Qualitative data collection methods and saturation in pregnancy cessation research

¶ … Pregnancy Cessation Study

The purpose of this qualitative study was to identify current and potential barriers to smoking cessation in pregnant women. Using a naturalistic approach and semi-structured interviews of subjects that meet the study criteria for participation is an appropriate and consistent data collection method to effectively meet the purpose of this study.

Using semi-structured telephone interviews are appropriate for a naturalistic data collection, because the naturalistic approach involves collecting data that occurs in the participant's everyday life rather than a controlled lab approach. Semi-structured interviews are more casual therefore gathering naturally occurring data is more likely, e.g. A person is more likely to divulge personal information if they aren't feeling judged, and a more informal interview lends itself better to this approach. Conducting the interviews via telephone is also more conducive to gathering naturalistic data, because the participants are more likely to be comfortable in their familiar environment, therefore less intimidated by the interview questions.

Rights of the participants were protected adequately mainly because informed consent was obtained by the participant's midwife/nurse. Informed consent was verified at the beginning of the interview call as well. Careful measures were taken to ensure participants would not feel judged, blamed, or that expectations were placed upon them to quit smoking. Additionally, after transcription, the interview tapes were destroyed.

Data saturation can be defined as reaching the point at which all the data that needs to be collected in order to meet the study goal has been met even if the sample size is small (Guest, G., Bunce, A., Johnson, L., 2006). Despite the small sample size, the researchers still gathered enough data to meet their goals for this study. Another definition of data saturation is, "When there is a limited or small population and all of those who can, or who are willing, do participate in the study and hence there is a limit to data availability" Journal of clinical nursing (2006). The researchers only received 18 out of 30 reply slips from participants who were willing to participate. Only 11 of the 18 could participate, because the other 7 couldn't be contacted. Therefore, all the participants that could participate did.

2. Data Analysis procedures.

Data analysis procedures used in this study are appropriate for the data collection method, because framework analysis lends itself well to small, qualitative studies that are exploratory in nature (Fatemeh, 2004). This is because framework analysis categorizes the data such that data interpretation flows organically from the data collection approach used. For example, the 5 stages of framework analysis and how their relation to the study and its interpretation are: familiarization (the researchers acquaint themselves with the data via listening to the recorded tapes of, and reading the notes taken from the telephone interviews); identifying a thematic framework which involves identifying themes that arise from the interviews, e.g. stress as a barrier to smoking cessation during pregnancy; indexing and charting which involves data sorting, i.e. taking note of quotes from the interview, and identifying themes consistent amongst the quotes; arranging these quotes such that they flow appropriately in the data reporting is an example of charting (Tod, 2003, pp. 58-62); data interpretation results from the previous four stages as a natural progression, which fits within the naturalistic data collection approach.