Regarding comparisons between qualitative and quantitative research, perhaps the most basic difference is their definition and description. Qualitative research is a method or design of inquiry that duly cultivates and fosters comprehension regarding social issues as well as human and social sciences to ascertain the way individuals think and feel. On the other hand, quantitative research design is a method used to formulate numerical data as well as hard facts through employing logical, mathematical, as well as statistical techniques (Surbhi, 2016). The qualitative method makes use of inductive reasoning to formulate hypotheses and theories while quantitative method uses deductive reasoning to test predetermined concepts, hypotheses, and constructs used to form a theory. Also, while the data used in the qualitative design is inherently verbal (text-based), quantitative data, on the other hand, is measurable (number-based).
According to the Belmont Report (1979), one of the foundational ethical principles is the respect for all individuals. The above principle involves the incorporation of two ethical affirmations; individuals should be considered as autonomous agents and that individuals with waned affirmation are entitled to protection. Other than respect for all individuals, another basic principle is beneficence which stipulates that individuals need to be treated ethically through respecting their decisions and protecting them from harm as well as putting efforts to ensure their wellbeing. Two rules guide the principle; 1) do not harm and 2) maximize possible benefits while minimizing potential harms (Belmont Report 1979). The last foundational principle is justice which seeks to answer the question regarding who stands to benefit from the research as well as who bears the burden under the general facet of fairness in distribution.
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As such, nurses in research under the authority of the first principle have to ensure that the subjects participate in the research voluntarily with adequate information regardless of their backgrounds. Under the principle of beneficence, the nurses have to ensure that they do not directly harm the subjects and while there are risks involved, they should strive to minimize the harms. Here, informed consent is required so that the subjects understand the risks before participation. Ultimately, nurses are confined within the bounds of justice in the sense that even the simplest act of selecting participants has to be guided by the research purpose and problem rather than their manipulability, easy availability, or compromised positions.
Regarding HIPAA legislation and its implications on researchers, perhaps the most fundamental regulation is the privacy rule also referred to as PHI which maintains that researchers need to ensure the privacy of their subjects by protecting their personal information. According to the regulation, the personal information can only be disclosed under certain special circumstances such as when the subject has permitted disclosure consistent with section 164.508, (Department of Health and Human Services, 2004). Consequentially, noncompliance with the regulations subjects the researcher to certain penalties with the maximum being 1.5 million dollars depending on the level of negligence (Pennic, 2013).
References
Department of Health and Human Services. (2004). Clinical Research and the HIPAA Privacy Rule. NIH. Retrieved from https://privacyruleandresearch.nih.gov/pdf/clin_research.pdf
Pennic, F. (2013). 8 Implications of the Final HIPAA Omnibus Rule on Privacy & Security. HIT Consultant Media. Retrieved from https://hitconsultant.net/2013/01/17/8-implications-of-the-final-hipaa-omnibus-rule-on-privacy-security/
Surbhi, S. (2016). Difference between Qualitative and Quantitative Research. Key Differences. Retrieved from https://keydifferences.com/difference-between-qualitative-and-quantitative-research.html
The Belmont Report. (1979). Ethical Principles and Guidelines for the Protection of Human Subjects of Research. Retrieved from https://www.hhs.gov/ohrp/sites/default/files/the-belmont-report-508c_FINAL.pdf
