The Qualitative Open Mic

Constructivist grounded theory's origins lie in criticisms of classical grounded theory as overly objectivist and insufficiently reflexive when it comes to interpretive processes. Sohail and Elaine discuss this context before going on to unpack the whys and hows of interpretation in constructivist grounded theory, how researchers can make the vital leap from description of data to higher-level conceptualisation, plus the pitfalls to avoid along the way.

The use of creative and participatory methods throws up complex issues for researchers. How do we interpret creative work? What knowledge and skills do qualitative researchers need to do this ethically? Is interpretation even the right word for this context? Sohail speaks to artist and academic Alda Terracciano to explore how visual art, poetry, and theatre can open up qualitative research into sensitive or stigmatised topics.

This episode reflects on the history and theory of Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis: where does its approach to meaning sit in relation to other qualitative methods and methodologies? How have new ways of collecting data and the expansion of creative methods changed IPA research? We go on to consider the insights IPA can bring to key questions actively being debated across qualitative research: the inclusion of lived experience perspectives, decolonisation, and open science.

This episode explores the role of supervisors and mentors in furnishing the interpretative processes. How can they support novice and more experienced qualitative researchers in making interpretations? What training and reading might they provide to prepare them and what does supervision look like at this stage in the analytical process? Finally, how can the wider context be shaped in a way that is conducive to making interpretations?

In this episode, we explore Nishita’s research on whether social research ethics codes and institutional processes effectively aid researchers working with ethnic minority communities in the UK. Her study, involving semi-structured interviews with researchers from King’s College London and the UCL Institute of Education, seeks to uncover both the benefits and limitations of these codes and processes.

In this episode, María Cristina Quevedo-Gómez discusses how collaboration when coming from different countries and belonging to different cultures can influence ethics.

In this episode, Janet Holt explores health ethics committees and issues around transparency, dialogue, emerging qualitative methods and regulatory versus relational ethics

In this episode, Tanya Mackay explores how sharing ethical knowledge can provide a way through ethical dilemmas in qualitative health research

In this episode, Latefa explores the values and skills needed by ethical researchers across diverse settings and research approaches

Leslie Cannold discusses different perspectives on ethics, and explores ways of becoming ethical qualitative researchers.

In this episode, Mary Sadid discusses the ways in which coproduction in qualitative mental health research can benefit racialised minorities. Listen below, or on Spotify or Apple Podcasts.

In this episode, Ricardo discusses how the way we publish and share qualitative health research can help or hinder the cause of anti-racism

In this episode, Wayne Farah looks what makes a qualitative health research question anti-racist

In the first episode of our Anti-racist Qualitative Health Research series, Bee Damara speaks about critical race theory in modern slavery and human trafficking research, discussing her experiences working on the Modern Slavery Core Outcome Set project at KCL

Oli Williams reflects on how to do meaningful co-production

In the penultimate episode of our 'Qualitative Conundrums' series, Michael Larkin discusses how to be a reflexive qualitative researcher

In this episode, Harriet Boulding talks about how to ensure qualitative research has real-world impact

In the third episode of our 'Qualitative Conundrums' series, Sharli Paphitis discusses how to use theory in qualitative analysis.

Michelle O'Reilly discusses the varied ways of ensuring quality in qualitative research.

In this first episode of our Qualitative Conundrums series, Victoria Clarke reviews the concept of saturation in qualitative research.