Conducting a longitudinal study: an unsanitized account

Area of Science:

• Nursing Education Research
• Qualitative Research Methods
• Grounded Theory Application

Background:

• Sanitized research accounts often omit the practical 'how-to' of research.
• Understanding the lived experiences of student nurses is crucial for improving training.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the practical issues encountered during a longitudinal qualitative study of student nurses' experiences.
• To provide a reflexive, first-person account of the research process in nursing education.

Main Methods:

• Longitudinal study design over a 3-year period.
• Grounded theory approach to data analysis.
• Participant observation and unstructured interviews with 23 student nurses in clinical settings.

Main Results:

• The paper discusses researcher immersion and reflexive practice.
• Challenges of researching within a dynamic healthcare context are explored.
• The application and utility of grounded theory in nursing education research are examined.

Conclusions:

• Reflexive, in-depth accounts are vital for understanding the realities of research conduct.
• The study offers insights into the student nurse training experience and research methodology.
• Grounded theory provides a robust framework for exploring complex educational and clinical environments.