A Framework for Rigorous Qualitative Research as a Component of Mixed Method Rapid-Cycle Evaluation

Author/Creator ORCID

Date

2018-09-03

Department

Program

Citation of Original Publication

Skillman, Megan et al.; A Framework for Rigorous Qualitative Research as a Component of Mixed Method Rapid-Cycle Evaluation; Qualitative Health Research, Volume: 29, issue: 2, page(s): 279-289, 3 September, 2018; https://doi.org/10.1177%2F1049732318795675

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Public Domain Mark 1.0
This work was written as part of one of the author's official duties as an Employee of the United States Government and is therefore a work of the United States Government. In accordance with 17 U.S.C. 105, no copyright protection is available for such works under U.S. Law

Subjects

Abstract

As federal, state, and local governments continue to test innovative approaches to health care delivery, the ability to produce timely and reliable evidence of what works and why it works is crucial. There is limited literature on methodological approaches to rapid-cycle qualitative research. The purpose of this article is to describe the advantages and limitations of a broadly applicable framework for in-depth qualitative analysis placed within a larger rapid-cycle, multisite, mixed-method evaluation. This evaluation included multiple cycles of primary qualitative data collection and quarterly and annual reporting. Several strategies allowed us to be adaptable while remaining rigorous; these included planning for multiple waves of qualitative coding, a hybrid inductive/deductive approach informed by a cross-program evaluation framework, and use of a large team with specific program expertise. Lessons from this evaluation can inform researchers and evaluators functioning in rapid assessment or rapid-cycle evaluation contexts.