Page 1: Introduction

Course Information

• Course Code: PS11610

• Title: Qualitative Research

• Instructor: Dr. Jason Bush

• Contact Information: jeb64@aber.ac.uk

Page 2: Lecture Overview

• Key Topics Discussed:

  • Qualitative methods and data analysis

  • Real-world examples utilizing qualitative methods:

    • Hearing voices study (Thematic Analysis - TA)

    • Well-being of young people caring for a dependent relative (Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis - IPA)

    • Tattoos as Narrative Identity (Thematic Analysis - TA)

    • Living with Chronic Mental Illness (Photovoice Study - Qualitative Content Analysis - QCA)

    • Mental well-being of patients from ethnic minorities during critical care (Grounded Theory Analysis - GT)

Page 3: Qualitative Methods - Interviews Recap

• Definition: Qualitative research aims to access experiences, meanings, or processes through various data collection methods.

• In-depth Interviewing: Captures rich data about people's lives and experiences.

  • Types of Interviews:

    • Semi-structured interviews: Predetermined questions but allows for flexibility.

    • Unstructured interviews: No predefined format, more like a conversation.

Page 4: Interviews - Data Collection Methods

• Elicitation Methods:

  • Photo elicitation/photo voice

  • Walking interviews

  • Life history interviewing

• Research Questions: Are provisional and may change during research, framed differently depending on the method used.

Page 5: Focus Groups

• Definition: A focus group is a group interview where interaction among participants serves as data.

• Structure: Utilizes guided but unstructured discussions on topics of interest.

• Role of Moderator: Encourages discussion rather than simply asking questions to explore participant perspectives.

Page 6: Diary Method

• Purpose: Research-directed diaries used for participants to record thoughts, experiences, and feelings related to a topic.

• Types:

  • Can include handwritten diaries, electronic formats, audio/video diaries, or creative scrapbooks.

• Frequency: Requires regular entries and can be short or long-term.

Page 7: Ethnographic Research

• Definition: Researchers immerse themselves in participants' cultures, settings, and experiences.

• Methodology: Intensive observation which involves recording and analyzing observations as a member of the community over time.

• Data Collection: Utilizes field notes.

Page 8: Qualitative Methods of Analysis

• Types of Analysis:

  • Content Analysis: Focuses on what is said (content-driven).

  • Thematic Analysis (TA): Examines recurring themes in data.

  • Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA): Focus on individual experiences and the role of interpretation.

  • Grounded Theory: Aims to develop theories based on collected data.

  • Discourse Analysis (DA): Studies language and its action-oriented nature.

  • Conversation Analysis (CA): Focuses on language within situational contexts.

Page 9: Real-World Research Examples

• Purpose: Illustrate the application of qualitative methods in practical research scenarios.

Page 10: Living with Voices Study

• Focus: Thematic analysis of individuals' experiences with voice hearing in India (Sinha & Ranganathan, 2020).

Page 11: Living with Voices - Study Design

• Identify a Research Problem: Need to understand the meanings behind voices rather than just treating them as pathological.

• Study Design: One-to-one interviews and demographic data from 27 participants and caregivers in a psychiatric setting.

• Analysis Method: Thematic analysis yielding three main themes.

• Findings:

  • Dominance of biomedical approaches leading to questions of normalcy after treatment.

Page 12: Living with Voices - Ethics and Data Collection

• Ethics Approval: Obtained from the Ethics Committee at the Indian Institute of Technology Hyderabad.

• Interview Protocol: Engaged participants through detailed thematic analysis framework.

Page 13: Demographic Data of Participants

• Key Statistics:

  • Gender Distribution: Female (14), Male (13)

  • Age Groups, Educational Background, Socioeconomic Status, Diagnoses, Plus Occupation data.

Page 14: Living with Voices - Interview Questions

• Sample Questions:

  • Dialogue with voices (Yes/No) and examples.

  • Other unusual experiences (visions, altered states).

  • Situations where voices are present.

  • Reference: Maastricht Hearing Voices Interview Guide (2011).

Page 15: Living with Voices - Findings

• Themes Identified:

  1. Dealing with Voices: Participants' emotional engagement and efforts.

  2. Control Over Voices: Strategies used by both voice-hearers and caregivers.

  3. Dominance of Medical Discourse: Perception of normative status influenced by medication.

Page 16: Living with Voices - Conclusions

• Insights: Accounts show voices understood in context, significant familial and community support in managing experiences, and limitations of medical frameworks.

