Combining Critical Ethnography and Critical Discourse Analysis in Mental Health Nursing Research

Abstract

Background It is uncommon to combine critical ethnography with critical discourse analysis (CDA) in health research, yet this combination has promise for managing challenges inherent in critical mental health nursing research. Objectives This article describes a methodologically innovative way to address issues that arise in the context of critical mental health nursing research Methods This article draws on two studies that each employed a combination of critical ethnography and CDA in the context of mental health nursing research, discussing the challenges and implications of this approach. Results Although the combination critical ethnography and CDA presents several challenges, it also provides a framework for researchers to sustain a critically reflective stance throughout the research process. This facilitates the process of reanalyzing and reflecting on how healthcare practices and knowledge both support and are constrained by hegemonic discourses. Discussion This combination has the potential to facilitate the production of new, emancipatory knowledge that will assist nurses in understanding issues of structural inequity within the healthcare system.