HSCI 230 Midterm 3

Quantitative data

numerical and estimates of frequency/association

Quantitative Summary

Structured instruments

Pre-specified variables

Deductive theory-testing

Sampling for representativeness

Internal/External validity, precision, power

Qualitative Summary

textual/visual data; meanings and processes

interviews/FG/observation; evolving protocols

indictive theory-building

purposeful/theoretical sampling for depth

credibility, transferability

4 reasons to mix methods

Complementarity

Triangulation

Development

Expansion

Complementarity

explain mechanisms behind numerical patterns

add context and voice

Triangulation

corroborate findings across data types

Development

let early phase inform later instruments or sampling

Expansion

broaden scope to cover outcomes and meanings

QUANT→QUAL (Explanatory)

use qual to explain surprising/heterogenous QUANT results

QUAL→QUANT (Exploratory)

use QUAL to generate constructs and hypotheses before measuring at scale

Concurrent (Convergent)

collect both together; compare and integrate at interpretation

What are the possible QUAL follow-ups:

Association between 2024-25 influenza vaccination and influenza infection among adults 65+ in BC.

How of older adults decide about flu vaccination?

What barriers/facilitators shape uptake in different communities

Who else (caregivers, clinicians, pharmacists influences decisions)

QUAL Methods Menu

Interviews

Ethnography/participant observation

Grounded theory; interpretive description; qualitative description

Content or dialogical analysis of texts/media

Always align method with the substance and aim of your RQ

Grounded Theory (aim, how it works, use when, outputs, watch-out)

Aim

• generate an explanatory theory from data

How it works

• iterative data collection & constant comparison

• Open → focused coding;build categories & relationships

Use when

• you suspect an underlying process/mechanism you can’t yet name

Outputs

• a theoretical model (stages/conditions/consequences)

Watch-outs

• requires iterative sampling/analysis; avoid forcing pre-existing concepts

Interpretive Description (aim, how it works, use when, outputs, watch-out)

Aim

• produce practice-relevant insights for applied fields

How it works

• Purposeful sampling; interviews/observation; inductive, reflexive analysis

Use when

• You need an actionable understanding (what matters, for whom, in which contexts)

Outputs

• conceptual accounts that inform decisions/guildelines

Watch-outs

• Maintain a transparent analytic chain; avoid drifting into mere description

Qualitative Description (aim, how it works, use when, outputs, watch-out)

Aim

• Low-inference, faithful summary of experiences in everyday language

How it works

• Semi-structured interviews/focus groups; descriptive coding

Use when

• You need a clear ‘what is going on’ account (barriers, preferences, experiences)

Outputs

• Thematic summaries with representative quotes

Watch-outs

• Don’t over-interpret; document steps that ensure credibility

Content Analysis (texts/media)

Aim

• Systematically categorize content in documents, posts, transcripts, media

How it works

• Develop coding scheme (deductive/inductive); code; count/compare

Use when

• You need to map what is present (topics/frames/sentiments) and how often

Outputs

• Categories/themes and, optionally, frequencies/plots

Watch-outs

• Define codes well; check coder agreement if multiple coder

Dialogical/ discourse analysis

Aim

• Examine how language constructs meanings, identities, power relations

How it works

• Close reading of language-in-use (word choice, metaphors, narratives)

Use when

• You want to understand how an issue is framed, contested, or normalized

Outputs

• Interpretive account of discursive strategies and effects

Watch-outs

• Ground analysis in context and theory; be explicit about analytic steps

New theory of a process

Quick Chooser: Grounded theory, interpretive description, qualitative description, content analysis, dialogical/discourse analysis

grounded theory

practice-ready insights

Quick Chooser: Grounded theory, interpretive description, qualitative description, content analysis, dialogical/discourse analysis

interpretive description

Clear, faithful summary

Quick Chooser: Grounded theory, interpretive description, qualitative description, content analysis, dialogical/discourse analysis

qualitative description

What appears/how often

Quick Chooser: Grounded theory, interpretive description, qualitative description, content analysis, dialogical/discourse analysis

content analysis

How language constructs meaning/power

Quick Chooser: Grounded theory, interpretive description, qualitative description, content analysis, dialogical/discourse analysis

dialogical/discourse analysis

Validity and Trustworthiness : QUANT

internal and external validity; bias; precision

Validity and Trustworthiness : QUAL

credibility (member checks, triangulation)

transferability (thick description)

Dependability, confirmability (audit trail/reflexivity)

Validity and Trustworthiness : MIXED

align quality criteria to each component and to integration

Integrating Findings (plan integration at design: where will strands connect)

Connect, merge, embed

Connect: build QUAL samples from QUANT subgroups

Merge: joint displays to compare/contrast findings

Embed: use one strand to enrich the other

Ideology

foundational beliefs & assumpotio

Theory

testable set of ideas (including cause-and-effect, or casual pathways/mechansims)

Epidemiology

a set of tools that can be used to test a theory

Nancy Krieger on social epidemiology

explicitly investigating social determinants of population distribution

Eco social premise 

that clues to current and changing population patterns of health, including social disparities in health

Embodiment

referring to how humans biologically incorporate social and ecological values

Key aspects on interventions and policies

Specific

Measurable

Actionable & achievable

relevant

time-bound

Modifiable Factor

can be changed at least in theory

Non-modifiable factor

cannot be changed

Intervenable factor

changeable via an intervention

Racism and Racial Discrimination

Racism- a macro-level system in society

Racial Discrimination- interpersonal interaction

Health Inequity: 2 Basic Dimensions

1. Differences in the level and quality of health between social groups

2. Differences in the provision and distribution of health services

What are some causes of health differences

Natural

Health-Damaging

Transient advantage

Health damaging behavior

Exposure to unhealthy living

Tendency for sick people

4 Key Methodological Approaches

1. Laboratory Experiments

2. Field Experiments

3. Analysis of observational data

4. Indicators of discrimination from surveys and records

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