Qualitative Research: Part One Paradigmatic Grounds and Issues of Reliability and Validity

The argument that qualitative research constitutes a legitimate method of research that has special relevance to occupational therapy is presented and a definition of qualitative research is proposed.

Abstract

This article, the first of two in a series, presents the argument that qualitative research constitutes a legitimate method of research that has special relevance to occupational therapy. The author proposes and discusses a definition of qualitative research. The qualitative research tradition is guided by a scientific paradigm that defines its view of the social world and sets the rationale for its methods. Qualitative and quantitative research are contrasted, and the methodological issues of the former are discussed.