17

Question 1

Quantitative research

Answer 1

measurement and statistical treatments

- some argue misses “essence” of human health/illness

Question 2

Qualitative/interpretive research

Answer 2

seeks to understand thoughts, feelings and experiences of individuals

Question 3

WHAT IS QUALITATIVE FIELD RESEARCH

Answer 3

Qualitative data = detailed descriptions, based on language or pictures
“Field” indicates research is in natural environment of the phenomenon, not controlled lab setting
-may not actually be in field, but about the field
– eg. conduct interviews about peoples’ perspectives
Guided by methodological principles for defining problem, collecting/analyzing evidence, forming theories

Question 4

Some questions for field research:

Answer 4

What is it like to have an eating disorder; in what ways does it disrupt the person’s life from their point of view?
How do caregivers interact with terminally ill patients? How do health professionals experience the death of a patient?
What is the context of food habits in a different culture (eg. use of dog meat in certain Asian cultures)?

Question 5

DATA COLLECTION AND INTERPRETATION

Answer 5

aim = position researcher close to participants to gain access to and describe personal experiences
Perception of subject matter
in natural setting, no attempt to control for extraneous variables
no operational definitions for dependent or independent variables
phenomenon perceived and described as a whole
strong preconceptions or fixed hypotheses not advantageous – put aside
do have general aims and theoretical notions, but tentative and open to modification as collect data

focuses on in-depth understanding of individuals, not characteristics of populations for specific variables
differ from n=1 design in not addressing specific variables but studying individual holistically
ie. “ideographic” (describing specific individual) rather than “nomothetic” (describing phenomena, laws)

Question 6

Positioning the researcher

Answer 6

rather than detached/objective observer, is more part of phenomenon being investigated
to fully understand personal significance need to become involved with lives of subjects
need to develop empathy
not bound by limitations/intrusiveness of measuring instrument,
allows observation of subtle cues or changes within natural setting

Question 7

Data base

Answer 7

qualitative research data = “thick”/thorough description of what people said, actions/activities, and non-verbal behaviors/interactions
“The reality of the place should be conveyed through representation of its mundane aspects in a straight forward manner.” Lofland 1971
important to keep thorough, up-to-date field notes
record as close as possible to time of phenomena
contain direct quotations from participants
can use audio and video recordings if not intrusive or inappropriate
improves accuracy and allows review
reports of events need to be truthful/unbiased
ie. researcher can’t allow biases to distort/censor observations, or misrepresent truth to put subject in good or bad light
close personal interaction with subjects may predispose to report favorably
“going native” (from anthropology) - when researcher completely adopts views of subjects being studied

data base = narrative/story on what happened, what did, what said in specific situations
detailed enough to reveal personal meanings (ie. significance) that events had for the subject

Question 8

Theories

from quantitative vs qualitative

Answer 8

from quantitative evidence integrate patterns/interrelationships among variables
produce models eg. of anatomical or physiological processes
from qualitative research integrate how personal meanings emerge in specific social settings
Some - personal meanings viewed as unique and idiosyncratic
theory is the accurate presentation of a particular person’s perspective
Others - identify common themes or categories of meanings emerging from the data/narratives

Question 9

“critical theory”

Answer 9

how personal meanings and actions emerge and are influenced by person’s social and cultural background
identify extent to which person’s self- perception and freedom for action are influenced/limited by society

Question 10

Theory testing

quantitative vs qualitative

Answer 10

from quantitative evidence produce testable predictions/hypotheses
supported or falsified by empirical evidence collected in controlled conditions
to verify qualitative interpretations, simplest is to ask subjects themselves if researcher’s interpretations make sense to them
extent of consensus between researchers and subjects is important indicator of truth of theory

Question 11

Applications in health care delivery

Answer 11

quantitative research provides evidence and theories to predict, control or treat health variables
qualitative research provides evidence and theories to better understand our clients as human beings
how illnesses, disability and health care delivery affects peoples lives

Question 12

QUALITATIVE RESEARCH IN HEALTH CARE AND DIETETICS

Answer 12

with differences in cultural backgrounds becomes problematic to fully understand personal meanings/perspectives
eg. anthropologist – may need to immerse in a culture for some time before can interpret actions and traditions of participants
in health care, are many instances where interpretation of personal meanings needed to ensure effective practice

Question 13

Eg. 1. Understanding cultural differences between health researchers and clients

Answer 13

Canada multicultural society

qualitative field research helps clarify personal meanings to improve communications and treatment outcomes

Question 14

Eg. 2. Evaluating the effects of health care environments

Answer 14

persons in long-term care may come to view themselves and their life situations from an institutionalized perspective
critical theories from qualitative research provide understanding of influences of health care environments

Question 15

Eg. 3. Cross-cultural comparisons of food habits
Eg. 4. Sensory evaluation of new food products
Eg. 5. Food and nutrition marketing (whats a good way to convey the healthyness of a food)
Eg. 6. Development and evaluation of nutrition education materials (going into school and understand how kids receive information- which was most effective)

Answer 15

d

Question 16

METHODS OF COLLECTING QUALITATIVE DATA

Answer 16

Observation – field notes, video, photos
Interviews – person-to-person, telephone
Written surveys - open-ended questions
Researcher is primary research instrument
-uses senses, thought, feelings

Data analyzed inductively
(unlike quantitative which analyzes hypotheses deductively)
builds concepts, explains processes, develops hypotheses

Question 17

INTEGRATION OF QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE METHODOLOGIES

Answer 17

can combine powerfully

eg. survey of how people view primary health services
1. group interviews – 4 groups of 5 participants (wide range of backgrounds)
- facilitator for each group transcribes discussions to 9 questions with regard to knowledge, opinions, satisfaction with health services
2. transcripts analyzed and responses categorized into 39 categories/themes
3. resulting themes form basis for questions on questionnaire given to 500 people
- results produce no new factors that affected satisfaction/dissatisfaction
- therefore procedure to develop questionnaire effectively captured how view primary health care

Question 18

VALIDITY OF QUALITATIVE FIELD RESEARCH

Answer 18

main problem – observer bias may cloud or distort data
(observer effects such as Rosenthal effect and Hawthorne effect best controlled for by structured data collection methods)
also specific culture dependence of findings
ie. Whats true in one setting may not be in another

Question 19

Strategies to help ensure validity and reliability:

Answer 19

1. ask subjects if observations about them are credible
2. prolong engagement - lessens distortions caused by researcher’s presence
3. triangulations - cross-checks of observations and interpretations
   - cross validation among researchers, data sources
   - cross-checking across different methods (observations, interviews, physical evidence)