Qualitative Services

Formative research is a valuable tool in gaining a deeper understanding of your target population when planning an upcoming intervention project. CHAI provides consulting and training in qualitative methodologies relevant to formative research and process evaluation. Qualitative interviewing allows researchers to determine knowledge level, barriers, and motivators, and can provide important process information during and after intervention. CHAI staff can assist researchers in collecting qualitative data through the design and implementation of focus groups or individual interview sessions, including assistance with:

• recruitment
• development of interview guidelines and surveys
• facilitation of the focus groups or interviews, and/or
• analysis and interpretation of the data.

We tailor our time and resources to each project depending on your team's experience and capacity. CHAI's formative research specialists, Dr. Andrea Meier and Dr. Joan Walsh, as well as other CHAI staff with experience in qualitative research, will meet with you to discuss your project's aims and needs. Before this meeting, it will be useful for CHAI to receive a copy of your study proposal to better understand the design of the formative research activities and their relationship to other parts of the project. The following qualitative services will be possible topics of discussion in this first meeting:

• The pros and cons of different formative research methods
• The design of the focus group and/or survey questions
• Drafting of the focus group protocol and moderator's guide
• Assistance with the recruitment strategy
• Identification of appropriate focus group moderators
• Possible training of moderator(s) for the project protocol
• Assistance in reviewing codes for analysis and ongoing consultation on the analysis

CHAI Core also provides training in developing and facilitating focus groups. This workshop is available to the general public. Check the CHAI website for details.