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Qualitative Core

Why use Qualitative Research Methods ?

  • To develop a deep understanding of a topic
  • To highlight voices and experiences often missing from our knowledge base
  • To explore topics that do not have instruments or measures
  • To analyze thoughts, feelings, and behaviors
  • To develop explanatory models and theories

Qualitative Core’s Goals When Working With You

  • Enhance the rigor, transparency and credibility of your study
  • Ensure the design is appropriate for the study aims
  • Best practices for collaboration, partnership and co-design with community partners
  • Appropriate and rigorous analytical plan (including member checking, peer review, or validation where appropriate)

WE CAN SUPPORT YOU DURING ALL PHASES OF YOUR RESEARCH INCLUDING

  • Philosophical approach
  • Methodology and research design
  • Specific aims
  • Sampling plan (information power/data sufficiency/data saturation)
  • Data collection plan
  • Data management
  • Dissemination
  • As a member of the DSMB
  • Consult with a member of the qualitative core before making changes and hoping for the best
  • If qualitative core members are active collaborators on the project, they can sometimes see trouble ahead and help to prevent or alleviate it

Start Working With Us Early During Proposal Development!

  • Early in proposal development stage is the best
  • Studies have problems, that is OK
  • Definitely consult with a member of the qualitative core before making changes and hoping for the best
  • If qualitative core members are active collaborators on the project, they can sometimes see trouble ahead and help to prevent or alleviate it
  • Involve us in philosophical approach, methodology, design, community engagement, and data management approach
  • We are an important part of the DSMB

How To Get In Touch With Us

If you would like to talk with a member of the qualitative core, please email: [email protected]

To request a Qualitative Core Consultation, please select this link and complete the request form:

Qualitative Core Consultation Form

Faculty

Martha Abshire Saylor

Martha Abshire Saylor
PhD, MSN, BA, RN

Expertise

Study Design/Methodology:

  • Qualitative description,

Data Collection:

  • Semi-structured interviews,

Analysis:

  • Content and thematic analysis
  • Use of photographs to enhance qualitative analysis

Specialist Content Areas

  • Cardiac conditions
  • Caregiving,
  • Dyadic experience of advanced illness
  • Dementia,
  • End of life,
  • Heart failure,
  • Shared decision making
Kamila A. Alexander

Kamila A. Alexander
PhD, MSN/MPH, BSN, BS, RN
Natalie and Wes Bush Rising Professor

Expertise

Study Design/Methodology:

  • Focus group methodology

Data Analysis:

  • Content analysis
  • Narrative analysis
  • Thematic analysis

Specialist Content Areas

  • Activity-space
  • Community-engaged research
  • Gender-based violence
  • HIV
  • Intimate partner violence
  • Intersectionality
  • Mental health
  • Syndemics
  • Social networks
  • Women’s health
Anna Beeber

Anna Beeber
PhD, MSN, BSN, RN
CNE
FAAN
Associate Dean, Faculty Development

Expertise

Study Design/Methodology:

  • Community engaged research
  • Grounded Theory,
  • Ethnography
  • Qualitative, multiple method, and mixed methods proposals

Data Collection:

  • Evaluation of consent for potentially cognitively impaired study participants

Data Analysis:

  • Secondary analysis of qualitative data
  • Qualitative analysis

Specialist Content Areas

  • Aging 
  • Long-term care
  • Workforce
Catherine Ling

Catherine Ling
PhD, MN, BSN, RN
CNE, FNP-BC
FAAN, FAANP
Chief Nursing Officer, Center for Community Programs, Innovation & Scholarship (COMPASS)

Expertise

Study Design/Methodology

  • Educational pedagogy;
  • Photovoice in education
  • Qualitative methods in clinical practice settings for QI;

Data Analysis

  • Narrative analysis
  • Thematic analysis

Specialist Content Areas

  • Community programming
  • Military/Veterans and families;
  • Primary care
  • School Health
Associate Dean of DEIB

Expertise

Study Design/Methodology

  • Case Study Design,
  • Grounded Theory
  • Interview Protocol Design Phenomenology

