Methods Matter - Making Sense of the Differences Among Common Qualitative Research Methods

Course Overview

Qualitative research has been widely used in medical education. Qualitative research methods can be difficult to discriminate for clinician-educators given that the methods can share the similarities in data collection and coding processes. Each qualitative research method, however, has its unique purpose which, along with the research question, should guide in the selection of appropriate data analysis and identification of themes.

This workshop will begin by identifying commonly used qualitative research methods cited in high-quality medical education journals. Next, we will compare and contrast the key differences between those methods. Session attendees will exchange ideas and questions regarding the application of such methods. In doing so, we will elucidate tips and pitfalls that clinician-educators should be mindful of when applying qualitative methods to research in medical education. Following the discussion, attendees will have an opportunity to evaluate example qualitative research papers using Standards for Reporting Qualitative Research and discuss key components pertinent to the study. The last portion of our session will emphasize appropriate selection of common qualitative research methods. Attendees will be given a brief data set and a predefined code book. They will then develop themes using common qualitative methods such as grounded theory and thematic analysis. This practice will provide a live demonstration of how different methods can make differences in qualitative research outcomes even from the same data set. Through the practice, the attendees will unveil the differences among various qualitative methodologies and become better prepared to choose the most appropriate method in their own research.

Learning Objectives

Identify and understand the reporting guidelines for qualitative research
Compare and contrast commonly used qualitative research methods
Practice data analysis techniques that are commonly used in qualitative research in medical education

Speakers

Hirotaka Kato MD
University of Kentucky College of Medicine

Ankur Segon MD, MPH, FACP
University of Kentucky College of Medicine

Leslie Ruffalo PhD, MS
University of Kentucky College of Medicine

Additional Information

Year Published: 2022 - AIMW