Qualitative Research Methods and Evidence Synthesis: Study Guide

What is the purpose of qualitative research?

To explore how and why people experience and make sense of life.

What is a systematic review?

A structured process to evaluate and synthesize research evidence.

What is Covidence?

An automation tool used by reviewers to record decisions on study inclusion or exclusion.

What is a scoping review?

A type of review that does not necessitate appraisal of study quality.

What does grounded theory aim to achieve?

To build an explanatory theory through iterative data collection and analysis.

What is data saturation in qualitative research?

The principle guiding researchers to continue sampling until no new information or themes emerge.

What is the CASP tool used for?

To assess the quality of cross-sectional studies in systematic reviews.

What does narrative inquiry focus on?

The collective stories of a group sharing a significant life experience.

What is maximum variation sampling?

A strategy to capture a wide range of perspectives and experiences related to a phenomenon.

What is ethnographic fieldwork?

A method where a researcher documents cultural practices through field notes, artifacts, and interviews.

What is selective coding in qualitative research?

The final step where a central storyline integrates all categories.

What is critical case sampling?

A qualitative research method where a strategically important case is selected to test a broader theory.

What does PICO stand for in systematic reviews?

Population, Intervention, Comparison, Outcome; it guides the formulation of structured research questions.

What is open coding?

A method where units of text are labeled with codes to identify key themes.

What is the purpose of member checking?

To check credibility by sharing interpretations with participants.

What is snowball sampling?

A technique where participants recruit other participants who meet the study criteria.

What is phenomenology in qualitative research?

A design that explores the essence of lived experiences.

What is the main focus of ethnography?

To describe practices and beliefs within a cultural group.

What does grounded theory focus on?

How a process, action, or interaction works, building a theory from the data.

What is participatory action research (PAR)?

A collaborative approach where researchers and participants work together to understand and change something.

What is axial coding?

The process of grouping similar codes into broader categories.

What is NVIVO used for?

A software package commonly used to organize and retrieve qualitative data segments.

What are field notes in qualitative research?

Records of observations, conversations, and settings, used for reflection and analysis.

What is the significance of quality appraisal in systematic reviews?

It assesses the quality of evidence to determine its trustworthiness based on risk of bias.

What is the first step in a systematic review?

Defining eligibility criteria and formulating a structured research question.

What are the typical steps in qualitative research?

Research question, literature review, choose methodology, select participants, collect data, organize, code, identify themes, interpret findings, report.

What is the main limitation of qualitative research?

Findings are often context-specific and may not be broadly generalizable.

What is the purpose of document analysis in qualitative research?

To systematically interpret existing personal, official, public, or visual documents.

What are visual methods in qualitative research?

Techniques that use images or visual artifacts to explore occupation, context, identity, and lived experience.

What is photovoice?

A method where participants take and discuss photos to share their experiences.

What are the characteristics of strong interview questions?

They should be open-ended, neutral, clear and concise, single-barreled, and relevant.

What is the PRISMA study chart used for?

To provide a reporting guideline that helps make systematic reviews clear, thorough, transparent, and reproducible.

What is the difference between a systematic review and a scoping review?

A systematic review answers a focused question and synthesizes relevant studies, while a scoping review maps a broader topic and identifies gaps.

What does the PRISMA checklist include?

27 reporting items across seven sections: Title, Abstract, Introduction, Methods, Results, Discussion, and Other Information.

What is the importance of informed consent in qualitative research?

It is an ongoing process that ensures participants understand the study, their participation, data use, confidentiality, and their right to withdraw.

What is the difference between confidentiality and anonymity?

Confidentiality protects identity and information, while anonymity means data cannot be linked to a person.

What ethical principle prioritizes participant welfare over data collection?

Autonomy and participant well-being.

What is reflexivity in qualitative research?

The process of examining how researchers' perspectives and roles affect participants and interpretation.

What does saturation mean in qualitative research?

The point at which further data collection yields no new insights.

What is thematic saturation?

When no new themes emerge from the data.

What is purposive sampling?

A sampling strategy that selects participants based on specific characteristics relevant to the research question.

What sample size is generally recommended for phenomenological studies?

5-25 participants.

What should be reported regarding sample size in qualitative research publications?

The final sample size and how saturation was assessed.

What is the role of follow-up probes in interviews?

To invite participants to elaborate on their responses, encouraging detailed examples or stories.

What is the significance of the flow diagram in PRISMA?

It tracks records identified, screened, retrieved, excluded, and included, supporting transparency in the review process.

What is the purpose of qualitative descriptive research?

To provide a detailed account of a phenomenon without necessarily exploring underlying theories.

What is the focus of grounded theory methodology?

To explore how clients develop strategies for adapting to disability through semi-structured interviews.

What is the aim of ethnography in qualitative research?

To study routines, roles, and occupational patterns in a community through observation.

