Waarnemingsmethoden in kwalitatief onderzoek

Abstract

Hak T. Data collection in qualitative research. Huisarts Wet 2004;47(11):502-8. This article discusses the main methods of data collection in qualitative research. Ways of achieving appropriate levels of validity and reliabilityand of avoiding selection bias are discussed. Because qualitative research is characterised by an iteration between data collection and analysis, it is quite common that multiple types of data collection are used in a single research project, each of which plays a role in a specific phase of the research project. Unfortunately, the most common research design published in medical journals is the ‘cross-sectional qualitative survey’, in which conclusions are based on data from one-off unstructured or semi-structured interviews with a limited number of individuals (usually patients), selected in a more or less unsystematic manner (‘convenience sample’). This design is rather problematic. Data collection through focus groups is also a popular method used in medical and health services research. It is often invalid in terms of the research objective and question. The best qualitative research consists of consecutive parts. Each of these is steered by a research objective and a question that is dependent on the results of the preceding parts. In each part, a method of data collection is chosen that is appropriate for that part's particular research objective and question.