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Chapter 5 - “To Be or Not to Be?” Qualitative Research upon and during a Pandemic Outbreak

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  14 November 2024

By
Gillie Gabay
Edited by
Paul M.W. Hackett ,
Christopher M. Hayre ,
Dave Muller ,
Marcia Scherer  and
Ava Gordley-Smith
Paul M.W. Hackett
Affiliation:
Emerson College, Boston
Christopher M. Hayre
Affiliation:
The University of Canberra
Dave Muller
Affiliation:
Suffolk University, Massachusetts
Marcia Scherer
Affiliation:
University of Rochester Medical Center, New York
Ava Gordley-Smith
Affiliation:
University of Suffolk
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Summary

Qualitative research has much to contribute to our knowledge regarding lived experiences in a crisis, but most research in the context of crises is quantitative. Domains of qualitative research remain under-represented. Qualitative researchers bear the responsibility to voice populations who may be already struggling in a health crisis. This chapter aims to disentangle a few dilemmas of qualitative researchers in planning and implementing rigorous research upon and during an outbreak of a crisis. Initial dilemmas are whether and how to conduct a qualitative study during the outbreak or retrospectively; how may the researcher access study populations; and how the researcher may encourage participation. Other dilemmas concern obtaining informed consent, determining the right timing and length for the interviews, and creating interviewee--interviewer trust and intimacy. The dilemmas following data collection relate to the quality criteria of data analysis.

Keywords

qualitative research in a health crisishidden communitiesinnovative methods
Type
Chapter
Information
The Future of Qualitative Research in Healthcare
The Role and Management of Digital Methods
 , pp. 52 - 67
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2024

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