Anne Magarey, PHC RIS
 Successful Qualitative Health Research: a practical introduction
The use of qualitative research, and its status, is increasing in the field of health research. There are several factors which account for this, including the use of multidisciplinary teams of researchers, the types of research questions being asked, and the growth of evaluation in health research.
New researchers who wish to make use of qualitative methodologies have a daunting amount of information available to them, and often struggle with this. They may also have issues with the rigour of their qualitative research. This book by Emily Hansen sets out the information in a way which describes and clarifies the necessary steps in the research process, the methods of qualitative research, analysis of data and writing in qualitative research. The introductory chapter discusses issues such as the differences between qualitative and quantitative research, combining these research paradigms in a project, and the theoretical aspects of qualitative research.
The book is easy to read, clear, and holds the reader's interest. It is neither an advanced academic text, nor a lightweight do-it-yourself work. It covers a great deal of information in a logical manner. Chapters which are about specific methods of conducting qualitative research have case studies relevant to the methodology. For example, the chapter on Interviewing takes the reader through all the things s/he needs to know, and then presents a case study of In-depth interviews with GP therapists practising CAM (complementary and alternative medicine). The case study is written by a well-known health researcher.
Each chapter provides a summary and recommended reading. The work is very thoroughly referenced for those who wish to pursue their own particular interests. There is a glossary of terms and an index for ease of use.
The book is thoroughly recommended for early career researchers, and for others who wish to learn more about qualitative research and how to use it. It is practical, reader-friendly, and comprehensive.
Reference:
Hansen, E.C. (2006) Successful Qualitative Health Research: a practical introduction. Allen & Unwin.
Interested readers can obtain a copy of the book, or place an order:
E: academic@allenandunwin.com
Web: http://www.ebooks.com/ebooks/book_display.asp?IID=273909
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