Qualitative Methodology for International Public Health
Dahlgren L, Emmelin M, Winkvist A. Qualitative methodology for international public health Umeå: Epidemiology and Public Health Sciences, Umeå University, 2007. ISBN 978-91-7264-326-0 Price: 350 SEK (approx. 37 Euro)
Qualitative methodology is today being increasingly used in the arena of public health. A multitude of qualitative traditions exist and it is not easy for a beginner to know which one to choose. This book is a comprehensive guide to the qualitative landscape of relevance to public health researchers internationally. It takes the reader from the designing of a qualitative research project through data collection and analysis and to the presentation of results. Issues of trustworthiness and ethics of relevance to public health are discussed. Further, the possible use of computer software of handling qualitative data is reviewed, with a free-are programme that the authors have developed as an example. Finally, the authors illustrate the research process with concrete examples from their own research in Sweden as well as in poor societies.
This book suggests that Grounded Theory, with its focus on the social benefits of the research as well as the discovery of something new, is well suited for research in international public health. The analysis of data using Grounded Theory is based on systematic steps, making it relatively easy for a beginner to start using the method. Several other commonly used traditions are also reviewed.
Lars Dahlgren is a sociologist and professor in medical sociology at Epidemiology and Public Health Sciences, Dept of Public Health and Clinical Medicine as well as at the Dept of Sociology at Umeå University. Maria Emmelin is a social worker with a PhD in public health and a lecturer at Epidemiology and Public Health Sciences, Dept of Public Health and Clinical Medicine, Umeå University. Anna Winkvist is professor in nutrition at Clinical Nutrition, Department of Internal Medicine, Gothenburg University, Gothenburg. The content of this book has grown out of almost ten years of jointly teaching qualitative methodology within the International Public Health Programme at Umeå University, Sweden.
