Introduction to qualitative research methods India FETP

Competency to be gained from this lecture Identify the need for qualitative data when they are needed

Outline Qualitative research in public health Differences between qualitative and quantitative research Key elements of qualitative research

The perception of being cured from leprosy From the leprosy specialist Treatment completed Infection eradicated What does the patient think?  “My patch is still here!”  “I am still disabled!” The place of qualitative research

The essence of qualitative research Inquiry process of understanding Based upon distinct methodological traditions of inquiry that explore a social or human problem The place of qualitative research

The qualitative researcher Builds a complex, holistic picture Analyzes words Reports detailed views of informants Conducts the study in a natural setting The place of qualitative research

Why use qualitative methods? Bridge the gap between:  The public health professionals  The population that is supposed to benefit from their work Who are these people we are working for? Get the perspective of the local people  The first information can be misinterpreted  More information is needed for it to become intelligible The place of qualitative research

When to use qualitative methods? Need to explore and explain behaviours  Explain rather than describing Subject matter is unfamiliar or insufficiently researched  Mapping issues Suitable vocabulary is not available to communicate with respondents The place of qualitative research

What qualitative methods can bring? Identify health determinants  Underlying behaviours  Attitudes  Perceptions Explain social and programmatic impediment to:  Informed choices  Use of services Shed light on the success of intervention Facilitate understanding of policy, social and legal context in which decisions are made The place of qualitative research

Advantages of qualitative methods Flexible Encourage discoveries Stimulate more investigation of the unexpected The place of qualitative research

Qualitative methods do not replace quantitative research Address different questions Qualitative methods may be in important input to quantitative research Parallel source of distinct, rich and pertinent information Qualitative versus quantitative

A source of added value Qualitative research Quantitative research Include in a single design Qualitative versus quantitative

Possible sequence in qualitative and quantitative research 1.Qualitative research methods Sort out / identify issues or factors 2.Quantitative research methods Measure the frequency of key issues / factors Qualitative versus quantitative

Traditional questions in qualitative methods Examples:  Why do people behave the way they do?  Why are things the way they are? The “how many” of the epidemiologist is replaced by “why” Qualitative versus quantitative

Deductive versus inductive processes Deductive process in qualitative studies (e.g., Einstein)  Begins with theory  Examines hypothetical relationships within it Inductive process in quantitative studies (e.g., Newton)  Begins with observations  Open questions towards more general conclusions Qualitative versus quantitative

Criteria to judge the quality of findings in quantitative and qualitative research Quantitative studies Accuracy Reliability Freedom from bias Qualitative studies Neutrality Uniformity Objectivity Replicability Qualitative versus quantitative

Emphasis of quantitative and qualitative studies Quantitative studies Consistent operational definitions Precisely worded questions Statistical analysis The formulation of questions in measurable terms limits the scope Qualitative studies Objectivity Expression of findings:  Measurable outcomes  Relationship Qualitative versus quantitative

Purpose of qualitative research Asks why, how and under what circumstances events occur Seeks depth of understanding Views social phenomena holistically Explores and discovers Provides insight into the meanings of decisions and actions Principles of qualitative research

Methodology used in qualitative research Interpretative and other open-ended methods Iterative rather than fixed Emergent rather than pre-structured Principles of qualitative research

Respondents and investigator Respondents  Respondents are not subjects  Active participants Investigator  Instrument in the research process Principles of qualitative research

Creating a partnership in qualitative research requires a high level of skills Partnership  Participant Contribute the information  Researcher Learner Co-interpreter Guides the process towards knowledge Ethical obligations  Relationship based upon trust and mutual understanding of a common goal Principles of qualitative research

Methods versus technique Method  A systematic approach to data collection  Includes tools and techniques to gather data Basic units Building blocks of information Technique  The art of asking, listening and interpreting Principles of qualitative research

Emic versus Etic perspectives * EmicEtic Methods In depth interview Observation Aims How do respondents define and label things Describe and explain patterns of behaviours Explanations of behaviours People’s idea systems Impersonal factors Material conditions Cross cultural generalizations Require conversion in abstract inter-cultural categories Application of the same observation method to different cultures * Neologisms coming from “phonetic” and “phonemic”

Macro versus micro Differentiate  Macro The country, the world  Micro The village Anthropologists have a tendency to focus on the micro Many interactions today between the micro and the macro Principles of qualitative research

Non-reactive and interactive techniques Non-reactive (Unobtrusive)  The observer’s intent is to be unnoticed Interactive (Participant)  Observation of social processes  Living with the community a year Allows seasons and events to come back Principles of qualitative research

The notion of domains Set of items or things that are all of the same type or category Example  Health  Religion  Intimacy Principles of qualitative research

Sorting observations and experiences as domains: Free listing and pile sorting Free listing  Participants are asked to make lists of all instances of the same phenomenon  Transfer to cards Pile sorting  Sorting of the cards by piles according to own criteria and labels Principles of qualitative research

The relevance of domain The public health specialist may place a disease (e.g., diarrhea) in the domain of science and / or germ theory The respondent may place the disease in a completely different domain  Tradition  Religion  Folk beliefs Principles of qualitative research

Selected types of qualitative studies Life stories Observations Focus groups In depth interviews Principles of qualitative research

Take home messages Qualitative research map out issues and explain them Use the various comparative advantages of qualitative and quantitative methods Qualitative research explores, asks why and seeks depth in understand