A survey of doctorally prepared academic nurses on qualitative and quantitative research issues

A nationwide mail survey of 400 doctorally prepared nurses in academia yielded 251 usable questionnaires. Fifty-five percent had doctoral research preparation classifiable as primarily (or entirely) quantitative (Qn), 11% as qualitative (Ql), and 33% as combined qualitative-quantitative (Combined). Two separate scales assessed the nurses' positions on qualitative-quantitative issues. The Ql and Combined research preparation groups held significantly more favorable positions toward qualitative methodology than the Qn group. However, these differences did not indicate polarization on this issue. The Qn group also exhibited a favorable position on qualitative methods, though to a lesser degree. All three groups favored combined qualitative-quantitative doctoral research preparation as ideal and advocated increased coverage of qualitative research in nursing journals.