Qualitative research is a good fit for systemic thinkers who appreciate the complexity and richness of people, relationships, and contexts. In this workshop we will discuss what qualitative research is, its benefits and challenges, and show how it is done. We will review grounded theory, which is a qualitative approach that analyzes processes. Examples of studies will be presented to show the analytic journey of creating questions, sampling, gathering data, coding, and presenting. We will conclude with a discussion of how to increase qualitative rigor and publish high-quality studies that contribute to clinical knowledge.
Dr. Jason Whiting is a professor and program director of MFT at Brigham Young University. His research projects have included federally funded initiatives to reduce conflict and strengthen marriage, and he is currently directing a qualitative exploration of healthy and unhealthy intimate relationship practices, as well as analyses of online discussions of abuse. Additionally, he has written for a general audience, including Love Me True: Overcoming the Surprising Ways We Deceive in Relationships, and regular blogs on Psychology Today. He teaches courses on addictions, violence, and grounded theory research methods.