Qualitative Methods in Public Health Research

The 2nd Nordic Interdisciplinary Conference on Qualitative Methods in the Service of Health, held in Göteborg in August 2001, was the starting-point for this book. Researchers from different disciplines contribute knowledge and research experience to this anthology. The main aim of the book is to point at the value of diversity in public health research and the challenge of using qualitative methods complementary to traditional epidemiological methods. The book gives the reader an analysis of the uniqueness and the theoretical foundations for qualitative methods and a discussion of the nature of qualitative research in general. Different qualitative methods appropriate to different research questions in the public health area are practically illustrated as well as the nature of knowledge obtained through these methods. The present book especially highlights phenomenology, phenomenography, grounded theory and narrative research. In sum, the aim of the book is to provide students with theoretical understanding and practical knowledge of qualitative research. This anthology targets students in health care and public health as well as doctoral students and practicing researchers with an interest in qualitative methods.