Corpus Linguistics as a Research Method in Nursing: A Practical Approach to Analysing Language Data

Aim: To highlight the use of corpus linguistics for analysing language data and to provide a worked example of this approach in nursing research.

Design: Methodology discussion paper.

Methods: This paper introduces corpus linguistics as a distinct approach to undertaking qualitative research in nursing. Examples are provided to illustrate how corpus linguistics can be applied to explore contemporary concepts in healthcare.

Conclusion: Corpus linguistics offers a structured, robust alternative to traditional qualitative analysis. When combined with critical social theory, it is ideal for exploring power dynamics and discourse, making it a valuable approach for nursing and healthcare related research.

Implications for nursing: Nurse researchers often work with large amounts of textual data. Corpus linguistics provides a rigorous framework for analysing such data sets, which can be used for various studies.

Impact: Corpus linguistics analytics can enhance nursing research by uncovering language use patterns that can help generate knowledge to inform nursing practice and policy development.

Patient or public contribution: None.