A practitioner researcher’s opportunities and challenges in accessing interpretive case participants in a public healthcare setting

Louise Doyle

doi:10.1108/jwam-11-2018-0024

Abstract

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to document the opportunities and challenges of a practitioner researcher in accessing interpretive case participants in the public healthcare sector in Ireland. Design/methodology/approach The paper documents the research design and implementation phases of a longitudinal interpretive research project with specific focus on, research ethics, preparing for data collection, identifying and recruiting the research participants and analysis of the findings based on the specific nuances of the public health context and design considerations. Considerations as an insider researcher in a large public organisation are also presented. Findings Conducting interpretive research in a healthcare setting presents both opportunities and some challenges; key amongst these is agreed access to research participants. In addition, with research taking place in a healthcare environment, the potential for disclosure of information regarding something harmful to patients or of a criminal nature exists. This risk can be addressed through the ethical approval process documented in this paper. Insider researcher considerations are also explored focussing on the specific nuances affiliate to carrying out a longitudinal interpretive study in a public healthcare setting. Research limitations/implications Insights for those wishing to conduct longitudinal interpretive case research in the public healthcare setting are included. The implications for enhanced engagement with interpretive research in this context are addressed. Originality/value Through documenting the opportunities and challenges of a practitioner researcher in accessing research participants in the public healthcare sector, this paper discusses insider researcher considerations and seeks to address concerns in the literature regarding insufficient detail relating to interpretive research design and implementation in healthcare contexts.

Highlights

As interpretive case research is an increasingly popular approach amongst qualitative researchers (Thomas, 2011), there are greater calls for researcher accounts on how to carry out these studies in the public healthcare sector (Crowe et al, 2011; Hyett et al, 2014)
This paper provides an overview of the research design, including considerations as an insider researcher, followed by an exploration of preparation for data collection, obtaining ethical approval, identification and recruitment of research participants and analysis of the findings based on the specific nuances of the public health context and design considerations
I have set out the opportunities and challenges encountered as a practitioner researcher in accessing research participants in the public healthcare context

Summary

Introduction

As interpretive case research is an increasingly popular approach amongst qualitative researchers (Thomas, 2011), there are greater calls for researcher accounts on how to carry out these studies in the public healthcare sector (Crowe et al, 2011; Hyett et al, 2014). It acknowledges that those conducting research in healthcare settings face particular ethical rules and standards covered by both external and internal regulation (Franklin et al, 2012) and considers the complex nature of qualitative research in this setting. It addresses the research design and implementation phases of an interpretive case, with specific focus on preparing for data collection and identifying and recruiting the research participants in this healthcare context. As the paper documents a personal journey, the researcher refers to herself in the first person throughout

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