Qualitative Methods for Health Research

by Green, Judith; Thorogood, Nicki

• ISBN13: 9780761947714
• ISBN10: 076194771X
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2004-05-25
• Publisher: Sage Publications Ltd

Summary

Qualitative Methods for Health Research is a practical introduction to designing, conducting and appraising qualitative research in areas such as public health, health services research, nursing and health promotion. This book will be useful for professionals and students with little prior knowledge of social science theory. The authors provide a clear guide for the reader who would like to know more about how to apply their skills to the field of health. Using examples from health research projects in a wide range of settings, it introduces readers to the key debates in qualitative methodology, issues in designing ethical and feasible projects, the main methods of collecting and analyzing qualitative data, and ways of reading and writing qualitative research. Key features include: - case studies - chapter summaries - highlighted key points A basic understanding of methodological principles is as important in applied as in academic work. Health professionals and students alike will learn a great deal about applying methods from this textbook.

Table of Contents

Preface	xiii
Part 1 Principles and Approaches in Qualitative Health Research	1	(76)
Qualitative Methodology and Health Research	3	(24)
Chapter summary	3	(1)
Introduction: health research	3	(2)
What is qualitative research?	5	(2)
Theoretical approaches	7	(11)
The orientations of qualitative research	18	(4)
The contribution of qualitative research to understanding health and health services	22	(3)
Conclusion	25	(1)
Key points	25	(1)
Exercise	26	(1)
Further reading	26	(1)
Developing Qualitative Research Designs	27	(24)
Chapter summary	27	(1)
Introduction	28	(1)
Research questions	28	(6)
Research designs: some examples	34	(5)
Problems with design typologies	39	(2)
Influences on research design	41	(1)
An idealized logic?	42	(2)
Data collection/generation and analysis methods	44	(1)
Practical issues	45	(1)
Multi-method designs: the place of qualitative work in larger health research studies	46	(3)
Conclusion: developing skills in research design	49	(1)
Key points	50	(1)
Exercises	50	(1)
Further reading	50	(1)
Responsibilities, Ethics and Values	51	(26)
Chapter summary	51	(1)
Introduction	51	(1)
Values in research	52	(4)
Ethical review and codes of practice	56	(1)
Principle of informed consent	57	(3)
Confidentiality	60	(1)
Responsibilities to research participants	61	(8)
Different models of relationship	69	(2)
Responsibilities to yourself and co-workers	71	(1)
Ethical dilemmas and conflicts	72	(3)
Conclusion	75	(1)
Key points	75	(1)
Exercises	75	(1)
Further reading	76	(1)
Part 2 Generating and Analysing Data	77	(124)
In-depth Interviews	79	(28)
Chapter summary	79	(1)
Introduction: terminology	79	(1)
Developing everyday skills: what the research interview does	80	(1)
A word on language	81	(3)
Language in cross-cultural settings	84	(2)
Assumptions about our own language	86	(1)
In-depth interviews: what they can and can't do	87	(2)
Private/public accounts	89	(2)
Cultural factors and interviewing	91	(1)
Social differences in interviews	92	(1)
`Elite' interviewing	93	(1)
Techniques: developing interview skills	94	(6)
Improving reliability	100	(1)
Transcribing interviews	101	(1)
Sampling: how many and who to interview?	102	(2)
Conclusion	104	(1)
Key points	105	(1)
Exercises	105	(1)
Further reading	106	(1)
Group Interviews	107	(24)
Chapter summary	107	(1)
Introduction	107	(1)
Different kinds of group interview: an overview	108	(1)
Consensus panels	108	(2)
Community interviews and participatory methods	110	(1)
Focus groups	111	(1)
Natural groups	111	(1)
Advantages of using group interviews	112	(5)
Naturalism	117	(3)
Limitations	120	(1)
Practical issues	121	(6)
Developing appropriate methods for the setting	127	(1)
Conclusion	128	(1)
Key points	129	(1)
Exercise	129	(1)
Further reading	129	(2)
Observational Methods	131	(24)
Chapter summary	131	(1)
Aims of observational methods	132	(1)
Participant and non-participant observation	133	(2)
Ethnography and participant observation	135	(2)
Doing ethnography close to home	137	(1)
Overt and covert roles	138	(2)
`Mystery shopping' and pseudo-patient studies	140	(2)
Planning a participant observation study	142	(4)
Rapid ethnographic methods	146	(2)
Non-participant observational methods	148	(5)
Conclusion	153	(1)
Key points	153	(1)
Exercises	154	(1)
Further reading	154	(1)
Using Documentary Sources	155	(18)
Chapter summary	155	(1)
Introduction	155	(1)
Why use existing sources?	156	(1)
Public records	157	(3)
Personal documents	160	(1)
Mass media outputs	161	(1)
Research outputs	162	(4)
Methodological issues in using documentary sources	166	(3)
Conclusion	169	(1)
Key points	170	(1)
Exercises	170	(1)
Further reading	171	(2)
Analysing Qualitative Data	173	(28)
Chapter summary	173	(1)
Approaches to analysis	173	(2)
Styles of analysis	175	(1)
Relating analysis to the aims of the study	176	(1)
Principles of different approaches	176	(1)
Thematic content analysis	177	(3)
Grounded theory	180	(4)
Framework analysis	184	(2)
Using computer software to help manage data	186	(5)
Rigour in analysis	191	(5)
Rigour is not enough...	196	(1)
Generalizability and transferability	197	(2)
Conclusion	199	(1)
Key points	199	(1)
Exercises	199	(1)
Further reading	200	(1)
Part 3 Doing Qualitative Work for Health	201	(46)
Collaborating Across Disciplines and Institutions	203	(16)
Chapter summary	203	(1)
Introduction	203	(2)
Different methods for different questions	205	(1)
Multiple methods: to increase understanding or increase validity?	205	(4)
Trans-disciplinary work	209	(2)
Communicating across disciplines	211	(4)
International collaborations	215	(2)
Conclusion	217	(1)
Key points	217	(1)
Exercise	217	(1)
Further reading	218	(1)
Writing up Qualitative Work	219	(16)
Chapter summary	219	(1)
Introduction	219	(1)
The writing process	220	(1)
Writing for different audiences	221	(1)
Writing for health journals	222	(3)
Writing for social science colleagues	225	(2)
Writing for and disseminating to non-specialist audiences	227	(1)
Alternatives to written reports	228	(1)
Some practical issues to consider when writing up	229	(4)
Conclusion	233	(1)
Key points	233	(1)
Exercise	234	(1)
Further reading	234	(1)
Reading and Appraising Qualitative Work	235	(12)
Chapter summary	235	(1)
Introduction	235	(2)
Reading critically	237	(1)
Appraising empirical work: are criteria possible?	238	(2)
Appraisal criteria	240	(3)
Criteria in ethnography	243	(2)
Conclusion	245	(1)
Key points	245	(1)
Exercise	246	(1)
Further reading	246	(1)
References	247	(12)
Index	259