Week 8 Qualitative studies Flashcards
Quantitative research
uses structured, hypothesis-driven approaches to gather data that can be statistically analyzed
-numbers-focused
-testing exiting hypotheses
Qualitative research
uses in-depth interviews, focus group discussions, participant observation, and other unstructured or semi-structured methods to EXPLORE attitudes and perceptions, identify themes and patterns
-questions: why? How?
-to formulate new theories
Focus on a Phenomenon
The central concept a qualitative study wants to explore:
-I_____ health promotion programs
-C____ processes (best care plan)
-S____ change that may improve health
-P_____ of health and illness
->Why they adopt a health-related _______
->How they make health-related ______
Phenomena ______ be directly measured
-Researchers must be cautious of the ways their own thoughts, experiences, biases, and assumptions shape the ____ and interpretation of their research studies
Focus on a Phenomenon
The central concept a qualitative study wants to explore:
-Improve health promotion programs
-Clinical processes (best care plan)
-Social change that may improve health
-Perception of health and illness
->Why they adopt a health-related behaviors
->How they make health-related decisions
Phenomena cannot be directly measured
-Researchers must be cautious of the ways their own thoughts, experiences, biases, and assumptions shape the design and interpretation of their research studies
Qualtitative Research Planning Process
Philosophical Orientations
1) Ontology
-Nature of reality (realism to relativism; objectivity to subjectivity )
-think of an octopus having subjective opinions
Philosophical Orientations
2) Epistemology
Nature and defintion of knowledge and truth (positivism vs, interpretivism vs. critical theory)
Philosophical Orientations
3) Methodology
approach to data collection and analysis
1) Ontology
Realism in _________ studies (one reality exists that can be understood by _______ (observation) vs. ________ (there are multiple realities that cannot be fully understood)
Realities are subjectivity: different interpretations based on an evaluator’s beliefs, perceptions, and feelings
A subject imposes meaning on an object
Qualitative study typically seek to understand _________ aspects of human existence
1) Ontology
Realism in quantitative studies (one reality exists that can be understood by objective observation) vs. relativism (there are multiple realities that cannot be fully understood)
Realities are subjectivity: different interpretations based on an evaluator’s beliefs, perceptions, and feelings
A subject imposes meaning on an object
Qualitative study typically seek to understand subjective aspects of human existence
2) Epistemology
Quantitative study:
Qualitative study:
2) Epistemology
Quantitative study: researchers are independent from their study subjects and that researchers can control for possible biases in order to make objective measurements
Qualitative study: researchers and study participants are interdependent, and they create knowledge together as they interactively explore subjective topics
3)Axiology:
The study of values
Quantitative study:
Qualitative researchers assume that a researcher’s ____ affect the study
Axiology:
The study of values
Quantitative study: assumes rigorous procedures can control the impact of values and biases on study outcomes
Qualitative researchers assume that a researcher’s values affect the study
Theoretical Paradigms
P
C
C
P
Positivism (mostly quantitative)
Constructivism/Interpretivism
Critical theory
Pragmatism (mixed methods)
CCP Qualitative research
Philosophical Orientations
-Should align with the goals of the study and the selected ________ paradigm
-methodologies in the health sciences: phenomenology, grounded theory, ethnography, case studies
-Should align with the goals of the study and the selected theoretical paradigm
-methodologies in the health sciences: phenomenology, grounded theory, ethnography, case studies
Qualitative Study Designs
phenomenology
Phenomenology
-exploring how individuals interpret and find meaning in their ___ unique life experiences and feelings
-exploring how individuals interpret and find meaning in their own unique life experiences and feelings
-the perspective of the particpants
Method:
-In-depth interviews, examining transcript to identify meanings and themes
-researchers may out aside preconceieved ideas about reality in order to be open to new meanings that might be expressed by particpants (Bracketing)
Phenomenology Example
Grounded Theory
- AN inductive reasoning process
- the use of observations to develop general theories that explain phenomena
-simultaneous data collection and data anaylysis
-No predetermined sampling strategy
-data collection continues unti data saturation (reaching the theory)
Theoretical sampling
Grounded Theory Continued
Ethnography
-systematic study of people and cultures in their natural environments
-an anthropological approach to develop an insider’s view of the way members of a sociocultural group understand their world
-ethnographers often-use participant observation methods to understand a group’s collective experiences, values, beliefs, and behaviours
Ethnography COnt
Observing participants to understand their beliefs
Case study (do not confuse with case report/series)
Use of multiple data sources to examine and understand one person, group, or event in detail
* observations
*Interviews
*historic records
sometimes before preparing a case report or a case series (week 5)
Case study example
Mixed method Studies
Element of both quantitative and qualitative methods in one single study
* parallel collection of quantitative and qualitative data and then compare the result s and interpret them
*sequential collection of data
*some qualitative studies are mebedded within a quantitative study
Collecting Qualitative Data
The main issue
Close engagement of researchers with participants
* hard to remain objective
* higher chance of bias
Both a methodological and an ethical issue
Key is transparency
In-depth Interview
Semi-structured?
