CAHSS Faculty Articles
Title
Dying to know: Qualitative research with terminally ill persons and their families
Department
Department of Family Therapy
Publication Date
1-1-2002
Publication Title
Death Studies
Volume
26
Issue
3
First Page
255
Last Page
271
Abstract
This article illustrates the use of qualitative research methods in the field of thanatology. The authors - a former doctoral candidate and her dissertation chair - describe their ongoing naturalistic inquiry of terminally ill persons and their family members. By describing the reasoning and decision-making informing their study, the authors provide an instructive "how to" on the following topics: finding a research question and a method; assessing risks and benefits; sampling; gaining entry/access to research informants; participant observation; interviewing; analyzing data, and establishing "relational integrity." In a final section, the first author offers reflections on the personal challenges she faced while conducting her research.
DOI
10.1080/07481180211268
NSUWorks Citation
Wright, Kristin and Flemons, Douglas G., "Dying to know: Qualitative research with terminally ill persons and their families" (2002). CAHSS Faculty Articles. 7.
https://nsuworks.nova.edu/shss_facarticles/7
