Chapter 10 Qualitative Methods in Health and Human Performance

Chapter 10Chapter 10

Qualitative Methods in Health Qualitative Methods in Health and Human Performanceand Human Performance

Qualitative MethodsQualitative Methods

Qualitative research is an umbrella concept Qualitative research is an umbrella concept covering several forms of inquiry that focus covering several forms of inquiry that focus on understanding and explain meaning of a on understanding and explain meaning of a social phenomenasocial phenomena

Data Collection MethodsData Collection Methods

Quantitative Quantitative – ObjectiveObjective

– NumericNumeric

– Statistical analysisStatistical analysis

– Large NsLarge Ns

– Structured data Structured data collectioncollection

– Table/graphs to display Table/graphs to display resultsresults

QualitativeQualitative– SubjectiveSubjective

– Non-numericalNon-numerical

– Nonstatistical analysisNonstatistical analysis

– Small NsSmall Ns

– Open ended data Open ended data collectioncollection

– Narrative for resultsNarrative for results


Eight characteristics of qualitative researchEight characteristics of qualitative research– Takes place in the natural setting: travel to sitesTakes place in the natural setting: travel to sites– Researcher is the primary method of data Researcher is the primary method of data

collectioncollection» ObservationObservation

» InterviewInterview

» DocumentsDocuments

» AudiovisualAudiovisual


Characteristic continued:Characteristic continued:– Emergent rather than tightly prefiguredEmergent rather than tightly prefigured– Based upon interpretationBased upon interpretation

» Hermeneutics: deciphering meaningHermeneutics: deciphering meaning

– Views social phenomena holisticallyViews social phenomena holistically– Qualitative researchers reflect and are explicitly Qualitative researchers reflect and are explicitly

regarding personal assumptions and valuesregarding personal assumptions and values


Characteristics continuedCharacteristics continued– Uses both deductive and inductive logicUses both deductive and inductive logic

» Inductive: going from specific to largeInductive: going from specific to large

» Deductive: Going from broad to specificDeductive: Going from broad to specific

– Can use multiple methodsCan use multiple methods


Grounded Theory StudyGrounded Theory Study– Discover or invent theory grounded in real-Discover or invent theory grounded in real-

world experiencesworld experiences» Middle-range theories: situation relatedMiddle-range theories: situation related

Life historiesLife histories– Story of a single individual or groups of single Story of a single individual or groups of single

individualsindividuals» Recall significant events of ones lifeRecall significant events of ones life

» Significant understanding of the historical contextSignificant understanding of the historical context


Case StudyCase Study– Exploration of a bounded system (e.g., school)Exploration of a bounded system (e.g., school)– In-depth data collection involving multiple In-depth data collection involving multiple

sources of informationsources of information Phenomenology studyPhenomenology study

– Describes the meaning of a lived experience for Describes the meaning of a lived experience for several individuals about a phenomenonseveral individuals about a phenomenon

– Explores the structures of human consciousnessExplores the structures of human consciousness

Qualitative methodsQualitative methods

Ethnography studyEthnography study– Interpretation of a culture of social groupInterpretation of a culture of social group– Natural settingNatural setting

Basic/GenericBasic/Generic– Studies that illustrate characteristics of Studies that illustrate characteristics of

qualitative researchqualitative research

Accurate Interpretations?Accurate Interpretations?

Verification: Interpretations are tested for Verification: Interpretations are tested for plausibility, conformability and plausibility, conformability and trustworthiness (7 strategies)trustworthiness (7 strategies)– Prolonged engagement: Learning culture and Prolonged engagement: Learning culture and

building trust by being in a culture for a long building trust by being in a culture for a long timetime

– Triangulation: use different methods for Triangulation: use different methods for corroborating evidencecorroborating evidence

Accurate Interpretations?Accurate Interpretations?

Verification continuedVerification continued– Peer review: group of peers review workPeer review: group of peers review work– Clarification of research biases and valuesClarification of research biases and values– Member checks: research participants check Member checks: research participants check

credibility of interpretations and datacredibility of interpretations and data– Rich description statements: Provide evidence Rich description statements: Provide evidence

by detail in write up – are findings transferable?by detail in write up – are findings transferable?– External audit: External person(s) examine External audit: External person(s) examine

process and interpretationsprocess and interpretations

Multiple MethodsMultiple Methods

““Rather than taking sides on this recurring Rather than taking sides on this recurring issue, we suggest that multimethods issue, we suggest that multimethods approaches can provide a more accurate and approaches can provide a more accurate and detailed research project than the traditional detailed research project than the traditional unidimensional (qualitative or quantitative) unidimensional (qualitative or quantitative) approaches provide” approaches provide”

--Mitra & Lankford, 1999, p. 46Mitra & Lankford, 1999, p. 46

InterviewsInterviews

Closed quantitative: Questions and response categories are Closed quantitative: Questions and response categories are determined in advance; responses are fixeddetermined in advance; responses are fixed

Standardized open-ended: The wording and sequence of Standardized open-ended: The wording and sequence of questions are determined in advance; same basic questions questions are determined in advance; same basic questions in the same orderin the same order

Interview guide: Topics and issues to be covered are Interview guide: Topics and issues to be covered are specified in advance, however, the interviewer decides the specified in advance, however, the interviewer decides the sequence and wording of questions during the interviewsequence and wording of questions during the interview

Informal conversational: Questions emerge from the Informal conversational: Questions emerge from the immediate context and are asked in the natural courseimmediate context and are asked in the natural course

ObservationsObservations

Complete Participation: Researcher Complete Participation: Researcher conceals roleconceals role

Observer as Participant: Role of researcher Observer as Participant: Role of researcher is knownis known

Participant as Observer: Observational role Participant as Observer: Observational role is secondary to participant roleis secondary to participant role

Complete Observer: Researcher observes Complete Observer: Researcher observes without participatingwithout participating

Constant ComparisonConstant Comparison

A technique for analyzing qualitative dataA technique for analyzing qualitative data– Read through data (transcriptions of interviews) Read through data (transcriptions of interviews)

and find similar (constant) themes among and find similar (constant) themes among peoplepeople

Gain perspectives relevant to the context in Gain perspectives relevant to the context in which the data was observed and recordedwhich the data was observed and recorded

Steps in a Constant ComparisonSteps in a Constant Comparison

Read through interviews separately (among many) Read through interviews separately (among many) and make code/theme notesand make code/theme notes

After reading through the differing transcriptions, After reading through the differing transcriptions, integrate and compare codes/themesintegrate and compare codes/themes

Delimit and refine the themes to find major or Delimit and refine the themes to find major or primary themes (can have secondary themes)primary themes (can have secondary themes)

Provide examples from the data that highlight the Provide examples from the data that highlight the themes themes