Qualitative Research Methods

Qualitative research methods, in the broadest sense, refer to the approaches of conducting qualitative inquiry; the methods used to analyze data; and the conventions used to ensure the rigor of data collection, analysis, and researcher transparency. Qualitative methods can bring to the forefront knowledge about phenomena that are not understood or that have not been explored. For example, little is known about the impact of illnesses or injuries (i.e., intimate patient experiences; daily living adjustments; or the social, financial, personal, or emotional tolls) beyond mechanistic effects of therapies other than laboratory measures of titers and other body fluids, pharmaceutical or manipulative impacts via physical therapy or occupational therapy that are provided by quantitative outcomes. Qualitative research is also a unique role to play in better ...