Moving on From the Delphi Study: The Development of a Physical Activity Training Programme Prototype Through Co-produced Qualitative Research

Qualitative and mixed methods research in trials

The purpose of this focused issue is to advance understanding of qualitative research methods in the international business context. Debates on qualitative research methods in the key international business (IB) journals have been rare. There has been no focused issue on this topic previously, either in mir or in other journals in the field, making this a 'special' issue. During the process of editing a recent handbook on qualitative research methods (Marschan-Piekkari/Welch 2004), we realized that while this collection covered many topics, often for the first time in the IB field, there were many others still outstanding. There was thus scope for continuing a dialogue about qualitative methods in the IB research community. The challenge of making qualitative research count in the quantitative world of IB remains. Qualitative research is difficult to define, since the term encompasses many different research traditions, research strategies and methods for data collection and analysis (Prasad 2005). A typical definition is that everything non-numerical is qualitative research (Marschan-Piekkari/Welch 2004, p. 19). However, even this very simplistic definition soon breaks down, since research strategies which are typically considered to be qualitative, such as case studies, can combine numerical with non-numerical data (Hurmerinta-Peltomaki/Nummela 2004). There is also no clear divide between qualitative and quantitative research in terms of research traditions, with much qualitative research in management and IB sharing the positivist assumptions of quantitative research (Prasad/Prasad 2002). This focused issue is not about reporting the empirical findings of IB studies applying qualitative methods; rather it is about the process of undertaking qualitative research in the IB field. Of course, there is a large volume of literature on qualitative research methods already. However, we would argue that the IB context warrants special treatment. As the authors of this focused issue discuss, the distinctiveness of the field stems from its multiple linguistic and cultural settings; organizational complexity; and its intellectual roots in post-War academic institutions in the USA. These issues receive little treatment in general texts on qualitative methodology. There has been some methodological debate in previous issues of mir. Earlier articles in mircan be grouped into three categories: first, reviews of existing methodological practices in IB publications (e.g., Cavusgil/Das 1997, Nasif et al. 1991); second, proposals for new quantitative techniques (e.g., the use of key informants in cross-cultural studies, as proposed by Lenartowicz and Roth 2004 and a linguistic-based measure of cultural distance as developed by West and Graham 2004); and third, calls for new methodological approaches (Boddewyn/Iyer 1999). The absence of qualitative research methods in this debate perhaps reflects the limited amount of empirical qualitative research published in this journal. A recent analysis of mir issues between 1990 and 1999 revealed that only 5 percent of articles published in this period used qualitative methods (Welch/Welch 2004). This focused issue is therefore a response to those, such as Boddewyn and Iyer (1999) in this journal, who have called for alternatives to surveys and secondary data analysis. This focused issue attracted 39 submissions from more than 15 countries. Given that there have been limited outlets for methodological articles in IB, this is a considerable number. It perhaps suggests a level of interest to which IB journals have not responded to date. Of the total number of submissions, 11 were selected for review. On the basis of reviewers' comments, six of these papers were ultimately rejected. The final five papers underwent two and, in some cases, up to four rounds of revisions. In selecting the articles, we used the following criteria: appropriateness of the topic for the focused issue; demonstrated knowledge of IB and methodological literature; quality of argument; originality and innovativeness of the contribution to IB methodology; organization and clarity of the paper; and potential application to research practice in IB. …

