Leplaa Hidde Jelmer, Tönjes Jari A, Bouterse Mariska, Soppe Karlijn F B, Klugkist Irene
Department of Methodology and Statistics, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
PLoS One. 2025 Jun 16;20(6):e0324936. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0324936. eCollection 2025.
Studies with experimental designs are almost invariably evaluated with quantitative outcomes and methods, both in behavioral sciences and other disciplines. We argue that there can be added value of using qualitative methods for the evaluation of (behavioral) experiments. Incorporating qualitative data can enhance the ecological validity of a study, by acquiring a more holistic understanding of the phenomenon of interest. There is, however, little methodological guidance on how to implement such an approach. In this paper we present the different steps and considerations for a qualitative evaluation of results in experimental designs. Methodological guidelines are offered for each stage of a study, from formulation of the research goals, through data collection and data analysis, to the interpretation of a potential effect of the intervention. In addition, there is ample attention for ensuring the rigor of the research. The presented guidelines are developed and illustrated using an empirical example, in which a constructivist grounded theory approach was applied to evaluate the effect of empathy prompts on the motivation to adhere to COVID-19 regulations.
无论是在行为科学还是其他学科中，采用实验设计的研究几乎总是通过定量结果和方法进行评估。我们认为，使用定性方法评估（行为）实验可能会有额外的价值。纳入定性数据可以通过对感兴趣的现象获得更全面的理解来提高研究的生态效度。然而，关于如何实施这种方法的方法指导却很少。在本文中，我们介绍了对实验设计结果进行定性评估的不同步骤和注意事项。针对研究的每个阶段都提供了方法指南，从研究目标的制定，到数据收集和数据分析，再到对干预潜在效果的解释。此外，还充分关注确保研究的严谨性。所提出的指南是通过一个实证例子来制定和说明的，在这个例子中，应用了建构主义扎根理论方法来评估共情提示对遵守新冠疫情防控规定动机的影响。
