Introduction to qualitative research methods India FETP

Introduction to qualitative research methods

India FETP

Competency to be gained from this lecture

Identify the need for qualitative data when they are needed

Outline

• Qualitative research in public health• Differences between qualitative and

quantitative research• Key elements of qualitative research

The perception of beingcured from leprosy

• From the leprosy specialistTreatment completed Infection eradicated

• What does the patient think? “My patch is still here!” “I am still disabled!”

The place of qualitative research

The essence of qualitative research

• Inquiry process of understanding• Based upon distinct methodological

traditions of inquiry that explore a social or human problem


The qualitative researcher

• Builds a complex, holistic picture• Analyzes words• Reports detailed views of informants• Conducts the study in a natural setting


Why use qualitative methods?

• Bridge the gap between: The public health professionals The population that is supposed to benefit

from their work• Who are these people we are working for?

• Get the perspective of the local people The first information can be misinterpreted More information is needed for it to become

intelligible


When to use qualitative methods?

• Need to explore and explain behaviours Explain rather than describing

• Subject matter is unfamiliar or insufficiently researched Mapping issues

• Suitable vocabulary is not available to communicate with respondents


What qualitative methods can bring?

• Identify health determinants Underlying behaviours Attitudes Perceptions

• Explain social and programmatic impediment to: Informed choices Use of services

• Shed light on the success of intervention• Facilitate understanding of policy, social and

legal context in which decisions are made


Advantages of qualitative methods

• Flexible• Encourage discoveries• Stimulate more investigation of the

unexpected


Qualitative methods do not replace quantitative research

• Address different questions• Qualitative methods may be in

important input to quantitative research

• Parallel source of distinct, rich and pertinent information

Qualitative versus quantitative

A source of added value

Qualitative research

Quantitative research

Include in a single design


Possible sequence in qualitative and quantitative research

1. Qualitative research methods• Sort out / identify issues or factors

2. Quantitative research methods• Measure the frequency of key issues /

factors


Traditional questions in qualitative methods

• Examples: Why do people behave the way they do? Why are things the way they are?

• The “how many” of the epidemiologist is replaced by “why”


Deductive versus inductive processes

• Deductive process in qualitative studies(e.g., Einstein) Begins with theory Examines hypothetical relationships within it

• Inductive process in quantitative studies(e.g., Newton) Begins with observations Open questions towards more general

conclusionsQualitative versus quantitative

Criteria to judge the quality of findings in quantitative and

qualitative researchQuantitative studies

• Accuracy• Reliability• Freedom from bias

Qualitative studies• Neutrality• Uniformity• Objectivity• Replicability


Emphasis of quantitative and qualitative studies

Quantitative studies• Consistent

operational definitions

• Precisely worded questions

• Statistical analysis

The formulation of questions in measurable terms limits the scope

Qualitative studies• Objectivity• Expression of

findings: Measurable outcomes Relationship


Purpose of qualitative research

• Asks why, how and under what circumstances events occur

• Seeks depth of understanding• Views social phenomena holistically• Explores and discovers• Provides insight into the meanings of

decisions and actions

Principles of qualitative research

Methodology used in qualitative research

• Interpretative and other open-ended methods

• Iterative rather than fixed• Emergent rather than pre-structured


Respondents and investigator

• Respondents Respondents are not subjects Active participants

• Investigator Instrument in the research process


Creating a partnership in qualitative research requires a high level of

skills• Partnership

Participant• Contribute the information

Researcher • Learner• Co-interpreter• Guides the process towards knowledge

• Ethical obligations Relationship based upon trust and mutual

understanding of a common goal


Methods versus technique

• Method A systematic approach to data collection Includes tools and techniques to gather data

• Basic units• Building blocks of information

• Technique The art of asking, listening and interpreting


Emic versus Etic perspectives *

Emic Etic

Methods •In depth interview •Observation

Aims •How do respondents define and label things

•Describe and explain patterns of behaviours

Explanations of behaviours

•People’s idea systems

•Impersonal factors•Material conditions

Cross cultural generalizations

•Require conversion in abstract inter-cultural categories

•Application of the same observation method to different cultures

* Neologisms coming from “phonetic” and “phonemic”

Macro versus micro

• Differentiate Macro

• The country, the world

Micro• The village

• Anthropologists have a tendency to focus on the micro

• Many interactions today between the micro and the macro


Non-reactive and interactive techniques

• Non-reactive (Unobtrusive) The observer’s intent is to be unnoticed

• Interactive (Participant) Observation of social processes Living with the community a year

• Allows seasons and events to come back


The notion of domains

• Set of items or things that are all of the same type or category

• Example Health Religion Intimacy


Sorting observations and experiences as domains: Free listing

and pile sorting• Free listing

Participants are asked to make lists of all instances of the same phenomenon

Transfer to cards

• Pile sorting Sorting of the cards by piles according to

own criteria and labels


The relevance of domain

• The public health specialist may place a disease (e.g., diarrhea) in the domain of science and / or germ theory

• The respondent may place the disease in a completely different domain Tradition Religion Folk beliefs


Selected types of qualitative studies

• Life stories• Observations• Focus groups• In depth interviews


Take home messages

• Qualitative research map out issues and explain them

• Use the various comparative advantages of qualitative and quantitative methods

• Qualitative research explores, asks why and seeks depth in understand

Documents

Introduction to qualitative research methods India FETP