Future of Qualitative Research in Healthcare : The Role and Management of Digital Methods

Digital methods in healthcare research have been steadily gaining ground but, until recently, were superseded by conventional face-to-face approaches wherever possible. However, the COVID-19 pandemic rendered in-person forms of data collection largely impossible, propelling digital approaches to the forefront. This book offers a digital lens in the participatory perspective of ethnography, a qualitative methodology. A series of chapters from internationally distinguished and rising authors present digital platforms and techniques and apply these to a wide range of healthcare studies. The authors highlight the different aspects of digital research approaches as well as reflecting on and proffering digital approaches to qualitative research for the future. Will these new digital health techniques be embraced, or will researchers be keen to revert to the traditional methods? With its unique approach, this is an invaluable resource for both prospective and experienced qualitative researchers in a broad array of medical and health disciplines.

Professor Paul M. W. Hackett is the originator of the declarative mapping approach to social science and humanities research. He currently holds professorial positions at universities in the US, UK, and Nigeria. He has around 300 publications including over twenty-five books and has held appointments at institutions including Cambridge, Oxford, Harvard, Tufts, Durham and Birmingham Universities.

Christopher M. Hayre is Senior Lecturer and Programme Director in Medical Imaging in the Department of Health and Care Professions at the University of Exeter.

Dave Muller is Visiting Professor of Rehabilitation Psychology at the University of Suffolk.

Marcia Scherer is Professor of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at the University of Rochester Medical Center and President of the Institute for Matching Person & Technology.

Ava Gordley-Smith is a Ph.D. Research Student at the University of Wales Trinity Saint David.