Page 1
Qualitative & Mixed-Methods
ResearchSohail Bajammal, MBChB, MSc, FRCS(C), PhD(c)
Assistant Professor of Orthopaedics, Faculty of MedicineVice Dean, Academic Development, Faculty of Dentistry
Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah, Saudi [email protected]
Page 2
Quantitative Qualitative
Mixed-Methods
Numbers WordsActions
Reactions
Page 3
Not everything that can be counted counts,
and not everything that counts
can be counted.
Albert Einstein
Page 4
EBM
Clinical Context
Research Evidence
Patients’ Preferences
Clinical Expertise
Haynes et al. BMJ 2002;324:1350
Page 5
Everyday• New Patient–QUALITATIVE quantitative
• Follow-up Patient–QUANTITATIVE qualitative
Page 6
Questions• How do trauma patients with
quadriplegia in the Western region – Saudi Arabia rehabilitate?
• What are the important aspects of quality of life for Saudi patients?
• What are the barriers to conduct RCTs in Saudi Arabia?
Page 7
Learning Outcomes
By the end of the lecture, you will be able to:
• Identify:– What is qualitative research? characteristics?– When to use it?
• Identify:– What is mixed-methods research? types?– When to use it?
Page 8
Qualitative Research
Page 9
Types of Research Questions• Quantitative: (cause, determine, relate, influence)– Does A cause/correlate with B?– Which is better A or B in terms of diagnosis,
treatment, or prognosis?
• Qualitative: (discover, understand, explore, describe)– What?– How?– Why?
Page 10
Quantitative Qualitative
Research Methods
Closed-ended questionsPre-defined approachesNumeric data
Open-ended questionsEmerging approachesText or image data
Features
• Test theories• Variables to study• Use standards of
reliability & validity• Unbiased approaches• Statistical procedures
• Generate theories• Collect participants meanings• Study the context• Bring personal values• Validate accuracy of data• Create an agenda for reform
Creswell J. Research Design. 2009
Page 11
Characteristics of Qualitative
• Natural settings• Researcher as key instrument• Multiple sources of data: interviews, observations,
documents• Inductive data analysis• Participants’ meanings• Emergent design• Theoretical lens: sampling, saturation, integrating• Interpretive• Holistic account
Creswell J. Research Design. 2009
Page 12
When to use qualitative?
1. Investigate complex phenomena that are difficult to measure quantitatively
2. Generate data necessary for a comprehensive understanding of a problem
3. Gain insights into potential causal mechanisms
4. Develop quantitative measurement instruments
5. Study special populations (those traditionally underrepresented in research, low literacy)
Curry et al, Circulation 2009
Page 13
Investigate complex phenomena that are difficult to measure quantitatively
Page 15
Generate data necessary for a comprehensive understanding of a problem
Page 18
Common Strategies (Approaches) of Qualitative Research
• Ethnography• Phenomenology• Narrative research• Case studies• Grounded theory
Culture-sharing behavior of groups
Individuals
Explore processes, activities, events
Page 19
Data Collection Methods• Observation field notes
• Interviews transcripts–One-on-one: in-depth, open-ended– Focus group
• Documents content analysis
• Audio-visual materials analysis
Page 20
Qualitative Data Analysis
Data Collection
Data Analysis
Page 21
Qualitative Data AnalysisRaw Data (transcripts, field notes, images)
Organizing data for analysis
Reading through all data
Coding the data Themes
Integrating themes, diagramming Interpreting
Page 23
Computer-Aided Qualitative Analysis
• ATLAS.ti• NVivo• MAXqda
Page 26
www.researchsupport.com.au
Page 27
“Validity” Strategies
• Rationale for choosing an approach• Triangulation of methods• Interviewers training• Member checking• Rich, thick description• Reflectivity• Peer debriefing Cross-coding• Documentation External auditor
Page 29
What is mixed-methods research?
Combining qualitative & quantitative research
1960s
Page 30
Aspects in Mixed-Methods
• Timing: sequentially or concurrently
• Emphasis: qualitative, quantitative, or both
• Mixing: integrating, connecting, or embedding
Page 31
1. Sequential Explanatory
QUAN qual
Creswell J. Research Design. 2009
Page 32
2. Sequential Exploratory
QUAL quan
Creswell J. Research Design. 2009
Page 33
3. Concurrent Triangulation
QUANData Collection
QUANData Analysis
QUALData Collection
QUALData Analysis
Data Results Compared
QUALQUAN
Creswell J. Research Design. 2009
Page 34
4. Concurrent Embedded
QUAN
qual
Creswell J. Research Design. 2009
Page 35
Lewin et al, BMJ 2009
Page 40
Books• Research Design: Qualitative, Quantitative,
and Mixed Methods Approaches. John Creswell. 3rd Edition. 2009. SAGE Publications.
Page 44
People• Look around in your university:–Nursing–Medical Educationalist–Psychology–Sociology–Medical Geography
Page 45
Questions• How do Saudi patients with quadriplegia
in the Western region rehabilitate?
• What are the important aspects of quality of life for Saudi patients?
• What are the barriers to conduct RCTs in Saudi Arabia?
Page 46
Summary• Patients talk, act & react not numbers
• Qualitative is helpful when nothing or little is known about a condition or environment
• GOOD qualitative research needs lots of work
• Be pragmatic
[email protected]