“Health care is delivered in a living, breathing real-world context, full of nuance and complexity. By using a mix of qualitative and survey approaches researchers can better understand these nuances and how they interact to influence outcomes.”

Carmit K. McMullen, PhD
Director, Qualitative and Mixed Methods Consulting Service

Overview

Looking to enrich your research by gathering information directly from patients, clinicians, community members and others? Qualitative and mixed methods can help!

The Qualitative and Mixed Methods Service supports researchers, community members, and others to use qualitative and survey methods in health-related research.

We are here to help you go beyond numbers alone by integrating interviews, focus groups, observations, and surveys to generate insights that can improve health and health care.

Who is eligible?

Researchers, community members, and others affiliated with a Tufts CTSI partner organization can request support by submitting a service request.

  • Initial consultations of up to 10 hours are provided at no cost.
  • For more extensive consultation, we can join research teams (FTE portion).

To learn more, please submit a service request.

Our expertise

Qualitative methods expertise:

  • In-depth interviews, focus groups, naturalistic observation, and open-ended survey items
  • Rapid ethnographic evaluation—a team-based approach that facilitates fast and flexible data collection, analysis, and reporting
  • User-centered design—a method to create products, processes, or experiences that meet end-users’ needs
  • Thematic and other qualitative analysis techniques
  • Use of qualitative analysis software (e.g., NVIVO)
  • Budgeting for qualitative research
  • Transcription advice and recommended services

Survey development and administration expertise:

  • Creating/selecting effective survey questions
  • Survey data collection best practices

Mixed methods design expertise:

  • Survey design and administration
  • Designing studies that combine qualitative and/or survey data with other types of data
  • Planning for and executing efficient analyses

Training:

Qualitative Research Interest Group (QRIG):

Our Team

Our team has a broad range of expertise in qualitative and survey methods, and we are ready to offer guidance or collaborate with you in conducting research:

Service lead and qualitative methods: Carmit McMullen, PhD, Senior Investigator and Assistant Director, Science Programs, Center for Health Research, Kaiser Permanente Northwest, Portland, OR (carmit.mcmullen@kpchr.org)

Survey development and psychometrics: Michael Leo, PhD, Senior Investigator, Center for Health Research, Kaiser Permanente Northwest, Portland, OR

Survey data collection: Kimberly Funkhouser, BS, MBA, Project Director, Center for Health Research, Kaiser Permanente Northwest, Portland, OR

Contact

To inquire about our services, please submit a service request, or contact Carmit McMullen, PhD (carmit.mcmullen@kpchr.org).