What is the importance of ethical oversight in qualitative research?

To ensure that participants' accounts are represented accurately and that ethical standards are followed.

What is a critical case in sampling strategies?

A case that is especially informative and provides significant insights into the research question.

What does the term 'information power' refer to in qualitative research?

The idea that a highly relevant, informative sample may need fewer participants.

What is the purpose of using multiple methods in qualitative research?

To combine interviews, observation, documents, or visual data to understand a specific program or experience.

What takes priority over collecting more data in research ethics?

A participant's right to withdraw and their well-being.

What is the purpose of an evidence table in research?

To organize information from included studies for comparison and synthesis of findings.

What should be included in the study details section of an evidence table?

Author/year, country, study aim or purpose.

What does 'risk of bias' assess in a study?

Whether flaws in the study could distort its results.

What is the significance of triangulation in qualitative research?

It uses multiple sources or approaches to support credibility, dependability, and confirmability.

What does 'credibility' refer to in qualitative research?

The believability of the findings and whether they reflect participants' experiences.

What is 'transferability' in qualitative research?

How well findings may fit other, similar contexts.

What does 'dependability' ensure in a research process?

That the process is clear and consistent, allowing for reproducibility.

What does 'confirmability' mean in qualitative research?

Findings are neutral and grounded in data, free from researcher bias.

What does 'thick description' provide in qualitative research?

Detailed information about participants and context to help judge applicability of findings.

What is the role of an audit trail in research?

To document research steps and decisions, supporting dependability.

What is the purpose of evaluating risk of bias?

To determine how much study findings can be trusted.

What is the RoB 2.0 tool used for?

Assessing risk of bias in randomized controlled trials (RCTs).

What does the NHLBI checklist assess?

The internal validity and quality of single-group pre-post studies without a control group.

What is a key factor in determining sample size adequacy?

Whether a power calculation was performed.

What should be checked regarding intervention delivery in research?

Whether the intervention is described and delivered consistently.

What is the importance of blinding in outcome measurement?

To prevent outcome assessment from being influenced by knowledge of intervention assignment.

What does a loss to follow-up of more than 20% indicate?

It may bias the results of the study.

What is the significance of using standardized terms across studies?

To ensure consistency and clarity in reporting outcomes.

What does 'audit trail' support in research?

Dependability by documenting all research decisions and processes.

What is the definition of 'reflexivity' in qualitative research?

Examining how the researcher's assumptions and influence may affect the study.

What does 'external audit' involve in qualitative research?

An independent qualitative researcher reviews parts of the project to check that findings are grounded in data.

What is the key concept of trustworthiness in qualitative research?

It is the counterpart to validity or rigor in quantitative research, ensuring findings are believable and unbiased.

What is the role of thick description in enhancing transferability?

It provides detailed context that helps readers judge applicability of findings to other settings.

What should be documented from recruitment through data analysis?

Research decisions and processes to ensure transparency and reproducibility.

What is the purpose of repeated measurements in studies?

To distinguish real change from natural variation or regression to the mean.

What does an overall rating of 0-3 indicate?

Low risk.

What does an overall rating of 4-8 indicate?

Moderate risk.

What does an overall rating of 9-11 indicate?

High risk.

What does the RoB 2.0 checklist assess in RCTs?

Randomization, intervention assignment, outcome measurement, missing data, and reporting.

What is the first stage of qualitative data analysis?

Data immersion.

What is the goal of open coding?

To break data into meaning units and label each with an initial code.

What are In Vivo codes?

Codes that use participants' exact words.

What is selective coding?

The development of a central theme that connects categories and addresses the research question.

What is saturation in qualitative research?

The point at which sufficient coding has been reached and no new ideas are emerging.

What does the acronym P-E-S-S-D-A-S stand for?

Protocol, Eligibility, Search sources/strategy, Selection, Data collection, Appraisal, Synthesis.

What is the purpose of qualitative research in occupational therapy?

To understand people's experiences, perspectives, and meanings to inform practice.

What are themes in qualitative research?

Recurring patterns or ideas across data.

What is a process model in qualitative research?

Stages or sequences of events.

What does phenomenology focus on?

Describing lived experiences.

What is grounded theory?

Developing an explanation or theory from data.

What is the purpose of the discussion section in qualitative findings?

To explain what findings mean and connect them to research, theory, and practice.

What are the four pillars of trustworthiness in qualitative research?

Credibility, dependability, transparency, and confirmability.

What is credibility in qualitative research?

The extent to which findings accurately represent participants' experiences.

What does dependability refer to in qualitative research?

The consistency and clear documentation of the research process.

What is transparency in qualitative research?

The explanation of how the study was conducted and how findings were reached.

What does confirmability mean in qualitative research?

Findings are grounded in the data rather than solely in the researcher's assumptions.

What is transferability in qualitative research?

The ability for readers to judge whether findings may apply in another context.