Theoretical versus pragmatic design in qualitative research

Abstract

Theoretical versus pragmatic design challenges in qualitative research. Nurse Researcher, 18 (2): 39-51 Acknowledgements:We wish to thank M Donovan-Hall, School of Health Professional and Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Southampton for her contribution to the development of figure 1 which depicts the relationship between qualitative and quantitative methods of analysis. Key Words:Qualitative research, framework analysis, parent's experiences, hydrocephalus AbstractThe relative merits of adopting a generic versus theoretical approach to undertaking qualitative research have polarised qualitative researchers and overshadowed the need to focus on research that address clinical questions. Drawing on the challenges of designing a study that explored parents' experiences of living with a child with hydrocephalus, we will argue that over adherence to, and deliberations about, the philosophical origins of qualitative methods such as phenomenology, ethnography and grounded theory is undermining the role qualitative research could contribute to evidence-based healthcare, and suggest qualitative methods should stand alone. JS Nurse Researcher December 2008 2 IntroductionFor the novice qualitative researcher, designing an enquiry based study aimed at investigating how individuals make sense of and interpret their experiences of health and illness is challenging because of the range and diversity of qualitative methods. In order to make an informed choice about a study's design, appreciating the underlying principles, similarities and differences of the main qualitative methods, and their application to the topic area being investigated is essential (Ritchie and Lewis 2003, Morse and Richards 2002). This is not an easy task; first there does not appear to be a definitive way of classifying qualitative research (Patton 2002). Second, a preoccupation with debates concerning the underpinning epistemological basis of qualitative methodology has overshadowed the need to identify research priorities and develop questions that could enhance nursing practice (Rolfe 1998).Third, the overtly critical stance of some qualitative researchers in relation to the 'academic' standing of generic approaches to undertaking qualitative research is undermining their value (Sandelowski 2000).Although various terms are used to describe qualitative research that is atheoretical such as 'generic designs' (Holloway and Tordes 2003) and 'descriptive designs' (Sandelowski 2000), for consistency 'generic research' will be used to represent qualitative methods not underpinned by a specified theoretical perspective. This article will evaluate the potential benefits of adopting a generic qualitative approach when designing studies aimed at understanding user and carer perspectives, a key driver within United Kingdom health policy reforms (DH 2001). This will be achieved by sharing personal reflections of the challenges encountered when designing a qualitative study that focussed on parents' experiences of living with a child with hydrocephalus. Conte...

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