Transcript of Qualitative Health Research Presented at the College Maiden Seminar on Scientific Writing, 14th...
- Slide 1
- Qualitative Health Research Presented at the College Maiden
Seminar on Scientific Writing, 14th September 2011 Dr. A. Adindu
Dept. of Public Health College of Medical Sciences University of
Calabar 1
- Slide 2
- Objectives At the end of this presentation we should be able to
discuss: differences between qualitative and quantitative research;
paradigms shaping qualitative research; basic principles of
qualitative reserch; qualitative research techniques; 2
- Slide 3
- Objectives continue importance of qualitative methods in health
research; and methodological issues in qualitative research. 3
- Slide 4
- Introduction Health researchers increasingly apply qualitative
methods in studying social, cultural, and economic dimensions of
health, ill health and service delivery. However, health
researchers in Nigeria tend to stay away from qualitative methods.
4
- Slide 5
- Introduction Cont. Understanding the complex nature of human
behaviour in health and illness requires different approaches in
collecting data, analysing and reporting. Qualitative health
research is critical, and indeed indispensable in the process.
5
- Slide 6
- Quantitative Methods Revisited 1. Natural science models
founded on positivism, and application of mathematical methods
support quantitative research. 2. Principles therein continue to
influence social science research, and indeed health research.
6
- Slide 7
- Quantitative Methods Revisited 3. Positivism presupposes that
people, the objects of social sciences, are the same as chemicals
and particles. 4. Positivists view as knowledge only phenomena
observable by the senses or with instruments. 5. These, weaken the
use of quantitative data in describing social reality. 7
- Slide 8
- Quantitative Methods Revisited 6. Yet, positivists believe that
methods and procedures of the natural sciences have universal
application and appropriate for the social sciences and indeed,
health sciences. 8
- Slide 9
- Quantitative Methods Revisited Characteristics: Hard Fixed
Objective Deductive Tests Hypothesis Rigorous Positivistic Imposes
Theory Empiricist Universalitic Abstract Provides Proof Measures
level of occurrence Measures level of actions Asks how many, how
often 9
- Slide 10
- Implications of quantitative methods in Health Research 1.
Study of health and illness behaviour excludes phenomena not
observed directly. 2. Quantifying subjective feelings is difficult.
3. Numerical results strong in statistical evidence give no insight
into health behaviours from which they emerged. 10
- Slide 11
- Qualitative Research Why qualitative research? Drawbacks in
quantitative research, reaction to positivism led to the
development of qualitative approach to study the social world,
describe, and analyse the culture and behaviour of humans from
their point of view. 11
- Slide 12
- Qualitative Research What is qualitative research? Qualitative
research covers broad range of interpretive techniques, which seek
to describe, decode, translate, and come to terms with the meaning
and not the frequency of certain natural occurring phenomena in the
social world (Maanen, 1985). 12
- Slide 13
- Qualitative Research Attributes Uses specialised techniques to
obtain in-depth data in natural settings. Focuses on complex and
dynamic social processes. Looks into meanings of how people live,
what they think and feel, beliefs, and motives. 13
- Slide 14
- Qualitative Research Attributes Uses methods that respect the
nature of the empirical world under study. Discovers and interprets
using small numbers of respondents not based on probability
sampling. Qualitative techniques applied throughout the process.