Data Collection

  • Focus Groups
  • Data Analysis Coding 

Specialist Content Areas

  • Ableism
  • Health Equity
  • Identity Construction (i.e. race, gender, sexuality, class, etc.)
  • Social Determinants of Health
  • Universal Health Access
Janiece Taylor

Janiece L. Taylor
PhD, MSN, BSN, RN
FAAN

Expertise

Study Design/Methodology:

  • Qualitative Description;

Data Collection:

  • Focus groups;
  • Qualitative methods for research with older adults

Data Analysis:

  • Narrative analysis;
  • Saturation across qualitative methodologies

Specialist Content Areas

  • Disability
  • Equity
  • Pain,
  • Older adults
  • Women’s health
Jennifer A. Wenzel

Jennifer A. Wenzel
PhD, MS, BS, RN
CCM
FAAN
Director, PhD and Postdoctoral Programs

Expertise

Study Design/Methodology:

  • Hermeneutic phenomenology;
  • Mixed methods;
  • Qualitative description;

Data Collection:

  • Individual and focus group interviews;
  • Data Analysis: Program evaluation

Specialist Content Areas

  • Cancer:
    • Survivorship,
    • Treatment
    • Decision-making,
    • Dyadic interventions;
  • Health disparities
Rebecca Wright

Rebecca J. Wright
PhD, BSc (Hons), RN

Expertise

Study Design/Methodology:

  • Experience Based Co Design
    • Participatory Action Research
    • Co-Design
  • Delphi Methodology
  • Patient/caregiver/community & non-health partner engagement
  • Recruitment & retention strategies
  • Sampling (information power, data sufficiency & saturation);
  • Strategies & innovation in qualitative approaches across wide variety of populations and settings

Data Collection:

  • Film & photovoice;
  • Narrative & semi-structured interviewing techniques
  • Workshops & focus groups

Data Analysis

  • Framework analysis
  • Thematic analysis
  • Reflexive thematic analysis

Specialist Content Areas

  • Caregivers/care partners/Family
  • Diversity, Equity, Inclusion with an Intersectional focus,
  • Nursing Research
  • Palliative & End of Life Care
    • Settings: Emergency department, ICU, Clinic, Community
    • Populations: Broad palliative care needs, Older adults, Racial/Ethnic/Nationality tailoring, ALS, Wounds,
  • Wound care

Role of Co-Investigator on the proposal

  • Qualitative Core Expert role in proposal development
  • Align aims, methods, and analyses
  • Guidance on piloting interview/focus groups topic guide, if needed
  • Support identification of required sample size for study purpose
  • Write the analysis section of proposals
  • Review the budget to ensure support for data management, data cleaning, and analyses

Role of Consultant on the proposal

  • Qualitative Core Expert role in proposal development
  • Align aims, methods, and analyses
  • Guidance on piloting interview/focus groups topic guide, if needed
  • Support identification of required sample size for study purpose
  • Support development of the analysis section of proposals
  • Review the budget to ensure support for data management, data cleaning, and analyses
  • We are able to help depending on the scope of the request
  • Best approach
  • Meet with Qualitative Core Expert to discuss what is needed, devise analysis plan, and timeline
  • Work will be assigned to a Qualitative Core member based on interest, expertise, and workload
  • Depending on the amount involvement in the project, the Qualitative Core Expert may be considered for co-authorship

Support can be requested for consultation on manuscript response to reviewers, if needed.

  • During the semesters, the Qualitative Core holds an in-person Qualitative Research Methods Data Drop in Clinic.
    • This clinic is for doctoral students who are working on qualitative research within their doctoral studies who have questions or are needing supporting in any of the following:
      • Methodology
      • Design
      • Data Collection
      • Data Analysis
      • Technical Aspects
      • Collaboration/Participant Involvement/Inclusion
    • The date and time are subject to change based on new semesters and Qualitative Core Expert availability – doctoral students will receive email updates with information in addition to the website.
      • For the Spring 2024 semester, the drop-in clinic runs on:
      • When: Fridays, 12:00pm-1:30pm
      • Where: JHSON S405
  • PhD NRSA Proposal Support
    • Student works with one Qualitative Core member on the proposal
    • The Student, Adviser, and Qualitative Core Expert reach agreed upon aims, research design, and analysis plan
    • Help with sample size, writing of the analysis section
    • Need to begin working together at least 45 days prior to the submission date
  • PhD Dissertation
    • Goal is to have students participate in the data management training and working group so they can do their own data management under guidance
    • If analyses are complex, it is recommended a Biostatistics Core member is on the committee
    • If no biostatistician on the PhD committee, Biostatistics Core will provide basic consultation
  • DNP Students
    • The DNP program has statistical support integrated into the course of study. DNP students should direct requests for statistical support to the faculty for 817 and/or 818 and their DNP advisors

