What is qualitative research?
Systematic investigation of conceptual data to produce qualitative knowledge
What are characteristics of qualitative research?
Words = data
Answers the questions: what, why, how, who and where?
Aims to develop insight into ideas, views or practices in context
- what people think about certain ideas/topics
- people’s experiences in and around a phenomena
- language used to define or describe a phenomena
- behaviours and habits of individuals and how the societies in which they live
Why do qaulitative research?
- To reveal diverse, rich and new understandings of phenomena
- Enables researchers to gather data on difficult topics
- Can include and empower participants
- Informs intervention impact
- Inform policy and support evidence based practise
What are the limitations to qualitative research?
More diffuclt to demonstrate rigour
Often completed by a single individual
Relatively time consuming
Difficulty to standardise and therefore generalise
When should qualitative research methods be used?
To study health problems that need an in depth understanding of complex factors and social environments, and how these impact on people’s health outcomes
- to understand questions about experience, meaning and perspective
- to explore beliefs, attitudes and concepts in depth
- discover diff ways of thinking about taken for granted assumptions
- doing exploratory research about a phenomenon
- to generate knowledge that is specific to a particular time/place/context
What are the different types of mixing methods?
Exploratory research: qaul > quant > insights
Explanatory research: quant > qual > insights
Dynamic research: qual + quant at the same time > insights
What data collection methods are used in qualitative research?
Interviews
Focus group discussions
Observations (e.g. field notes memos)
Visual data collection techniques (e.g body mapping or photo voice)
Qualitative reviews and data synthesis
Open ended questions in surveys
In what ways can focus group discussions be used as data collection methods?
Either stand alone OR
Complementary to other methods (qualitative and or quantitative)
- initial exploration (utilise impressions from FGD to craft survey or qualitative interview questions)
- follow up (after individual interviews)
Emancipatory use - voice for the voiceless
Discussing sensitive issues
