Sale Joanna E M, Carlin Leslie
Musculoskeletal Health and Outcomes Research, Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, St. Michael's Hospital, Unity Health Toronto, 30 Bond Street, Toronto, ON, M5B 1W8, Canada.
Institute of Health Policy, Management & Evaluation, University of Toronto, Health Sciences Building, 155 College Street, Suite 425, Toronto, ON, M5T 3M6, Canada.
BMC Med Res Methodol. 2025 Feb 13;25(1):36. doi: 10.1186/s12874-025-02461-0.
While acknowledging that theory can be critical to scientific progress, we are concerned about instances of its tendency to encroach on, or replace, deep engagement with data in qualitative research. We discuss conceptual frameworks' role in conducting and teaching qualitative research.
We address three questions about our attachment as researchers to theory through conceptual frameworks: (1) What do conceptual frameworks offer qualitative research?; (2) Why do researchers use and teach conceptual frameworks in qualitative research?; and (3) How can we practice and teach rigour while integrating conceptual frameworks in qualitative research?
One way that theory may be misused in qualitative research is in the development and reliance on conceptual frameworks as a prescription for data collection and analysis. We suggest possible ways forward to ensure rigour while integrating frameworks in qualitative research, such as examining the evolution of our own theoretical perspectives.
We need to impart to our students the value of thinking deeply about their own data, of knowing what came before, and of taking the time and making an effort to unite these strands into novel and interesting results.
虽然承认理论对科学进步至关重要,但我们担心在定性研究中,理论有侵蚀或取代深入数据研究的倾向。我们讨论概念框架在定性研究的开展和教学中的作用。
我们通过概念框架探讨关于研究人员对理论的依赖的三个问题:(1)概念框架为定性研究提供了什么?;(2)为什么研究人员在定性研究中使用和教授概念框架?;(3)在定性研究中整合概念框架时,我们如何实践和教授严谨性?
理论在定性研究中可能被滥用的一种方式是在概念框架的开发和依赖中,将其作为数据收集和分析的规定。我们提出了在定性研究中整合框架时确保严谨性的可能方法,例如审视我们自己理论观点的演变。
我们需要向学生传授深入思考自己数据的价值、了解之前的情况,以及花时间并努力将这些方面整合为新颖有趣结果的重要性。