Week 7- Introduction to Evidence

Question 1

Describe aspects of qualitative research?

Answer 1

• Developed from social science to study social and cultural phenomenons
• Undertaken when there is a need to explore the reasons underlying behaviour or beliefs (asking the “why”)

Question 2

What are potential philosophical problems with qualitative research?

Answer 2

• Unscientific, anecdotal
• Lack of scientifically rigorous methods
• Personal perspective dominant
• Questionable applicability and relevance

Question 3

Why are these potential problems a false statement?

Answer 3

• Clinical practice is more than science
• Underpinned by personal observation, reflection, judgement
• Personal experiences of therapist and delivery of services, key role in outcome of intervention
• Recognition as scientific in recent years

Question 4

What are the two philosophical frameworks in qualitative research?

Answer 4

1) Interpretive (constructivist)

2) Critical (post-positivism)

Question 5

Describe an interpretive (constructivist) framework?

Answer 5

• Reality is socially constructed through use of language and shared meaning
• Number of realities depending on viewpoints within social context

Question 6

Describe a critical (post-positivism) framework?

Answer 6

• Knowledge shaped by historical, social, political, power, gender, economic conditions
• Critiques and amends positivism; many things can influence what is being observed; knowledge created can be influenced
• Not just what is happening but why; seek to generate theory and knowledge to bring change

Question 7

What are the aims of qualitative research?

Answer 7

• Naturalism
• Interpretation
• Process
• Interaction
• Relativism

Question 8

Define naturalism in qualitative research

Answer 8

Understanding treatment regimens in everyday context

Question 9

Define interpretation in qualitative research

Answer 9

What meaning do symptoms and treatment regimens have for patients and practitioners

Question 10

Define process in qualitative research

Answer 10

How might these meaning change over time

Question 11

Define interaction in qualitative research

Answer 11

How does communication between patients and practitioners impact on care delivery

Question 12

Define relativism in qualitative research

Answer 12

Scientific reality may look different from different perspectives

Question 13

What are the different qualitative research methodologies?

Answer 13

• Participatory action research
• Ethnography
• Grounded theory
• Phenomenology
• Qualitative description
• Feminist research
• Discourse analysis
• Case study

Question 14

What is participatory action research methodology?

Answer 14

• Aims to examine political structures that disadvantage vulnerable groups
• Use knowledge to find ways for these structures

Question 15

What is ethnography methodology?

Answer 15

Researcher participating in people’s daily lives for an extended period of time, watching what happens, listening to what is said, asking questions

Question 16

What is grounded theory methodology?

Answer 16

Seeks to develop theory grounded in data systematically gathered and analysed

Question 17

What is phenomenology methodology?

Answer 17

Study situations in everyday world from viewpoint of experiencing person
-What an experience means for person experiencing it

Question 18

What is feminist research methodology?

Answer 18

From perspective that existing research/theory biased to a male perspective

Question 19

What is discourse analysis methodology?

Answer 19

Revealing what is being said, thought and done in relation to specific topic or issue

Question 20

What is qualitative description methodology?

Answer 20

Focuses on experiences of patients, relatives and professions
-Views on the patient-professional interaction and organisation of the healthcare system

Question 21

What is case study methodology?

Answer 21

Investigate certain phenomena with certain groups of people or community (case)
-Develop holistic/meaningful characteristics of real life event

Question 22

What are qualitative research methods?

Answer 22

• Focus groups
• Interviews
• Participant observation
• Document analysis

Question 23

What is the least preferred form of sampling in qualitative research and why?

Answer 23

Convenience Sampling

• No clear purpose or reasoning
• Common as it’s relatively easy and used when looking at superficial issue

Question 24

What are the different types of sampling in qualitative research?

Answer 24

• Intensity sampling
• Deviant case sampling
• Purposive sampling
• Snowball or chain
• Maximum variation sampling
• Convenience sampling
• Criterion sampling

Question 25

How is sample size determined in qualitative research?

Answer 25

1) Philosophical
- Data is rich enough and covers all dimensions about phenomenon of interest (saturation)
2) Practical
- When time, money, resources run out

Question 26

What is intensity sampling?

Answer 26

Rich information from a few select cases that manifest phenomenon intensely

Question 27

What is deviant case sampling?

Answer 27

Highly unusual manifestation of phenomenon

Question 28

What is purposive sampling?

Answer 28

Highly unusual manifestation of phenomenon

• Chosen purposefully as have story to tell
• We decide while designing study how many people with what characteristics to include

Question 29

What is snowball or chain sampling?

Answer 29

Facilitate identification of hard to find cases

Question 30

What is maximum variation sampling

Answer 30

Document diverse variations and help identify common patterns that cut across variations

Question 31

What is criterion sampling?

Answer 31

Investigate in depth a particular type of case

Question 32

What is convenience sampling?

Answer 32

Information collected from a sample of convenience