A curated list of highly readable and usable qualitative research articles.
Qualitative (sub) study funding
The PaCCSC/CST Qualitative Research Subcommittee has developed a template to support the preparation of funding applications for qualitative (sub) study cost elements. The template is designed to assist investigators in preparing budgets for qualitative studies as part of clinical trials. Scroll to 'Template 46 Qualitative Research Costing' on the Templates page.
Introductory articles
The following list of methods articles was curated by the PaCCSC/CST Qualitative Research Subcommittee. These articles, sorted by topic, provide guidance on some common topics and issues in qualitative research to get you started.
These articles are by no means considered the ‘be-all and end-all’ papers, but we have included them here because we either refer to them frequently or refer others to them as they are highly readable and usable.
We encourage further reading on these topics, particularly for research students who must provide detailed decision-making processes and rationale for methodological choices.
Design
Maxwell JA. Designing a qualitative study. In: Bickman L, Rog DJ, editors. Handbook of applied social research methods Sage; 1998. p. 69–100.
- This book chapter walks you through some practical steps needed to help you design the key aspects of your qualitative study.
Data collection
Gill P, Stewart K, Treasure E, Chadwick B. Methods of data collection in qualitative research: interviews and focus groups. British Dental Journal. 2008;204(6):291-5.
- This paper provides an overview of how to choose between and use the two most-widely used methods for qualitative data collection – interviews and focus groups.
Rigour in qualitative research
Korstjens I, Moser A. Series: Practical guidance to qualitative research. Part 4: Trustworthiness and publishing. European Journal of General Practice. 2018;24(1):120-4.
- This paper provides strategies for meeting key criteria for rigor in qualitative research, which are markedly different from those for quantitative research.
Sample size
Sim J, Saunders B, Waterfield J, Kingstone T. Can sample size in qualitative research be determined a priori? International Journal of Social Research Methodology. 2018;21(5):619-34.
- This paper summarises challenges to providing an a priori sample size estimates for qualitative research that can be cited when giving reasons for uncertainty in grant or ethics applications.
Malterud K, Siersma VD, Guassora AD. Sample size in qualitative interview studies: guided by information power. Qualitative health research. 2016;26(13):1753-60.
- This paper provides a practical way to estimate and justify sample size that uses the term ‘information power’ as an alternative to ‘saturation’ (a term closely associated with a particular kind of qualitative research called grounded theory).
Qualitative analysis
Thematic analysis
Braun V, Clarke V. Using thematic analysis in psychology. Qualitative research in psychology. 2006;3(2):77-101.
- This is among the most widely-cited articles on qualitative analysis. It provides a step-by-step approach and a clear summation of key issues such as whether to take a more inductive versus deductive approach. The same approach is presented by the authors in a 1-hour university lecture [opens external site].
Braun, V, Clarke, V. Can I use TA? Should I use TA? Should I not use TA? Comparing reflexive thematic analysis and other pattern-based qualitative analytic approaches. Couns Psychother Res. 2021; 21: 37–47.
- Braun and Clarke wrote the above and other more recent articles after becoming concerned about an over-use of the term thematic analysis in contexts where it’s not a good fit.
Braun and Clarke also have a website which includes resources and examples for thematic analysis: thematicanalysis.net/ [opens external site]
Sandelowski, M., & Leeman, J. (2012). Writing usable qualitative health research findings. Qualitative Health Research, 22(10), 1404-1413.
Kiger ME, Varpio L. Thematic analysis of qualitative data: AMEE Guide No. 131. Med Teach. 2020;42(8):846-54.
- These papers support researchers in understanding how to write up their qualitative research analysis, and particularly translating findings of thematic analysis into thematic statements. While some researchers stop short in their analysis and report topics (as though they are themes), these papers explain the difference between topics and themes to facilitate translation of the research.
Qualitative content analysis
Hsieh, H. F., & Shannon, S. E. (2005). Three approaches to qualitative content analysis. Qualitative Health Research, 15(9), 1277-1288.
- This paper provides examples of different ways of conducting content analysis that align with analysis this is more descriptive than interpretive.
Ethnography
Pope, C. (2005). Conducting ethnography in medical settings. Medical Education, 39(12), 1180-1187.
- This paper discusses some practical and ethical issues involved in conducting ethnographic research in medical settings.
Critical appraisal
Just as for quantitative research, there are many checklists available to help readers appraise the quality of reporting of qualitative research. Perhaps the most comprehensive of these, being based on a systematic review of other checklists, is the COREQ (Consolidated criteria for reporting qualitative research), which some journals now specifically require. It’s worthwhile writing your protocol based on the COREQ to make sure you don’t get caught out later on!
Help us make this reading list even better!
If you’ve come across an article or book chapter that was especially helpful in explaining an aspect of qualitative research, please share it with us so we can add it to the list for others to benefit from. But, please note that the list is meant to be introductory rather than delve into the finer details of qualitative methods.
Email us at paccsc@uts.edu.au.