The field of research is vast. Deciding what type of study design to help answer your research question can be complicated. This post will outline what qualitative studies are, when to use them, and most importantly, how to find them in CINAHL Complete and APA PsycInfo®, formerly known as PsycINFO®.
Qualitative studies are a valuable type of research which tend to be popular in the social sciences because they give insight into people’s behaviour. “Research following a qualitative approach is exploratory and seeks to explain ‘how’ and ‘why’ a particular phenomenon, or behavior, operates as it does in a particular context.” (simplypsychology.org, 2020)
In comparison to quantitative studies, which tend to focus on numeracy and systematic techniques, qualitative studies are directed more towards emotion, observation and opinion. There are several types of qualitative studies, such as focus groups, case studies and observation.
Finding qualitative studies in CINAHL Complete
Let’s search CINAHL Complete for studies that answer the following research question: ‘How do young people cope with stress?’
- Start at the Databases A-Z page.
- Navigate to ‘C’ (by clicking on ‘C’ or simply by scrolling down) and click on CINAHL Complete. If you're connecting from home, you may be prompted to enter your Nova Scotia Health login. This is the same username and password you use to log in to your work email or computer.
- Using the search bar on the landing page, enter the search terms ‘stress’ and ‘coping.’
- There are 2 ways to limit results to qualitative studies:
I. In the Search Options, scroll down to Clinical Queries on the right-hand side and select:
- Qualitative - High Sensitivity, the broadest search. It will include all relevant material, but may also include materials that are less relevant.
OR - Qualitative - High Specificity, the most targeted search. It will include only the most relevant result set, but may miss some other relevant materials.
OR - Qualitative - Best Balance, will retrieve the best balance between sensitivity and specificity.
II. Scroll down to Publication Type on the right-hand side to choose publication types that use qualitative methods.
- Click on the ‘Search’ button at the top and apply filters to the results as needed.
Finding Qualitative Studies in APA PsycInfo®
- Start at the Databases A-Z page.
- Navigate to ‘A’ (by clicking on ‘A’ or simply by scrolling down) and click on APA PsycInfo. If connecting from home, you may be prompted to enter your Nova Scotia Health login. This is the same username and password you use to log in to your work email or computer.
- Using the ‘Advanced Search’, enter the search terms ‘stress’ and ‘coping.’
- There are 2 ways to limit results to qualitative studies:
I. Scroll down to Methodology, located on the landing page. Select interview, qualitative study, or focus group to limit your results to a particular qualitative study type.
II. You can also use subject terms in the main search bar. Terms used could include qualitative research, grounded theory, interviews and observation methods to narrow your results to qualitative studies.
- Click on the ‘Search’ button at the top and apply filters to the results as needed.
Qualitative studies can be useful when seeking an understanding of motives, opinions and behaviours. You can also apply these tips when using other databases which allow you to refine results by methodology and publication type.
If you require further info on accessing qualitative studies, be sure to reach out to AskLibrary@nshealth.ca or book a one-on-one-consult with a librarian. We’re here to help!
Amanda Andrews
Librarian Educator
Cape Breton Regional Hospital, Eastern Zone
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