satellite session on social science in prevention and vaccine research 17 th january 2013
TRANSCRIPT
Satellite Session on Social Science in prevention and vaccine research
17th January 2013
The quantitative – qualitative continuum
• Methods often seen in terms of quantitative versus qualitative (dichotomy)
• More useful to think of along a continuum of ‘structure’
• Degree of structure lies in form of question, but also in the anticipation/interpretation of the response
Structured -------------- Less structured
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Structured versus less structured
• False divide along disciplinary lines• Main issue: how is the construct defined, ‘measured’
and validated e.g.• What model/theory underlies the way we look at
the construct?• What dimensions are considered relevant and
measurable as variables (qualitatively or quantitatively)?
• Are there indicators for the variables that translate well into specific settings?
• Are we measuring what we set out to measure?
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Overview of methods
• Observation (direct and indirect)
• Interviews (individual and group)
• Audio and visual documentation
• Analysis of written materials and records
• Analysis of drawings and maps
• ...
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What characterises qualitative research methodology?
• Open-ended and in-depth • Flexible: use of multiple methods (triangulation) and
iteration• Naturalistic: studying things in their ‘natural’ settings• BUT
• Carefully planned, systematic and rigorous!
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Advantages/disadvantages of less structured methods
• Not quick!– need training and practise to administer– record, manage and analyse
BUT• ‘Richer’, explanatory data• Able to capture more than one dimension• Able to adapt to situation/setting: flexible,
iterative, and driven by ground level reality
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Advantages/disadvantages of structured methods
• Easier to administer, bigger numbers feasible• Easier to quantify BUT• Inflexible• Measures may not be appropriate to setting
or population• Limited in capturing depth as well as breadth
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Social Science research – to what end?
• Supplementary/complementary to other approaches• Exploratory (before/during/after)• Hypothesis generating• Development of data collection instruments
• Stand-alone • Describing and explaining behaviour• ‘Making sense of’ – meaning in context• Elucidating multiple perspectives (breadth)• Unravelling multiple layers (complexity and depth)
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Two examples of how mixed methods help to build a
deeper/broader understanding
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The unit of sampling and analysis
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The household
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`Groups at high risk’
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Ethics and informed consent
Informed consent
• The event and process models of informed consent provide a framework to understand decision making during the process
– Event model is about a one-time event leading to decision
– Process model assumes that decision making is a continuous process
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