The qualitative interview and challenges for clinicians undertaking research: a personal reflection
Karin Fisher
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
University Department of Rural Health, University of Newcastle, Locked Bag 9783, Tamworth NEMSC, NSW 2348, Australia. Email: karin.fisher@newcastle.edu.au
Australian Journal of Primary Health 17(1) 102-106 https://doi.org/10.1071/PY10034
Submitted: 27 July 2010 Accepted: 11 February 2011 Published: 16 March 2011
Abstract
Drawing on my doctoral experience the aim of this article is to present my transition from practitioner to novice researcher and the challenges I encountered when undertaking qualitative in-depth interviews. The contents of my research diary were coded for words, sentences and paragraphs and were then grouped into themes and subsequently organised into concepts and categories. The analysis identified one core category: ‘changing states: learning to become a researcher’. The related categories included ‘guessing responses’, ‘confusing boundaries’ and ‘revealing hidden concepts’. These concepts provide a description of how I learnt to become a researcher and became a changed state. The paper provides practitioners with practical examples of my transition from practitioner to novice researcher. I offer some tips for practitioners who wish to undertake research in their clinical role.
Additional keywords: novice researcher, practitioner, reflexivity, rural.
References
Alligood MR, Marriner-Tomey A (2006) ‘Nursing theory: utilization and application.’ (Mosby: Missouri)Arber A (2006) Reflexivity: a challenge for the researcher as practitioner? Journal of Research in Nursing 11, 147–157.
| Reflexivity: a challenge for the researcher as practitioner?Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Bowers R, Minichiello V, Plummer D (2007) Qualitative research in counselling: a reflection for novice counsellor researchers. Qualitative Report 12, 131–145.
Cassell C, Bishop V, Symon G, Johnson P, Buehring A (2009) Learning to be a qualitative management researcher. Management Learning 40, 513–533.
| Learning to be a qualitative management researcher.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Chiovitti RF, Piran N (2003) Rigour and grounded theory research. Journal of Advanced Nursing 44, 427–435.
| Rigour and grounded theory research.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 14651715PubMed |
Colbourne L, Sque M (2004) Split personalities: role conflict between the nurse and the nurse researcher. Nursing Times Research 9, 297–304.
| Split personalities: role conflict between the nurse and the nurse researcher.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
DiCicco-Bloom B, Crabtree BF (2006) Making sense of qualitative research: the qualitative research interview. Medical Education 40, 314–321.
| Making sense of qualitative research: the qualitative research interview.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 16573666PubMed |
Elliott-Rudder M (2010) Researcher networking drives change: an autoenthnographic narrative analysis from medical graduate to primary health researcher. Australian Journal of Primary Health 16, 108–115.
| Researcher networking drives change: an autoenthnographic narrative analysis from medical graduate to primary health researcher.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Finlay L (2002) ‘Outing’ the researcher: the provenance, process, and practice of reflexivity. Qualitative Health Research 12, 531–545.
| ‘Outing’ the researcher: the provenance, process, and practice of reflexivity.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 11939252PubMed |
Fisher K (2007) Understanding sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in rural communities: a quantitative and qualitative approach. Doctoral Thesis. University New England, Armidale.
Foley D (2002) Critical ethnography: the reflexive turn. International Journal of Qualitative Studies in Education 15, 469–490.
| Critical ethnography: the reflexive turn.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Fox N (1999) ‘Beyond health: postmodernism and embodiment.’ (Free Association Books: London)
Garthwaite K (2009) What a performance! Exploring the reflexive roles of the researcher and the researched within health and illness narratives. Enquire 4, 110–133.
Glaser B, Strauss A (1967) ‘The discovery of grounded theory.’ (Weidenfield and Nicolson: London)
Gunasekara C (2007) Pivoting the centre: reflections on undertaking qualitative interviewing in academia. Qualitative Research 7, 461–475.
| Pivoting the centre: reflections on undertaking qualitative interviewing in academia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Holton J (2007) The coding process and its challenges. In ‘The Sage handbook of grounded theory’. (Eds A Bryant, K Charmaz) pp. 265–289. (Sage: London)
Malacrida C (2007) Reflexive journaling on emotional research topics: ethical issues for team researchers. Qualitative Health Research 17, 1329–1339.
| Reflexive journaling on emotional research topics: ethical issues for team researchers.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 18000072PubMed |
McConnell-Henry T, James A, Chapman Y, Francis K (2009) Researching with people you know: issues in interviewing. Contemporary Nurse 34, 2–9.
McNair R, Taft A, Hegarty K (2008) Using reflexivity to enhance in-depth interviewing skills for the clinician researcher. BMC Medical Research Methodology 8, 73
| Using reflexivity to enhance in-depth interviewing skills for the clinician researcher.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 18992167PubMed |
Mertkan-Ozunlu S (2007) Reflexive accounts about qualitative interviewing within the context of educational policy in North Cyprus. Qualitative Research 7, 447
| Reflexive accounts about qualitative interviewing within the context of educational policy in North Cyprus.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Minichiello V, Aroni R, Timewell E, Alexander L (1995) ‘In-depth interviewing.’ (Longman Australia: Melbourne)
Patton M (2002) ‘Qualitative research and evaluation methods.’ (Sage Publications: California)
Pillow W (2003) Confession, catharsis, or cure? Rethinking the uses of reflexivity as methodological power in qualitative research. International Journal of Qualitative Studies in Education 16, 175–196.
| Confession, catharsis, or cure? Rethinking the uses of reflexivity as methodological power in qualitative research.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Pini B (2004) On being a nice country girl and an academic feminist: Using reflexivity in rural social research. Journal of Rural Studies 20, 169–179.
| On being a nice country girl and an academic feminist: Using reflexivity in rural social research.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Siltanen J (2008) Separately together: working reflexively as a team. International Journal of Social Research Methodology 11, 45–61.
| Separately together: working reflexively as a team.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Taylor J, Fuller J (2004) Rural practitioners as researchers: The Spencer Gulf experience of research development in primary health. Australian Journal of Primary Health 10, 104–109.
| Rural practitioners as researchers: The Spencer Gulf experience of research development in primary health.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
