Demystifying qualitative research in pregnancy and childbirth - Tina Lavender

This book followed repeated requests for guidance from midwives and doctors wishing to conduct a piece of qualitative research in a rigorous way and not being able to find a suitable textbook.

The information in this book is not exhaustive, but aims to guide readers through all stages of the research process. The journey through the chapters will enlighten them to the purpose of qualitative research; inform them of considerations before they commence any research; outline the theoretical underpinning of the approach; highlight important ethical issues; discuss different methods of data collection; explore the process of analysis; suggest ways of assessing qualitative research; demonstrate how to integrate qualitative and quantitative research; and provide examples of how to explore the views of those who are hard to reach. Pivotal to this information are real research examples from maternity settings, which readers can relate to. Readers with qualitative research experience can use this book as a foundation from which they will develop more in-depth studies. But for all, the book should be a code-breaker, which has unraveled the complexities of an approach, which has previously mystified many.