Enhancing the usefulness of qualitative inquiry: gaps, directions, and responsibilities

Although qualitative researchers have often complained that our research is not funded, that our articles receive unfair reviews, and that our findings are not implemented, as a discipline we have been slow to develop criteria for review of articles, are just beginning to develop criteria for review of proposals, and have not yet suggested mechanisms for the transference of qualitative findings into practice. In this keynote address, using the example of a project conducted at a summer camp for ventilator-dependent children, the author examines these issues of review and utilization and explores the responsibility of qualitative researchers. She argues that by meeting these needs, qualitative researchers will expedite qualitative inquiry and hence will legitimize the discipline.