The resources are designed to give you excellent information about the use of research methods. You will want to keep these resources, review them for the final assignment, and make a note of them as future reference sources. This is a two-part assignment that relies heavily on the resources for this week. Please take the time to review the resources carefully.
Part 1: Identify Your Method(s)
Please respond to the question: What qualitative method or methods would you use to obtain information about each of the populations identified below?
Be precise in your identification of a qualitative method(s) and defend your choice of a method. Describe the results you hope to achieve.
• Exploring the feelings of patients over 65 in an HMO have about a new program (e.g., personalized case management).
• Determining the reason why an underserved population living in subsidized housing is not using the new clinic facilities in their neighborhood.
• How people feel about their health at a given point in time: a day, week, month, year, or longer period of time.
• What caregivers need to make their tasks easier?
• Why homeless diabetics are not taking their medication.
• If group meetings for diabetics who are retired are more effective than individual appointments.
• Activities a group desiring to change an unhealthy habit that persists over time.
Full Answer Section
Defense: Semi-structured interviews provide flexibility to delve into specific concerns, uncover underlying reasons, and address individual perspectives.
Desired Results: Identifying specific barriers, such as transportation challenges, lack of trust, or cultural differences, that impede access to the clinic.
3. Assessing Feelings About Health Over Time:
Method: Ethnographic Diaries: Asking participants to keep a diary of their health experiences over a specified period (a day, week, month, year, etc.) allows for a longitudinal and in-depth look at their perceptions and feelings.
Defense: Ethnographic diaries provide a rich, personal account of health experiences, capturing the nuances of individual emotions and how they fluctuate over time.
Desired Results: Understanding how individuals' feelings about their health evolve over time, identifying triggers, coping strategies, and areas for improvement.
4. Identifying Caregiver Needs for Easier Tasks:
Method: Participatory Action Research (PAR): Involving caregivers directly in the research process, allowing them to identify challenges and brainstorm solutions. This collaborative approach fosters a sense of ownership and promotes practical solutions.
Defense: PAR empowers caregivers to be active participants in the research process, leading to actionable solutions that address their specific needs and improve their work experience.
Desired Results: Identifying specific areas of difficulty in their tasks, developing practical solutions, and improving efficiency and job satisfaction.
5. Exploring Reasons for Homeless Diabetics Not Taking Medication:
Method: Grounded Theory: This inductive approach allows researchers to uncover the underlying social, economic, and personal factors that contribute to the problem of non-adherence to medication. It's a flexible method for exploring complex issues and identifying patterns.
Defense: Grounded theory is ideal for exploring complex social phenomena and generating theories based on participants' experiences.
Desired Results: Understanding the social, economic, and personal factors that contribute to non-adherence, enabling the development of tailored interventions and support services.
6. Comparing Group Meetings vs. Individual Appointments for Diabetics:
Method: Focus Groups and Surveys: Conducting focus groups with participants who have experienced both group meetings and individual appointments allows for a comparison of their perspectives and preferences. Surveys can be used to gather quantitative data on satisfaction and effectiveness.
Defense: Combining focus groups and surveys provides both qualitative and quantitative data, allowing for a comprehensive assessment of the effectiveness of each approach.
Desired Results: Identifying the perceived benefits and drawbacks of each format, gathering data on participant satisfaction, and determining which approach is more effective in promoting health outcomes.
7. Exploring Activities of a Group Seeking to Change an Unhealthy Habit:
Method: Ethnographic Observations and Interviews: Observing the group's activities and conducting interviews with members can provide a rich understanding of their experiences, challenges, and strategies for behavior change.
Defense: Ethnographic methods provide valuable insights into the group's dynamic, interactions, and cultural context, allowing for a deeper understanding of their behavior change efforts.
Desired Results: Gaining a nuanced understanding of the group's challenges, support systems, and strategies for sustained change.
Conclusion:
Selecting the appropriate qualitative method for each population is crucial for gaining in-depth insights, uncovering underlying factors, and developing effective solutions. The methods described above are highly effective in understanding diverse populations, fostering collaboration, and promoting positive change.
Sample Answer
Qualitative Methods for Exploring Diverse Populations:
Here's an exploration of qualitative methods suited for each of the described populations:
1. Exploring Feelings of Patients Over 65 about a New Program:
Method: Focus Groups: This method allows for gathering rich, nuanced data about individual experiences and perceptions of the program. The group format fosters interaction, allowing participants to share their perspectives and build upon each other's insights.
Defense: Focus groups are ideal for exploring complex feelings and understanding shared experiences, especially among a population that may have similar concerns about healthcare.
Desired Results: Gaining in-depth understanding of patients' feelings about the program's effectiveness, perceived benefits and drawbacks, and suggestions for improvement.
2. Determining Reasons for Underserved Population's Lack of Clinic Use:
Method: Semi-structured Interviews: Conducting in-depth, individual interviews allows for a deeper exploration of the reasons behind the population's hesitancy to use the clinic. This method allows for probing individual experiences and barriers to access.