The use of empirical research in bioethics: a survey of researchers in twelve European countries

BMC Medical Ethics

Table 2 Education in and experience with empirical research (N = 200)

	n	%
Qualitative methods as part of the education
Yes	122	61.0
No	78	39.0
Quantitative methods as part of the education
Yes	118	59.0
No	82	41.0
Type of methodological education^a
Only qualitative	28	14.0
Only quantitation	24	12.0
Mixed method	94	47.0
No methods education	54	27.0
Past experience in empirical work
Ever collected empirical data	143	71.5
Ever analysed empirical data	149	74.5
Ever supervised empirical research	103	51.5
Years of experience with empirical research
3 years or less	77	38.5
4–7 years	56	28.0
8 years or more	67	33.5
Experience as supervisor of PhD-students
Yes	85	42.5
No	115	57.5
Proportion of work time spent on empirical work^{b c}
30% or less	116	58.9
31–60%	62	31.5
More than 60%	19	9.6
Proportion of work time spent on normative work^{b c}
30% or less	95	47.7
31–60%	57	28.6
More than 60%	47	23.6
Willingness to conduct empirical research projects in the future
Yes	140	70.0
No	60	30.0

^aVariable computed based on two questions related to qualitative and quantitative methods being part of education
^bData missing for two cases for ‘proportion of time spent on empirical work’ and one case for ‘proportion of time spent on normative work’. ^cthese were not continuous variables and thus mean and range cannot be presented

ISSN: 1472-6939