New Feminist Approaches to Social Science Methodologies: An Introduction

BackgroundFor older adults with subjective cognitive decline (SCD), physical activity is now recognized as an effective means to reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s disease. However, this population often exhibits lower levels of physical activity. This study aimed to establish physical activity promoting indicators system for older adults with SCD, providing comprehensive targets for interventions and promoting relevant policies.MethodA modified Delphi technique was used to seek opinions from experts about what should be used and prioritised as indicators of promoting physical activity in older adults with SCD. Expert consultations were conducted from January to March 2024. Data were analyzed using SPSS 27.0 and Excel software. Descriptive statistics were used for expert demographics, while coefficients were calculated to assess expert authority (Cr), and coordination (Kendall’s W). Weights for indicators were determined through the order diagram.ResultsBased on a literature review and the Wuli-Shili-Renli system framework, we initially identified 59 indicators, comprising primary (3 dimensions), secondary (11 items), and tertiary (45 items) indicators. Fifteen expert panelists were invited to participate in the study. Of these, 11 out of 18 completed round 1 (61.1% response rate), all 11 completed round 2 (100.0% response rate), and all 11 completed the third and final round (100.0% response rate). Ultimately, consensus was reached on 3 primary, 9 secondary, and 44 tertiary indicators. The order diagram determined weights for primary indicators as follows: foundational system (0.4242), operational system (0.2879), and personnel system (0.2879).ConclusionThe system of 56 physical activity-promoting indicators constructed for older adults with SCD through the Delphi method provides theoretical support for policy formulation and allocation of funds to comprehensively promote physical activity behaviors among this population.

Objective To construct core information about physical activities of Chinese students aged 7-18 years, so as to provide a reference for impoving the level of adolescents' physical activities. Methods Canadian 24-Hour Movement Guidelines for Children and Youth was used as a framework, the preliminary core recommendations on physical activity for Chinese students aged 7-18 years were developed based on qualitative research. Recommendations covered three scales, including physical activity, sedentary behaviour and sleep. Physical activity included four subscales of frequency, intensity, duration and type, while sedentary behaviour and sleep only included one subscale. Three rounds of consultation were conducted using Delphi method. In the second round of consultation, the results of 2014 Chinese National Surveys on Students Constitution and Health were presented to experts for reference. In the third round of consultation, experts need to rank the importance of seven items of physical fitness under the physical activity type subscale by age group through analytic hierarchy process. Results Totally 25, 25, and 18 experts were consulted in three rounds respectively. The questionnaire response rates in 3 rounds were 100.0%, 100.0%, and 94.4%, respectively. The authority coefficients were 0.92, 0.93, and 0.91. The harmony coefficients were 0.63(χ2=237.10, P Conclusion The development of core recommendations on physical activity for Chinese students aged 7 to 18 might help improve physical activity levels and promote health of children and adolescents.

Chapter 1: World Views, Paradigms, and the Practice of Social Science Research Case 1. Quantitative Research Case 2. Qualitative Research Thinking about the Foundations and Practice of Research What This Book Is and Is Not About. What Warrants Our Attention? The Traditional Canon Alternative Paradigms New Techniques or New Paradigms? Chapter 2: History and Context of Paradigm Development Positivism: A Response to Metaphysical and Magical Explanations Critical Theory: A Response to Inequities in Society Interpretivism: A Response to the Excesses of Scientific Social Science The Special Cases of Postmodernism and Feminism Chapter 3: Foundational Issues: Postpositivist and Critical Perspectives Social Science Research: The View from the Postpositivist Paradigm Social Science Research: The View from the Critical Theory Paradigm Chapter 4: History and Foundations of Interpretivist Research (1) Nature of Reality. (2) Purpose of Research. (3) Acceptable Methodology/Data. (4) The Meaning of Data (5) Relationship of Research to Practice. The Implications of an Interpretivist Approach What Sorts of Research are Worthwhile? Examples of Interpretive Research Chapter 5: Frameworks for Qualitative Research Postpositivist Research Moments of Qualitative Research Some General Frameworks for Qualitative Research Chapter 6: General Guidelines for Qualitative Research Guidelines for Qualitative Research Situated or Contextual Understanding, Not Truth, is the Purpose of Research Accept Multiple Sources of Influence Take A Foundational Rather Than Technique Perspective Practice Recursive (Iterative ) and Emergent Data Collection and Analysis Use Multiple Sources of Data Think of Research as a Reflective Process The Researcher is the Primary Tool for Data Collection and Analysis An Emphasis on Participatory versus Nonparticipatory Research. Adopt an Open Approach Deal With Bias Directly Select Natural Contexts for Research Research Should be Holistic, Not Atomistic Research Involves More Than Induction and Deduction: Analogical Reasoning, Abduction, and Family Resemblances Alternatives to Postpositivist Criteria for Believability: Validity and Reliability Alternative Approaches to Validity and Reliability: Triangulation and More Conclusions? Aren't They Generalizations? Chapter 7: Methods of Qualitative Research Case 1: Action Research on a Pediatric Surgical Ward Established Qualitative Research Methods Ethnography Case Studies: Another Form of Qualitative Observation Interview Research Historigraphy Historiography: The Research Methods of History Innovative Methods Participatory Qualitative Research Emancipatory Research Critical Emancipatory Action Research Chapter 8: Approaches to Data Analysis and Intepretation The Purpose of Research General Theory Objective Description Hermeneutic (Verstehen) Understanding Story telling/Narrative Data Analysis Families Eyeballing the Data Connoisseurship: A Global Perspective Hermeneutics as a Data Analysis Method Grounded Theory Analytic Induction A Final Topic: The Ethics of Research Chapter 9: 21st Century Social Science: Peering into the Future Will the Cacophony Continue? Why Can't Social Science Converge on The Answer? Competition Linearity Dialog as an Alternative to Competition Three Approaches to Knowing in Greek Thought Plato Aristotle The Humanities Choices 20th Century Social Science Made Suppose We Chose Badly Two Theories That May Help Us Build 21st Century Social Science Poetic Logic Chaos and Complexity Theory: Another Route to a Nonlinea Social Science

