Hazel Keedle1, Virginia Schmied2, Elaine Burns3, Hannah Dahlen2. 1. Doctoral Candidate, Lecturer, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Western Sydney University, Penrith, NSW, Australia. 2. Professor of Midwifery, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Western Sydney University, Penrith, NSW, Australia. 3. Midwifery Lecturer, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Western Sydney University, Penrith, NSW, Australia.
Abstract
PURPOSE: This article explores the development and evaluation of a smartphone mobile software application (app) to collect qualitative data. The app was specifically designed to capture real-time qualitative data from women planning a vaginal birth after caesarean delivery. This article outlines the design and development of the app to include funding, ethics, and the recruitment of an app developer, as well as the evaluation of using the app by seven participants. ORGANIZING CONSTRUCT: Data collection methods used in qualitative research include interviews and focus groups (either online, face-to-face, or by phone), participant diaries, or observations of interactions. This article identifies an alternative data collection methodology using a smartphone app to collect real-time data. CONCLUSIONS: The app provides real-time data and instant access to data alongside the ability to access participants from a variety of locations. This allows the researcher to gain insight into the experiences of participants through audio or video recordings in longitudinal studies without the need for constant interactions or interviews with participants. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Using smartphone applications can allow researchers to access participants who are traditionally hard to reach and access their data in real time. Evaluating these apps before use in research is invaluable.
PURPOSE: This article explores the development and evaluation of a smartphone mobile software application (app) to collect qualitative data. The app was specifically designed to capture real-time qualitative data from women planning a vaginal birth after caesarean delivery. This article outlines the design and development of the app to include funding, ethics, and the recruitment of an app developer, as well as the evaluation of using the app by seven participants. ORGANIZING CONSTRUCT: Data collection methods used in qualitative research include interviews and focus groups (either online, face-to-face, or by phone), participant diaries, or observations of interactions. This article identifies an alternative data collection methodology using a smartphone app to collect real-time data. CONCLUSIONS: The app provides real-time data and instant access to data alongside the ability to access participants from a variety of locations. This allows the researcher to gain insight into the experiences of participants through audio or video recordings in longitudinal studies without the need for constant interactions or interviews with participants. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Using smartphone applications can allow researchers to access participants who are traditionally hard to reach and access their data in real time. Evaluating these apps before use in research is invaluable.
Authors: Johannes Schobel; Thomas Probst; Manfred Reichert; Winfried Schlee; Marc Schickler; Hans A Kestler; Rüdiger Pryss Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2020-03-03 Impact factor: 3.390