Abstract
Objectives: Papers using qualitative methods are increasingly common in psychiatric journals. This overview is an introduction to critically appraising a qualitative paper for clinicians who are more familiar with quantitative methods.
Conclusions: Qualitative research uses data from interviews (semi-structured or unstructured), focus groups, observations or written materials. Data analysis is inductive, allowing meaning to emerge from the data, rather than the more deductive, hypothesis centred approach of quantitative research. This overview compares and contrasts quantitative and qualitative research methods. Quantitative concepts such as reliability, validity, statistical power, bias and generalisability have qualitative equivalents. These include triangulation, trustworthiness, saturation, reflexivity and applicability. Reflexivity also shares features of transference. Qualitative approaches include: ethnography, action-assessment, grounded theory, case studies and mixed methods. Qualitative research can complement quantitative approaches. An understanding of both is useful in critically appraising the psychiatric literature.
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
This paper is based on workshops conducted by SK at the Congress of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists held on 2–6 May 2010 in Auckland, New Zealand, the International Congress of the Royal College of Psychiatrists held on 21–24 June 2010 in Edinburgh, Scotland, the Annual Conference of the Canadian Psychiatric Association held on 23–26 October 2010 in Toronto, and the14th Pacific Rim College of Psychiatrists Scientific Meeting in Brisbane, Australia held on 28–30 October 2010.
DISCLOSURE
The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.