Performing Subjectivist Studies in the Qualitative Traditions Responsive to Users - Evaluation Methods in Biomedical Informatics - page 280

data interpretation and assigning fixed amounts of time to each, helps
assure that all tasks will be achieved.
Selection of Data Gathering Techniques
For qualitative studies largely conducted in the field, the selection of data
gathering techniques depends on the purpose of the evaluation, the ques-
tions being asked, and the resources available. As described below, plans
for entering the field must be carefully formulated and executed.
Entering the Field
Entering the field as an investigator can be a daunting experience, even for
team members who are clinicians or researchers, to whom the environment
is familiar. Gathering some background information about the sites—by
looking at routine organizational publications, Web sites, or perhaps vendor
information about the information resource under study—is invariably
helpful. One central contact person within the organization who can act as
a “key informant,” someone who knows the people involved and the
resources being studied, can provide names of other possible informants. It
is a good idea to do a “lay of the land” visit first so the investigators not
only know their way around the physical space, but also feel comfortable
when the real work starts. Each informant with whom the study team will
spend considerable time should be given a fact sheet outlining the purpose
of the study, and a consent form if it is required by the local human sub-
jects committee. While both necessary and important, the consent process
can make for awkward introductions, so it is helpful to have an informative
verbal statement ready that outlines the purposes of the study, the data col-
lection methods to be employed, safeguards of confidentiality, and some-
thing perhaps a bit personal about members of the study team to build
rapport.
The evaluation team, which has named itself the Nouveau Evaluation
Team (NET), now includes the original consultant, graduate students, and an
“insider” who is an employee of the organization. The consultant discusses
the project with an additional person, a colleague who has qualitative analy-
sis experience and asks if the person would serve as the objective outsider
who would provide an overview of the data and audit trail later in the project
to make sure bias has not crept into the study. This person agrees and the
client approves the additional expense.
The insider gives the NET a tour and makes brief introductions. She rec-
ommends that the NET members provide a pizza lunch and several coffee
breaks and be in the staff room to chat with everyone so that their faces are
known and they can distribute fact sheets and explain about informed
consent. They do this and find that a large number of staff members, includ-
ing busy clinicians, agree to participate in these activities.