Useful for students in health science research particulary those from nursing ,medical sociology ,and public health

1. GENERATING QUALITATIVE
DATA
Dr. ASHA S KUMAR
ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR
GOVT COLLEGE OF NURSING ALAPPUZHA

2. Its concerned with '...developing explanations of social phenomena...’
The world in which we live
Why things are the way they are
Concerned with social aspects of our world
Seeks to answer questions like
 Why people behave the way they do
 How opinions and attitudes are formed
 How people are affected by the events that go on around them
 How and why cultures have developed in the way they have
 The differences between social groups
What is Qualitative research

3. Qualitative questions
◦How
◦Why
◦What

4. Data
Collection
It is defined as the “process of gathering and
measuring information on variables of
interest, in an established systematic fashion
that enables one to answer queries for stated
research questions, test hypotheses, and
evaluate outcomes.”
are time consuming, so a smaller sample is
opted compared to quantitative approaches -
therefore more expensive.
The benefits of the qualitative approach is
that the information is richer and has a
deeper insight into the phenomenon under
study

5. Data collection approaches
Data collection approaches for qualitative research usually involves:
Direct interaction with individuals on
 a one to one basis
in a group setting

6. Strategies for generating data
The main strategies for generating qualitative research data are:
◦ Individual in-depth interviews
◦ Focus group discussions
◦ Participant Observations
◦ Written Narratives
◦ Chat rooms
◦ Field Notes

7. Indepth interviews
direct, one-on-one engagement with
individual participants.
 small number of respondents
 to explore their perspectives on a particular
idea, program, or situation
 fairly informal and participants feel they
are taking part in a conversation or
discussion rather than in a formal question
and answer situation.

8. Key aspects
Self reflexivity stance of the interviewer
Building rapport
 ensure confidentiality
Specific population concerns
Mutual trust and respect

9. Access to participants- specific strategies for large scale studies
Stakeholder Analysis
Identification of gatekeepers
Snowballing
Advertising
Dispersing questionnaires in public areas
Street interviews
‘Being there’

10. Interviews
Requires skill to get involved
careful consideration and planning
Interviews can be
 Unstructured
 Semi structured
 Structured

11. Interviews
'depth' or 'in depth' interviews
 mostly semi structured
 questions and probes for greater detail
find out more about a specific topic using interview
guides
Open ended questions gives scope for discussing
more on topic
Use prompts to get great details

14. Components of interview guide
Introduction Key Components:
• Thank you , Your name , Purpose ,Confidentiality ,Duration
• How interview will be conducted , Opportunity for questions
• Signature of consent
Questions
• Not more than 15 open-ended questions • Ask factual before opinion
• Use probes as needed
Closing Key Components:
• Additional comments • Next steps • Thank you

15. It is not only important
what questions you ask
and how you ask them—
you must also consider
the order in which you
ask specific questions, as
this can make a difference
in how they’re answered

16. Advantages and limitations
Advantages
 detailed information
 Rich in content
 Relaxed atmosphere
 comfortable to answer
Limitations
 Prone to bias
 Can be time-intensive
 trained in interviewing technique
 Not generalizable results

17. How are In-Depth Interviews Presented?
Introduction and Justification
How was the process carried out?
(Describe the process of selecting the interviewees and conducting the interviews.)
Results What are the key findings?
Providing quotes from respondents throughout the report adds credibility to the
information.

18. Example
Study title : The Patient’s Experience of the Psychosocial Process That Influences
Identity following Stroke Rehabilitation
Theme : Evolution of identity
Sub Theme : Reintegrating Identity with their Life
Verbatim/quote :
My goal is to live a normal life, just as it used to be. My children should not need to
think that it is an awkward old man that they are walking together with. I do not
want to deviate more than before. It’s important for oneself too”
( Stroke survivor ,72 year old )

19. Stating Quotes and recommendations

20. Focus group discussion
The focus groups are used to obtain information from a group rather than
individuals.
Group interviews can be used when:
Limited resources (time, manpower, finances)
a collective discussion to understand the circumstances, behavior/opinions
Greater insights of the group dynamics - cause and consequence
Triangulation of the data obtained in interviews.
The aim of the focus group is to make use of participants' feelings, perceptions
and opinions

21. Conducting FGD

22. Characteristics of a focus group
Recommended size of the sample group is 6 - 10 people
Several focus groups to get a more objective and macro view
add to the breadth and depth of information.
 A minimum of three focus groups is recommended for best practice approaches
group should have something in common which is important to the investigation
be mindful of the group dynamics

