A qualitative research is the most appropriate method for answering the following resarch questions:
Primary :
- What are the barriers to accessing health care for Spanish immigrants?
Secondary :
- How do immigrants in Spain experience accessing healthcare for immigrants to Spain compared to native Spanish residents?
- What are the reasons for unequal access to healthcare for immigrants in Spain?
- What are the recommendations that could be identified to improve access to health care for immigrants?
The aim of my study is to understand how reality is perceived by the individuals (ontology) and how reality is interpreted (epistemology). It would be appropriate to use naturalistic methods to generate data in a way that is like everyday life. For this reason, I would probably conduct an observation along with semi structured interviews. The observations would help me look at immigrants´ experiences and attitudes and think about the questions I would be using in the interviews. I am aware that there is a risk of bias as people may act differently knowing that they are being observed so I will make sure to take field notes and keep a personal diary to minimise bias.
The semi structured interviews would encorage people to talk more about their experiences and allow flexibility (Dearnley, 2005). The use of observational methods and semi structered interviews would allow me to contrast and compare both methods to enhance the quality and the trustworthiness of my work (Reeves, Kuper and Hodges, 2008). Since I am expected to finish this work within 9 months, I will choose a reasonable sample size, having in mind that qualitative research is aiming to address lived experiences and health related issues (Cleary, Horsfall and Hayter, 2014). and that it is important to choose participants that are suitably experienced about the phenomena under study (Rubin and Rubin, 2011). I would also do a purposive sampling, oversampling women to explore gendered nations about health in this population. When analysing the results, stratified purposeful sampling would be useful when examining the variations in the manifestation of a phenomenon (in this case barriers to accessing health care for immigrants in Spain), as any key factor is varied. (Suri, 2011).
I would also include healthcare professionals in my study. Understanding their experiences and their point of views would help me identify recommendations to improve access to health care for immigrants.
References
Dearnley, C. (2005) ‘A reflection on the use of semi-structured interviews’, Nurse Researcher, 13(1), pp. 19–28. doi:10.7748/nr2005.07.13.1.19.c5997.
Reeves, S., Kuper, A. and Hodges, B.D. (2008) ‘Qualitative research methodologies: ethnography’, BMJ (Clinical research ed.), 337, p. a1020. doi:10.1136/bmj.a1020.
Rubin, H.J., and Rubin, I.S. (2011). Qualitative Interviewing: The Art of Hearing Data.
3rd Edition. London: SAGE
Suri, H. (2011) ‘Purposeful Sampling in Qualitative Research Synthesis’, Qualitative Research Journal, 11(2), pp. 63–75. doi:10.3316/QRJ1102063.
Comments
I think you meant qualitative (not quality) research design. I agree with this, but you don’t tell us why? I like your idea of conducting observational research, where would this be and what would you be observing? Completely agree that purposive sampling is required to ensure you have the diversity of opinion that qualitative research requires. I can see why you’d like to include health care professionals but I would caution about the level of resources and time you have to conduct your study. You might have time to conduct these interviews but what about transcription (are you planning to transcribe the interviews?) and analysis – this all takes a lot of time.
Overall you are most definitely moving in the right direction and have a really interesting study (I’d been keen to know the findings!)
All the best with your poster!
Fiona.