Qualitative methods for health research

The Third Edition of this bestselling title is packed full of real-world advice for researchers and students. It is an invaluable introduction to the theoretical and practical essentials needed to design, conduct and appraise qualitative research in health.

The book highlights core research skills, taking the reader through the key debates in qualitative methodology. It sets out a logical, easy-to-follow path supported by practical examples ensuring you will find it engaging and relevant.

Updates for the new edition include:

- a new chapter on effectively combining methods- new material on the practical aspects of securing access to participants, using online data and on selecting an approach for analysis- improved material on reading and appraising literature with detailed exploration of systematic reviews and synthesis- expanded chapters on analysing data, with practical suggestions for moving from descriptive to analytical approaches- an effective mix of classic and contemporary case studies from across health research- expanded summaries, key points and reflective questions designed to help students apply theory to their own research.

Clear, thorough and articulate, this is an authoritative introduction to qualitative research for all health professionals and students.Visit the accompanying companion website for additional resources.

Judith Green is a Professor in Sociology of Health at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.

Nicki Thorogood is a Senior Lecturer in Sociology at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.

• List of boxes p. x
• List of case studies p. xi
• About the authors p. xiii
• Preface p. xiv
• Part I Principles and Approaches in Qualitative Health Research p. 1
• 1 Qualitative Methodology and Health Research p. 3
• Chapter summary p. 3
• Introduction p. 3
• What is qualitative research? p. 5
• The role of theory p. 7
• Epistemological approaches: Theories of knowledge p. 11
• Participatory research p. 20
• The orientations of qualitative research p. 22
• Criticisms and limitations of qualitative research p. 27
• Conclusion p. 33
• Key points p. 33
• Exercise p. 33
• Further resources p. 33
• 2 Developing Qualitative Research Designs p. 35
• Chapter summary p. 35
• Introduction p. 36
• Research questions p. 36
• Appropriate designs for different questions p. 43
• Problems with design typologies p. 51
• Pragmatic influences on research design p. 52
• A qualitative approach to design p. 53
• Selecting appropriate data collection/generation and analysis methods p. 55
• Protocols and practical issues p. 56
• Programme design: The role of qualitative research p. 58
• Conclusion p. 62
• Key points p. 62
• Exercise p. 63
• Further resources p. 63
• 3 Responsibilities, Ethics and Values p. 64
• Chapter summary p. 64
• Introduction p. 64
• Values in research p. 65
• Ethical review and codes of practice p. 68
• Informed consent p. 70
• Confidentiality p. 72
• Responsibilities to research participants p. 74
• Different models of the research relationship p. 82
• Responsibilities to yourself and co-workers p. 84
• Ethical dilemmas and conflicts p. 86
• Conclusion p. 90
• Key points p. 91
• Exercises p. 91
• Further resources p. 92
• Part II Generating Data p. 93
• 4 In-depth Interviews p. 95
• Chapter summary p. 95
• Introduction p. 95
• The research interview p. 96
• A word on language p. 97
• Language in cross-cultural settings p. 100
• Assumptions about our own language p. 102
• In-depth interviews: What they can and can't do p. 103
• Context and data p. 106
• Planning interview studies p. 111
• Sampling: How many and who to interview? p. 120
• Conclusion p. 124
• Key points p. 124
• Exercises p. 124
• Further resources p. 125
• 5 Group Interviews p. 126
• Chapter summary p. 126
• Introduction p. 126
• Different kinds of group interview: An overview p. 127
• Consensus panels p. 128
• Community interviews and participatory methods p. 129
• Focus groups p. 130
• Natural groups p. 131
• Advantages of using group interviews p. 133
• Naturalism p. 136
• Limitations p. 140
• Practical issues p. 141
• Developing appropriate methods for the setting p. 148
• Conclusion p. 149
• Key points p. 149
• Exercise p. 149
• Further resources p. 150
• 6 Observational Methods p. 151
• Chapter summary p. 151
• Introduction p. 152
• Participant and non-participant observation p. 153
• Ethnography and participant observation p. 155
• Doing ethnography close to home p. 156
• Auto-ethnography p. 159
• Overt and covert roles p. 162
• Pseudo-patient studies p. 164
• Planning a participant observation study p. 166
• Rapid ethnographic methods p. 170
• Non-participant observational methods p. 174
• Conclusion p. 177
• Key points p. 177
• Exercises p. 178
• Further resources p. 178
• 7 Physical and Virtual Documentary Sources p. 179
• Chapter summary p. 179
• Introduction p. 179
• Why use existing sources? p. 180
• Public records p. 182
• Personal documents p. 184
• Online personal documents: Ethical issues p. 186
• Mass media outputs p. 187
• Research outputs p. 190
• Policy reports p. 192
• Methodological issues in using documentary sources p. 194
• Conclusion p. 198
• Key points p. 198
• Exercises p. 198
• Further resources p. 199
• Part III Managing and Analysing Data p. 201
• 8 Beginning Data Analysis p. 203
• Chapter summary p. 203
• Introduction p. 203
• Styles of analysis p. 205
• Aims of analysis p. 206
• Data management p. 207
• Data preparation: Transcribing interviews p. 208
• Thematic content analysis p. 209
• Framework analysis p. 218
• Using computer software to help manage data p. 222
• Improving rigour in analysis p. 226
• Conclusion p. 231
• Key points p. 231
• Exercises p. 231
• Further resources p. 232
• 9 Developing Qualitative Analysis p. 233
• Chapter summary p. 233
• Introduction p. 233
• Rigour is not enough p. 234
• Grounded theory p. 235
• Narrative analysis p. 241
• Some strategies for thinking more analytically p. 246
• Generalizability and transferability p. 250
• Conclusion p. 253
• Key points p. 253
• Exercises p. 253
• Further resources p. 254
• Part IV Qualitative Research in Practice p. 255
• 10 Reading, Appraising and Integrating Qualitative Research p. 257
• Chapter summary p. 257
• Introduction p. 257
• Reading critically p. 259
• Formal critical appraisal for empirical studies p. 260
• Criteria in ethnography p. 265
• Systematic reviews p. 267
• Integrating qualitative findings p. 270
• Meta-ethnography p. 273
• Conclusion p. 276
• Key points p. 277
• Exercise p. 277
• Further resources p. 277
• 11 Mixing Methods and Designs p. 279
• Chapter summary p. 279
• Introduction p. 279
• Rationales for mixing methods p. 281
• Mixing epidemiology and qualitative research p. 284
• Developing trans-disciplinary research p. 289
• Qualitative research and applied research p. 293
• Mixed methods and participatory research p. 296
• Multidisciplinary work: Challenges and opportunities p. 298
• Conclusion p. 299
• Key points p. 300
• Exercise p. 300
• Further resources p. 301
• 12 Writing Up and Disseminating p. 302
• Chapter summary p. 302
• Introduction p. 302
• The writing process p. 303
• Writing for different audiences p. 304
• Writing for health journals p. 305
• Writing for social science colleagues p. 307
• Practical issues to consider when writing up p. 310
• Disseminating collaborative work p. 313
• Disseminating to non-specialist audiences p. 317
• Conclusion p. 320
• Key points p. 320
• Exercise p. 320
• Further resources p. 321
• Glossary p. 322
• References p. 325
• Index p. 339