Qualitative Research

Question 1

Grounded theory

Answer 1

Qual research not based on hypothesis but used as basis for future hypotheses

Question 2

Social Interactionism

Answer 2

Grounded theory that examines how people create meaning through social interaction. (Research based on the principles - looking at stigma etc)

Question 3

Saturation

Answer 3

Research field is saturated - no new emerging themes/perspectives can be elicited with further interviews etc

Question 4

Theoretical sampling

Answer 4

New cases selected (to compare with existing cases) until saturation achieved

Question 5

Purposive sampling

Answer 5

Purposively select a population for a study because their views about the topic are considered important.

Aim = information richness, often also concerned with diverse opinions from individuals of varying background & experience

Question 6

Constant comparison method

Answer 6

Compare new findings from new ppl with previous

Question 7

Iterative method

Answer 7

Compare new findings with previous & change method depending on results

(Simultaneous analysis & data collection)

Question 8

Triangulation

Answer 8

Use several:
- study populations who are likely to have different perspectives of the same situation
- theories
- data sources
- methods
- investigators

to achieve more complex & realistic understanding, avoid biases.

Question 9

Respondent Validation

Answer 9

Participant gives feedback on developing analysis (read what written to see if thinks represented views correctly & fairly)

Question 10

Name the key features of qualitative research

Answer 10

. Understand & interpret social interaction & behaviour
. Small sample, non-random
. Words, images, objects
. ID patterns, features, themes
. Transferability to same context
. Subjectivity expected, researcher’s interpretations central

Question 11

Name the key features of quantitative research

Answer 11

. Test hypotheses, cause & effect, make predictions
. Large, random sample
. Numbers, statistical description/inference
. Generalisability/representativeness
. Objectively critical (researcher separate)

Question 12

Name the four main uses of qualitative research

Answer 12

1. Individual ptpt experience & help-seeking behaviours
2. Part of clinical trial (feasibility, acceptability)
3. Inform guideline development (scope & recommendations)
4. Inform PROs and PROMs (what are they & how they’re measured)

Question 13

Why is qualitative research important?

Answer 13

. Understand behaviours & complex reasoning
. Participants are the experts
. New insights and issues that cannot be explored quantitatively
. Depth > breadth
(Smaller samples of ‘information-rich’ participants where findings are transferrable to other similar samples)

Question 14

Why is it important that qualitative studies report in detail their methodology, methods used & the rationale for these?

Answer 14

Qualitative studies often employ flexible methods and are not a consistent format.

Question 15

What is reflexivity and why is it important?

Answer 15

Researchers identifying & reflecting on how their own views, beliefs &/experiences may have influenced the research process

This is crucial, so they can consider & be open about how the research process & their positionality might influence the study

Question 16

What are the first 5 steps in critically appraising qualitative research?

Answer 16

1. Clear statement of aims

Appropriate & justified:

2. Qualitative methodology
3. Research design
4. Recruitment strategy/sampling
5. Data collection

Question 17

What are the last 5 steps in critically appraising qualitative research?

Answer 17

Considered:
6. Relationship between researcher & ptpt.
7. Ethical issues
8. Data analysis (detail, rigour, justifications)
9. Primary quotes (statement of findings
10. Value of research

Question 18

Credibility

Answer 18

Confidence that can be placed in the truth of the research findings. Establishes whether they:

. represent plausible information drawn from the participants original data and
. is a correct interpretation of participants original views

Achieved by: participant validation

Question 19

Trustworthiness

Answer 19

. Credibility
. Transferability
. Confirmability
. Dependability

Question 20

Discordant/divergent cases

Answer 20

Cases that differ from more general pattern of observations within qualitative data set.

Valued for:
. what they reveal about underlying processes
. Attempt to understand why differ

Question 21

Thematic analysis

Answer 21

Analysis process to identify patterns/themes within data

Question 22

What are the advantages of focus groups over interviews in qualitative research?

Answer 22

• more natural & more participant-centred
  (Interviews can be an artificial environment and assumes the interviewee is articulate & comfortable with talking at length)
• the interaction btw group members & how they discuss/argue/come to consensus is just as important as answers
• less resource-intensive (faster and easier for researcher)

Question 23

What are the disadvantages of focus groups compared to interviews in qualitative research?

Answer 23

• less able to capture individual thoughts/feelings/behavioural rationales in depth
  (With interviews there are more opportunities to probe & ask additional questions)
• potential for social-acceptability bias as participants may be reluctant to share their true opinions in the presence of the group
  (Interviews are still subject to this but in theory, it is avoidable with a neural interviewer approach & good for sensitive topics)
• less flexible

Question 24

Confirmability

Answer 24

Degree of neutrality/accuracy of research study’s findings (representative of responses only and not potential bias/personal motivations of researcher - esp in interpretation).

To achieve: audit trial (highlights every step of data analysis to provide rationale for decisions made)

Question 25

Dependability

Answer 25

Extent that study could be repeated by other researchers & produce consistent results. (Should have enough information from research report to repeat & obtain similar findings)

To achieve: inquiry audit (outside person reviews & examines research process & data analysis), — include copy of questionnaire/structured questions?

Question 26

Member checking/participant validation

Answer 26

Explores credibility of results (data/results returned to ptpts to check for accuracy & resonance)

Question 27

What are the different qualitative approaches?

Answer 27

1. Grounded theory (pre-hypothesis)
2. Ethnography (interpret social/cultural group)
3. Case study (in-depth analysis)
4. Narrative (elicit meaning from stories of experiences)
5. Phenomenology (essence of experience of phenomenon
6. Generic/Descriptive studies

Question 28

Transferability

Answer 28

Qualitative researcher demonstrates applicability of findings to other contexts (similar populations, phenomena, scenarios)