Qualitative Research in Veterinary Medical Education: Part 1-Principles of Qualitative Design

Area of Science:

• Health Professions Education
• Veterinary Medical Education
• Qualitative Research Methodologies

Background:

• Qualitative methodologies are increasingly utilized in health sciences education research, offering unique perspectives.
• Despite growing use in veterinary medical education, contextualized resources for developing expertise are scarce.
• This article addresses the need for guidance on qualitative research design within veterinary medical education.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce the principles of qualitative research design specifically for veterinary medical education.
• To explore research goals and questions suitable for qualitative inquiry.
• To provide guidance on formulating impactful research questions and understanding research paradigms.

Main Methods:

• Exploration of contemporary resources on qualitative research.
• Discussion of research paradigms and methodological options in qualitative research.
• Illustration of key concepts using examples from veterinary medical education.

Main Results:

• Provides a framework for understanding qualitative research design in veterinary medical education.
• Highlights the types of research questions amenable to qualitative approaches.
• Introduces various qualitative methodologies and their application.

Conclusions:

• Qualitative research offers valuable insights for advancing the scholarship of teaching and learning in veterinary medicine.
• This article equips readers with foundational knowledge to conduct and appraise qualitative research in this field.
• A companion article will further detail data sampling, collection, analysis, evaluation, and application of qualitative findings.