Fundamentals of Qualitative Research Methods

Introduction

• Speaker: Leslie Currie
  • Senior Research Scientist at Yale School of Public Health
  • Co-Director at Robert Wood Johnson Clinical Scholars Program
  • Lecturer at Yale College

Course Overview

• Goal: Enhance capacity to conceptualize, design, and conduct qualitative research in Health Sciences.
• Modules:
  1. What is qualitative research?
  2. Developing a qualitative research question
  3. In-depth interviews
  4. Focus groups
  5. Qualitative data analysis
  6. Scientific rigor in qualitative research

What is Qualitative Research?

• Fundamental Premise: Not everything that can be counted counts; not everything that counts can be counted.
• Example Phenomenon: Preferences for services at the end of life.

Qualitative vs. Quantitative Research

• Quantitative Question Example: What proportion of people with epilepsy stop taking medications?
• Qualitative Question Example: How does medication shape the lives of people with epilepsy?

Definition of Qualitative Research

• Strategic Nature: Thoughtful and deliberate with attention to context.
• Systematic Approach: Based on established methodologies for collecting and analyzing qualitative data.
• Inductive Approach: Generates insights into phenomena that are difficult to measure quantitatively.

Goals of Qualitative Methods

• Comprehensive Descriptions of processes, mechanisms, or settings.
• Characterize Participant Perspectives and experiences in depth.

Interaction of Qualitative and Quantitative Methods

• Methods exist along a continuum: both have respective strengths and limitations.
• Mixed Methods: Combining qualitative and quantitative to minimize limitations.

Characteristics of Qualitative Research

• Inductive Nature: No a priori hypotheses; depth of understanding.
• Natural Settings: Conducted outside labs; reflects real-world contexts.
• Purposeful Sampling: Selecting individuals with specific characteristics relevant to the study.
• Data Collection: Through open-ended interviews and observations.
• Iterative Analysis: Interpreting data continuously throughout the research process.

Products of Qualitative Research

1. Recurrent Themes or Hypotheses
2. Survey Instruments
3. Taxonomy (Classification Systems)
4. Conceptual Models or Theories

• Most common product: Recurrent themes capturing patterns of behavior or insights into perspectives.

Example Study

• Study by Lisa Diamond: Use of interpreters by resident physicians for patients with limited English proficiency.
• Key Theme: Physicians underuse professional interpreters, often resorting to “getting by.”

Quote from a Resident:

• "...when people are very pushed for time, they may or may not call an interpreter... probably get a pretty bad history..."

Conclusion

• Qualitative methods provide unique contributions to health services and clinical research.
• Rigorous procedures for study design, sampling, data collection, and analysis are critical.
• Future modules will explore methodologies, interviews, focus groups, and data analysis in detail.

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