NURS 225
NURS 225 - Test 3: Qualitative Methodology
Background
●Based in sociology, anthropology, and philosophy
●Aim of qualitative research →Seeks to have more of an in-depth
understanding of a phenomenon/experience
●Emic perspective
○Insider’s view; reveals how participants feel about themselves
●Inductive in nature (bottom up/specific to general)
●Examines the quality of something
●Socially constructed nature of reality
●Ideal for the holistic approach of nursing
●Data are in text format
●Meta-synthesis (qualitative version of a meta-analysis)
●Discipline is the basis for qualitative research
Benefits
●Often the first step in a phenomenon not yet fully explored
●Development of a theoretical framework
●Means of exploring a human experiences not fully understood
●May offer immediate clinical applicability
Approaches/Options
●Case study: a comprehensive and scrutiny of an identified case situation
○a qualitative research method that concentrates on supplying a
comprehensive description and scrutiny of an unique case situation (Ex:
teen mom bonding)
●Ethnography: values and customs of groups of individuals
○a type of qualitative research that conscientiously illustrates the
customs of a grouping of individuals (Ex: waitresses, nursing students,
etc.)
●Grounded theory: Basis of the development of a new theory
○a general methodology for developing theory that is grounded in data
and systematically gathered and analyzed
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●Phenomenology: better understand the “lived experience” (i.e. what’s it like to
be…?)
○a type of qualitative research in which the researcher endeavors to
comprehend how individuals experience a phenomenon
Negative Case (nice to know)
●The complexity of the data is to be welcomed because it allows for a
more subtle and nuanced analysis. Contradictions in the data can give
rise to unexpected findings, which ultimately strengthen theory. In
fact, qualitative researchers actively look for "negative cases" to
support their arguments. A "negative case" is one in which
respondents' experiences or viewpoints differ from the main body of
evidence. When a negative case can be explained, the general explanation for
the "typical" case is strengthened.
Sampling
●Convenience
○the process of selecting individuals to be in the sample who are
accessible and/or who volunteer (also called accidental sampling)
●Purposive/purposeful
○a non-probability sampling method in which the researcher chooses
study participants based on personal decisions about which individuals
would be most representative of the general population (also called
judgmental sampling)
●Theoretical
○ a way of collecting data, and deciding what data to collect based on the
theory and categories that emerge from your data.
●Snowballing /networking technique
○a type of sampling in which every research contributor is asked to
recommend additional prospective research participants (also called
network sampling)
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Data Collection
●Interview
○a data collection technique in which an interviewer poses questions to a
respondent
●Focus Group
○A small group of people assembled to participate in a
moderator-facilitated discussion geared toward the designated topic
being researched
●Observation
○A way to gather data by watching people, events, or noting physical
characteristics in their natural setting
●Saturation
○in qualitative research, the time when no new information is being
obtained and repetition of information is consistently heard
Data Analysis
●Occurs simultaneously with data collection
●Is called content analysis
●Thematic analysis
○Linear in nature
○It is usually applied to a set of texts, such as an interview or transcripts.
The researcher closely examines the data to identify common themes
– topics, ideas and patterns of meaning that come up repeatedly.
●Constant-comparison
○the data-analytic process whereby each interpretation and finding is
compared with existing findings as it emerges from the data analysis.
Managing Biases
●Bracketing
○a strategy used by qualitative researchers to set aside personal
interpretations to avoid bias
●Mixed Method (multi-method)
○Use of qualitative and quantitative methods
●Triangulation (data collection, data analysis, researcher): adds validity to data.
○the use of multiple methods to study one research question
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○Benefits of using triangulation
■Combining qualitative and quantitative methods to
●Increase confidence in study data
●Expand the understanding of a phenomenon
●Reveal unique data
●Integrate theories
Rigor
●Credibility
○Truth value
○Verification by participants
○Data are taken back to the subjects to ensure accuracy
●Transferability
○Whether the findings apply to other populations
○Fully describe the sample, setting, and data The more information
provided, the more the reader has to understand and compare to other
settings.
○Whether findings from one qualitative study can be transferred to a
similar context to establish trustworthiness
●Dependability
○Also called Auditability
○“If other researchers can follow the investigators decisions throughout
the study and come to similar conclusions the study is auditable”
○Audit trail gives evidence of rigor
○The quality of being trustworthy and reliable regarding a study; if
someone else did exactly what you did, they would get the same result
●Confirmability
○Freedom from bias/neutrality
○Analyst triangulation (review findings with informants/study
participants/review by experts)
●Authenticity
○end product of the aforementioned points of rigor
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●Trustworthiness
○an expression used in the appraisal of qualitative data; it is measured
based on the decisive factors of credibility, transferability, dependability,
and confirmability
Dissemination
●“From bench to bedside”
○Translational research
Qualitative Article Critique
●Purpose/Question
○Explore women’s experiences of managing weight in pregnancy
○Perception of women, midwives, obstetricians to support obese
pregrant women in managing their wight
○Perspective on use of mobile technology
●Sample
○Purposive: 6 women (pregnant women with a BMI of over 30, white
18-24 with 1-4 pregnancies), 7 midwives in 2 separate focus groups --
very homogenous sample
■To enhance the validity of only having 6, mention data saturation
or to have multiple focus groups
○Separate interviews to reduce potential for confrontation between
people with different perspectives
●Data Collection
○Synergistic (can bounce off of each other) semi-structured (questions)
focus groups
○In a comfortable environment
●Data Analysis
○Transcribed and anonymised transcripts were uploaded →NVIVO
○Inductive process of thematic analysis
○Conducted by 2 separate researchers
■Merged then verified by a 3rd party
●Overarching Themes
○Explanation for obesity and weight management
○Best care for pregnant women
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●Strengths
○Observed in comfortable environment
○Used NVIVO for more accurate data analysis
○Peer-reviewed (2 researchers, verified by 3rd party)
○Synergistic effect from discussion in focus group
●Limitations
○Women only from Doncaster, UK
○Very similar demographics → homogenous
○Nonrandom sampling
○Hard to generalize findings
●General Outcomes/Recommendations
○Explanations for obesity and weight management
■Lack of knowledge about wt, diet, and exercise during pregnancy
■Self-talk messages excused overeating
■Hard to maintain motivation for a healthy lifestyle
■Importance of social support
■Stigmatization
■sensitivity surrounding communication about obesity b/t
midwives and their clients
○Best care for pregnant women
■Weight management regular care which was consistent,
continuous, supportive, and non-judgemental which created
opportunities for interaction and mutual support between obese
pregnant women
■Education and advice