7
- Slide 15
- Qualitative Research Attributes Data collection and data
analysis go on at the same time during fieldwork. Analytical
induction and gradually theoretical discourse start during
fieldwork. 14
- Slide 16
- Qualitative Research Viewed as: Soft/Dry Flexible/Fluid
Grounded Inductive Subjective Allows for Discovery Phenomenological
Interpretive Holistic Contextual Asks why, and gives insight into
behaviour and action. 15
- Slide 17
- Basic Principles Views events and actions from point of view of
those being studied. Provides detailed description of social
setting under investigation. Views social life as a dynamic process
rather than static. Uses unstructured strategies. Formulates and
tests theories along with data collection. 16
- Slide 18
- Perspectives Shaping QR Interpretive paradigm covers broad
philosophical and sociological thoughts which try to understand and
explain the social world from view of those directly involved in
the social process. It seeks to understand the world as it is, and
the fundamental nature of social world at the level of subjective
experience (Burrell and Morgan, 1994). 17
- Slide 19
- Perspectives Shaping QR Interpretive scientists strive to
understand the essence and source of social reality by penetrating
the depth of human consciousness to understand the fundamental
meanings of social life. Immanuel Kant (17241803) gave interpretive
paradigm initial foundation. 18
- Slide 20
- Perspectives Shaping QR Recent theorists Husserl, Schutz, Weber
and Dilthey established interpretive perspective as framework for
social analysis. The main paradigms that give QR distinct
epistemology include: Phenomenology, Verstehen Symbolic
interaction, Ethnogenetics, Hermeneutics, Ethnomethodology
Linguistic Philosopy 20
- Slide 21
- Perspectives Shaping QR From these sociological and
philosophical ideas, naturalistic approach draws strength, emerging
as alternative view of the proper nature of social research, and
indeed health research. 21
- Slide 22
- Phenomenology & Qualitative Research Tries to understand
structure and essence of experienced phenomenon; Behaviour comes
from peoples interpretation of the world; This process of
interpretation must be captured in social & health research;
Researcher attempts to see things from perspective of actors;
22
- Slide 23
- Phenomenology & Qualitative Research Researcher focuses on
how experienced phenomena are assembled to make sense of the world;
and Understands people's experiences by experiencing it. The
process allows the phenomenon to speak for itself with full
revelation. 23
- Slide 24
- Phenomenology & Qualitative Research Phenomenological
reduction expects researchers to set aside assumptions, biases,
prejudices, theories about a phenomenon in order to listen
effectively. Researcher captures what the phenomenon is and not
what it might or ought to be. 24
- Slide 25
- Need for Qualitative Health Research u Provides depth and
detail not obtainable with quantitative methods. u Depth of
knowledge expected compels health researcher to spend more time in
the facility or community. u Enhances study of complex health
problems, uncovering difficult issues. 25
- Slide 26
- Need for Qualitative Health Research u Respects context of
health behaviour, and presents social life of individuals, and
groups holistically. u Indispensable to studying structure and
process of health care. u Researcher is flexible not constrained by
pre-selected categories for analysis. u Flexibilty allows for
depth, detail, openness, and more understanding. 26
- Slide 27
- Qualitative Research Methods Case Studies Case study is a
common qualitative method that studies a phenomenon in its real
life situation. Action Research This has many names: participatory
research, collaborative, practitioner research, action learning,
and contextual research among others. 27
- Slide 28
- Qualitative Research Methods Ethnography Ethnography is another
qualitative research approach, popularised by anthropologists. The
ethnographer spends time largely with those being studied. 28
- Slide 29
- Qualitative Techniques u Participant Observation u
Non-participant Observation u Individual Indepth Interview u Group
Indepth Inerview (Focus Group Discussion) u Document Analysis
29
- Slide 30
- Methodological Issues Complexity, fluidity and flexibility in
qualitative research raises some issues. Context Triangulation
Framework for Data Collection Validating Results Analysing Data
30
- Slide 31
- Methodological Issues Context Context is about the setting
where behaviour occurs and other aspects of the situation. It is
critical in qualitative research for holistic understaning of the
people. Interaction with context increases accuracy of
interpretations, expands value of findings, and creates conditions
for understanding life processes. 31
- Slide 32
- Methodological Issues Triangulation Collecting data for
understanding human realities and depth of health behaviour
requires the integration of qualitative and quantitative methods in
data collection, analysis and report. This is termed triangulation.
Quantitative methods alone depth data and paints only partial
picture of reality. 32
- Slide 33
- Methodological Issues Framework for Data Collection Validating
Results Analysing Data 33
- Slide 34
- Finally Qualitative research is complex, requires discipline,
commitment, and proper training. Researcher embarks on fieldwork
with flexibility without pre-selected categories for analysis.
Flexibilty gives room for depth, detail, openness, and greater
understanding. 34
- Slide 35
- Thank you. For further reading on my presentation, please see:
Adindu, A. (2011) Qualitative Health Research. Clear Lines Press,
Calabar. 35