Category: Qualitative data

Category: Qualitative data analysis. These pages discuss some of the conceptual and logistical issues associated with the analysis of interviews, focus group data, and other sources of non-quantitative data. Articles are arranged by date with the most recent entries at the top. You can find the theme and closely related categories and other resources at the bottom of this page.

Stats: Reviewing a paper on qualitative data analysis (March 11, 2007). I was asked by BMJ to review a paper that involved a qualitative data analysis. These reviews are confidential, so I don't want to describe the paper in any detail. It is worthwhile, however, to note some of the standards that others have suggested for assessing the quality of a qualitative data analysis. This is important for a peer-reviewer like myself. I need to be able to assess whether the authors have produced a result that is sufficiently rigorous to merit publication.

Stats: Using focus groups to bridge the gap between research and practice (December 14, 2006). The Injury Prevention journal published a nice article on how to use focus groups to bridge the research-practice gap, ip.bmj.com/cgi/content/full/12/6/373, along with an associated commentary, ip.bmj.com/cgi/content/full/12/6/357. This is a very nice article with the full free text available on the web. It has an excellent bibliography and many of the references also have full free text on the web. The authors followed a series of steps that they argue can be readily generalized to other safety issues.

Stats: Planning a qualitative research study (July 6, 2004). Someone asked me for some specific advice on how to design a qualitative study. I love qualitative research. I think people should be using this mode of research more often. But I have to admit that I have little first hand experience in this area. I can make some general comments but no specific recommendations.

Stats: Focus groups and qualitative research (April 13, 2004). A student is giving a talk on focus groups and asked me a few questions about my attitude towards them. I think focus groups are great. They give you a richer picture of the data and can often supplement quantitative studies.

Theme and closely related categories:

Other resources:

Overviews

Anthropology in health research: from qualitative methods to multidisciplinarity. Lambert H, McKevitt C. BMJ 2002: 325(7357); 210-213. [Medline] [Full text] [PDF]
Ethnography and health care. Savage J. Bmj 2000: 321(7273); 1400-2. [Medline] [Full text] [PDF]
Talking with Strangers: a Researcher's Tale. Simonds W. The Chronicle of Higher Education 2001; B14-B15.

Illustrative examples.

Design

User-Friendly Handbook for Mixed Method Evaluations. Frechtling J, Sharp L. Accessed on 2004-04-13. www.ehr.nsf.gov/EHR/REC/pubs/NSF97-153/START.HTM
Focus Groups Second Edition: A Practical Guide for Applied Research. Krueger RA (1994) Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.
Analyzing & Reporting Focus Group Results. Krueger RA (1998) Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications, Inc.
Some Forms of Qualitative Research: Their Advantages and Disadvantages for CAM Research. Parliament HoLUK. Accessed on 2004-04-13. www.parliament.the-stationery-office.co.uk/pa/ld199900/ldselect/ldsctech/123/12315.htm#a70
Research Perspective on Focus Groups. Resources TRoPE. Accessed on 2004-04-13. www.unt.edu/cpe/module4/blk2focus1.htm
Qualitative Inquiry: A Dictionary of Terms. Schwandt TA (1997) Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.
A Software Sourcebook Computer Programs for Qualitative Data Analysis. Weitzman EA, Miles MB (1995) Thousand Oaks: SAGE Publications.

Critical review

Qualitative research in systematic reviews has established a place for itself. Dixon-Woods M, Fitzpatrick R. British Medical Journal 2001: 323(7316); 765-6. [Medline] [Full text] [PDF]
Qualitative research and evidence based medicine. Green J, Britten N. British Medical Journal 1998: 316(7139); 1230-2. [Medline] [Full text] [PDF]
Qualitative research in health care: Assessing quality in qualitative research. Mays N, Pope C. British Medical Journal 2000: 320(7226); 50-52. [Medline] [Full text] [PDF]
Qualitative research in health care: Using qualitative methods in health related action research. Meyer J. British Medical Journal 2000: 320(7228); 178-181. [Medline] [Full text] [PDF]
Qualitative research in health care: Analysing qualitative data. Pope C, Ziebland S, Mays N. British Medical Journal 2000: 320(7227); 114-116. [Medline] [Full text] [PDF]

Miscellaneous

Research Perspective on Focus Groups. Texas Registry of Parent Educator Resources. Accessed on 2002-10-23. No description available. www.unt.edu/cpe/module4/blk2focus1.htm

[Return to full topic list] [Read current weblog entries]

This webpage was written by Steve Simon on 2007-06-20, edited by Steve Simon, and was last modified on 2008-07-08. Send feedback to ssimon at cmh dot edu or click on the email link at the top of the page.