Methodology: Phenomenological

Data collection method: Semi-structured interviews; focus groups

Data analysis method: Thematic Analysis

Because we are asking how unpaid carers deal with burnout, we are interested in carers' lived experiences. We will utilise semi-structured interviews in a focus group setting (group size and demographic to be determined) to promote the most honest, organic flow of conversation. Informed consent is important here, all participants will have the opportunity to consent to interviews being recorded (mostly to help with transcribing after) and all names will be changed / other steps to preserve anonymity will be taken.

Our positionality as researchers in this group (8) varies, as some of us have been carers in some capacity and some have not, and others have worked on the case management and staffing side of paid home healthcare. As paid care is not an option for everyone, unpaid care is equally important. Additionally, carers are part of a larger support network within social care, so as future social workers, we are naturally inclined to support their cause.

What are the beliefs and attitudes of Scottish Physiotherapists towards the post-acute interventions used for traumatic brain injuries and do they differ between island and urban populations? 

The perception of Scottish physiotherapists on interventions in treatment used in post-acute, moderate-to-severe TBI.  

a. Identify and justify the most appropriate qualitative research methodology. 

Phenomenology is probably the best methodology for this question.  

Phenomenology, in philosophy and qualitative research, is the study of subjective, conscious experience, focusing on how things appear to individuals rather than on their objective nature. It seeks to understand the structures of consciousness and how individuals perceive and make meaning of the world around them.  

This study would rely on the perspective of a select sample of people and thus would be open to subjective information regardless of how research based it is. For example, the opinions of professionals on how effective certain interventions are. Rather than how many people see quantifiable improvement from said intervention.  

b. Choose suitable data collection and analysis methods aligned with your methodology and question. 

Semi-structured interviews  

A set of open-ended questions that allows for a less rigid structure for data collection. 

Allows for repetitive use of the same questions so that reliability and validity are maintained, comparing different answers to the same questions. But it also allows for elaboration for further questions allowing the researcher to explore the participants answers in more depth. For example, all participants will be asked a question like “what kind of interventions do you use to treat post-acute severe TBI?” but semi-structured interviews give me the opportunity to ask clarifying questions like “and why do you prefer that intervention?” or “how did you discover that method?.  

This opens the interviewees comfort allowing for greater insight and provides me with rich data. However, it can lead to less predictable interviews which can lower the validity and reliability compared to something like a survey. 

Thematic analysis  

Thematic analysis is a qualitative research method used to identify, analyse, and interpret patterns of meaning (themes) within qualitative data, such as interview transcripts or survey responses. It's a flexible approach that can be applied to various data sets and research questions. The goal is to provide a rich and detailed description of the data by identifying recurring ideas, topics, or patterns that emerge from the data. 

It relies on the researcher's ability to identify these themes as they can be explicit or implicit (meaning that its simply suggested by the information and not stated) 

Braun and Clarke break down thematic analysis break down into 6 steps:

1. Familiarising yourself with the data

2. Generating initial codes

3. Searching for themes 

4. Reviewing potential themes 

5. Defining and naming themes 

6. Producing the report

Thematic analysis can be good for gaining insightful and in depth information about the data collected, however it can be very time consuming and intra-researcher subjectivity must be considered.

Sample 

Snowball sample  

The sample is purposive in nature; requiring professionally recognised physiotherapists with experience in treating TBI. Further exclusivity is required when trying to get information about the difference between island populations and urban ones. For this reason snowball sampling will likely be very helpful. Allowing me to access as many participants as possible raises the validity of the study.  

Trustworthiness and credibility of the qualitative data

To ensure the trustworthiness and credibility of the qualitative data a reflexive journal will be maintained throughout the study to identify and set aside our own biases and assumptions. This will help ensure that the findings reflect the participants' experiences rather than our own interpretations.Clear documentation of the data collection and analysis process will be kept in the form of an audit trail. This transparency allows others to follow the logic and decisions made throughout the study.Detailed participant quotes will be used to support the themes. This approach allows readers to understand the context and meaning behind the findings , enhancing both credibility and transferability. 

Potential ethical concerns related to the study

Ethical approval will be obtained before beginning the data collection. This ensures that the study meets ethical standards.All participants will receive a detailed information sheet explaining the study’s purpose, procedures, risks and their rights. They will be asked to provide written, voluntary informed consent before participating.The identity of participants will be protected by removing identity information from transcripts and reports. Participants will be informed that their involvement is completely voluntary and that they can withdraw from the study at any time without consequence. 

 References

Clarke, V., & Braun, V. (2014). Thematic analysis. In Encyclopedia of critical psychology (pp. 1947-1952). Springer. 

•Neubauer, B. E., Witkop, C. T., & Varpio, L. (2019). How phenomenology can help us learn from the experiences of others. Perspectives on Medical Education, 8(2), 90-97. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40037-019-0509-2 

Naderifar, M., Goli, H., & Ghaljaie, F. (2017). Snowball sampling: A purposeful method of sampling in qualitative research. Strides in development of medical education, 14(3), 1-6.