To be discussed as per project need, but can include:

  • Train project staff in data management, data collection, and data analysis, and rigor in the associated qualitative research method.
  • Hold as needed or regular working group of project staff to discuss issues in recruitment, retention, and data management
  • Hold as needed, or regular sessions to support data analysis and coding process.

Guidance and support in building, growing and sustaining relationships and partnerships with community groups and individuals

  • Best practices for Advisory Groups
  • Best practices for including community members as co-investigators, consultants, and co-authors
  • Support for tailoring approaches to different populations, different settings, and different methodological approaches

  • Available to 1-2 students over a two-semester timeframe, who:
    • Have demonstrated experience with qualitative data management, data collection, and data analysis.
      OR
    • Wish to gain hands-on experience
      • Involvement could satisfy a Research Residency
  • After completing a brief interview, students are assigned to a project and mentored by a Qualitative Core Expert

Involvement includes:

  • Students and Qualitative Core meet together to discuss ongoing projects
  • Preparation and presentation of a qualitative training session (topic TBD)
  • Observe and help respond to Qualitative Core requests
  • Attend and support the weekly Qualitative Core doctoral drop in clinic
  • Support administrative running of the core
  • Students may be able to help with analyses of manuscripts and presentations when there is no funding available
DateWorkshop
4/11/2024Workshop Title: Improving the study trustworthiness using the COREQ: A gendered case example
Speaker/s: Quanlei Li, PhD, MPH, MSN, BSN, RN
Link & Passcode: Wright
09/06/2023Workshop Title: Developing a Qualitative Proposal
Speaker/s: Dr Catherine Ling, Dr Janiece Taylor, Dr Jennifer Wenzel, Dr Rebecca Wright
Link & Passcode
06/21/2023Workshop Title: Lessons Learned From The Field: A Panel Discussion with Qualitative Investigators
Speaker/s: Dr Catherine Ling, Dr Janiece Taylor, Dr Jennifer Wenzel, Dr Rebecca Wright
Link & Passcode:
04/05/2023Workshop Title: Increasing Rigor in Qualitative Sampling Approaches: Saturation & Information Power
Speaker/s: Dr Rebecca Wright
Link & Passcode: *20baY1T
DateWorkshop
TBDWorkshop Title: Is This About What I Think or What They Think? Rigor Across Different Approaches in Qualitative Data Analysis.
Speaker/s: Dr Rebecca Wright
TBDWorkshop Title: Refining Qualitative Data Collection Skills: Semi-Structured interviews, Narrative interviews, and Focus group.
Speaker/s: Dr Rebecca Wright
TBDWorkshop Title: Supporting Your Team and Participants While Working with Important and Challenging Topics in Qualitative Research: Dynamics, Risks, and Strategies.
Speakers/s:
TBDWorkshop Title: Identifying & Managing Risks in Qualitative Research: Planning Ahead, Navigating the IRB, and Protecting Participants
Speaker/s: Panel Discussion with Qualitative Core Members (moderator TBD)
TBDWorkshop Title: Recruitment, Retention, and Relationship: Strategies for Maintaining Participant Engagement in Qualitative Research
Speaker/s: Panel Discussion with Qualitative Core Members (Moderator TBD)
TBD Workshop Title: Strategies for Ethical Conduct in Qualitative Research
Speaker/s:
TBDWorkshop Title: Strategies for Selecting Your Approach and Methodology in Qualitative Research
Speaker/s:
TBDWorkshop Title: Revisiting Sample Size in Qualitative Research – Worked Examples of Information Power, Data Sufficiency, and Data Saturation
Speaker/s: Dr Rebecca Wright