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Qualitative Research Methods

Finding Qualitative Research in Library Databases

Qualitative research can be challenging to find as these methodologies are not always well-indexed, or well-described in the articles themselves, or the records that make up library databases. This help guide will provide some tips and information to guide you in your search for qualitative research articles through databases, such as PsycINFO, MEDLINE, Education Source and others.

 

Key Strategies:

1) Use Subject Headings

Databases use controlled keywords (known as thesaurus or subject terms) to categorize each record stored. MEDLINE/ PubMed, for example, uses Medical Subject Headings (MeSH), a highly structured index of terminology. The subject headings vary for each database according to their indexing system.  The term "qualitative research" is indexed in Education Source as "Qualitative Research" for example, with the option to choose narrower terms such as "conversation analysis", Focus groups," while in CINAHL the subject heading "Qualitative Studies" is complemented by more detailed terms, including "Phenomenological Research" and "Grounded Theory".

Note: many but not all databases feature subject headings for qualitative research.

 

2) Use Qualitative Research Filters

Qualitative Research Filters are built into the database, usually in the advanced search, to help you retrieve articles that deal with qualitative research. You can use the filter and then combine the results with your subject.

Note: Only some databases feature a methodology filter, such as:

  • PsycINFO (in the advanced search under Methodology)
  • MEDLINE (under "Clinical Queries" )
  • CINAHL (under "Clinical Queries" )

3) Use Text Words

This strategy uses text or keywords that might specifically identify qualitative research and searches the titles, abstracts and keywords of records held in the databases.

Some relevant text words (or keywords) include:

  • qualitative
  • ethnograph*
  • phenomenol*
  • grounded theor*
  • purposive sample
  • hermeneutic*
  • heuristic*
  • semiotics
  • lived experience*
  • narrative*
  • life experiences
  • cluster sample
  • action research
  • observational method
  • content analysis
  • thematic analysis
  • field stud*
  • theoretical sample
  • discourse analysis
  • focus group*
  • ethnological research
  • ethnomethodolog*
  • interview*

To search for records that contain any of these terms, combined them with the Boolean operator OR:

(qualitative OR ethnograph* OR phenomenol* OR grounded theor* OR purposive sample OR hermeneutic* OR heuristic* OR semiotics OR lived experience* OR narrative* OR life experiences OR cluster sample OR action research OR observational method OR content analysis OR thematic analysis OR constant comparative method OR field stud* OR theoretical sample OR discourse analysis OR focus group* OR ethnological research OR ethnomethodolog* OR interview*)

Note the use of the asterix symbol (*) This is called truncation which tells the database to retrieve records with the root of the word that may have different endings

(Example:  phenomenlogy OR phenomenological = phenomenol*)