Table 1.
Usage of qualitative research design in dissertations at a medical faculty
| Dr. med. (dent.) (n = 60) | Dr. sc. hum. (n = 43) | Total (n = 103) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| A. Department/ Discipline (n %) | |||
| Public Health/ Hygiene | 11 (18.3) | 16 (37.2) | 27 (26.2) |
| General Practice | 21 (35.0) | 5 (11.6) | 26 (25.2) |
| Medical Psychology | 7 (11.7) | 12 (27.9) | 19 (18.4) |
| Internal Medicine/ Psychosomatics | 11 (18.3) | 3 (7.0) | 14 (13.6) |
| Health Services Research | 3 (5.0) | 1 (2.3) | 4 (3.9) |
| Psychiatry | 0 (−) | 3 (7.0) | 3 (2.9) |
| Paediatrics | 3 (5.0) | 0 (−) | 3 (2.9) |
| Medical Biometry und Informatics | 0 (−) | 2 (4.7) | 2 (1.9) |
| Others (Anatomy, Gynaecology, History, Neurology, Social Medicine) | 4 (6.7) | 1 (2.3) | 5 (4.9) |
| B. Study Design | |||
| Mixed Methods Approach | 24 (40.0) | 32 (74.4) | 56 (54.4) |
| Qualitative Approaches only | 36 (60.0) | 11 (25.6) | 47 (45.6) |
| C. Method Data Conduction (multiple indications possible) | |||
| Document analysis | 3 (5.0) | 2 (4.7) | 5 (4.9) |
| Interviews (individual) | 43 (71.7) | 37 (86.0) | 80 (77.7) |
| Group Interviews | 21 (35.0) | 12 (27.9) | 33 (32.0) |
| Observation | 5 (8.3) | 6 (14.0) | 11 (10.7) |
| Questionnaire | 2 (3.3) | 1 (2.3) | 3 (2.9) |
| Not reported | 1 (1.7) | 4 (9.3) | 5 (4.9) |
| D. Participants (multiple indications possible) | |||
| Health Care Professionals | 11 (18.3) | 6 (14.0) | 17 (16.5) |
| Patients | 19 (31.7) | 17 (39.5) | 36 (35.0) |
| Physicians | 27 (45.0) | 9 (20.9) | 36 (35.0) |
| Relatives | 4 (6.7) | 3 (7.0) | 7 (6.8) |
| Students | 10 (17) | 1 (2.3) | 11 (10.7) |
| Other | 6 (10) | 10 (23.3) | 16 (15.5) |
| Not reported | 1 (1.7) | 6 (14.0) | 7 (6.8) |
| E. Sample Size | |||
| E1 Interviews: Participants | |||
| 2–10 | 6 (10.0) | 4 (9.3) | 10 (9.7) |
| 11–20 | 5 (8.3) | 7 (16.3) | 12 (11.7) |
| 21–30 | 9 (15.0) | 4 (9.3) | 13 (12.6) |
| 31–40 | 5 (8.3) | 3 (7.0) | 8 (7.8) |
| 41–50 | 0 (−) | 3 (7.0) | 3 (2.9) |
| 51–60 | 4 (6.7) | 2 (4.7) | 6 (5.8) |
| > 60 | 2 (3.3) | 1 (2.3) | 3 (2.9) |
| Not reported | 12 (20.0) | 13 (30.2) | 25 (24.3) |
| Not used or unclear | 17 (28.3) | 6 (14.0) | 23 (22.3) |
| E2 Groups: Number of interview groups | |||
| 1–5 | 7 (11.7) | 1 (2.3) | 8 (7.8) |
| 6–10 | 4 (6.7) | 4 (9.3) | 8 (7.8) |
| > 10 | 2 (3.3) | 3 (7.0) | 5 (4.9) |
| Not reported | 8 (13.3) | 4 (9.3) | 12 (11.7) |
| Not used or unclear | 39 (65.0) | 31 (72.1) | 70 (68.0) |
| E3 Groups: Total participants in group interviews | |||
| 2–20 | 4 (19.0) | 1 (8.3) | 5 (15.2) |
| 21–40 | 4 (19.0) | 1 (8.3) | 5 (15.2) |
| 41–60 | 3 (14.3) | 1 (8.3) | 4 (12.1) |
| 61–76 | 2 (9.5) | 0 (−) | 2 (6.1) |
| Not reported | 8 (38.1) | 9 (75.0) | 17 (51.5) |
| F. Recording technology used | |||
| Audio | 21 (35.0) | 10 (23.3) | 31 (30.1) |
| Video | 5 (8.3) | 1 (2.3) | 6 (5.8) |
| Not reported | 34 (56.7) | 32 (74.4) | 66 (64.1) |
| G. Method of Data Analysis | |||
| Content Analysis (without P. Mayring) | 16 (26.7) | 10 (23.3) | 26 (25.2) |
| Content Analysis following P. Mayring | 14 (23.3) | 2 (4.7) | 16 (15.5) |
| Grounded Theory | 1 (1.7) | 4 (9.3) | 5 (4.9) |
| Other | 6 (1.0) | 4 (9.3) | 10 (9.7) |
| Not reported | 23 (38.3) | 23 (53.5) | 46 (44.7) |
| H. Qualitative Data Analysis software used | |||
| ATLAS.ti | 12 (20.0) | 2 (4.7) | 14 (13.6) |
| MAXQDA | 3 (5.0) | 0 (−) | 3 (2.9) |
| NVivo | 1 (1.7) | 2 (4.7) | 3 (2.9) |
| Other | 2 | 1 (2.3) | 3 (2.9) |
| Not reported | 42 (70.0) | 38 (88.4) | 80 (77.7) |