come to.
Sources
Creswell, J. (1998). Qualitative query and study design: Picking among five traditions. 1000