Description
This academic presentation by Dr M N. Munakampe from the University of Zambia School of Public Health introduces the fundamentals of qualitative research for tertiary-level studies. It defines qualitative research as an exploratory approach focused on understanding social context, behaviors, attitudes, perceptions, and meanings as described by participants, contrasting it with quantitative methods. The material outlines key reasons for using qualitative research in public health, emphasizing its strength in addressing complex behavioral, social, and cultural dimensions of health issues. It covers central concepts such as cultural relativism and critical self-awareness, and details major qualitative research approaches including ethnography, grounded theory, case studies, and phenomenology. This resource is essential for university and college students in diploma, degree, or postgraduate programs in public health, social sciences, and health research, providing a foundation for designing studies that explore human experiences and social phenomena. Download these notes to develop skills in qualitative inquiry and enhance your research methodology toolkit.
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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