Qualitative Research Methods: A Health Focus

312 Pages·1999·46.256 MB·English

by  Pranee Liamputtong Rice, Douglas Ezzy

*
OXPORD
UNIVERSITY PRESS
i
QUALITATIVE
RESEARCH
METHODS
A HEALTM FOCUS
PRANEE LIAMPUTTONG
RICE
DOUGLAS
EZZY

QUALITATIVE
RESEARCH
METHODS
To our children
Zoe Sanipreeya Rice
Emma
Inturatana Rice
Timothy Hugh Ezzy
Emily Ruth Ezzy
QUALITATIVE
RESEARCH
METHODS
A HEALTH FOCUS
Pranee Liamputtong Rice
and Douglas Ezzy
OXTORD
UNIVERSITY PRESS
OXTORD
UNIVERSITY PRESS
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Cataloguing-in-Publicationdata:
Rice,PraneeLiamputtong, 1955-.
Qualitativeresearchmethods: ahealthfocus
Bibliography.
Includesindex.
ISBN 195506103
1.Health—Research—Methodology.
2.Research—Methodology.
I.Ezzy, Douglas. II.Title.
610.72
TypesetbyDesktopConceptsPtyLtd, Melbourne
PrintedthroughBookpacProductionServices, Singapore
Contents
List of boxes, figures and tables vi
About the authors vii
Preface ix
Introduction 1
1 Theory in Qualitative Research: Traditions and Innovations 9
2 Rigour, Ethics and Sampling 29
3 In-Depth Interviews 51
4 Focus Groups 71
5 Unobtrusive Methods 95
6 Narrative Analysis and Life History 118
7 Memory-Work 133
8 Ethnography 152
9 Participatory Action Research 172
10 Qualitative Data Analysis 190
11 Writing a Qualitative Research Proposal 215
12 Writing a Qualitative Research Report 235
Conclusion 250
Glossary 253
References 260
Index 286
List of Boxes, Figures and Tables
86
Box 4.1 An example of note-taking
Box 8.1 The experience of participant observation 162
Box 8.2 An example offieldnotes 163
Box 10.1 Coding: a worked example 198
Box 11.1 The sections of a research proposal 217
Box 11.2 An example of a background and rationale section 219
Box 11.3 An example ofa time frame for a research project 224
Box 12.1 Criteria for the evaluation of qualitative papers 247
Figure 5.1 A Kiowa Indian birth in a teepee 103
Table 11.1 An example ofa budget in a grant application 225
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About the Authors
Prance Liamputtong Rice is a senior lecturer in the School ofPublic Health, La
Trobe University, Melbourne. Pranee has previously taught in the School of
Sociology and Anthropologyandworked as a public health research fellow at the
Centre for the Study of Mothers' and Children's Health, La Trobe University.
Her particular interests are in issues related to the cultural and social influences
on childbearing, childrearing and women's reproductive and sexual health, and
she has published several books and papers in these areas. Three ofher books
have been used widely in the health area: My 40 Days:A Cross-CulturalResource
BookforHealth CareProfessionalsin BirthingServices (1993);AsianMothers, Aus-
tralian Birth (ed. 1994); andMaternityandReproductiveHealth inAsian Societies
(ed. with Lenore Manderson, 1996). Her main approaches in conducting
research are those of qualitative research methods, particularly ethnography,
focus groups, in-depth interviews, life histories and unobtrusive methods.
Douglas Ezzy is a lecturer in sociology in the School of Sociology and Social
Work, University ofTasmania, Hobart. Douglas previously taught sociology in
the School of Sociology and Anthropology, La Trobe University, and was a
research fellow in the National Centre in HIVSocial Research, at the Centre for
the Study of Sexually Transmissible Diseases, La Trobe University. The focus
ofhis research is the social construction ofmeaning and worth by individuals
and organisations. His substantive interests include HIV/AIDS, mental health,
the sociology of work and unemployment, and religion. His articles have
appeared in journals such as SocialScienceandMedicine,AIDS Care, Qualitative
Sociology, Sociology, and the Sociological Quarterly. His research typically
consists of long life-history interviews, supplemented with survey research,
focus groups and unobtrusive methods.
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