Qualitative Research Design Flashcards
Quantitative research involves analysis of …
Numerical data
What is qualitative research?
- form of scientific enquiry, interpretive orientation (focuses on way people interpret), naturalistic approach
- documents the world from the point of view of the people being studied
- makes sense of the events in terms of meanings people attach to them
What topics are suited for qualitative research?
- the role of organisational context in implementing new technology or practice
- complex social processes
- pt perceptions of healthcare access and quality
- beliefs, motivations underlying health behaviours
Can qualitative research use mixed methods?
Qualitative research can stand alone or stand alongside and complement quantitative research
What is the sequential method?
Used for exploratory phase of study to inform survey content and coverage, developing themes and typologies on which a survey question can be designed, and in testing the questions
What are the characteristics of quantitative research?
Measures objective facts, focuses on variables, large sample, uses instruments to collect data, firewall between research process and researchers values, contextual independence
What are the characteristics of qualitative research?
Subjective, focuses on in depth meaning, small sample, researcher is the instrument, researchers values can be present and explicit, contextual dependence
What are the qualitative theoretical approaches?
Ethnography, phenomenology and grounded theory
What is the definition of ethnography?
Concerned with group or culture
What is the definition of phenomenology?
Concerned with understanding individuals lived experience
What is the definition of grounded theory?
Concerned with generating theories from experience
What are the key features of ethnography?
- understand culture of groups within society
- involves extended periods of time “in the field”
- more than 1 form of data collection = pt observation and non pt observation
- collect more than 1 type of data
- written as “thick” description (allows reader to experience culture without being there)
What are the key features of phenomenology?
- focuses on people’s meaning of a lived experience of a concept/phenomenon (an event, experience or something that happens to them)
- main type of data: interviews, stories, life history
- bracketing (setting aside own pre-conceived notions)
- data analysis: textual description (WHAT was experienced), structural description ( context and setting that influenced HOW pt experienced phenomenon)
- understanding what it feels like to experience the phenomenon
What are the key features of grounded theory?
- approach to exploring experience (actions, interactions and processes)
- generates theories from experiences (theory is comes from study data)
- collects data alongside data analysis
- analysis guides future data collection
- constant comparison technique between analysed data and new data
- continues until data saturation
What are the different types of sampling?
Homogeneous sample Heterogeneous sample Total population sample Snowball sample Convenience sample Purposive sample Theoretical sample
Which sample has individuals who belong to the same subculture or have similar characteristics?
Homogeneous sample
What sample has individuals or groups of individuals who differ from each other in a major aspect?
Heterogeneous sample
Which sample has all individuals selected from a particular group?
Total population sample
What sample uses a previously chosen individual to suggest other individuals with knowledge of a particular area or topic?
Snowball sample
What sample is opportunistic?
Convenience sample
What sample is when participants are selected because they have the experience of interest?
Purposive sampling
What sample is selected on the basis of the concepts and theoretical issues which arose during the study?
Theoretical sample
What are the ethical issues that can occur in qualitative research?
- sensitive issues/vulnerable people
- emotional risk
- maintaining confidentiality
- professional boundaries (where to intervene)
- consent to observation / participation
- context (venue and place)
What are the different qualitative research methods?
Interviews, focus groups, observational studies (participant and non participant), documents (diaries, official documents and records, historical documents and records, newspapers), innovative methods (film, photo voice, drawing, online research), participatory action research (PAR)
How is qualitative data collected?
Field notes, newspapers or magazine stories, interview transcripts (recorded and transcribed), focus group transcripts, web pages, audio and video tapes (transcribed and described), copies of documents, photographs (described), film, diaries
What are the different approaches to analysis for qualitative data?
- classical thematic or content analysis
- discourse analysis
- constant comparison
- phenomenological analysis
Why are classical thematic or content analysis used?
Identifying themes
What is discourse analysis?
Analysis of spoken interaction
E.g. Foucault
Why is constant comparison used for data analysis?
Saturation (grounded theory)
E.g.Glaser, Strauss, Corbin, Charmaz
Why is phenomenological analysis used?
Thematic analysis, different steps based on which phenomenological method:
- descriptive e.g Moustakes, Colaizzi
- interpretive (hermeneutic) e.g Merleau-Ponty, can Manen, Diekelmann
Qualitative research involves analysis of …
Words, pictures or objects
Why is trustworthiness important?
It is important to evaluating worth of the study
What are the 4 criteria for trustworthiness?
Credibility, transferability, dependability and confirmability
What is credibility?
Confidence in the truth of the findings
What helps to prove credibility?
Prolonged engagement, triangulation, peer debriefing, member checking
What is transferability?
Showing findings have applicability in other settings
What helps to prove transferability?
Thick description
What is dependability?
Showing that the findings are consistent and could be repeated
What helps to prove dependability?
Inquiry audit
What is confirmability?
The extent to which the findings of a study are shaped by the respondents and not researcher bias, motivation or interest
What helps to prove confirmability?
Audit trail, triangulation, reflexivity
