You can find evidence for clinical decision making in quantitative and qualitative research studies. Quantitative research refers to any research based on something that can be accurately and precisely measured and will include studies that have numerical data. Qualitative research derives data from observation, interviews, or verbal interactions and focuses on the meanings and interpretations of the participants. Findings in qualitative studies are not based on measurable statistics but are based on data gathered through interviews and observation. The analysis of qualitative research is interpretative, subjective, and impressionistic.
