12 - Qualitative Research 1 & 2 Flashcards
Basic differences between quantitative and qualitative research
- Quantitative = objective, how many/ much of a phenomenon occurs, sample size is large and generalizable to the entire population, conclusive
- Qualitative = subjective, understand why a certain phenomenon occurs, sample size is small and not generalizable, exploratory
Goal of qualitative research
Generate in-depth accounts from individuals or groups
Types of qualitative research
- Ethnography
- Phenomenology
- Grounded theory
What is ethnography?
- Methodology that aims to understand the meanings and behaviours associated w/ membership of groups, teams, etc. through collection of observational and interview data
- Participant observation
What is phenomenology?
- Theoretical framework that focuses on exploring how individuals make sense of the world
- Aims to provide insightful accounts into the subjective experience of these individuals
- How the individuals subjective reality applied to make experiences meaningful
What is grounded theory?
- Methodology that uses iterative data collection (ex: interviews, observations) and analysis to build theories about social phenomena
- Emphasis on the development of a theory
- Theory is “grounded” in the data that is systematically collected and analyzed
- Generalizable theory – making comparisons across situations
How does qualitative research apply to drug therapies?
- Applications to drug use and abuse
- Can be used to understand micro and macro dimensions of drug use and distributions
- Can be used to more effectively design, monitor, and evaluate drug use-related interventions
- Can be used to address the politics of drug/drug program representation
Ethnography is rooted in _____
Anthropology
Phenomenology is rooted in ____
Philosophy
Grounded theory is rooted in _____
Social sciences
What is “formative” research?
- Either the collection of background data prior to intervention development
- Or the use of focus groups to pilot test instruments prior to their use in a population
How many stages of formative research are there?
8
Describe stage 1 of formative research
- Inform researchers about important aspects of drug use
- Involve users/ ex-users of drugs, supplies, community members, etc.
Describe stage 2 of formative research
Identify and define problems that need to be solved from the perspectives of individuals involved
Describe stage 3 of formative research
Generate a list of options for interventions at different levels (ex: community, clinic, etc.)
Describe stage 4 of formative research
Assess positives and negatives associated w/ possible interventions by considering feasibility and how different stakeholders will respond to each option
Describe stage 5 of formative research
Identify best way for conveying info and/or changing behaviour
Describe stage 6 of formative research
- Monitor responses in real time
- Can facilitate mid-course correction of interventions based on the response
- Any sources of resistance/ difficulties are documented
Describe stage 7 of formative research
Outcome evaluation
Describe stage 8 of formative research
Assess how the intervention and results are being presented to the public and scientific community
Give examples of tobacco ethnographies
- Spaces where smoking occurs
- Tobacco industry = vector promoting nicotine dependency and smoking-related disease
- Vector manipulates agent (nicotine delivery devices), host through social engineering (advertising), environment (maximizing accessibility legally and illegally)
What are the types of qualitative methods used for formative research?
- Participant observation
- Structured observations
- Key informant interviews
- Semi-structured open-ended interviews
- Card prompts
- Visual aids (photographic prompts)
- Narrative data (biological approach)
- Case following
- Focus groups
Describe participant observation
- Social scientist observes naturally occurring events (not a fly on the wall)
- Positioned and interacting w/ those being studied
Describe key informant interviews
- One cultivates a relationship so as to get a better handle on what is occurring in a particular local setting
- Develops over time
- Generally, cultivate a relationship w/ 2-3 people from each major group under study
