Abstract
Although relatively uncommon in health care research, qualitative research is now receiving recognition and is increasingly used in health care research with social and cultural dimensions. Unlike quantitative research, which is deductive and tends to analyze phenomena in terms of trends and frequencies, qualitative research seeks to determine the meaning of a phenomenon through description. It aims to develop concepts that aid in the understanding of natural phenomena with emphasis on the meaning, experiences and views of the participants. Differences among qualitative researchers exist on matters of ontology, epistemology, data collection methods and methods of evaluation. The aim of this article is not to act as a practical guide on how to conduct qualitative research, but is an attempt to give an introduction to qualitative research methods and their use in health-related research.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 11-19 |
| Number of pages | 9 |
| Journal | Sultan Qaboos University Medical Journal |
| Volume | 8 |
| Issue number | 1 |
| Publication status | Published - Mar 2008 |
Keywords
- Ethnography
- Focus groups
- Health care
- Interviews
- Phenomenology
- Qualitative research
- Semi-structured
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- General Medicine