2250 WEEK 5

Qualitative Methods Overview

Paradigm Recap

Paradigm Types and Their Attributes

1. Quantitative / Post-positivist

   • Beliefs: One reality exists with one truth.

   • Approach: Detached, objective, controlled scientific method.

2. Qualitative / Constructivist/Interpretive

   • Beliefs: Multiple realities are valid; there are multiple truths.

   • Approach: Involves passionate participant engagement, facilitative methods.

3. Critical Social Theory

   • Beliefs: Social realities are influenced by context and may include distorted perceptions (e.g., false consciousness).

   • Approach: Transformative activism and advocacy.

Research Focus in Various Paradigms

Qualitative Research: Key Features

• Based on a naturalistic paradigm.

• Resists the implication of absolute truths, acknowledging the complexity of human experience.

• Theoretical underpinnings emphasize subjectivity and socially constructed realities.

• Knowledge stance: Emic (insider perspective).

• The relationship between the researcher and the subjects is reciprocal and influential.

Definition of Qualitative Research

• Latin term "Qualis" means "whatness", referring to the essence of phenomena.

• Qualitative research seeks to explore questions regarding human experiences and is typically conducted in natural settings using text-based (non-numeric) data.

• Context is key for understanding experiences, especially in fields such as nursing.

Different Aspects of Qualitative Research

• Methods Depend on Questions: Different qualitative approaches based on specific research questions.

• Participant vs. Subject: Participants are actively engaged, while subjects may be passively observed.

• Sample Size: Generally smaller, with purposive sample selection.

• Setting: Research takes place in natural environments.

• Data Collection Methods: Includes words, observations, and thematic analysis.

• Rigor: Concentration on credibility, confirmability, and transferability of results.

When to Use Qualitative Methods

Situations:

• Existing understandings are inadequate for the research question.

• To make sense of complex and changing phenomena in human behavior and social interactions.

• To delve into the meanings individuals ascribe to their experiences (interpretative understanding).

• To discover theories grounded in collected data (e.g., grounded theory application).

• To explore details—either descriptively or interpretively.

Qualitative Research Methodologies

1. Phenomenology

2. Grounded Theory

3. Ethnography

4. Participatory Action Research (PAR)

5. Historical Research

6. Case Studies

Selecting a Qualitative Method

Depending on Research Interests:

• Interest in Human Experience: Phenomenological method.

  • Example question: “What is the human experience of…?”

• Interest in Social Processes: Grounded theory method.

  • Example question: “How does this social group interact to…?”

• Interest in Cultural Patterns: Ethnographic method.

  • Example question: “How does this cultural group express its pattern of…?”

Continuing Selection of Qualitative Method

• Capturing Unique Stories: Use Case study method.

  • Example question: “What are the details of the story of…?”

• Understanding Past Events: Historical method.

  • Example question: “How did this historical event influence…?”

• Facilitating Present Improvements: Participatory action method.

  • Example question: “What community practices can improve…?”

Phenomenology

• Defined as the science of describing phenomena based on lived experiences (Streubert & Carpenter, 2011).

• Aim: To search for the essence of shared human experience (van Manen, 1997).

• Assumptions: There exist essences of shared experiences.

• Provides insights into the rich, detailed description of the lived world (lifeworld).

Key Philosophers:

• Husserl: Focus on reaching understanding through description.

• Heidegger: Emphasizes contextual interpretation of experiences.

• Hermeneutic Philosophy: Explains the role of interpretation in human experience.

Data Collection Methodology:

• In-depth interviews and participatory observations to explore lived experiences.

• Focus on subjective meanings and presenting new insights through participants' perspectives.

Critical Attributes of Phenomenology:

1. Intensive dialogue with participants.

2. Critique of positivism as limited to understand human concerns.

3. Focus on interpretation of life experiences.

4. Intersubjectivity defined as shared belief in common experiences.

5. Bracketing—awareness and examination of researcher biases.

Phenomenology Research Questions Examples:

• “What is the lived experience of individuals engaged in harm reduction programs for substance abuse?”

• “What meanings do individuals ascribe to support and care provided by nurses integrating harm reduction principles?”