• Emphasis on understanding individual narratives and coping across cultural contexts.

Page 17: Young Carers' Well-Being - Research Focus

• Study Citation: Bolas, H., Wersch, A. V., & Flynn, D. (2007).

Page 18: Young Carers - Study Design

• Research Problem: Explore the impact of informal caregiving on the well-being of young people.

• Design: Semi-structured interviews with participants 14-18 years old.

• Analysis Method: Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis with three superordinate themes.

Page 19: Young Carers - Ethics and Methodology

• Ethics Process: Informed consent from young participants and caretakers was conducted before interviews.

• Sample Size: Five young carers were interviewed.

Page 20: Young Carers - Participant Details

• Participant Information: Includes relationships to dependents, ages, and care circumstances.

• Highlights variations in family contexts and types of impairments.

Page 21: Young Carers - Findings

• Superordinate Themes:

  1. What Caring Means: Sense of obligation coupled with frustration.

  2. Isolation: Social withdrawal due to caring responsibilities.

  3. Integrating Caring: Navigating personal identity amidst societal stigma.

Page 22: Young Carers - Conclusions

• Main Findings: Emphasizes the multidimensional struggles of young carers and highlights the need for systemic support.

Page 23: Tattoos as Narrative Identity - Study Citation

• Citation: Naude, F., & Naude, L. (2024). Study focuses on tattoos' role in narrative identity.

Page 24: Tattoos - Study Problem Statement

• Research Problem: Explore the narratives behind tattoos among students at a culturally diverse university.

• Design: One-to-one interviews with thematic data analysis.

Page 25: Tattoos - Ethics and Methodology

• Ethics Process: Ethical consent obtained for interviews with participants aged 18-29 possessing visible tattoos.

Page 26: Tattoos and Identity - Key Findings

• Overview of interpretations of their tattoos and meanings in the context of identity and personal history.

Page 27: Tattoos - Findings Overview

• Identified Themes:

  • Identity, Affiliation, Reminiscence, Perseverance, and Opposing Viewpoints.

Page 28: Tattoos - Conclusions

• Conclusions Drawn: Tattoos are complex in their expression of identity, agency, and resilience and impact familial dialogue about identity.

Page 29: Living with Chronic Mental Illness - Study Citation

• Citation: Thompson et al., (2008) Photovoice study on chronic mental illness experiences.

Page 30: Chronic Illness - Research Focus

• Research Problem: Understanding experiences of adults living with chronic mental illness.

• Design: Interviews with participant-provided photos, analyzed through qualitative content analysis.

Page 31: Chronic Illness - Ethics and Methodology

• Ethics Process: Required ethical consent from institutional review board. Sample size of seven participants.

Page 32: Chronic Illness - Findings

• Major Themes: Valued experiences, desire for support, coping strategies, and societal invisibility.

Page 33: Chronic Illness - Conclusions

• Key Insights: There's a need for more societal education regarding mental health, and the actual experience can provide depth to understanding their struggles.

Page 34: Ethnic Minority Mental Health - Study Citation

• Citation: Van Keer et al. (2017) study focusing on critical care experiences.

Page 35: Ethnic Minority Mental Health - Research Focus

• Research Problem: Mental well-being of ethnic minority patients and related risk factors.

• Design: Utilized qualitative ethnographic design with various data triangulation methods.

Page 36: Ethnic Minority Mental Health - Ethics and Methodology

• Ethics Process: Research approved by university ethics committee. Involves various stakeholders (patients, relatives, and staff).

Page 37: Ethnic Minority Mental Health - Findings

• Identified Needs: Social contact, information exchange, alleviating pain, and participation in decision-making processes.

Page 38: Ethnic Minority Mental Health - Conclusions

• Insights: Indicates a call for holistic approaches in patient-centered care, addressing emotional loneliness, and incorporating diverse cultural perspectives in care models.

Page 39: Research Dissemination

• Methods:

  • Conferences

  • Presentations

  • Journal publications

  • Workshops

  • Social media platforms (TikTok, Instagram, etc.)

  • Websites and blogs.

Page 40: Summary of Lecture

• Key Takeaways: Overview of qualitative methods and in-depth analysis through real-world examples:

  • Hearing Voices Study (TA)

  • Well-Being of Young Carers (IPA)

  • Tattoos and Narrative Identity (TA)

  • Living with Chronic Mental Illness (QCA)

  • Mental Well-Being of Ethnic Minorities in Critical Care (GT).