Qualitative Research 

Proposals: 

Common Pitfalls (and 

Solutions)

George Sayre, PsyD

Qualitative Resources Coordinator

VA Puget Sound Healthcare System, 

HSR&D Center of Excellence
Poll Question #1

• My research expertise is

– Exclusively qualitative

– Exclusively quantitative 

– Mostly qualitative

– Mostly quantitative 

– Fairly mixed
Common Proposal issues

• Research Focus

• Terminology & jargon

• Sampling issues

• Common methods issues

• Qualitative Research Evaluative Criteria
Poll Question #2

• What types of qualitative approaches have you used 

for proposals and/or projects? (Select all that apply)

– Content analysis

– Grounded theory

– Phenomenology

– Ethnographic

– Other
Research Focus: Pitfalls

• Aims that are not appropriate for qualitative 

methods: 

– establishing causality, generalizability across 

populations, etc.

• Focus is not clear and/or specific

– Inductive does not mean without focus

• Focus is TOO clear and/or specific. 

– Overly deductive or hypothesis driven 

• Multiple Aims that do not fit together

– Conceptually

– Chronological
Research Focus: Solutions

• Develop aims that: 

– Are appropriate for qualitative methods

• Understanding, Identifying themes and factors (barriers, etc.), etc..

– Narrow enough to clearly distinguish a specific 

phenomenon

• Focus on specific experiences or settings

– Open enough to allow for discovery

• Utilize a clear conceptual framework that: 

– is consistent with qualitative inquiry

– actually informs the research proposal 
Terminology & jargon: Pitfalls

• Using terminology that reviewers may be unfamiliar 

with.

• Including unnecessary philosophical depth

• Using terminology from outside of the study’s 

specific qualitative approach without explanation.

• Using technical terms in lieu of detailed descriptions 

of how the research will be conducted. 
Terminology & jargon

• Describe method specific terminology in a way 

that demonstrates the fit between the research 

approach and question. 

• Provide definitions of possibly unfamiliar 

terminology with clear descriptions of what this 

means in terms of this study. If you can’t provide 

a clear example, reconsider including the 

concept. 

• Be consistent within the specific qualitative 

method. When deviating explain.
Sampling issues: Pitfalls

• No rational for sample type, size, or recruitment 

method

• Lack of iterative approach

• Lack of diversity

• Lack of homogeneity

• Failure to consider participant bias

• Naive participation expectations or assumptions

• 
Sampling issues

• Support participant selection with appropriate literature:

– Recommendations within the specific qualitative approach

– Consistent with range of published studies with similar focus, 

method and populations

– method 

• Make the fit between participant selection and aims 

explicit

• Provide specific details re. iterative recruitment and data 

collection methods

• Address recruitment and data collection challenges
Methods issues: Pitfalls

• Poor “Fit”

– The qualitative approach is not the most appropriate.

– The qualitative approach drives rather than serves the 

study.

• Methods are not consistent with the specific 

qualitative approach and/or variation is not noted and 

justified 

• Lack of clarity re. data collection and/or and analysis 

methods 

– (e.g. interview guides)

• No specifics are described for the “mixing” of 

methods. 
Methods issues: Solutions

• Understand a variety of qualitative methods. 

• Be willing to change methods while developing the 

research proposal.

• Describe specific guidelines for data collection and analysis 

including:

– Scope and type of interview questions

– Initial Interview guide

– Protocols for open interviewing

– Guidelines for iterative data collection revisions

– Specific data analysis steps

• Cite standard and appropriate sources that reflect the 

specific method, type of study, etc.. When not possible 

provide rationale. 

• For mixed methods include clear approaches to mixing data 

methods and findings
Qualitative Research 

Evaluative Criteria

• The qualitative research literature presents a wide, and sometimes 

inconsistent variety of evaluative criteria. 

• However, there are some common concepts:

– “Fit”

– Trustworthiness

– Creditability

– Confirmability

– Transferability

• Proposals should address: 

– Method specific criteria

– Common criteria

– Funder specific criteria
Poll Question #3

• What has been the most weakness cited in your 

qualitative research proposal reviews? (select ONE)

_ Research Focus

_ Terminology & jargon

_ Sampling issues

_ Common methods issues

_ Lack of Evaluative Criteria
Questions.
Resources 

• Robert Wood Johnson: http://www.qualres.org/

• NIH: 

http://obssr.od.nih.gov/scientific_areas/methodology/mixed_methods_re

search/index.aspx

• Creswell, JW. (1998). Qualitative Inquiry and Research Design Choosing 

Among Five Traditions. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.

• Munhall, P. (2006) Nursing Research: A Qualitative Perspective. Jones & 

Bartlett Publishers

• Smith, J. (2003) Qualitative Psychology: A Practical Guide to Research 

Methods , Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications

• Camic, P. (Ed) Qualitative Research in Psychology: Expanding Perspectives 

in Methodology and Design . APA

• Penrod, J. (2003) Getting Funded: Writing a Successful Qualitative SmallProject Proposal. Qualitative Health Research 13: 821
NIH Guidelines for qualitative research (abridged)

- The research paradigm and approach are clearly described. 

- Research design rationale, strengths and weaknesses are discussed. 

- Qual. & quan. methods are addressed with equal care and specificity. 

- Mixed Methods: Integration of data and findings are explicitly 

described. 

- Expertise needed for the study is available on the team. 

- The research problem, aims, methods, and data analysis are linked 

and the terms are consistently defined and used. 

- Limitations and potential pitfalls of methods and procedures are 

addressed. 

- Rationale (theoretical and scientific) for sampling decisions are 

discussed. 

- Data collection procedures are fully explained. 

- Data analysis procedures are fully described for each aim or research 

question.