Qualitative Research for Allied Health Professionals

Most information currently available to health professionals focuses on quantitative research; this book fills the gap. Written by occupational therapists and physiotherapists of international standing, this practical text maps the links between philosophy, research methods and practice in an accessible way. Qualitative Research for Allied Health Professionals - Challenging choices is a practical text, which addresses the links between philosophy, research method and practice in an accessible, readable way. The subtitle, Challenging Choices', carries a double meaning: qualitative research is both challenging (ie, demanding and stimulating) to undertake and likely to be challenged and contested. In particular, the choices researchers make when designing, carrying out and reporting research will attract scrutiny. To help researchers take on this double challenge, the book: Highlights some of the choices involved in carrying out qualitative research. Offers a wide range of practical examples to show how different ways of qualitative researched can be managed. Critically examines a variety if qualitative research methodologies of particular interest to allied health professionals. Clarifies the links between epistemology, methodology and method. This book is structured in three parts. Part 1 Sensitizes readers to the complex issue which challenge qualitative researchers at the planning stage of their projects. In part 2, the challenge of using different methodologies is critically explored by eleven authors who describe their individual research experiences. Part 3 examines the choices researchers make when they evaluate and present research. This practical text addresses a gap in the literature by mapping the links between philosophy, research method and practice in an accessible, readable way. It offers guidance to allied health professionals – increasingly involved in research as the emphasis grows on evidence-based practice – on how to engage in meaningful, good quality qualitative research. To help researchers take on this challenge, the book: highlights some of the choices involved in carrying out qualitative research offers a wide range of practical examples to show how different ways of doing qualitative research can be managed critically examines a variety of qualitative research methodologies of particular interest to allied health professionals clarifies the links between epistemology, methodology and method. The book is structured in three parts. Part I sensitises readers to the complex issues which challenge qualitative researchers at the planning stage of their projects. In Part II, the challenge of using different methodologies is critically explored by fifteen authors, who describe their individual research experiences. Part III examines the choices researchers make when they evaluate and present research.