1. Qualitative Research Approaches
1) Surveys/questionnaires/forms
1) Focus groups
1) Interviews
1) Content Analysis

5. Sampling strategy
• Does your sample represent a subgroup of a
larger population?
1) Random sampling
2) Systematic random sampling
3) Stratified random sampling
4) Convenience sampling
5) Snowball sampling

6. IRBs
• The purpose is to be advised of both the potential risks
from participation and the possible benefits.
Risk/benefit ratio.
• IRBs often decide if someone can or can not participate
in a study.
• Information pertained or reported can not identify the
subject
• The study does not put subject at risk of criminal or
civil liability, damage employability, reputation, or
financial standing
• Need consent  active or passive, informed or
implied.

7. Data Storage, Retrieval and Analysis
1) DATA REDUCTION– data needs to be reduced
and transformed in order to make them more
readily accessible, understandable and to draw
out various themes and patterns. Focuses and
simplifies raw data into more manageable form.
• Written summaries
• Computer-based textual analysis
• Coding
• Identification of themes

8. Data Storage, Retrieval and Analysis
2) Data Display – represent data in an organized,
compressed assembly of information
• Tables of data
• Tally sheets of themes
• Proportions of statements,
phrases, or terms

9. Data Storage, Retrieval and Analysis
3) Conclusions and Verification – throughout the
research process, the investigator makes informed
evaluations either based on existing literature or on
data that is collected. Experienced researchers do
not have preconceived notions.
• Verification on conclusions can be made by
retracing steps to this conclusion OR/AND
• Enlisting an outside investigator to analyze the
data.

10. Recruiting
• Inadequate recruiting is often single most
common source of problems
• Telephone screening
• Social media
• Flyers
• Targeted audience
• Incentives

11. Focus Group
• An interview style designed for small groups
• Researchers goal is to learn through open
discussion.
• They are either guided or unguided
discussions addressing a particular topic of
interest or relevance to the group

12. Pros & Cons
• Highly flexible
• Permits observation of
interactions
• Allows researchers to access
substantive content of
views, opinions, &
experiences
• Can produce speedy results
• Low cost
• Places participants on even
footing with each other and
moderator
• Doesn’t allow the depth of a
face to face.
• Not as much rich
observational data as
observing groups over
weeks or days
• More difficult to obtain a
detailed pursuit of content

14. Thoughts on Focus groups
• Will participants bias each other?
• May invoke more of a discussion
than one-on-one interview.
• But participants voice may not be
heard.
• Can get a larger amount of data
than one-on-one.
• Will the PI moderate or a pillar in
the community?
• Who will participate?
• How structured? – what level of
moderation?
• Size of the group, number of
groups?
• Set a time limit.

15. Rules of thumb
• Homogenous strangers as participants
• Rely on relatively structured interview with
high moderator involvement
• 6-10 participants per group
• Total of 3 -5 groups per project
*Reality, rarely are all 4 criteria met*

16. Level of structure
• Less structured focus groups, often good for
exploratory research.
• Difficult to compare from group to group.

17. Effective focus group have:
• Range – cover the maximum range of relevant
topics
• Specificity – provide specific data
• Depth – fosters interactions that explore the
participants’ feelings in some depth.
• Personal context – take into account personal
context in regard to participants response.

18. Getting started
• Ice-breaker.
• Want to have participant give a meaningful
response to the first question. Therefore, it
should be easy.
• Want it to be a question that discourages
“groupthink”
• A good strategy is to have participants take a
few minutes and write down some ideas and
thoughts before they answer.

19. The site
• Participants need to feel comfortable but research
needs to be able to record session.
• Most basic element needed is a table.
• Consider how you will record session and how this can
be done with the seating arrangement.
• Do you want an assistant?
• Added questionnaires can focus the group ahead of
time and provide extra info, but might not work for late
comers.
• Questionnaires after the session may be biased by the
session.