The challenges of undertaking (qualitative) research on a military population

Abstract

Undertaking primary research with a sample of serving personnel and their families is exciting, but raises specific challenges that may not be apparent when undertaking research with a civilian population. This paper explores the issues to be considered when developing the design, obtaining ethical clearance, undertaking the literature review, recruitment, sampling, data collection and analysis for a military study. It advises of the importance of undertaking the literature review, gives guidance on how to maximise recruitment by targeting locations that potential participants frequent, how to reduce the risk of coercion as well as the role of military clearance. The article also discusses reflexivity and highlights the importance of critical self-analytical scrutiny in order to identify whether the experience and role of the researcher has influenced the study. It concludes that taking time to plan the design and delivery of the study should help novice researchers to ensure that their research progresses smoothly.

Perceptions of Canadian Armed Forces Health Services health care professionals on cognitive assessment processes

“…Third, although attempts were made to maximize the confidentiality and privacy of participants, in organizations with traditional hierarchical dynamics, it is always possible that data collection may be influenced by distrust, fear, or pressure directly attributed to the organizational hierarchy. 34 Finally, only those health care professionals who could converse in English were eligible for inclusion, which may have excluded French-speaking health care professionals, further limiting the qualitative information gathered for the study. CONCLUSION mTBI, cognitive dysfunction, and cognitive screening/ assessment practices are complex and require additional in-context consideration, research, and knowledge translation to assist with creating a best practice approach within CFHS.…”