Qualitative research      

The Challenge

Social science research in the 20^th Century was dominated by quantitative methods. The assumption was that 'variables' could be measured and that 'prediction' should be the goal of science. In 1980, anthropologists were among the few researchers who were using qualitative research - listening, observing, recording - to explore meaning and context. As CCBR began to study human services in the early 1980s, it became apparent that qualitative inquiry would be needed to explore how people 'experience' various interventions. At the time, the application of qualitative methods to human services was quite ground breaking. CCBR's qualitative work enabled us to provide insights about the depth of people's experience and built on the growing theories that reality is indeed 'socially constructed.' It also enabled people's own 'voices' to be directly heard, rather than being muted through the researcher or through numbers. Qualitative research had its detractors in the early years, but CCBR studies demonstrated that these approaches were very useful for understanding experience, meaning, relationships, context, and process. As CCBR took on larger studies, we began to combine qualitative and quantitative approaches, giving us insights into both the breadth and the depth of the issue under study. Also, as we deepened our qualitative work, we began to engage participants in the research journey, which led CCBR to spearhead participatory action research as a key innovation in our work.

Partners

CCBR has partnered with a number of Canadian funders and organizations to conduct qualitative research studies. Our first three-year initiative was a joint project with the Canadian Mental Health Association (National Office) and the Laidlaw Foundation. Subsequent research included a series of empowerment studies funded by the Federal Government and the Scottish Rite Foundation. Other Partners have included Welfare Grants Directorate of Health and Welfare Canada, Social Science and Humanities Research Council, and the Ontario Ministry of Community and Social Services.

Innovative Solutions

CCBR's approach to qualitative research follows several key principles:

• Figure out with stakeholders whose perspective needs to be identified
• Recognize that there may sometimes be value in focusing on 'one perspective' in-depth, while at other times, 'multiple perspectives' make more sense
• Listen deeply to people and respect their experience and reflections by recording carefully and directly
• Spend time in people's contexts in order to appreciate their meaning and reality
• Provide an audit trail for the analysis of transcripts, so that key insights can be 'tracked' and reviewed for authenticity
• Look for patterns and themes that reflect the transcripts, but always watch for both majority and minority patterns
• Honour people's participation by sharing any written work with research participants
• Engage participants as volunteers or consumer/community researchers

One Example

Over a two year period, CCBR completed a number of small studies on the empowerment process. Each of these small studies later became part of a larger study which contributed significantly to our understanding of the process of how people move from a sense of 'powerlessness' to a process of participation and empowerment.

The studies involved in-depth biographical interviews with people who had experienced this process. These interviews were long and insightful. Many people shared the wounds they had experienced and identified what helped them progress.

The data from these studies was so rich that we were able to create a 'framework' that gave insight into the process. This work has been widely published.

As the studies were nearing publication, CCBR researchers presented the themes and insights at several conferences. These presentations always took place with the research participants. The response from various audiences was always very positive, as people could 'hear' the themes 'first-hand,' often in an emotional and heart-wrenching way.

Discoveries

In-depth qualitative studies require deep sensitivity to participants and a highly ethical approach to the work. We learned that not everyone can tell their 'story' and that those that do need to feel safe and that the researchers can be trusted.

We learned that involving research participants in the presentation of qualitative findings can be empowering for participants and very meaningful for others. In terms of how knowledge production leads to social change, this involvement also creates the possibility that further conversation and action may follow.

-written by John Lord

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