Itemkonstruktion in sequenziellen mixed-methods-studien: Methodenbeschreibung anhand eines beispielprojekts

TY - JOUR

T1 - Itemkonstruktion in sequenziellen mixed-methods-studien

T2 - Methodenbeschreibung anhand eines beispielprojekts

AU - Pentzek, Michael

AU - Wollny, Anja

AU - Herber, Oliver R.

AU - Porst, Rolf

AU - Icks, Andrea

AU - Abholz, Heinz-Harald

AU - Wilm, Stefan

N1 - Copyright 2013 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.

PY - 2012/12/1

Y1 - 2012/12/1

N2 - Background: One way of conducting mixed-methods studies is to apply qualitative techniques (e.g. interviews to explore a research question) with the subsequent use of questionnaires to quantify the results in a bigger sample (explorative sequential approach). There are no standards for the transformation of interview results into questionnaire items. Methods: With the help of a study example (characterisation of people with type 2 diabetes in good vs. poor metabolic control) we describe a step-by-step procedure, in which questionnaire items were selected and constructed in close correspondence to the categories of the interview analyses. Results: The process included: consulting experts, searching and appraising existing instruments, matching item wording with the interview results, modifying and developing items. As part of the mixed methods-design, in a further important qualitative step we conducted cognitive pretests: a first version of the item pool is presented to people belonging to the target population of the definitive instrument. A test administrator observes the completion and poses questions to the proband regarding comprehensibility and his choice of response options. Conclusions: The described process was time consuming, but opened out into an item pool with the potential of quantifying our interview results in a valid way. In sequential mixed-methods projects the time and cost expenditure for the development of a quantitative instrument has to be adequately considered. Expertise in questionnaire construction should be included in the project team.

AB - Background: One way of conducting mixed-methods studies is to apply qualitative techniques (e.g. interviews to explore a research question) with the subsequent use of questionnaires to quantify the results in a bigger sample (explorative sequential approach). There are no standards for the transformation of interview results into questionnaire items. Methods: With the help of a study example (characterisation of people with type 2 diabetes in good vs. poor metabolic control) we describe a step-by-step procedure, in which questionnaire items were selected and constructed in close correspondence to the categories of the interview analyses. Results: The process included: consulting experts, searching and appraising existing instruments, matching item wording with the interview results, modifying and developing items. As part of the mixed methods-design, in a further important qualitative step we conducted cognitive pretests: a first version of the item pool is presented to people belonging to the target population of the definitive instrument. A test administrator observes the completion and poses questions to the proband regarding comprehensibility and his choice of response options. Conclusions: The described process was time consuming, but opened out into an item pool with the potential of quantifying our interview results in a valid way. In sequential mixed-methods projects the time and cost expenditure for the development of a quantitative instrument has to be adequately considered. Expertise in questionnaire construction should be included in the project team.

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/84872260950

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:84872260950

SN - 0937-6801

VL - 88

SP - 520

EP - 527

JO - Zeitschrift fur Allgemeinmedizin

JF - Zeitschrift fur Allgemeinmedizin

IS - 12

ER -