Writing Qualitative Research Papers

Writing the Qualitative Research Report• A qualitative study is not complete until the

research report is written

• Researcher analyzes data and writes the analysis in back-and-forth reflective steps

• Writing the report is part of developing the interpretation of the data

Characteristics of Qualitative Research Reports• Author is a guide• Report increases reader’s understanding of

complicated social phenomena• Use of quotes as evidence for the themes

Special Challenges to Writing Qualitative Papers

• Qualitative writing demands the same general skills as quantitative articles, but prejudice and communication barriers are added challenges• Fewer competent referees, fewer journals and

”quantitative” hegemony in science• Qualitative papers are typically longer. This may be an

issue for journals or other settings where there is a word limit. • Clinical audiences may also be less inclined to read

longer, qualitative papers – requires a different kind of written document

Qualitative Report Sections:• Similar to quantitative reports1. Introduction2. Literature review/summary3. Methods section – discussion of data collection and analysis4. Findings/Results

• Differs from quantitative – much more text based, rather than table• May use graphics to display relationships of key themes

5. Discussion• Limitations• Implications of findings• Future research

Background/Literature Review• Shows that you want to establish your place in the research community• Cover the culturally relevant literature, but do not limit yourself to that• Should not only be descriptive: position yourself in relation to earlier

research. What has been missed or misinterpreted by earlier writers? Why do you want to build on someone else’s work?

• Components:• Conceptual/theoretical framework• What you have learned from previous research & how

you position yourself• Evidence that you are well informed on your topic

Writing the Methods Section• When/where fieldwork or data collection was conducted• Extent of researcher involvement in the environment during data

collection/study• Information about participant recruitment (if applicable)• Information about context/scene• Detailed information about participants (data)

• Demographics, other descriptives

• IRB• Analytic plan

• Underlying framework• Transcription• Determination of when saturation was reached• Coding• Triangulation (if applicable)

Writing the Results Section

• Qualitative research presents A LOT of data• Decisions about what to present – prioritize• What is the story you want to tell?• In whose voice will the story be told?

• Representative vs. striking quotations/evidence• “quantifying” how common a finding was• Need to protect identity of participants

(descriptives or pseudonyms)

Writing the Discussion Section• Similar to a quantitative discussion section• High-level overview of findings• Significance of findings – link back to previous research• Limitations to study/data• Next steps• Overall conclusion

• Not generalizable

Presenting in Posters/Slides

• Similar to quantitative posters• Summary headings• Illustrative text portions instead of tables