定性研究实用指南：简介

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Introduction

In the course of our supervisory work over the years, we have noticed that while many researchers who conducted qualitative research for the first time understood the tenets of qualitative research, knowing about qualitative methodology and carrying out qualitative research were two different things. We noticed that they somehow mixed quantitative and qualitative methodology and methods. We also observed that they experienced many uncertainties when doing qualitative research. They expressed a great need for practical guidance regarding key methodological issues. For example, questions often heard and addressed were, ‘What kind of literature would I search for when preparing a qualitative study?’ ‘Is it normal that my research question seems to change during the study?’ ‘What types of sampling can I use?’ ‘What methods of data collection are appropriate?’ ‘Can I wait with my analysis until all data have been collected?’ ‘What are the quality criteria for qualitative research?’ ‘How do I report my qualitative study?’ This induced us to write this series providing ‘practical guidance’ to qualitative research.

Qualitative research

Qualitative research has been defined as the investigation of phenomena, typically in an in-depth and holistic fashion, through the collection of rich narrative materials using a flexible research design [1]. Qualitative research aims to provide in-depth insights and understanding of real-world problems and, in contrast to quantitative research, it does not introduce treatments, manipulate or quantify predefined variables. Qualitative research encompasses many different designs, which however share several key features as presented in Box 1.

Qualitative research is associated with the constructivist or naturalistic paradigm, which began as a countermovement to the positivistic paradigm associated with quantitative research. Where positivism assumes that there is an orderly reality that can be objectively studied, constructivism holds that there are multiple interpretations of reality and that the goal of the research is to understand how individuals construct reality within their natural context [1].

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引言

       在多年的督导工作中，我们注意到，虽然许多第一次进行定性研究的研究者了解定性研究的原则，但了解定性方法和进行定性研究是两码事。我们注意到，他们在某种程度上混合了定量和定性的方法和手段。我们还注意到，他们在做定性研究时遇到了许多不确定因素。他们表示非常需要关于关键方法论问题的实际指导。例如，经常听到和解决的问题是："在准备定性研究时，我应该搜索什么样的文献？""在研究过程中，我的研究问题似乎发生了变化，这正常吗？""我可以使用什么类型的抽样？""什么方法适合收集数据？""我可以等到所有数据收集完毕后再进行分析吗？""定性研究的质量标准是什么？""我如何报告我的定性研究？这促使我们写了这一系列的文章，为质性研究提供 "实用指南"。

定性研究

       定性研究被定义为对现象的调查，通常是以深入和全面的方式，通过使用灵活的研究设计收集丰富的叙述材料[1]。定性研究旨在提供对现实世界问题的深入见解和理解，与定量研究相比，它不引入处理方法，不操纵或量化预定的变量。定性研究包括许多不同的设计，但它们有几个共同的关键特征，如方框1中所示。

       定性研究与建构主义或自然主义范式有关，它是作为与定量研究相关的实证主义范式的反击运动开始的。实证主义认为存在一个可以客观研究的有序的现实，而建构主义则认为存在对现实的多种解释，研究的目标是了解个人如何在其自然环境中建构现实[1]。

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