A Framework approach to combining qualitative and quantitative research

Introduction: Although there is broad appeal for combining qualitative and quantitative methods in public health research, methods for triangulating the two approaches have not been adequately established. This presentation demonstrates an approach for integrating qualitative and quantitative data using examples from a research study entitled:” cultural concepts of cancer mammography access and adherence: Lessons from the Haitian breast cancer study”.

Research design: The Framework (Pope, Ziebland, and Mays, 2000) and explanatory account approaches (Stern & Kirmayer, 2004) is used to analyze the qualitative data and develop quantitative variables from qualitative data; while factor analysis and correlation of qualitatively-derived variables with well established constructs is used to validate the qualitative variables. Triangulation is achieved by merging the validated qualitatively-derived variables with quantitative variables.

Research Findings: Frame-analysis is the key to identifying empirically active qualitative variables: Bivariate associations between qualitative derived measures reveal a consistent pattern of associations and an empirically active frame. Correlation analysis of qualitative variables with external constructs reveals consistent convergent/divergent pattern of associations—suggesting specific underlying structural constructs. In multivariate adjustments, qualitative data-derived measures remain important predictors of mammography uptake and adherence while health insurance remains an important predictor of mammography uptake, not adherence.

Conclusion: Combining qualitative and quantitative can lead to a better understanding of factors associated with appropriate mammography use.