Blackbirds singing in the dead of night?: Advancing the craft of teaching qualitative research.
Qualitative research education, which is overly concerned with teaching content, can reduce knowledge to the technical-rational domain, and in this process, opportunities for students to be inspired and passionately engaged with the art of qualitative research are lost. Although students may acquire the characteristics of qualitative researchers by observing role models, there is much skilled teachers can do to teach students not only how to conduct research, but also how to be committed qualitative researchers. The craft knowledge of skilled teachers in facilitating these understandings, techniques, and attributes in students must be shared and discussed in meaningful ways to advance quality education and, in turn, quality nursing research. If unshared, teachers' knowledge may go unheard, and they may be left isolated, like blackbirds singing in the dead of night. In this article, the skills of "doing and being" in qualitative research are emphasized by sharing strategies the authors have used in research education. The aim is to discuss creative aspects of teaching practice that are helpful in understanding and advancing rigorous qualitative research.
McAllister
Margaret
M
School of Nursing, Griffith University, Nathan Campus, Nathan, Queensland, Australia. m.mcallister@mailbox.gu.edu.au
Rowe
Jennifer
J
D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D004508:Education, Nursing, Baccalaureate / Q000379:methods*; D004993:Ethics, Nursing; D032984:Ethics, Research; D006801:Humans; D019359:Knowledge; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research / Q000193:education*; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012108:Research Personnel / Q000193:education / Q000523:psychology; D013338:Students, Nursing / Q000523:psychology*; D013561:Symbolism; D013663:Teaching / Q000379:methods*