Abstract
The report is a result of an ongoing process of developing manual on qualitative
research for health professionals. The process of drafting the manual was a participatory
developmental process involving researchers as well as health professionals which are
targeted as the end users of the manual. Beginning with a manuscript developed by a group
of researchers at the Society and Health Institute, the draft manuscript was used as a manual
for an experimental training workshop for a group of health professionals. Participants of the
workshop were asked to reflect and suggest ways to improve the manual. Suggestions were
used to rewrite the manual and it will be tested by further trainings before final version could
be made available. The current report is therefore in its initial stage and needs further
refinement.
The purpose of this manuscript is to serve as an introductory manual for qualitative
research. It aims at providing health personnel with basic understanding of research work
and exercise for increasing necessary research skill. The manuscript is divided into four
chapters. The first chapter provides philosophical foundation for understanding how
knowledge is created in different modes of research work. It also explains the fundamental
principles and the differences between qualitative and quantitative research. The second
chapter discusses how to relate problems in everyday working situation of health workers to
research work. The third chapter discusses the methodological aspects of qualitative
research, starting with how research questions are formulated. Methods for data collection
are extensively elaborated with examples. Research tools and exercises are also included.
The final chapter discusses how qualitative data is analyzed and interpreted. Techniques on
report writing, presentation and how to make use of qualitative research results are also
incorporated in this chapter. Useful bibliographies on research design and methodology are
provided for further study. Techniques on proposal development and how to write a good
research proposal are also provided in the annex.