Grounded Theory

• Defined as a methodical procedure to explore social processes and inductively develop theory based on observations.

• Application: Constructing theory when none exists or existing ones do not fit the observed realities.

• Primary goal: To identify underlying social forces shaping human behavior.

Characteristics of Grounded Theory:

• Research Focus: Basic social processes; inquiries into how they manifest in various contexts.

• Sample Selection: Purposeful inclusion of individuals experiencing the relevant social processes.

• Data Sources: Primarily interview transcripts, observational notes, and memos.

• Data Analysis: Constant comparative analysis and theoretical sampling in a iterative cycle.

• Results: Theory emerging directly from the data collected.

Leaders in Grounded Theory Research:

• Glaser & Strauss

• Strauss

• Corbin & Strauss

• Charmaz (critical grounded theory)

• Wuest (feminist perspectives)

Grounded Theory Research Question Example:

• “How do nurses and patients develop rapport?”

Example Grounded Theory Study:

• Middle-Range Theory Example: Diabetes Management among Immigrant Adolescents balancing cultural identity and health management in Canadian schools.

Ethnography

• Defined as the method for scientifically describing cultural groups and their inherent ways of living.

• Ethnography aims to capture the patterns and norms that dictate human activities and their significance.

Ethnographic Methodology:

• Assumption: All human groups develop distinct cultural patterns that guide their member’s realities.

• Goal: To achieve an emic view (insider perspective) of the participants’ realities.

Information Types in Ethnography:

• Cultural behaviors, artifacts, and speech are crucial data points.

• Strategy: Extensive fieldwork alongside participatory observations and interviews.

Ethnography Research Question Example:

• “How do individuals in the Munsee-Delaware Nation enact health?”

• “What cultural dynamics influence the daily experiences of emergency department nurses?”

Participatory Action Research (PAR)

• Participatory Action Research is predicated on the idea that knowledge creation can support power dynamics.

• PAR works in collaboration with marginalized groups to illuminate oppression by dominant systems.

Characteristics of PAR:

• Combines exploration, reflection, and action on social and health issues.

• Actively involves community members in the planning and execution of actions aimed at addressing their specific needs.

• Emphasizes community voice in research processes and outcomes.

Research Focus:

• Investigates who is affected by or who can affect the problems under study.

• The researcher assumes a collaborative role rather than an expert position.

Data Methodology:

• Utilizes a variety of both quantitative and qualitative data through interviews, observation, and relevant documentation.

• Results in cohesive insights that can inform actionable outcomes.

PAR Research Questions Examples:

• “How can we develop culturally sensitive health education programs that empower newcomers?”

• “In what ways do health care policies affect rural care quality?”

Ethical Considerations in Qualitative Research

• Naturalistic settings pose unique consent challenges; obtaining informed consent can be complicated.

• The emergent design nature may lead to methodological adjustments over time, impacting participant awareness.

• The researcher-participant relationship can potentially bias research focus and outcomes.

• Researchers must acknowledge their role as instruments in the study, recognizing their human element in data collection.

Recap of Qualitative Methodologies in Nursing

Common Methods Used:

• Phenomenology: Interviews

• Grounded Theory: Interviews, document analysis

• Ethnography: Observations, interviews, documentation

• PAR: Qualitative inquiry including interviews and documents

Qualitative Research: Key Features

• Based on a naturalistic paradigm.

• Resists the implication of absolute truths, acknowledging the complexity of human experience.

• Theoretical underpinnings emphasize subjectivity and socially constructed realities.

• Knowledge stance: Emic (insider perspective).

• The relationship between the researcher and the subjects is reciprocal and influential.

Different Aspects of Qualitative Research

• Methods Depend on Questions: Different qualitative approaches based on specific research questions.

• Participant vs. Subject: Participants are actively engaged, while subjects may be passively observed.

• Sample Size: Generally smaller, with purposive sample selection.

• Setting: Research takes place in natural environments.

• Data Collection Methods: Includes words, observations, and thematic analysis.

• Rigor: Concentration on credibility, confirmability, and transferability of results.