Class 18: Critiqueing qualtitative research

Steps of qualitative research

• Review literature

• Choose design (phenomenology, grounded theory, ethnography, PAR, or descriptive)

• Select sample

• Choose setting

• Collect data (interviews, observations, documents)

• Analyze data (coding → themes)

• Report findings

• Conclusions & implications for practice

Data collection for qualitative research

• Interviews (most common) Start broad then ask probing questions

• Observations

• Documents/artifacts

Phenomonology

• Studies lived experiences (e.g., parents of kids with CHD).

• Focuses on meaning, perception, and interpretation.

Grounded theory

• Studies social processes (e.g., how nurses adapt to change).

• Builds theory from the ground up using coding and constant comparison.

Ethnography

• Studies cultures and groups.

• Uses observation + interviews.

• Can be traditional, critical, institutional, or autoethnography.

Participatory Action Research (PAR / CBPR)

• Research with participants, not on them.

• Goal = social change, empowerment, addressing real-world problems.

Critiquing qualitative studies

Look for:

• Clear phenomenon

• Appropriate method

• Researcher’s role explained

• Sample fits the experience

• Strong data collection & analysis

• Themes backed by participant quotes

• Clear connection to literature

• Logical and meaningful conclusions

---

Ethnography: emic perspective

Insider perspective

Ethnography: etic perspective

Outsider perspective