Book•
Qualitative research & evaluation methods
01 Jan 2002-Iss: 1
TL;DR: In this paper, conceptual issues and themes on qualitative research and evaluaton methods including: qualitative data, triangulated inquiry, qualitative inquiry, constructivism, constructionism, complexity (chaos) theory, qualitative designs and data collection, fieldwork strategies, interviewing, tape-recording, ethical issues, analysis, interpretation and reporting, observations vs. perceived impacts and utilisation-focused evaluation reporting.
Abstract: This book explains clearly conceptual issues and themes on qualitative research and evaluaton methods including: qualitative data, triangulated inquiry, qualitative inquiry, constructivism, constructionism, Complexity (chaos) theory, qualitative designs and data collection, fieldwork strategies, interviewing, tape-recording, ethical issues, analysis, interpretation and reporting, observations vs. perceived impacts and utilisation-focused evaluation reporting.
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TL;DR: A qualitative case study design informed by theory was used to explore factors that contributed to sustain the improvements at Førde Hospital and learned that changes originating from a new mental model represent double-loop learning.
Abstract: Changes that improve the quality of health care should be sustained. Falling back to old, unsatisfactory ways of working is a waste of resources and can in the worst case increase resistance to later initiatives to improve care. Quality improvement relies on changing the clinical system yet factors that influence the sustainability of quality improvements are poorly understood. Theoretical frameworks can guide further research on the sustainability of quality improvements. Theories of organizational learning have contributed to a better understanding of organizational change in other contexts. To identify factors contributing to sustainability of improvements, we use learning theory to explore a case that had displayed sustained improvement. Forde Hospital redesigned the pathway for elective surgery and achieved sustained reduction of cancellation rates. We used a qualitative case study design informed by theory to explore factors that contributed to sustain the improvements at Forde Hospital. The model Evidence in the Learning Organization describes how organizational learning contributes to change in healthcare institutions. This model constituted the framework for data collection and analysis. We interviewed a strategic sample of 20 employees. The in-depth interviews covered themes identified through our theoretical framework. Through a process of coding and condensing, we identified common themes that were interpreted in relation to our theoretical framework. Clinicians and leaders shared information about their everyday work and related this knowledge to how the entire clinical pathway could be improved. In this way they developed a revised and deeper understanding of their clinical system and its interdependencies. They became increasingly aware of how different elements needed to interact to enhance the performance and how their own efforts could contribute. The improved understanding of the clinical system represented a change in mental models of employees that influenced how the organization changed its performance. By applying the framework of organizational learning, we learned that changes originating from a new mental model represent double-loop learning. In double-loop learning, deeper system properties are changed, and consequently changes are more likely to be sustained.
83 citations
Cites methods or result from "Qualitative research & evaluation m..."
...Thus, we reached redundancy, and our sample size was sufficient for the purposes of the study [37,38]....
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...This finding was consistent across professional groups, regardless of the degree of involvement in the improvement work, thus increasing the credibility and trustworthiness of our analyses [37]....
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...Our purpose was to maximize information [37,38]....
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...Through an iterative process of coding, reflecting on the codes, and condensing, we identified common themes [37]....
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TL;DR: In this article, a sample of older adult volunteers (N = 20, 65 years and older) in community sport organizations was interviewed in order to understand their experiences with volunteering, and the results showed that older adults were more likely to volunteer than younger adults.
Abstract: A sample of older adult volunteers (N = 20, 65 years and older) in community sport organizations was interviewed in order to understand their experiences with volunteering. An interdisciplinary fra...
83 citations
Cites methods from "Qualitative research & evaluation m..."
...A snowball sampling technique was also used (Patton, 2002) where participants were asked to identify any sport volunteers they knew who met the age and volunteering conditions of this study, and would be willing to be contacted about participating....
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...Data Analysis Following Patton (2002), the audio-recorded interview data were transcribed verbatim and analyzed using inductive methods, including open coding within the broad interview topics and the identification of emergent themes grounded within those topics....
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TL;DR: In 1991, the most riveting assessment of the inequalities in US public schools, "Savage Inequalities" as discussed by the authors, became the most famous assessment of inequalities in American public schools.
Abstract: BackgroundIn 1991, Savage Inequalities quickly became the most riveting assessment of the inequalities in US public schools When Kozol visited East St Louis for his book, the authors of this pa
82 citations
Cites background from "Qualitative research & evaluation m..."
...Patton (2002) stated, “how to interpret stories and, more specifically, the texts that tell the stories, is at the heart of narrative analysis” (p. 118)....
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...Patton (2002) identified two foundational questions that narrative inquiry attempts to address: (1) what does the narrative or story reveal about the person and world from which it came? and (2) how can this narrative be interpreted so that it provides an understanding of and illuminates the life…...
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...Autoethnography shapes narrative inquiry in that “the researcher’s story becomes part of the inquiry into a cultural phenomenon of interest (Patton, 2002, p. 116)....
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TL;DR: A case study explored how sports journalists used Twitter to cover allegations about former Penn State University assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky sexually abusing young boys as discussed by the authors, concluding that sports journalists use Twitter in the following ways: offering commentary, breaking news, interactivity, linking to content, and promotion.
Abstract: This case study explored how sports journalists used Twitter to cover allegations about former Penn State University assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky sexually abusing young boys. A content analysis of 1652 tweets from 151 sports journalists was conducted. Analysis revealed that sports journalists used Twitter in the following ways: a) offering commentary, b) breaking news, c) interactivity, d) linking to content, and e) promotion. The results suggest that Twitter serves as an additional venue for sports journalists to frame stories; however, their behavior in this venue blurs professional and personal boundaries as they mock fans and promote their competitors. The analysis further suggests that the immediacy with which news breaks on Twitter places sports journalists and sports media organizations into a dialectic between “being first” and “being accurate” when reporting news.
82 citations
TL;DR: A study of the role of local ecological knowledge (LEK) as a lay-expert knowledge in urban land use planning process in Finland is presented in this paper, where the authors interviewed planning officials, biologists, and representatives of resident and nature associations in the Helsinki metropolitan area.
Abstract: This article reports on a study of the role of local ecological knowledge (LEK) as lay-expert knowledge in the urban land use planning process in Finland The authors consider the importance of LEK, and the ways LEK is obtained and used To obtain data, the authors interviewed planning officials, biologists, and representatives of resident and nature associations in the Helsinki metropolitan area The results indicate that LEK exists among nature enthusiast, as well as local residents Planners can access this knowledge in several ways, most notably through networks of knowledgeable key informants and local nature associations The authors note that including LEK in urban planning is important because it complements scientific ecological data and indicates places important to locals Some of the challenges of using LEK include collecting it through participatory planning processes, distinguishing it from other information, valuing subjective knowledge, and empowering planning officials to use LEK In addition, technical improvements, such as registers of key informants and more efficient use of nature associations’ knowledge, would be useful in applying LEK The authors conclude that even if LEK is available, decisionmakers need the will to enhance sustainability by using the information and by maintaining a certain amount of urban green space with a certain ”ecological quality level," even under the pressure of planning for the growing urban population
82 citations