Notes from the 3rd
Gathering of the Qualitative Interest Group
4/21/05, HSSB Room 168
Theme: Tips for Reviewing and Writing Qualitative Research
The 3rd gathering of the
Qualitative Interest Group was the best attended and had the
broadest representation of disciplines and programs thus
far. Thanks to everyone for taking the time to be there and
making the meeting such a success. Thanks especially to Dr.
Eileen Thomas for pulling together the resources for
discussion and to Dr. Sookie Escandon for sharing her funded
intramural proposal as an example of writing qualitative
proposals.
The discussion included
several explorations stemming from two resources that were
emailed to the group prior to the meeting:
-
Belgrave, L.L.,
Zablotsky, D., Guadagno, M.A. (2002). How do we talk to
each other? Writing qualitative research for
quantitative readers. Qualitative Health Research,
12(10), 1427-1439.
-
Escandon, S. (2004).
Temporal Aspects of Mexican American and Spanish
American Intergenerational Caregivers. Intramural
funding proposal.
Prompted by Dr. Thomas’
initial question, “How do researchers describe their data
analysis process in proposals and manuscripts?”, several
questions were raised, challenges of communicating and
conducting qualitative research were discussed, important
resources were recommended, helpful tips offered, and ideas
for future meetings floated. Some of those included:
Questions raised
-
How can we represent
codes and coding in a way that is understandable to
others?
-
How can we explain the
interpretation process when much of it mimics the
creative process? What language can we use to accurately
portray how data fall together in particular and
sometimes surprising ways?
-
Are there “model”
manuscripts available that exemplify how to represent
the data analysis process?
Challenges touched on
-
The challenge that
qualitative research is an interpretive process and that
anyone could look at the data and interpret it
differently. We touched on how the interpretive nature
of the work is a strength not a weakness. We are
continuously challenged in how to portray this to
researchers working within other paradigms.
-
The challenge of so many
traditions within qualitative research. We touched on
the problem of language and how easy it is to pull
language from different qualitative traditions and, as a
result, compromise coherence and rigor in the design of
the study.
-
The challenge of
language within the tradition itself, e.g. “code,”
“saturation of data,” “emergent themes,” etc. We touched
on the challenge of defining our terms more carefully,
not only for a quantitative audience but for each other.
The need to be more specific about the processes
followed when we are “coding.” Dr. Quintero offered a
definition he finds helpful “coding is a way
-
The challenge of
language. We touched on the challenge of interpreting
qualitative research for quantitative readers. One
suggestion was to draw the parallels (that can be drawn)
between a given qualitative process and a corresponding
process in quantitative models.
Resources Shared
-
Dr. Cindy Mendelson
recommended 2 resources that can help give language to
the interpretive, creative process.
-
Dr. Gilbert Quintero
suggested two resources on the “how to’s”: Becker’s
Tricks of the Trade and Patton’s Qualitative Research
and Evaluation Methods.
-
Miles and Huberman’s
text was recommended as a resource on the use of
matrices and data display ideas (although it is
important to use these within compatible qualitative
traditions).
Tips offered
Dr. Quintero suggested using
a grid to represent the research plan. Columns on the grid
include “Research Aims,” “Research Questions,” “Data
Sources,” “Analysis Plan.”
Dr. Thomas suggested using a
grid to represent the connection between a code, the
corresponding text, the researcher’s interpretation, and the
theoretical framework informing the interpretation.
Ideas for future meetings
floated
Again, our thanks to all who
joined us! We will notify everyone of possible summer Brown
Bag sessions, & we will try to adhere to the Thursday 12PM -
1PM time frame.
- Barb Hooper