Qualitative and Mixed Methods Research in Cross-Cultural Psychology

Who is sensitising whom? A participatory interview guide development as an awareness tool within a health care research project

Background: Faculties, as educational systems, comprise various educational groups, faculty members, researchers, students, and administrative staff. The management of data records related to the performance and activities of the faculty and its members leads to better monitoring, identification of weaknesses and strengths, and, ultimately, promotion of the faculty's performance. Dashboards are data management tools that can be used for monitoring and evaluating a faculty's performance. Objectives: This study aims to develop a protocol for the design of a faculty performance dashboard with a sequential mixed methods approach. Methods: This cross-sectional study will be conducted in the Faculty of Allied Medical Sciences, AJA University of Medical Sciences, in 2023. A mixed methods study with a sequential mixed (qualitative and then quantitative) design will be conducted in four phases. First, all the resources related to the functional dashboard are reviewed to identify its operational requirements. Second, the requirements and necessities of the software are determined by qualitative (interviews) and then quantitative (Delphi) methods. In this phase, 8 people will be interviewed during the qualitative phase, and thematic analysis will be used to analyze the data. For the quantitative step, the 2-round Delphi technique will be conducted by the purposive selection of 21 individuals. Data analysis for the quantitative step will be conducted in SPSS v. 22 by using descriptive statistics, including mode, median, mean, and percentage of agreement. Third, software coding will be performed in C# programming language in Visual Studio. Finally, 15 people among faculty members and managers will be selected by using purposive sampling to evaluate the software. In this phase, the qualitative method and then the quantitative method are used for software evaluation. In the qualitative method, the think-aloud protocol will be used to evaluate usability, and in the quantitative method, the users' satisfaction with the dashboard software will be assessed using a questionnaire. The validity and reliability of the questionnaire have been confirmed previously (Cronbach's alpha: 0.94). The data will be analyzed using descriptive statistics in SPSS v. 21. Results: The paper identifies four steps that should be followed when designing and adopting performance dashboards to support student agency and empowerment. Conclusions: The final product of this study is a dashboard for monitoring, evaluating performance, and managing resources at the faculty level.

