Wicks Alison, Whiteford Gail
Australasian Occupational Science Centre, University of Wollongong, NSW, Australia.
Scand J Occup Ther. 2006 Jun;13(2):94-100. doi: 10.1080/11038120600654676.
Although qualitative research is becoming increasingly popular as a means of understanding not only occupation but also a range of other human health-related phenomena, the complex conceptual underpinnings of the paradigm remain relatively unexplored in the literature. This article addresses such a perceived gap. Context specificity, emic perspectives, its iterative nature, and power relations are four distinct conceptual dimensions of qualitative research that are discussed. The article also includes reflections on conceptual dimensions and practical issues in relation to a qualitative study that adopted a life history approach. These reflections highlight how the conceptual dimensions underpinning qualitative research guide the process in life-history research and shape the experience of life-history researchers. The practical considerations, which focus on participant qualities, effects on the researcher and the participant-researcher relationship, are particularly relevant for potential life-history researchers. The article concludes with a discussion on the value of life-history as a qualitative research approach for occupational therapy and occupational science.
尽管定性研究作为一种不仅能理解职业，还能理解一系列其他与人类健康相关现象的方法正变得越来越流行，但该范式复杂的概念基础在文献中仍相对未被探索。本文旨在解决这一明显的差距。情境特异性、主位视角、其迭代性质以及权力关系是定性研究的四个不同概念维度，将对此进行讨论。本文还包括对采用生命史方法的定性研究的概念维度和实际问题的思考。这些思考突出了定性研究的概念维度如何指导生命史研究过程并塑造生命史研究者的体验。关注参与者特质、对研究者及研究者与参与者关系影响的实际考量，对潜在的生命史研究者尤为重要。文章最后讨论了生命史作为职业治疗和职业科学定性研究方法的价值。
