It all starts with a single word. Whether it is written or spoken or thought, all new discoveries proceed from communication. The "word" has significant power in our society. It can shape our thoughts and our behaviors. Most behavior results from a combination of our own personal history, our expectations about the behavior of others around us, and our perceptions about the ramifications of our behavior. But looking more closely at these "behavior shapers", one can see how communication and the power of words, affects them all. Most of us will think before we act, especially if we are wanting to create a specific outcome. This inner musing with ourselves can be seen as a type of conversation- one involving words and images. But if you stop for a moment and think about a specific image, our brains create a running commentary describing that image- so we often get so much more than the image itself. Background information, what came before, what came after, who else was there, what things felt like, whether it was warm or cold, whether it made us happy or sad, all these details come together to form the experience that this image represents.
As a qualitative researcher, I am attempting to create a representation of an image or interaction through the written word. I begin with the spoken word, obtained through an interview. I shape this interview to guide me to the acquisition of data about the subject I am seeking, often something that lacks good description in the current literature. I must rely on the power of the word to get across all the nuances that my participants have experienced, that resulted in them behaving in a specific manner. Learning about these "behavior shapers" can lead to further studies aimed at triggering a specific action with the goal of discovering an action that increases the safety and quality of health care received or given.
I start on this goal today. My first contact with a potential participant in my research is this morning. My active research begins.