Qualitative research in dementia improves understanding of the experience of people affected by dementia. Searching databases for qualitative studies is problematic. Qualitative-specific search strategies might help with locating studies. To examine the effectiveness (sensitivity and precision) of 5 qualitative strategies on locating qualitative research studies in dementia in 4 major databases (MEDLINE, EMBASE, PsycINFO, and CINAHL). Qualitative dementia studies were checked for inclusion on MEDLINE, EMBASE, PsycINFO, and CINAHL. Five qualitative search strategies (subject headings, simple free-text terms, complex free-text terms, and 2 broad-based strategies) were tested for study retrieval. Specificity, precision and number needed to read were calculated. Two hundred fourteen qualitative studies in dementia were included. PsycINFO and CINAHL held the most qualitative studies out the 4 databases studied (N=171 and 166, respectively) and both held unique records (N=14 and 7, respectively). The controlled vocabulary strategy in CINAHL returned 96% (N=192) of studies held; by contrast, controlled vocabulary in PsycINFO returned 7% (N=13) of studies held. The broad-based strategies returned more studies (93-99%) than the other free-text strategies (22-82%). Precision ranged from 0.061 to 0.004 resulting in a number needed to read to obtain 1 relevant study ranging from 16 (simple free-text search in CINAHL) to 239 (broad-based search in EMBASE). Qualitative search strategies using 3 broad terms were more sensitive than long complex searches. The controlled vocabulary for qualitative research in CINAHL was particularly effective. Furthermore, results indicate that MEDLINE and EMBASE offer little benefit for locating qualitative dementia research if CINAHL and PSYCINFO are also searched.

<div class="WordSection1"><p>I am honored for being an alumnus of KEMC, and am delighted to write this editorial for the Annals. I have, ever since done my research and taught qualitative methods, felt that clinical methods are quite akin to qualitative research. Then, why only few clinical researchers use qualitative methods? A witness to this assumption is the research published in the Annals. In this treatise, I try to identify some parallels between the two types of methods and argue for the clinicians to invest in learning qualitative research methods to practice clinical methods well.</p><p> Qualitative research is to identify and interpret issues from the perspective of participants, their experience of: illness or disability, using health service, and to appreciate the meanings they give to the behaviour, events or objects in the context of their social and cultural norms. In this type of research, the emphasis is on exploring the associations and understanding the phenomenon in its holism; and not, like in quantitative research, from an outsider’s perspective and for certain specific aspects.<sup>1</sup> It requires participants with specific characteristics, selected purposely that can best inform the research topic. More participants, identified inductively during data collection, are added to develop full and multiple perspectives about the cases.<sup>2</sup></p><p> No preset data collection tool is used, instead qualitative researcher guided by a research question acts as an instrument, since the line of enquiry he changes during data collection as new understanding is gained and/or the situation changes.<sup>3</sup> The data for research is derived from the observation, interviews or verbal interactions, focus group discussions, document reviews, life histories etc. and the researcher asks why, how and under what circumstances things occur; and not just what, where and when. It is recorded in words or pictures and log book is used to record notes arising from interviews, observations, extracts from documents etc.</p><p> In health care settings patients are the subjects for clinical methods. The clinician, even prior to any verbal communication, observes the patient, e.g. for his gait and appearance. If in a bed or examination couch, his posture could give some clue to the illness. Inspection, a clinical method, is like systematic observation, which is qualitative method, should be holistic. In my third year during bedside teaching, Professor (late) Rashid Ahmed Qureshi said, <em>“patient has come to you as a whole and not his stomach in a tray”</em>, when a student straight went to examine abdomen of a patient with acute abdomen. History taking, another clinical method, is like conducting semi structured in depth interview – a qualitative research method. In both disciplines, we are told, <em>“not to ask leading, but follow up and probing questions”; </em>and Professor (late) Alamgir Khan, while teaching clinical methods, would add, <em>“if a good history is taken, you will establish diagnosis in over 65% of cases”. </em>Likewise, as part of history taking, documents related to patient’s illness history and treatment are reviewed similar to document review in qualitative research.</p><p> The two approaches however differ in how the data is analysed. In clinical practice, diagnosis is established based on the pathophysiological knowledge or patient’s clinical condition is discussed in clinicopathological conference.<sup>4</sup> On the other hand, qualitative research employs meaning based data analysis, whereby the qualitative data is transformed into some form of explanation, understanding or interpretation of people and situation that is investigated.<sup>5,6</sup></p><p> In conclusion, the history, the observation and the review of document related to patient are since obtainned using qualitative methods, the clinician trained in these methods could not only conduct these methods well but also interpret the data to identify and detect obstacles to the change in clinical condition and the reasons why improvement does or does not occur.<sup>7</sup> Finally, while it is heartening that research forums are organised in the institutions affiliated with KEMU, in order the research is richer, the researchers’ skills in qualitative research methods should be built.</p></div>

