Question

Question 7.  Health researchers adhere to different sets of research methods that follow established paradigms.  In this course you were introduced to two major health research paradigms : (1) the field of epidemiology, and (2) qualitative research methods.  

Briefly argue as to which of these two paradigms is best to foster deeper understandings of the causes, consequences and experiences of diseases.  Justify your opinion. (suggested length, 1 single spaced page).

Answer 1

Traditional epidemiology is dominated by a positivist perspective, which means that social reality is seen as stable and therefore the best way to analyze it is through the rigorous application of a limited range of quantitative techniques .

By contrast, qualitative research and interpretative methods have been dismissed as subjective, soft and unscientific or second class science and their findings have been deemed thin.

There is an increasing demand for the qualitative skills of health and medical sociologists, but sometimes they have to accept marginal roles in large health and medical research teams, as the lack of strong quantitative skills renders them unable to take principal investigator roles, making it harder for them to obtain opportunities to collaborate on international projects.

Furthermore, the decreased likelihood of funding opportunities for qualitative research remains a potential obstacle to its growth, although contributing to qualitative research has historically been at the forefront of new research agendas.

Lack of representativeness of qualitative studies is often criticized by traditional epidemiologists, although there are experiments in the natural sciences that are not based on random samples and large sample size, with findings contributing to a general theory of a certain phenomenon.

'Technical quality' assessment criteria that are identified for the value and legitimacy of a specific set of standards and guidelines for evaluating qualitative research are:

Appropriateness of the method to research question.

• Explicit link to theory.

• Clearly stated aims and objectives.

• Clear description of context, of sample and of fieldwork methods.

• Some validation of data analysis.

• Inclusion of sufficient data to support interpretation.

The quantitativeness understanding of the diseases finds more quality of data for further analysis in qualitative sense. Although there are 'mixed models', quantitative understanding seems more convenient for approaching the causes of a disease.