Qualitative design adds meaning to the data collected and provides valuable context to the information.

Qualitative Research

• Capture and discover meaning once the researcher becomes immersed in the data
• Concepts are in the form of themes, motifs, generalizations and taxonomies
• Measures are created in an ad hoc manner and are often specific to the individual setting or researcher
• Data are in the form of words and images from documents, observations, and transcripts
• Theory can be causal or noncausal and is often inductive
• Research procedures are particular, and replication is very rare
• Analysis proceeds by extracting themes or generalizations from evidence and organizing data to present a coherent, consistent picture

excerpt from Social Research Methods W.Lawrence Neuman 6th edition Ch.6 pg 157

Common qualitative research tools include, but are not limited to:

• Surveys or Questionnaires- structured, semi-strucutred or a combination
• Interviews- structured, semi-structured, open or a combination
• Focus groups employing open/closed questions to gather information from a selected group
• Observation- in the form of field notes recorded while observing a particular research site/activities. Can be done by individual research participants in the form of a diary or journal recording activities on a regular basis and submitted to be analyzed later

These are common and preferred methods for Community-Based Research projects conducted with the HIV population in BC. They provide the descriptive basis for “pratice-based” evidence to inform programming and policy for HIV support services.

CBR principles are truly embraced when the research tools above are employed by trained peer research assistants- members of the HIV community- hired to gather the data.