Qualitative & Quantitative Studies
MEDLINE and CINAHL provide direct routes to finding qualitative or quantitative research studies through searching their Subject Terms. Subject Terms are assigned to each article based on its content, allowing you to create a targeted search.
The example below will be for qualitative research in CINAHL. You can follow the same steps to find quantitative studies or while using MEDLINE. The steps are as follows.
- Open the MeSH2021/CINAHL Headings and browse for the proper phrase
- Add the phrase to your search
- Browse additional terms that describe your subject
- Add more phrases and combine using AND
- Limit your result list
In some cases, the Subject Heading index may want you to rephrase using Quantitative Studies, Quantitative Research, etc.
Step 1: CINAHL Subject Headings
CINAHL calls its index of subject headings CINAHL Headings. MEDLINE class them MeSH terms. MeSH stands for Medical Subject Headings. Different name, same index.
Step 2: Choose the Preferred Term
Take note of the resultant list.
By clicking the checkbox to the left of Qualitative Research, we add it to our search strategy box on the right hand side.
Now, we can scroll down and click Browse Additional Terms. Qualitative Research will remain stored in our Search box.
Step 3: Browse Additional Terms
Since we clicked Browse Additional Terms, the database will remind us that we haven't lost our query. I'm going to locate the Subject Heading for Lung Cancer now.
Step 4: Combine Terms
As you can see below, the database uses the phrase Lung Neoplasms for Lung Cancer, as well as a few similar phrases. Be sure to click the button to combine using AND instead of OR.
Step 5: Result List
Now we can hit that big green Search Database button! Below is a picture of the results. They have been limited to the last five years and Academic Journals. There may only be 38 results, but they are 38 very specific results:
- Qualitative Research
- Published in academic journals
- Within the last 5 years
- Categorized as dealing with Lung Cancer
Step 6: Analyzing an Article Record
Before clicking on the PDF and reading 20+ pages of research, you can gather a great deal of information about the literature before reading. By clicking on the title of the article, you can view the record. I chose the first from the preceding list.
Below, the relevant subject terms from our search are circled. The other subject terms shed light on the other concepts within the article.
The Abstract of an article will summarize what it is about, but sometimes omit crucial information. Many articles do not have Abstracts. Some are very detailed, some only give the smallest hint of the content. Either way, it's the first place you should look to determine whether or not the article is relevant to your research.
