Longitudinal Qualitative Methods in Health Behavior and Nursing Research: Assumptions, Design, Analysis and Lessons Learned

Longitudinal qualitative research (LQR) is an emerging methodology in health behavior and nursing research. Researchers are turning to LQR to understand experiences across time as well as identify facilitators and inhibitors of health/illness behaviors and transitions. Currently, a lack of informati...

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Main Authors: Emily L. Tuthill, Ann E. Maltby, Kira DiClemente, Jennifer A. Pellowski
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: SAGE Publishing 2020-10-01
Series:International Journal of Qualitative Methods
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1177/1609406920965799
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spelling doaj-1e55514661474db2b0c6f70db992d17b2020-11-25T03:05:57ZengSAGE PublishingInternational Journal of Qualitative Methods1609-40692020-10-011910.1177/1609406920965799Longitudinal Qualitative Methods in Health Behavior and Nursing Research: Assumptions, Design, Analysis and Lessons LearnedEmily L. Tuthill0Ann E. Maltby1Kira DiClemente2Jennifer A. Pellowski3 Department of Community Health Systems, School of Nursing, University of California San Francisco, CA, USA Department of Community Health Systems, School of Nursing, University of California San Francisco, CA, USA Department of Behavioral and Social Sciences, Brown University School of Public Health, Providence, RI, USA Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of Cape Town, South AfricaLongitudinal qualitative research (LQR) is an emerging methodology in health behavior and nursing research. Researchers are turning to LQR to understand experiences across time as well as identify facilitators and inhibitors of health/illness behaviors and transitions. Currently, a lack of information exists to guide researchers on LQR techniques and considerations. Our objective was to provide a methodological resource for health behavior and nursing researchers conducting LQR. LQR may be applied to understand any human experience, as well as the sequalae of the experience and is well suited for studying transitions and developmental or behavioral changes. Conducting LQR is resource intensive and requires flexibility and complex analyses. We discuss multiple components of LQR such as design considerations, analysis options, and our lessons learned. Despite complexities, LQR provides the opportunity to understand experiences across time within an individual and among a group resulting in holistic, in-depth understandings beyond a cross-sectional time point.https://doi.org/10.1177/1609406920965799
collection DOAJ
language English
format Article
sources DOAJ
author Emily L. Tuthill
Ann E. Maltby
Kira DiClemente
Jennifer A. Pellowski
spellingShingle Emily L. Tuthill
Ann E. Maltby
Kira DiClemente
Jennifer A. Pellowski
Longitudinal Qualitative Methods in Health Behavior and Nursing Research: Assumptions, Design, Analysis and Lessons Learned
International Journal of Qualitative Methods
author_facet Emily L. Tuthill
Ann E. Maltby
Kira DiClemente
Jennifer A. Pellowski
author_sort Emily L. Tuthill
title Longitudinal Qualitative Methods in Health Behavior and Nursing Research: Assumptions, Design, Analysis and Lessons Learned
title_short Longitudinal Qualitative Methods in Health Behavior and Nursing Research: Assumptions, Design, Analysis and Lessons Learned
title_full Longitudinal Qualitative Methods in Health Behavior and Nursing Research: Assumptions, Design, Analysis and Lessons Learned
title_fullStr Longitudinal Qualitative Methods in Health Behavior and Nursing Research: Assumptions, Design, Analysis and Lessons Learned
title_full_unstemmed Longitudinal Qualitative Methods in Health Behavior and Nursing Research: Assumptions, Design, Analysis and Lessons Learned
title_sort longitudinal qualitative methods in health behavior and nursing research: assumptions, design, analysis and lessons learned
publisher SAGE Publishing
series International Journal of Qualitative Methods
issn 1609-4069
publishDate 2020-10-01
description Longitudinal qualitative research (LQR) is an emerging methodology in health behavior and nursing research. Researchers are turning to LQR to understand experiences across time as well as identify facilitators and inhibitors of health/illness behaviors and transitions. Currently, a lack of information exists to guide researchers on LQR techniques and considerations. Our objective was to provide a methodological resource for health behavior and nursing researchers conducting LQR. LQR may be applied to understand any human experience, as well as the sequalae of the experience and is well suited for studying transitions and developmental or behavioral changes. Conducting LQR is resource intensive and requires flexibility and complex analyses. We discuss multiple components of LQR such as design considerations, analysis options, and our lessons learned. Despite complexities, LQR provides the opportunity to understand experiences across time within an individual and among a group resulting in holistic, in-depth understandings beyond a cross-sectional time point.
url https://doi.org/10.1177/1609406920965799
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