Description
This lecture presentation by Dr M N. Munakampe from the University of Zambia's School of Public Health introduces the foundational concepts, approaches, and paradigms of qualitative research within public health. It defines qualitative research as an exploratory approach focused on understanding social context, behaviours, attitudes, and the meanings participants attach to their experiences. The material contrasts qualitative and quantitative methodologies, highlighting the former's use of flexible designs and open-ended questions to describe variation and identify patterns. It outlines key qualitative research designs including ethnography, grounded theory, case studies, and phenomenology, emphasising the researcher's role as the primary instrument and the importance of cultural relativism and critical self-awareness. This resource is essential for tertiary students in public health, social sciences, or health systems research programmes, providing the conceptual tools needed to design and interpret qualitative studies that address complex behavioural and social determinants of health. It supports the development of research skills crucial for evidence-based policy and practice. Use this introduction to build a solid foundation for conducting rigorous qualitative health research.
What's inside
University of Zambia, School of Public Health Acknowledgements: Joseph Zulu, Oliver Mweemba & Lynne Lohfeld, MS, McMaster University Dr M N. Munakampe What is research? What is qualitative research? Why do qualitative research in public health? RE·SEARCH: NOUN: 1. a detailed study of a subject, especially in order to discover (new) information or reach a (new) understanding. Cambridge Dictionaries Online, © Cambridge University Press 2003. “Involves exploratory research questions, an orientation to social context, and the meanings attached by participants to event and their lives…” Schutt 2012 “Not everything that can be counted counts, and not everything that counts can be counted” Albert Einstein Public health is complex behavioral, social & cultural dimensions shape emerging domestic & international health problems Qualitative research understand: —behaviors, —attitudes —perceptions, & —determinants of health in ways quantitative studies cannot Quantitative Qualitative General framework • to test hypotheses • follows strict protocol, unmodified • uses structured methods • to explore, describe phenomena • uses flexible, evolving design • uses semi-structured methods Analytical objectives • to quantify variation • to identify causal relationships • to predict & control phenomena • to test hypotheses • to generalize to population • to describe variation • to identify patterns • to describe & explain relationships and individual experiences, group norms Question format • Close-ended (if survey) •Open ended Qualitative methods can highlight questions like: ”What is….?” ”What means…?” ”How does….happen?” The aim is understanding more than explaining Qualitative inquiry in fields where knowledge is limited, problems are complex, and where we don’t know the categories for answers
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