Satellite Session on Social Science in prevention and vaccine research

17th January 2013

The quantitative – qualitative continuum

• Methods often seen in terms of quantitative versus qualitative (dichotomy)

• More useful to think of along a continuum of ‘structure’

• Degree of structure lies in form of question, but also in the anticipation/interpretation of the response

Structured -------------- Less structured

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Structured versus less structured

• False divide along disciplinary lines• Main issue: how is the construct defined, ‘measured’

and validated e.g.• What model/theory underlies the way we look at

the construct?• What dimensions are considered relevant and

measurable as variables (qualitatively or quantitatively)?

• Are there indicators for the variables that translate well into specific settings?

• Are we measuring what we set out to measure?

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Overview of methods

• Observation (direct and indirect)

• Interviews (individual and group)

• Audio and visual documentation

• Analysis of written materials and records

• Analysis of drawings and maps

• ...

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What characterises qualitative research methodology?

• Open-ended and in-depth • Flexible: use of multiple methods (triangulation) and

iteration• Naturalistic: studying things in their ‘natural’ settings• BUT

• Carefully planned, systematic and rigorous!

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Advantages/disadvantages of less structured methods

• Not quick!– need training and practise to administer– record, manage and analyse

BUT• ‘Richer’, explanatory data• Able to capture more than one dimension• Able to adapt to situation/setting: flexible,

iterative, and driven by ground level reality

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Advantages/disadvantages of structured methods

• Easier to administer, bigger numbers feasible• Easier to quantify BUT• Inflexible• Measures may not be appropriate to setting

or population• Limited in capturing depth as well as breadth

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Social Science research – to what end?

• Supplementary/complementary to other approaches• Exploratory (before/during/after)• Hypothesis generating• Development of data collection instruments

• Stand-alone • Describing and explaining behaviour• ‘Making sense of’ – meaning in context• Elucidating multiple perspectives (breadth)• Unravelling multiple layers (complexity and depth)

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Two examples of how mixed methods help to build a

deeper/broader understanding

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The unit of sampling and analysis

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The household

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`Groups at high risk’

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Ethics and informed consent

Informed consent

• The event and process models of informed consent provide a framework to understand decision making during the process

– Event model is about a one-time event leading to decision

– Process model assumes that decision making is a continuous process

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