Qualitative Methods in Public Health: A Field Guide for Applied Research

THE NEW EDITION OF THE REAL–WORLD GUIDE TO CONDUCTING RIGOROUS QUALITATIVE RESEARCH

The revised and updated second edition of Qualitative Methods in Public Health: A Field Guide for Applied Research offers faculty, practitioners, and students a comprehensive handbook to conducting effective qualitative research in the public health arena.

The text contains thorough reviews and accessible explanations of the rationale and workflow of the qualitative approaches presented. Step–by–step, the authors give clear–cut instructions on every phase of the research process including: focusing on a theory, study design, data collection, analysis, interpretation, writing, and dissemination.

New to the second edition is a wealth of examples and applications from global health experts, cases specifically illustrating study design, web and mobile technologies, ideas for the mixing of methods, and recent innovations in dissemination. In addition, each chapter offers pedagogical tools to enrich teaching and learning.

Qualitative Methods in Public Health, Second Edition presents:

Guidelines for creating powerful qualitative studies and collecting the appropriate data Examples that show how to accurately transform data into words Lessons for merging qualitative and quantitative data that tell the whole story Ideas for mastering the logistics of consent, interviews, focus groups, and more

Filled with practical strategies and approaches for employing qualitative research, the second edition of Qualitative Methods in Public Health is a must–have resource.

List of of Figures, Tables, and Boxes

List of Case Studies

Preface or Foreword

Acknowledgements

About the Authors

Chapter One

Invitation to Explore

Our Purpose

What Is Qualitative Research?

Getting Started

Chapter Two

The Language and Logic of Qualitative Research

Frameworks for Research: Paradigms, Theories and Conceptual Models

Using Qualitative Methods to Develop Theory

Substantive Theories and Conceptual Models

Standards for Qualitative Research

Chapter Three

Designing the Study

Background and Rationale

Developing Study Objectives

Using Documentary Sources

Data from Human Subjects

Data Collection Methods

Collecting Data

Analyzing the Data

Disseminating Results

Research Ethics: Decisions for the Protection of Study Participants

Other Considerations: Budget and Time

Chapter Four

Collecting Qualitative Data:

The Science and the Art

Observation

Interviews and Focus Groups

Structured Data Collection Techniques

Chapter Five

Logistics in the Field

Introduction to the Community: Building Rapport

Involving Policymakers and Change Agents

Developing the Field Team

Training

Field Materials

Pilot Testing

Field Logistics

Supervision and Monitoring

Generating Data Files

Transcription and Translation

Data Management and Storage

Timelines and Budgets

Chapter Six

Qualitative Data Analysis

Principles of Qualitative Data Analysis: Keeping the Research Purpose in Mind

Basic Steps in Qualitative Data Analysis

Step 1. Reading: Developing an Intimate Relationship with the Data

Step 2. Coding: Identifying the Emerging Themes

Computer Software

Step 3. Displaying Data: Distinguishing Nuances of a Topic

Developing Hypotheses, Questioning, and Verifying

Step 4. Data Reduction: Getting the Big Picture

Step 5. Interpretation

Chapter Seven

Disseminating Qualitative Research

Chapter Eight: Putting It into Words

Reporting Qualitative Research Results in Scientific Journals and Reports

The Role of Writing in Responsible Conduct of Research

Before You Write

Writing Your Article or Report

After You Write

Appendix One

Examples of Oral Consent Forms

Appendix Two

Topic Guides with Pictures

Appendix Three

Participant Observation Notes

Appendix Four

Sample Interviewer Training Program Agendas and Training Schedules

Appendix Five

Sample Budget Categories for Planning Qualitative Data Collection

Appendix Six

Coding Summary Report

Appendix Seven

Example of Data Analysis Memo

Appendix Eight

Where to Publish

Appendix Nine

Research Brief:  Communicating Partial Protection of Voluntary Medical Male Circumcision

Appendix Ten

Who Is an Author?

Appendix Eleven

Sample Brochures to Share Qualitative Study Findings with Participating Communities

Appendix Twelve

Making Study Findings Accessible to Other Researchers

ELIZABETH E. TOLLEY is a senior scientist and Director of the Social and Behavioral Health Sciences division of FHI 360.

PRISCILLA R. ULIN is retired from Family Health International (now FHI 360), where she was senior research scientist in the Social and Behavioral Sciences division.

NATASHA MACK is a researcher in the Social and Behavioral Health Sciences division at FHI 360.

ELIZABETH T. ROBINSON is the senior advisor for communications at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill′s MEASURE Evaluation project.

STACEY M. SUCCOP is a research associate in the Scientific Affairs department at FHI 360.