Qualitative Research for Allied Health Professionals

This practical text addresses a gap in the literature by mapping the links between philosophy, research method and practice in an accessible, readable way. It offers guidance to allied health professionals increasingly involved in research as the emphasis grows on evidence-based practice on how to engage in meaningful, good quality qualitative research. To help researchers take on this challenge, the book: highlights some of the choices involved in carrying out qualitative research offers a wide range of practical examples to show how different ways of doing qualitative research can be managed critically examines a variety of qualitative research methodologies of particular interest to allied health professionals clarifies the links between epistemology, methodology and method. The book is structured in three parts. Part I sensitises readers to the complex issues which challenge qualitative researchers at the planning stage of their projects. In Part II, the challenge of using different methodologies is critically explored by fifteen authors, who describe their individual research experiences. Part III examines the choices researchers make when they evaluate and present research.

This practical text addresses a gap in the literature by mappingthe links between philosophy, research method and practice in anaccessible, readable way. It offers guidance to allied healthprofessionals - increasingly involved in research as theemphasis grows on evidence-based practice - on how to engagein meaningful, good quality qualitative research.To help researchers take on this challenge, the book:* highlights some of the choices involved in carrying outqualitative research* offers a wide range of practical examples to show how differentways of doing qualitative research can be managed* critically examines a variety of qualitative researchmethodologies of particular interest to allied healthprofessionals* clarifies the links between epistemology, methodology andmethod.The book is structured in three parts. Part I sensitisesreaders to the complex issues which challenge qualitativeresearchers at the planning stage of their projects. In Part IIthe challenge of using different methodologies is criticallyexplored by fifteen authors, who describe their individualresearch experiences. Part III examines the choices researchersmake when they evaluate and present research.

Contributors.Prologue.PART I: Planning the research.Chapter 1: 'Going exploring': The nature ofqualitative research (Linda Finlay).Chapter 2: Mapping methodology (Linda Finlay).Chapter 3: Strategic choices in research planning (BarbaraSteward).Chapter 4 Ethical and governance issues in qualitative research(Claire Ballinger and Rose Wiles).PART II: Doing the research.Chapter 5: A grounded theory of the wellbeing of older people(Mandy Stanley).Chapter 6: An ethnography of physiotherapy culture (BarbaraRichardson).Chapter 7: Investigating invisible groups using mixedmethodologies (Barbara Steward).Chapter 8: Communication practices in physiotherapy: Aconversation analytic study (Ruth H. Parry).Chapter 9: Using biographical research with disabled youngpeople (Michael Curtin).Chapter 10: Low back pain: Exploring the meaning of exercisemanagement through interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA)(Sarah G. Dean, Jonathan A. Smith and Sheila Payne).Chapter 11: Using a biographic-narrative-interpretive method:Exploring motivation in mental health (Tanya Campbell-Breen andFiona Poland).Chapter 12: Empowering young people through participatoryresearch? (Anne Killett).Chapter 13: The embodied experience of multiple sclerosis: Anexistential-phenomenological analysis (Linda Finlay).Chapter 14: Discourse analysis in action: The construction ofrisk in a community day hospital (Claire Ballinger and JulianneCheek).Chapter 15: A case study of unconscious processes in anorganisation (Paula Hyde).PART III: Presenting the research.Chapter 16: Demonstrating rigour and quality? (ClaireBallinger).Chapter 17: Disseminating the research: Towards knowledge (LindaFinlay and Barbara Steward).Glossary.Index.