Generating Results from Qualitative Data

Recent literature in nursing research reflects a growing interest in qualitative research methods. This article discusses the process of construing results from qualitative data. Several pitfalls encountered commonly by novice researchers are presented, and strategies are suggested for avoiding or overcoming these difficulties. The importance is stressed of developing a line of reasoning in order to derive meaning from the data and to connect the results to a conceptual or theoretical base.     

The Pros and Cons of Data Analysis Software for Qualitative Research

Purpose: To explore the use of computer-based qualitative data analysis software packages.
Scope: The advantages and capabilities of qualitative data analysis software are described and concerns about their effects on methods are discussed.
Findings: Advantages of using qualitative data analysis software include being freed from manual and clerical tasks, saving time, being able to deal with large amounts of qualitative data, having increased flexibility, and having improved validity and auditability of qualitative research. Concerns include increasingly deterministic and rigid processes, privileging of coding, and retrieval methods; reification of data, increased pressure on researchers to focus on volume and breadth rather than on depth and meaning, time and energy spent learning to use computer packages, increased commercialism, and distraction from the real work of analysis.
Conclusions: We recommend that researchers consider the capabilities of the package, their own computer literacy and knowledge of the package, or the time required to gain these skills, and the suitability of the package for their research. The intelligence and integrity that a researcher brings to the research process must also be brought to the choice and use of tools and analytical processes. Researchers should be as critical of the methodological approaches to using qualitative data analysis software as they are about the fit between research question, methods, and research design.     

浅谈护理资料的收集与管理

护理资料的收集与管理是医院护理管理工作中的重要组成部分,是为提高护理质量,提高医院管理水平服务的一项工作。自1992年我院被评为三级甲等医院后,重视了护理资料的收集与管理,建立了以表格、图示等形式的管理档案,并不断充实和完善内容,使其达到制度化、规范化、科学化管理.使资料的收集与管理处于受控状态,为护理指挥系统加强管理提供了真实可靠的第一手资料。     

Using Qualitative Research: A Practical Introduction for Occupational and Physical Therapists

Abstract

During pregnancy or postpartum period many women will experience some degree of pelvic girdle pain (PGP). In India, there is no information about the PGP prevalence and its associated factors evaluated during postpartum period. Purpose: To reveal the prevalence of PGP postpartum in Indian women and identify associated factors with PGP postpartum. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 284 postpartum women completed a questionnaire and underwent clinical examinations. The clinical examination included pain provocation tests for the pelvic as well as the active straight leg raise (ASLR) test. Possible associating factors were studied by using nonparametric tests and logistic regression analysis. Results: A total of 116 postpartum women (41%) had reported PGP at the time of the examination. A stepwise logistic regression analysis was performed to reveal associated factors. In the final model, factors such as (1) Caesarean delivery (adjusted OR, 2.0; 95% CI, 1.3–4.9); (2) ASLR test score ≥4 (adjusted OR, 2.3; 95% CI, 1.2–3.3); (3) Unilateral P4 test (adjusted OR, 1.8; 95% CI, 1.1–3.0); and (4) Sitting position during feeding (adjusted OR, 1.5; 95% CI, 0.9–2.8) were associated with the PGP. Conclusion: We found a high prevalence of PGP in Indian women during the first three months of postpartum period. Our finding suggests that unilateral posterior pelvic pain provocation test (P4), ASLR test score ≥4, caesarean section delivery and sitting in breast-feeding posture were associated with increased risk of PGP during postpartum.     

Advanced Statistics: Missing Data in Clinical Research—Part 1: An Introduction and Conceptual Framework

Missing data are commonly encountered in clinical research. Unfortunately, they are often neglected or not properly handled during analytic procedures, and this may substantially bias the results of the study, reduce study power, and lead to invalid conclusions. In this two-part series, the authors will introduce key concepts regarding missing data in clinical research, provide a conceptual framework for how to approach missing data in this setting, describe typical mechanisms and patterns of censoring of data and their relationships to specific methods of handling incomplete data, and describe in detail several simple and more complex methods of handling such data. In part 1, the authors will describe relatively simple approaches to handling missing data, including complete-case analysis, available-case analysis, and several forms of single imputation, including mean imputation, regression imputation, hot and cold deck imputation, last observation carried forward, and worst case analysis. In part 2, the authors will describe in detail multiple imputation, a more sophisticated and valid method for handling missing data.     

Becky's Legacy: An Editorial Introduction

Too often ethical boards delay or stop research projects with vulnerable populations, influenced by presumed rather than empirically documented vulnerability. The article investigates how participation is experienced by those bereaved by suicide. Experiences are divided into 3 groups: (a) overall positive (62%), (b) unproblematic (10%), and (c) positive and painful (28%). The positive experiences are linked to processes of meaning-making, gaining new insight, and a hope to help others. Objective factors concerning the gender of participants, their relationship to the deceased, the method of suicide, and time since loss were largely unrelated to their experience of the interview.     

Horses for courses: facilitating postgraduate research students' choice of Computer Assisted Qualitative Data Analysis System (CAQDAS)

Supervisors of postgraduate students are increasingly likely to find themselves discussing whether or not the student should use a CAQDAS (computer assisted qualitative data analysis system) in their research. This paper discusses Weitzman and Miles (1995) framework for decision-making about CAQDAS and then reports the experiences of five postgraduate students, each of whom made a different decision. (These were variously: not to use a CAQDAS, using Atlas-Ti, Ethnograph, N. VIVO and N5). It explores the fit between Weitzman's and Miles' principles and the students' experiences then suggests some modifications of the principles and strategies for advising students.     

Interview‐based Qualitative Research in Emergency Care Part II: Data Collection,Analysis and Results Reporting

Qualitative methods are increasingly being used in emergency care research. Rigorous qualitative methods can play a critical role in advancing the emergency care research agenda by allowing investigators to generate hypotheses, gain an in‐depth understanding of health problems or specific populations, create expert consensus, and develop new intervention and dissemination strategies. In Part I of this two‐article series, we provided an introduction to general principles of applied qualitative health research and examples of its common use in emergency care research, describing study designs and data collection methods most relevant to our field (observation, individual interviews, and focus groups). Here in Part II of this series, we outline the specific steps necessary to conduct a valid and reliable qualitative research project, with a focus on interview‐based studies. These elements include building the research team, preparing data collection guides, defining and obtaining an adequate sample, collecting and organizing qualitative data, and coding and analyzing the data. We also discuss potential ethical considerations unique to qualitative research as it relates to emergency care research.     

Emotional Loneliness in Sexual Murderers: A Qualitative Analysis

This study compared levels of emotional loneliness between sexual murderers and rapists who had not gone on to kill their victim/s. All participants were life-sentenced prisoners in the United Kingdom. Assessment consisted of a semistructured interview and was subjected to grounded theory analysis. This approach is defined as the breaking down, naming, comparing, and categorizing of data. As such, it is distinguished from other qualitative methods by the process of constant comparison. This continual sifting and comparing elements assists in promoting conceptual and theoretical development. The results of this process found that sexual murderers, compared to rapists, reported significantly higher levels of grievance towards females in childhood, significantly higher levels of peer group loneliness in adolescence, and significantly higher levels of self as victim in adulthood.     

Qualitative Methods in Community Analysis

Qualitative and quantitative methodologies are optimally combined in efforts to analyze complex social entities such as the community. This is an area in which public health nurses can make a significant contribution. As well as emphasizing the cultural and ecologic dimensions, qualitative methodology highlights the community's own portrayal of health and illness. Specific qualitative techniques that are integral to the public health nurse's community practice include obsevation, informal interviews, case studies, mapping, and photography.