Certified Medical-Surgical Registered Nurse Practice Exam

Bracketing refers to the methodological approach in qualitative research where the researcher intentionally sets aside their preconceptions, biases, and previously held beliefs about the phenomenon being studied. This is critical in order to focus on the participants' experiences without influencing the data collection and analysis process. By employing bracketing, researchers can strive for a more authentic understanding of the participants' perspectives, which enhances the credibility and validity of the findings. In qualitative research, this technique is particularly vital because it allows for an open exploration of the topic without the researcher’s prior knowledge clouding the investigation. This helps to minimize assumptions and strengthens the richness of the qualitative data collected, allowing the true essence of participants' experiences to shine through.