8. Characteristics, Uses and Data Collection Methods

Question 1

What is qualitative research?

Answer 1

Investigates the what, why, and how of a phenomenon…

Whilst Quant addresses the where, when, how many and how much of the research question.

Question 2

What is the goal of the qualitative researcher?

Answer 2

Understanding the behaviour from the subjects own point of view; based on behaviours and cultures.

Question 3

Why is qualitative research so emersed?

Answer 3

We are studying behaviour and culture, which cannot be studied out of context.

It requires us to observe it whilst acknowledging how the way we participate in it might shape our understanding.

It requires us to acknowledge that our understanding is socially constructed.

Question 4

What is the social construction of reality?

Answer 4

Theory that assumes that understanding, significance
and meaning are created not within the individual, but
in coordination with other human beings

Language is the essential system to help us establish
that reality

What we believe is real is shaped by our social
interactions and our life experiences with other
people

Question 5

What are the characteristics of Qual research?

Answer 5

1. Meaning-centred; research driven by participants’ priorities and the meaning they give to the events
2. Communication is the unit of analysis
3. Reflexive; The researcher needs to be aware of their own biases, preconceptions & how our presence might affect participants (Hawthorne Effect)

Question 6

What is emergent design?

Answer 6

Research procedures that require researchers to evolve their project when moving through the data collection process

Question 7

What type of questions can qual research answer?

Answer 7

1. Questions about the meaning that people attribute to
   practices and events
2. Questions about process: how things happen in practice
   (what people do vs. what they say they do)
3. Questions about what matters to whom: qualitative
   research can promote participation in decision-making
   processes

Question 8

What are the uses of complementary research?

Answer 8

Exploring the context in which a health-related event occurs
(e.g. childbirth)

Understanding health-related behaviours prior to planning an
intervention (e.g. mosquito net use)

Helping to design and pilot questionnaires (e.g. meaning of
words)

Collecting sensitive information (things that people are
unlikely to disclose in a questionnaire) or working with hard to
reach groups

Involving local communities in the design of interventions (e.g.
participatory research in community-led total sanitation
programs)

Helping to understand how and why a particular intervention
works or not (e.g. Ebola early treatment centres)

Question 9

What are the types of sampling used in qual research?

Answer 9

1. Purposive

2. non-Probabilistic

Question 10

What is non-probabilistic?

Answer 10

A core characteristic of non-probability sampling techniques is that samples are selected based on the subjective judgement of the researcher, rather than random selection (i.e., probabilistic methods), which is the cornerstone of probability sampling techniques.

Question 11

What is purposive sampling?

Answer 11

A purposive sample is a non-probability sample that is selected based on characteristics of a population and the objective of the study. Purposive sampling is also known as judgmental, selective, or subjective sampling.

Question 12

What are the four major concerns when selecting a qual sample?

Answer 12

1. The research question - how broad or specific is it - is it longer to reach data saturation with broader questions
2. The types of data collection methods and sensitivity of the project
3. The type of research strategy and whether iterative sampling is possible
4. Logistical concerns (time, human and financial resources)

Question 13

What is representative qualitative sample?

Answer 13

A symbolic representation. We must therefore seek who can help us answer our question. What sub-groups/strata of the population are there. Which of these might provide contrasting data?

Question 14

What is data saturation?

Answer 14

you are not learning anything new from
the data collected (everything you hear as already been
said by other participants).

Having too large a sample can in fact be counter-productive; you may reach data saturation quickly depending on your question.

Question 15

What is convenience sampling?

Answer 15

Get whoever is available at the time of

research

Question 16

What is chain referral methods?

Answer 16

Use key informants to help identify other

participants in a population

Question 17

What is case control sampling?

Answer 17

Create a purposive sample (e.g. women
who practice exclusive breastfeeding)
and match with controls (women who do
not)

Question 18

What are the general characteristics of qualitative interviewing?

Answer 18

Less a mechanical reading of standardised questions
and more a ‘conversational partnership’ (Burgess,
1984, p.102)

Allow study participants to control conversation flow
and content

Requires mental agility and practice

Question 19

What are the essential interview tips?

Answer 19

Arrange to meet in a private setting and be on time (with
equipment!)

Reassure participants about confidentiality

Explain that you want to know what they think and what
their observations are

Explain why they have been chosen

Ask for permission to record interviews and to take notes

Question 20

What is informal interview?

Answer 20

Used in ethnographic
research

Usual complement to
participant observation

Good to discuss lived
experience or build a
rapport

Question 21

How much structure in in-depth interview?

Answer 21

Uses a topic guide
that is loosely
structured and
flexible

Allows flexibility for
the interviewer and
interviewee to
discuss and explore
new issues as they
arise

Often used to obtain
biographical data or
data on sensitive
issues

Question 22

What is semi-structured interviewing?

Answer 22

Uses a more
structured interview
topic guide

Most common form
of interviewing used
in public health
research

Question 23

What is structured interviewing?

Answer 23

Uses a structured
interview schedule
(detailed guide to
administering a
questionnaire)

Limited scope for
interaction with
participant

Question 24

What are the key things we must check for in focus group settings?

Answer 24

1. Remember to check group composition and size

2. Select a facilitator who has the same language, experience, status or gender

Question 25

What are focus groups good for?

Answer 25

Get information quickly from a range of people on nonsensitive
topics

Check appropriateness of questions before running a
large questionnaire survey

Discuss the results of a survey

Understand what is working and not working in specific
interventions (formative research & process evaluation)

Question 26

What are the negatives of interviews?

Answer 26

Labour intensive, require careful interpretation and no personal bias

Question 27

What are the negatives with participatory methods?

Answer 27

Unintended consequences

Question 28

What are the negatives of focus groups?

Answer 28

Not so good for sensitive issues/ requires skillled facilitator

Question 29

What are negatives of observation

Answer 29

Not always possible, usually only with small numbers of individuals