Researching the lives of persons living with schizophrenia using qualitative methods : methodological considerations

Author / Creator

Paul, Sayani, author

Available as

Online

Summary

Qualitative research is predominantly rooted in the interpretative paradigm and constructive epistemology; it emphasizes location of the meanings that people place on the events, processes, and str...

Qualitative research is predominantly rooted in the interpretative paradigm and constructive epistemology; it emphasizes location of the meanings that people place on the events, processes, and structures of their lives and their perceptions, presuppositions, and assumptions. Because of its focus on peoples lived experiences, qualitative research is gradually gaining prominence in health sciences research.This case study is based on my experience as a doctoral candidate in conducting qualitative research to explore stigma and discrimination as experienced by people living with schizophrenia and its underlying meaning. Most work on mental illness stigma has focused on describing the results of attitude surveys. There have been remarkably few contributions to literature from service users themselves with an effort to understand the processes involved in stigmatization and discrimination of people living with schizophrenia, particularly in Indian landscape. In this case, I describe some of the crucial processes and elements involved in executing a qualitative research project engaging people living with schizophrenia, their families, and mental health service providers. I also discuss some of the important methodological issues that need consideration while performing qualitative research.

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