Qualitative research: what it is and what it is not

Qualitative research furthers understanding of clinical decision-making and patient care and is a valuable method of enquiry in obstetrics and gynaecology. However, there is no one concise definition of qualitative research. It is as much a perspective as it is a method of enquiry, and it encompasses a wide range of theoretical and methodological approaches. This is not a drawback, but a reflection of the long history, and development, of the approach. A simple description would be that qualitative research considers why individuals think or behave the way that they do and how they come to understand these complex thoughts and actions within their lives. It also allows the voice of patients and carers to be included in research. So, for example, an interview study of barriers to accessing termination of pregnancy services in a rural area of Scotland found that the physical and emotional journey to the clinic compounded the difficulties that women face when contemplating termination of a pregnancy (Heller et al., BJOG 2016;123:1684–91). Whereas quantitative research can tell you what happened, the aim of qualitative research is to provide insight and understanding of that experience, and the meaning that is attached to it. What qualitative research is not: The importance of qualitative research is increasingly recognised by clinical researchers, evidenced by the inclusion of qualitative studies alongside randomised evaluations, either to inform development of the intervention or to understand barriers and facilitators to its success (Smith et al., BJOG 2016;123:279–84). None declared. Completed disclosure of interests form available to view online as supporting information. Please note: The publisher is not responsible for the content or functionality of any supporting information supplied by the authors. Any queries (other than missing content) should be directed to the corresponding author for the article.