What are the two techniques?
-Long (1 or 2) hours interviewing a key informant using open-ended questions
S
Semi-structured: a list of open-ended questions as starting points for eliciting responses from participants
Techniques:
- Probing: prompting interviewees to provide a roe complete or specific response
-Observing and recording: body language, other nonverbal communications
Focus Group
-small number of people (8-10 individuals with similar backgrounds, experiences, or perspectives) participating for 1 or 2 hours in a moderated discussion
-the facilitator poses questions to the group, keeps the conversation focused on the core discussion items and moving forward at an appropriate pace
* participants and encouraged to interact with one another
-richer responses and clearer opinions
The moderator ensures that everyone has an opportunity to speak and that no one dominates the conversation
-usually are audio- or video-recorded so that complete transcripts can be created
Observational Methods
Systematic observations of human actions and interactions
Naturalistic observation
the researcher discreetly observes study subjects in a natural setting, typically without the knowledge of the subjects (covert)
Controlled observation
study participants are observed in a laboratory setting and know that they are being observed (overt)
Participant- observation:
a trained investigator seeks to understand a community by engaging with its members and immersing in its practices
Field notes:
Observation records, interview transcripts, and other documents compiled during the qualitative research process
Analyzing Qualitative Data
Approach
Is inductive:
making inferences (identifying patterns, developing theory) based on observations
-flexible and can be in a cycle
Quantitative studies is deductive:
making logical inferences based on facts or widely-accepted premises (testing theories)
Linear: data collection»analysis»interpretation»reporting
Analytic Frameworks: 1) Content Analysis
The process of categorizing textual data
1) Systematic CODING the text using labels and categories derived from the text or from existing theories or previous research findings
2) Determine which codes occur most often, and then identification of the most prominent patterns and themes in the text.
Which study design used this analytic framework more?
Analytic Frameworks: 2) Constant Comparison
A process of collecting data, transcribing interviews, assigning initial codes , identifying categories, identifying themes, and developing a theory
-may include several cycles of data collection, analysis, and additional data collection and analysis
Which study design uses this analytic framework more?
Analytic Frameworks 3) Narrative and Discourse Analyses
Narrative analysis seeks to understand personal stories
-content of stories, the structure of stories, the themes of stories, or the communication goals of stories
-postmodernism, feminism, or other established philosophies may be applied to help with interpretation of the stories
Discourse analysis uses the tools of linguistics to evaluate the ordinary use of written and spoken language- that is, natural language use
Not common analytic strategies in health research
Process Coding
Coding (indexing):
Goal of coding:
Coding (indexing) is the use of words or short phrases to briefly summarize the contents, attitudes, processes, or other aspects of each item in a transcript or other qualitative document
Code: a label attached to a word or a phrase
Goal of coding: descriptions of participants characteristics, emotions, values , evaluations , judgments, processes, or actions
Process Categorizing
grouping related codes into categories
-to identify trends and patterns, look for relationships between codes, and begin to understand multiple layers of meaning
Process themes
Synthesizing the categories in order to identify the concepts, meanings, and themes that answer the study question
a theme is a concept that encompasses one or several categories
Questions about Mental Wellbeing
Process Theories
a theory is a construct that provides a systematic explanation about a phenomenon
-for some studies, a fourth level of coding generates a new theory about the phenomenon
Phase 1- 5 go