Our previous study demonstrated that a 6-month combined physical and cognitive training program improved mismatch negativity (MMN)—an event-related potential reflecting the brain’s automatic detection of environmental changes—in older adults with subjective cognitive decline (SCD). However, not all individuals benefited equally from the intervention. Identifying baseline predictors of intervention outcomes could enable the prediction of individual responsiveness and support the development of personalized, stratified intervention strategies to promote brain health in this at-risk population. This study aimed to identify baseline predictors of response to a 6-month combined cognitive and physical training program among older adults with SCD. We conducted a secondary analysis of a cluster-randomized trial involving 33 older adults with SCD who participated in twice-weekly integrated training sessions. MMN was assessed for the analytic sample (n = 21) as the primary outcome measure. Baseline predictors included age, general cognitive function, physical and cognitive activity engagement, and apolipoprotein E (APOE) genotype. Linear regression analyses were performed to examine predictors of change in MMN amplitude from baseline to post-intervention. Regression analysis indicated that APOE ε4 non-carriers showed significantly greater improvement in MMN amplitude (β = ‒0.449, p = 0.027). Additionally, lower baseline levels of physical activity demonstrated a trend toward association with greater MMN gains (β = ‒0.392, p = 0.050), suggesting that individuals with more sedentary lifestyles may derive greater benefit from the intervention. APOE ε4 carrier status and baseline physical activity levels may be associated with the effectiveness of multidomain interventions in older adults with SCD.

Objective To build the county level hospital nursing assistance need indicator system in Jiangxi province.Methods Literature review,qualitative research method and Delphi expert consultation method were adopted to build the county level hospital nursing assistance need indicator system.The indicator system was revised through trial test.Results Two rounds of expert consultation showed that expert authority degree coefficients were 0.79,0.83; Coordination coefficient(Kendall's W) was 0.11～0.16; content experts consistency coefficient was 0.78,reliability Cronbach's α coefficient was 0.85.Through expert advice and pre-examinaion,the county level hospital nursing assistance need indicator system was built,consisting of 3 level Ⅰ indicators,8 level Ⅱ indicators,43 level ⅠⅡ indicators,including assistance contents,assistance ways and assistance time.Conclusions This study established the county level hospital nursing assistance need indicator system with better scientific and feasible characteristics.It can provide experience and guidance for the relevance and effectiveness of the implementation of follow-up care aid work. Key words: Nursing; Assistance demand; Indicator system; Delphi method

Objective To build the self-management system in bladder tumor patient .Methods The self-management system in bladder tumor patient was developed through the literature review , theoretical analysis, qualitative research method and Delphi expert consultation .Results The coefficient of authority was 0.82, the coefficient of judgment was 0.88, and the coefficient of familiar was 0.74 in the expert consultation . The self-management system in bladder tumor patient was ultimately built including 4 items with first indicator , 12 items with second indicator , and 50 items with third indicator .The coordination coefficients of first , second and third indicator were respectively 0.511, 0.406, 0.423, and the difference was statistically significant （P<0.01）.Conclusions The evaluation index system which is built through the Delphi method can provide the scientific basis for carrying out the targeted health education and guidance , and evaluating the high -risk groups with bladder tumor by the clinical and community nurses . Key words: Bladder tumor; Self-management behavior; Intravesical instillation; Nursing

The evidence arena: a multilevel playing field