Chapter 10 Qualitative Methods in Health and Human Performance

Qualitative Methods Qualitative research is an umbrella concept covering several forms of inquiry that focus on understanding and explain meaning of a social phenomena Qualitative research is an umbrella concept covering several forms of inquiry that focus on understanding and explain meaning of a social phenomena

Data Collection Methods Quantitative Quantitative –Objective –Numeric –Statistical analysis –Large Ns –Structured data collection –Table/graphs to display results Qualitative –Subjective –Non-numerical –Nonstatistical analysis –Small Ns –Open ended data collection –Narrative for results

Qualitative Methods Eight characteristics of qualitative research Eight characteristics of qualitative research –Takes place in the natural setting: travel to sites –Researcher is the primary method of data collection »Observation »Interview »Documents »Audiovisual

Qualitative Methods Characteristic continued: Characteristic continued: –Emergent rather than tightly prefigured –Based upon interpretation »Hermeneutics: deciphering meaning –Views social phenomena holistically –Qualitative researchers reflect and are explicitly regarding personal assumptions and values

Qualitative Methods Characteristics continued Characteristics continued –Uses both deductive and inductive logic »Inductive: going from specific to large »Deductive: Going from broad to specific –Can use multiple methods

Qualitative Methods Grounded Theory Study Grounded Theory Study –Discover or invent theory grounded in real- world experiences »Middle-range theories: situation related Life histories Life histories –Story of a single individual or groups of single individuals »Recall significant events of ones life »Significant understanding of the historical context

Qualitative Methods Case Study Case Study –Exploration of a bounded system (e.g., school) –In-depth data collection involving multiple sources of information Phenomenology study Phenomenology study –Describes the meaning of a lived experience for several individuals about a phenomenon –Explores the structures of human consciousness

Qualitative methods Ethnography study Ethnography study –Interpretation of a culture of social group –Natural setting Basic/Generic Basic/Generic –Studies that illustrate characteristics of qualitative research

Accurate Interpretations? Verification: Interpretations are tested for plausibility, conformability and trustworthiness (7 strategies) Verification: Interpretations are tested for plausibility, conformability and trustworthiness (7 strategies) –Prolonged engagement: Learning culture and building trust by being in a culture for a long time –Triangulation: use different methods for corroborating evidence

Accurate Interpretations? Verification continued Verification continued –Peer review: group of peers review work –Clarification of research biases and values –Member checks: research participants check credibility of interpretations and data –Rich description statements: Provide evidence by detail in write up – are findings transferable? –External audit: External person(s) examine process and interpretations

Multiple Methods “Rather than taking sides on this recurring issue, we suggest that multimethods approaches can provide a more accurate and detailed research project than the traditional unidimensional (qualitative or quantitative) approaches provide” - Mitra & Lankford, 1999, p. 46

Interviews Closed quantitative: Questions and response categories are determined in advance; responses are fixed Closed quantitative: Questions and response categories are determined in advance; responses are fixed Standardized open-ended: The wording and sequence of questions are determined in advance; same basic questions in the same order Standardized open-ended: The wording and sequence of questions are determined in advance; same basic questions in the same order Interview guide: Topics and issues to be covered are specified in advance, however, the interviewer decides the sequence and wording of questions during the interview Interview guide: Topics and issues to be covered are specified in advance, however, the interviewer decides the sequence and wording of questions during the interview Informal conversational: Questions emerge from the immediate context and are asked in the natural course Informal conversational: Questions emerge from the immediate context and are asked in the natural course

Observations Complete Participation: Researcher conceals role Complete Participation: Researcher conceals role Observer as Participant: Role of researcher is known Observer as Participant: Role of researcher is known Participant as Observer: Observational role is secondary to participant role Participant as Observer: Observational role is secondary to participant role Complete Observer: Researcher observes without participating Complete Observer: Researcher observes without participating

Constant Comparison A technique for analyzing qualitative data A technique for analyzing qualitative data –Read through data (transcriptions of interviews) and find similar (constant) themes among people Gain perspectives relevant to the context in which the data was observed and recorded Gain perspectives relevant to the context in which the data was observed and recorded

Steps in a Constant Comparison Read through interviews separately (among many) and make code/theme notes Read through interviews separately (among many) and make code/theme notes After reading through the differing transcriptions, integrate and compare codes/themes After reading through the differing transcriptions, integrate and compare codes/themes Delimit and refine the themes to find major or primary themes (can have secondary themes) Delimit and refine the themes to find major or primary themes (can have secondary themes) Provide examples from the data that highlight the themes Provide examples from the data that highlight the themes