review the components of qualitative research. Qualitative Analysis Qualitative research includes the
following steps:
Transcribe the findings into the Microsoft Word processing program.
Then, review the data very carefully. Code the information in sections. In coding, you assign a symbol
to meaningful information as per a master list of symbols. The list contains the codes as well as their
meaning. After coding, the information is divided into categories. This helps organize the data.
Enumerate or quantify the data. For example, if we see that several nurses indicate that less
mandatory overtime would increase their satisfaction, we may decide to count the number of times this
idea is suggested. This assigns a number to the data and helps to interpret this information.
Study the relationships among the categories we have assigned to the data. These relationships can be
explained by using diagrams or graphs. After we establish the relationships, we can attempt to interpret
the results by stating what we believe about the data collected. For example, if over 50 percent of the
nurses suggest an alternative to the main line of thought that will increase their job satisfaction, you
might conclude that this suggestion would be a good one to try and implement—if it is feasible for the
hospital to implement it.
Research Problems and Purposes I read the article further just to find out if the objectives, the questions
asked, and the hypothesis made in the beginning were pertinent to the problem I was researching. The
objectives of this study and its hypothesis seemed to be relevant to the problem of job satisfaction and
retention at my facility. The findings of this study suggested that a program for managers did increase
retention and satisfaction among nurse managers. There was the possibility that a program increasing
management skills could be used in our facility or at least, included in our questionnaire to the nursing
staff. For example, we could ask the question, "Would nursing management programs further develop
your skills as a manager and thereby increase your job satisfaction?" Tip: A hypothesis is a restatement
of the question to be analyzed, usually between two variables. When the retention committee met next,
we discussed the articles to be reviewed. I presented the idea of management programs using Wilson
(2005) as the major source and others for comparison, contrast, and scope. We compiled the
information in a formal literature review and compared findings to draw themes and ideas. In most of
the research studied, the descriptive method was used. We decided this would be the best for us too.
The purpose of the descriptive design was to gain information about job satisfaction by giving us an idea
of satisfaction as it occurred in our hospital. We did not have an intervention or treatment to test or
evaluate, and we were not planning to examine the relationship between two or more variables. We
wanted to know one major concept—job satisfaction among the nurses at our hospital. The descriptive
design was chosen because it involved defining an area of interest and identifying the variables. The area
of interest was job satisfaction. The committee decided the best way to gather information was by
developing a questionnaire for the nurses to complete. The questionnaire would ask questions related to

