The Importance of Qualitative Research in Addressing Cultural Relevance: Experience from Research with Pacific Northwest Indian Women

Abstract

Across Indian communities, the spirit of self-determination is in the air. Tribes are contracting with the federal government in order to take responsibility for health and governance as sovereign nations. For too long others have defined tribal needs, conceptualized tribal problems, and used their theoretical models in implementing interventions. In this age of self-determination, more tribal communities want to partner with others in studies affecting their communities. Qualitative research offers an approach that can be responsive to community needs. The strength of one qualitative method, Grounded Theory, for example, is presented here as one such tool. Using Grounded Theory in two Pacific Northwest tribal communities, the first study looked at attitudes about Papanicolaou (Pap) test screening and the second looked at conceptualization of pain. It is suggested that qualitative research is of particular value to the design of culturally relevant interventions.

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