Qualitative Research for Occupational and Physical Therapists

New Zealand Journal of Physiotherapy, July, 2008 by David Nicholls

Qualitative Research for Occupational and Physical Therapists. Christine Carpenter & Melinda Suto 2008, Blackwell, Oxford, ISBN 978-1-4051-4435-3, Soft cover, 186 pages. NZD $59,39

Qualitative research is becoming increasingly well understood and utilised by physiotherapists, and this book makes a very welcome addition to what is a relatively discrete field. Christine Carpenter (Reader in Physiotherapy at Coventry University in the UK), and Melinda Suto (Assistant Professor in the Department of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy at Vancouver University, Canada) have crafted a well written, concise, informative text that will be of use to any therapist trying to understand or use qualitative research.

The book follows a clear structure, moving through explanations of the theoretical and practical application of qualitative research with ease; gently walking the reader through some of the more contentious aspects of the genre. Qualitative research is quickly contextualised to rehabilitation, so that we are able not only to see how the paradigm might be understood, but also how it might be applied to clinical practice and scholarship.

I was particularly drawn to the first two chapters, which explain what qualitative research is, and why we should do it. Despite nearly half a century of qualitative research, it seems that we still need to justify the use of these methods and assume that our audience is still skeptical. I personally doubt whether this is still the case, but appreciate the clarity with which Carpenter and Suto make their case.

One of the inherent complexities in writing about qualitative research (as opposed to quantitative), is that they are grounded on the assumption of multiple realities (rather than a single, objective truth). Any text that seeks to summarise these disparate interests faces (at least) two problems: Firstly, how to deal with the volume and complexity of competing interests (phenomenology, ethnography, grounded theory, critical theory, postmodernism, etc. all have their own idiosyncracies), and secondly; whether these perspectives should be presented in a neutral tone that does not favour one over the other. In the past, these problems have been solved by presenting a massive volume of works from expert specialists in their field (see, for instance, Denzin and Lincoln's 'Sage Handbook of Qualitative Research' which runs to a pocket-bulging 1210 pages). Rarely has a single, small volume succeeded in addressing these tensions (with the possible exception of Holloway and Wheeler's superb 'Qualitative Research for Nurses'.

Carpenter and Suto take a neutral line to some extent and, in doing so, do a superb job of summarising some of the complexities of qualitative research. They are particularly strong on areas pertinent to rehabilitation. Their text, in this regard, stands up well against Elizabeth Domholdt's 'Rehabilitation Research'.

Given that qualitative research is poorly understood by physiotherapists, and that it is now an integral part of most undergraduate and postgraduate programs, Carpenter and Suto's book is a welcome addition to the field. It is concise, well written and balanced.

David Nicholls

School of Physiotherapy

AUT