23. FGD
This method requires the researcher to use a range of skills:
 group skills
 facilitating
 moderating
 listening/observing
analysis

24. Focus group interviews
 FGD guide
 6 to 12 participants with common experience
 audiotape or videotape
 note taking
 transcribing data for content analysis

25. SOCIOGRAM FOCUS GROUP DISCUSSION – 3
SOCIOGRAM
Facilitator: Group: Date:

26. Observation
Observation may take place in natural settings
 involve the researcher taking lengthy and descriptive notes of happenings.
a participant observer, is taking part in the situation
obtain more reliable information about certain things - how people actually
behave (may not find out the reasons for why they behave in a particular way).
Observation can also serve as a technique for verifying of nullifying information
provided in face to face encounters.'
People or environment can be observed.

27. Types
 Complete observer
 Observer as a participant
 Participant as observer
 Complete participant
 Structured or unstructured

30. Techniques for collecting data
1. Written descriptions of the people, situations or environment
◦ Limitations include
◦ miss out on an observation as they are taking notes
◦ can get focused on a particular event or situation
◦ chance for subjective interpretation of what is happening
2. Video recording
◦ Allows the researcher to also record notes
◦ Limitations may include people acting unnaturally towards the camera or others
avoiding the camera
◦ The camera may not always see everything

31. 3.Photographs and artefacts
◦ Useful to collect observable information or phenomena
◦ Eg:buildings, neighbourhoods, dress and appearance
◦ Artefacts include objects of significance - memorabilia, instruments, tools etc
4.Documentation
- any type of information on a local paper, a notice board, administrative policies and
procedures...previous research etc
Techniques for collecting data, contd…

32. Strengths and limitations
Limitations of observation:
Change in people's behaviour when they
know they are observed
 gives only a 'snap shot' view of a whole
situation
may miss something while they are
watching and taking notes
May misunderstand what has been
observed
Strengths of observation
 offer a flavour for what is happening
 give an insight into the bigger picture
 demonstrate sub-groups
used to modify the rest of the research

33. Written Narratives
 to narrate “ to tell a story in detail”
 researchers describe the lives of individuals,
collects stories about people’s lives,
 write narratives of individual experiences .
( Connelly & Clandinin, 1990 )
• desired information taken in the form of written responses from the participants
• Old data collection strategy
• Eliminates transcription requirements/ audiotaping
• Can be used in place of interview or as an additional strategy

34. Chat Rooms
 Interviewing Online: qualitative research in the
network(ed) society
 Collect data online
 chat rooms on web allow interested parties to
log on and communicate synchronously
narrative data has to be copied and stored in
different folder
not fully developed or completely explored

36. Field notes
 Notations ethnographers generally make to document observations
 Need to record what they have heard, seen, thought or experienced
 Eliminates cost and time
 Include descriptions and interpretations of individuals on certain
events.
 Record time and location of observations
 Should include Key informations

37. Example of field notes
Field note No..1 July 2 2019,
place and weather conditions too if needed be mentioned
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
Ethnographer ‘s comments ……………………………….
Participant comment…………..………………………………….

38. Ethics and Data Protection
 written consent or assent prior to data collection.
 Under the age of 18, both written assent from the participant and
written consent from the participant’s parent.
 Participants were informed of their rights to terminate the interview
at any time and to skip questions or topics they were uncomfortable
discussing.
 Names and other identifiers collected during the interview were
redacted during the transcription process and the original audiofiles
destroyed.
 Ethical approval for study

39. Data collection in Ethnography
means 'portrait of a people’, and culture.
entails extensive fieldwork,time consuming
Data collection includes:
formal and informal interviews
often interviewing an individual on several occasions
participative observations

40. Phenomenological research
Study of self awareness ,experiences of
people
Data collection methods are
Indepth interviews
Written or oral self reports
Aesthetic expressions like poetry, art or
narratives

41. Grounded theory research
 generating theory
 broadening concepts
Data collection methods include
in depth interviews,
participant observation
Documents, audio, video and artefacts

42. Narrative research
Mostly used to tell the lives of people ,tell stories , write
narratives of individual experiences
Data collected through
Participant or non participant observation
Story telling
Letter writing
collecting information through Documents, photos, books
images ,photos etc

43. Case study research
Indepth study of a single case or collective cases
Data collection by
Indepth interviews
Focus groups
Participant and non participant observations
Documents ,audio,images, books ,video