Improving qualitative proposals: common problem areas.

Advanced practice nurses conducting clinical research may decide to use qualitative methods. These types of studies also are now receiving more positive consideration for funding than they have in the past. When writing a proposal for research projects, investigators new to qualitative research frequently have misconceptions about this type of research and the assumptions on which the research is based. These misconceptions lead to problems within the proposals that make it difficult for reviewers to evaluate adequately the research plan. In this article, the authors outline problems frequently observed in qualitative proposals, offer advice on how to correct the problems, and provide some examples from their own funded proposals.