Using Diverse Qualitative Methods to Democratize Social Work Research: A Qualitative Methods Cafe

For decades, qualitative scholars within the field of social work have been advocating for more discussion of qualitative approaches that challenge traditional research practices (Edwards & Brannelly, 2017; Thyer, 2012). These scholars have argued for more work that aligns with social work values and that could generate critical hypotheses and theories, help researchers become more aware of social problems, and serve as points of advocacy (Thyer, 2012). For example, what would it look like for social work scholars to use qualitative methodologies that democratize knowledge with diverse populations (Edwards & Brannelly, 2017)? How would we translate research processes into policy and action (Kilbourne et al., 2022)? Finally, how would we reset research agendas around issues that are important to those who have been pushed to the margins and to research issues collaboratively (Edwards & Brannelly, 2017)?

The purpose of this workshop is to illustrate the application of four different qualitative methods that could contribute to democratizing knowledge with diverse populations. We are approaching this workshop from a constructivist approach that assumes each research participant and qualitative expert brings their unique experiences to the research process. Thus, the objectives for this workshop are to: (1) Define the six qualitative approaches outlined and identify facilitators and barriers to democratizing knowledge within the field of social work; (2) Discuss arguments for and against the use of the six qualitative approaches outlined; (3) Identify the key components of each qualitative approach and discuss how attendees could apply each approach in their own work.

This workshop will be led by four panelists and will focus on interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA), deductive qualitative analysis, testimonios and platicas, and grounded theory. The first panelist uses IPA for centering the lived experiences of marginalized populations to address public health disparities. The next panelist uses deductive qualitative analysis to challenge dominant narratives about violence and other issues. Our third panelist will discuss her use of testimonios and platicas to explore the impact of migration-related experiences on the mental health of Latine/x immigrants. The last panelist uses grounded theory methods to examine social class as a social determinant of health and mental health disparities among middle-class Black women at the intersection of their social identities.

The agenda will include a brief overview of each panelist's use of the qualitative approach they are discussing. The workshop will proceed using a "methods cafe" format in which attendees can engage in brief small-group discussions with any of the methods experts, who will set up conversation pods in different areas of the room. Each methods expert will lead discussions on the three objectives outlined above and engage attendees' in conversations regarding use of their respective methods in the attendees own research. The full group will reconvene for closing remarks from the panelists.