Qualitative Research in the Health Professions

Book excerpt: Qualitative research can provide a great depth of understanding for health professionals in practice. Although many general research texts used in health discipline research courses present a broad spectrum of research methods, their discussion of qualitative methods is often limited. Qualitative Research in the Health Professions by Drs. William A. Pitney, Jenny Parker, Stephanie M. Mazerolle, and Kelly Potteiger, is a practical and straightforward text for those learning about qualitative research in the health professions. In Qualitative Research in the Health Professions, readers will acquire skills in mastering: • Introductory concepts of qualitative research, how it compares to quantitative research, and how to conceptualize a qualitative study • How to conduct a qualitative research study and present findings, including sections on collecting and analyzing data, ensuring trustworthiness of the data, and attending to ethical issues • Advanced concepts including various forms of qualitative research, how to mix quantitative and qualitative methods, and how to evaluate qualitative research Each chapter includes activities and exercises to further students’ understanding and the text also includes personal commentaries from scholarly practitioners in various health professions underscoring the value and importance of qualitative research. Qualitative Research in the Health Professionswill help current and future practitioners master the principles of qualitative research, understand published qualitative studies, and apply these findings in furthering evidence-based practice.