Using Spradley: an ethnosemantic approach to research

Area of Science:

• Nursing Research
• Qualitative Methodology
• Anthropology

Background:

• Expatriate nurses in developing countries face unique practice challenges.
• Understanding their experiences and influencing values is crucial for effective primary healthcare.
• Existing qualitative methods may lack the systematic rigor needed for in-depth cultural analysis.

Purpose of the Study:

• To demonstrate the Developmental Research Sequence (DRS) as a robust research method.
• To explore the shared experiences of expatriate nurses in primary healthcare settings.
• To identify the cultural values that shape their professional practices.

Main Methods:

• Utilized Spradley's Developmental Research Sequence (DRS) for data collection and analysis.
• Employed an ethnoscientific approach, including ethnosemantic analysis.
• Focused on understanding the reality of expatriate nurses' experiences through their language and cultural context.

Main Results:

• The Developmental Research Sequence (DRS) provides an explicit, systematic, and rigorous qualitative approach.
• The method facilitated the identification of common experiences and underlying cultural values of expatriate nurses.
• DRS proved effective in analyzing how cultural similarities and differences influence knowledge and behavior.

Conclusions:

• The Developmental Research Sequence (DRS) is a valuable and systematic method for qualitative research in nursing.
• This approach offers deep insights into the cultural influences on healthcare practices.
• Sharing experiences with DRS can enhance its adoption and application in diverse research contexts.