A team-based approach to qualitative inquiry: the collaborative retreat

Area of Science:

• Qualitative Research Methods
• Dietetic Practice Education
• Phenomenological Inquiry

Background:

• Understanding the lived experiences of beginning dietitians is crucial for professional development.
• Qualitative research offers deep insights into the complexities of early-career professional journeys.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the life experiences of beginning dietitians and their ascribed meanings within dietetic practice.
• To detail a collaborative qualitative research process, including a novel data analysis technique.

Main Methods:

• Employed Seidman's three-step in-depth phenomenological interviewing with 12 beginning dietitians.
• Utilized a collaborative retreat for face-to-face data analysis, decision-making, and organization.
• Incorporated a listening guide to aid in understanding and interpreting participant narratives.

Main Results:

• The collaborative qualitative research process was found to be positive and self-fulfilling for the researchers.
• The collaborative retreat facilitated collective decision-making, organization, discussion, and analysis of complex qualitative data.
• Relationship building and maintenance were identified as critical factors for the success of the collaborative research process.

Conclusions:

• Collaborative qualitative research, particularly using methods like the retreat, offers significant benefits for individual researchers and the project.
• Effective communication, including listening, writing, and dialogue, alongside technology, helps navigate methodological and theoretical challenges.
• The collaborative retreat serves as a productive environment for knowledge generation and mentorship in dietetic research.