One of the most paralyzing moments in conducting qualitative research is beginning analysis, when researchers much first look at their data in order to see what they should look for in their data. Although temporally and conceptually overlapping…
There has been an accumulation of qualitative studies in recent years, but little cumulation of the understandings gained from them. Qualitative research appears endangered both by efforts to synthesize studies and by the failure to do so. Techniques…
This paper reviews some of the recent empirical studies validating the Circumplex Model and describes the newly developed self-report measure, FACES III. Studies testing hypotheses derived from the Circumplex Model regarding the three dimensions of…
The development of the Delphi technique, as a survey method of research, and examples of its use are described. The technique's key characteristics, anonymity, use of experts and controlled feedback, are examined. The method's usefulness in…
This paper focuses on using the grounded theory method to study social psychological themes which cut across diverse chronic illnesses. The grounded theory method is presented as a method having both phenomenological and positivistic roots, which…
Fieldnotes are a vital part of ethnographic research, yet little attention has been paid to the practical details of note-taking. Exactly how does an ethnographer decide what to write about? This article uses fieldnotes from various sources to show…
Between October 2001 and May 2002 the Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson of each Multicentre Research Ethics Committee (MREC) in England, Wales and Scotland took part in a semi-structured interview to ascertain the attitudes of MRECs to palliative care…
The rejection of reliability and validity in qualitative inquiry in the 1980s has resulted in an interesting shift for "ensuring rigor" from the investigator's actions during the course of the research, to the reader or consumer of qualitative…
How should researchers reflexively evaluation ways in which intersubjective elements transform their research? The process of engaging in reflexivity is full of muddy ambiguity and multiple trails as researchers negotiate the swamp of interminable…
In this paper the authors argue that research ethics committees (RECs) should not be paternalistic by rejecting research that poses risk to people competent to decide for themselves. However it is important they help to ensure valid consent is sought…
Purpose: To describe the challenges of finding the findings in qualitative studies. Method: Review of literature on representation in qualitative research and analysis of 99 reports of qualitative studies of women with HIV infection. Findings:…
This paper, utilising a narrative approach, aims to describe the experiences of men whose partner had experienced pregnancy loss, based on data from Northern Ireland. The methodology was based upon observation within pregnancy loss self-help groups…
A notable and welcome increase in palliative care research has led to a multitude of ethical issues and concerns for researchers, clinicians, patients (subjects) and their family members (who also might be subjects), granting agencies, and…
This article explores the concepts of narrative as story, of storytelling, and of the narrative approach to qualitative research. Within this, I will also examine the social nature of narrative and the implications of this for research. I will look…
Voluntariness is a requirement that is frequently voiced in research ethics but is poorly understood. This article seeks to clarify voluntariness and assess its significance in clinical research at the end of life. First, what voluntariness is and…
Research in end-of-life care is constrained more by pragmatic, social, cultural, and financial constraints than ethical issues that preclude the application of typical research methodologies. When normally accepted and ethically sound protections for…
Despite the ethical codes guiding bereavement research, few studies have been conducted to evaluate the perceived stress experienced by the bereaved, and to explore which methodologies cause least distress. This article investigates how bereaved and…
Systematic assessment of the effect of clinical research studies on child and parent participants has been limited. Such assessment could provide an empirical basis for the ethical conduct of research, assisting investigators and institutional review…
A proposed nationwide postal questionnaire to Swedish parents who had lost a child due to cancer between 1992 and 1997 was denied approval by the local ethics committee. However, a pilot study to assess the harm and benefit of the questionnaire was…
Ethical issues in the critical care unit frequently arise in children with neurological problems. These ethical issues frequently challenge our medical management of such cases and can be quite problematic. This article reviews key ethical issues…
Approximately 40 years ago, Barney Glaser and Anselm Strauss and their joint research approach, the constant comparative method of grounded theory, were at the forefront of what can be called a qualitative revolution. The publication of their book,…
The promise of theory and model development makes grounded theory an attractive methodology to follow. However, it has been argued that many researchers fall short and provide a detailed description of only the research area or simply a quantitative…
BACKGROUND: There is tension around the notion of research with bereaved parents. While it is recognised that the care of children with palliative care needs will only improve with better understanding of parent perspectives, the vulnerability of…
OBJECTIVE: To document the Institutional Review Board (IRB) review process and to explore the impact of different patient notification procedures. DATA SOURCES/STUDY SETTING: Review of IRB application and correspondence records prospectively…
The goal of good palliative care is to relieve suffering and to improve quality of life. However, it is clear that access to palliative care is inconsistent. At least in part, these deficiencies exist because of a lack of solid evidence on which to…
