Qualitative Research Methods

Question 1

What is qualitative research?

Answer 1

Qualitative research uses data from words rather than numbers. It focuses on understanding perspectives, experiences, opinions, attitudes, worldviews, ideas, values, symbols, language, behaviors, social/economic/political structures, and the habits of individuals and societies, providing rich, in-depth, and complex descriptions of phenomena.

Question 2

What type of data is used in qualitative research

Answer 2

Qualitative research uses data from words rather than numbers.

Question 3

In public health/medicine, why is it important to focus on socio-economic factors?

Answer 3

Focusing on socio-economic factors is important because they affect the risks individuals face and their attitudes regarding treatment, which in turn affects illness outcomes.

Question 4

What are some of the primary concerns in public health/medicine regarding individuals and societies?

Answer 4

Public health/medicine is concerned with the health challenges and harms that individuals and societies experience.

Question 5

Why is it important to understand how people experience illness in public health/medicine?

Answer 5

Understanding how people experience illness is crucial for designing effective interventions and ensuring they are appropriately targeted and accepted by the population.

Question 6

What aspect of health behavior is studied to improve public health interventions?

Answer 6

Studying how people seek relief and how the healing systems they turn to respond, and why they respond the way they do, is essential to improve public health interventions.

Question 7

How does understanding socio-economic factors, health challenges, and people’s experiences help in public health?

Answer 7

This understanding helps inform the design of interventions to ensure they are relevant, culturally appropriate, and effective.

Question 8

Why is it important to evaluate the impact of interventions in public health?

Answer 8

Evaluating the impact of interventions helps determine their effectiveness, allows for adjustments to be made, and ensures that resources are used efficiently to improve health outcomes.

Question 9

RQs should be focused and clearly describe the focus of the research. Should generally include the following:

Answer 9

What? (topic)
Who? (population)
Where? (site/location)
When? (temporality)
Why (justification)
How? (how the study will unfold)

Question 10

Quantitative vs Qualitative questions

Answer 10

Quantitative
-Numerical data (some examples): HOW MUCH, WHEN, HOW OFTEN? (individually, and in relation to other variables)
-Useful for establishing quantifiable findings
-Uses numerical data to help us understand aetiology/causality, change over time, scale or scope of a problem

Qualitative
-Conceptual data – words (some examples): WHAT, WHY, HOW, WHO, WHERE?
-Helps us determine how to approach/address a problem identified or described by quantitative research (especially in health/human-related research)
-Often conducted before/after/in parallel with quantitative research

Question 11

What are theoretical and conceptual frameworks?

Answer 11

Theoretical and conceptual frameworks are lenses through which we can study a research problem. They provide structure, vision, and reveal underlying assumptions and beliefs, inform methodology, assist with data analysis, and help readers critically engage with the work.

Question 12

Why are theoretical and conceptual frameworks important in research?

Answer 12

They are important because they provide structure and vision for the study, illuminate the reliability of the study, and help readers critically engage with the work.

Question 13

How do theoretical and conceptual frameworks assist in research methodology?

Answer 13

They inform the methodology by guiding the research design, data collection, and analysis processes

Question 14

How should a researcher select a framework

Answer 14

The selection of a framework depends on the research question, as it helps to address the specific problem being studied.

Question 15

What is a conceptual framework?

Answer 15

A conceptual framework emerges from the research and draws on concepts and variables from the data and existing theories to answer the research problem.

Question 16

How do conceptual and theoretical frameworks differ?

Answer 16

Conceptual frameworks emerge from the research itself and integrate concepts and variables from data and existing theories to address the research problem. Theoretical frameworks, on the other hand, describe the theoretical foundations of the study based on established theories.

Question 17

What is a theoretical framework?

Answer 17

A theoretical framework describes the theoretical underpinnings of the work based on existing theories.

Question 18

What is research design

Answer 18

Refers to a plan on how to answer your research question…And the type of study you should conduct (Qualitative, quantitative or mixed methods)

Question 19

Qualitative designs can be/ integrate

Answer 19

-Cross-sectional (examine different samples of the population; or Longitudinal (observe the same participants over a certain period of time)
-Narrative research, case study, grounded theory, phenomenology, participatory action research..
-Interview, observation/behaviour-oriented, focused on documentary, visual or material culture, or ethnographic
-Exploratory, in-depth/holistic/case-based, or broadly descriptive/generic/comparative
-Integrated with quantitative research in “parallel”, in “series”, or both

Question 20

What does naturalism refer to in qualitative research?

Answer 20

Naturalism in qualitative research involves understanding and respecting the natural context in which people live. It emphasizes observing without interfering in order to capture authentic behaviors and experiences.

Question 21

What is the primary focus of qualitative research regarding data interpretation?

Answer 21

Qualitative research focuses on gathering and interpreting data about how people make meaning of their experiences and the events happening around them. It also interprets practices, relationships, and broader processes, structures, and systems.

Question 22

How does qualitative research utilize research strategies?

Answer 22

Qualitative research employs flexible strategies for data collection and analysis. This includes using open-ended questions, allowing for deep exploration and understanding of participants’ perspectives and experiences.

Question 23

What is reflexivity in the context of qualitative research?

Answer 23

Reflexivity in qualitative research involves the active awareness of the researcher’s personal history, assumptions, and biases. It considers how these factors may influence interactions with participants, the interpretation of data, and the outcomes of the research.

Question 24

What is a research method?

Answer 24

A research method is a strategy used to implement your research plan, determined by the research question (RQ) and the design of your study

Question 25

What questions does Maxwell (2013) use to outline research methods?

Answer 25

Maxwell (2013) outlines research methods with questions like: What will you actually do in conducting this study? What tools, procedures, and approaches will you use to access participants, gather data, and analyze data?

Question 26

What are some common methods for collecting data in qualitative research?

Answer 26

Common methods for collecting data in qualitative research include interviews, focus group discussions (FGDs), observations, and document reviews.

Question 27

What are some common techniques for analyzing qualitative data?

Answer 27

Common techniques for analyzing qualitative data include thematic analysis, narrative analysis, and discourse analysis.

Question 28

What are key considerations for managing research data?

Answer 28

Key considerations for managing research data include how the data will be stored, who will have access to the data, and the methods for data storage.

Question 29

Why are ethical considerations important in research?

Answer 29

Ethical considerations are important to ensure the protection of participants’ rights, maintain confidentiality, obtain informed consent, and conduct the research with integrity and respect for all involved.

Question 30

What does qualitative research explore and describe?

Answer 30

Qualitative research explores individual lived experiences, describes and explains the social order, and aids in theory development.

Question 31

Why is reflexivity important in qualitative research?

Answer 31

Reflexivity is important because the researcher’s positionality, including their personal history, beliefs, and biases, can influence the research process and outcomes

Question 32

What is an emergent design in qualitative research?

Answer 32

Emergent design refers to the ability for changes and adaptations to occur in the research design as the researcher gains more insight and understanding when they enter the field.

Question 33

What is necessary for establishing congruence in qualitative research?

Answer 33

Congruence needs to be established between the problem statement and research question, research questions and methods, and method, data, and data analysis to ensure coherence and alignment throughout the study

Question 34

Why is congruence important in qualitative research?

Answer 34

Congruence is important to ensure that the research is logically consistent and that each part of the research process supports and aligns with the others, enhancing the study’s reliability and validity.