Combining Quantitative and Qualitative Approaches: Researching Hiv-Related Risk Behaviours Among Drug Injectors

Abstract

Research into complex social behaviours, like injecting drug use, rarely combines quantitative and qualitative techniques. Qualitative researchers have tended to show a reluctance to become familiar with the terminology and practice of quantitative methods, whereas quantitative researchers have been mistrustful of data not numerically codified. Data from two independent studies on the HIV-related risk behaviours of injecting drug users in Glasgow show the possible benefits of integrating the two methodologies. Structural equation modeling (SEM) on a large quantitative data set indicated that female injectors were more likely to share unsterile injecting equipment although they had greater knowledge about HIV transmission than males. Qualitatively elicited data were able to elucidate the social processes creating and sustaining risk behaviours reported by injectors.

Key Words:

• Injecting drug use
• HIV-related behaviour
• structural equation modeling
• qualitative methods
• gender