Establishing student competency in qualitative research: can undergraduate nursing students perform qualitative data analysis?

Many undergraduate nursing programs require some level of research competency of their graduates. However, the competency level may vary depending on program goals and often is focused on quantitative methodologies. The purpose of this research was to determine nursing students' ability to perform qualitative data analysis. Twenty-eight undergraduate students enrolled in a data analysis course in the junior year of their baccalaureate program participated. After selecting the research question, students collected interview data from each other and posted it using a Web-based program. The students and instructor then performed a content analysis. After reviewing the instructor's analysis, which revealed three core themes, students' written analyses were read to determine their congruence with the instructor-generated themes. There was 89% agreement on the first theme, 96% agreement on the second theme, and 61% agreement on the third theme. Because of the high agreement rates between the instructor and student analyses, the author concluded that undergraduate nursing students, when provided with appropriate instruction, are capable of performing qualitative data analysis.