Research Question: What Are The Barriers To Mental Healthcar

Research Question What Are The Barriers To Mental Healthcare Access E

Research question: What are the barriers to mental healthcare access experienced by West and Central African immigrants in the United States? Read qualitative research articles that include an interview guide, so you can become familiar with how to write questions. Use Google Scholar to look for other suggestions about writing qualitative interview questions. What is the difference between a good and a bad research interview question? Look at the examples in the Learning Resources. Avoid the use of jargon or any of the concept words you have found in journal articles.

Use a simple, conversational style of language. Patton (2016) provides helpful examples of different types of questions to ask in order to elicit rich, thick descriptions (e.g., experience and behavior questions, sensory questions). Patton also points out how interviews vary depending on the type of approach (e.g., phenomenological, narrative). Develop a draft interview guide consistent with your chosen approach, using the feedback you received in your Workshop.

Post a brief explanation of how you developed your questions. Start with the research question and then describe the concepts that you wanted to explore. Be sure to cite the sources of your ideas for the questions.

Interview Guide Worksheet

1. Restate the RQ, and define the phenomenon of interest.

2. Review your literature on the phenomena of interest.

• Identify recurring patterns, conflicting ideas, or unique findings
• Choose 3 to 5 of these as potential topics for developing questions
• Identify keywords and phrases that will form the basis of your questions

3. Review your theoretical/conceptual framework

• Identify 3 to 5 concepts or assumptions that are fundamental to the framework
• Identify keywords and phrases that will form the basis of your questions

4. Review methodological sources of your approach.

• What are the structural or key points that need to be included in the interview guide so that it is consistent with the approach?

5. Arrange the literature topics, framework concepts and methodological points into beginning, middle and end of interview.

6. Modify each concept so that it becomes an open-ended question. Use these guidelines as well as Patton’s examples (Chapter 7) to make sure the phenomenon of interest is thoroughly investigated.

• Make every question open-ended.
• Make every question neutral. Avoid leading questions, and avoid using words that direct how the participant should answer.
• Ask only one question at a time.
• Make sure that the content of the question is consistent with the participant’s level of education and culture.

7. For each question you ask, follow up with one or more of the following probes (probing questions encourage the participant to describe specific events and examples of the phenomena).

• Can you give me a specific example of …?
• Tell me about a typical day when [the phenomenon] happens to you?
• What did that experience mean to you?

8. Formulate an introduction to the interview. Start with an accessible, answer- able question.

• Begin the interview with a “warm-up” question—something that the respondent can answer easily and at some length (though not too long). Make sure the question pertains to the phenomenon of interest, and will put you and the participant more at ease with one another to make the rest of the interview flow more smoothly.

9. Review the concepts questions, and consider which concepts will be hard to talk about? Embarrassing? Move these concepts towards the middle of the interview.

10. Consider how you want to close the interview (“Is there anything else you’d like to share with me before we finish this interview?”). What can you say that will let the participant know they were “heard” and respected?

11. What do you need to communicate to the participant to “debrief”? This typically includes (1) how you will get in touch in order to have the participant verify the accuracy of the interview; and (2) what you will share with the participant once the study is completed.

Paper For Above instruction

The exploration of barriers to mental healthcare access among West and Central African immigrants in the United States necessitates a carefully constructed qualitative interview guide. Developing such a guide begins by restating the research question and clearly defining the phenomenon of interest, which in this case includes understanding the unique obstacles faced by this immigrant group when seeking mental health services. A thorough review of existing literature reveals recurring themes such as cultural stigma, language barriers, lack of knowledge about available services, and mistrust of healthcare providers. These themes serve as foundational topics for question development, informed by keywords like “stigma,” “language barriers,” “mental health awareness,” and “trust.”

In addition, integrating the conceptual framework guiding the study, which might include theories on health behavior or cultural competence, helps identify core concepts such as cultural beliefs about mental health and perceptions of healthcare systems. These concepts, along with methodological considerations emphasizing neutrality and openness, shape the structure of questions. For example, the interview begins with an easy, warm-up question that relates to the participant’s general experiences with mental health services or perceptions, fostering rapport. The middle section delves into more sensitive topics like cultural stigmas, while the closing phase allows participants to add any additional insights and feel valued and respected.

Questions are modified to ensure they are open-ended and neutral, avoiding jargon and leading language. For instance, instead of asking, “Do you think cultural stigma prevents you from seeking help?” a better question would be, “Can you tell me about your feelings or thoughts regarding seeking mental health support?” Follow-up probes are also included, such as asking for specific examples or daily experiences to deepen understanding.

This systematic approach ensures comprehensive coverage of the phenomena, capturing rich, detailed accounts of individual experiences that illuminate the specific barriers faced by West and Central African immigrants. The interview guide thus balances methodological rigor with cultural sensitivity, facilitating authentic narratives that can inform targeted interventions and policies to improve mental health service accessibility for this underserved population.

References

• Patton, M. Q. (2016). Qualitative Research & Evaluation Methods (4th ed.). Sage Publications.
• Creswell, J. W. (2013). Qualitative Inquiry & Research Design: Choosing Among Five Approaches. SAGE Publications.
• Rubin, H. J., & Rubin, I. S. (2012). Qualitative Interviewing: The Art of Hearing Data. Sage Publications.
• Britten, N., Jones, R., Murphy, E., & Stacy, R. (2002). Qualitative research methods in general practice and primary care. Family Practice, 19(2), 184-193.
• Seidman, I. (2019). Interviewing as Qualitative Research: A Guide for Researchers in Education and the Social Sciences. Teachers College Press.
• Morse, J. M. (2015). Data Collection Strategies. In J. A. Smith (Ed.), Qualitative Data Analysis: A Methods Sourcebook.
• Guest, G., Bunce, A., & Johnson, L. (2006). How many interviews are enough? Field Methods, 18(1), 59-82.
• Holliday, A. (2016). Doing & Writing Qualitative Research. Sage Publications.
• Patton, M. Q. (2002). Qualitative Research & Evaluation Methods. Sage Publications.
• Kvale, S., & Brinkmann, S. (2009). Interviews: Learning the Craft of Qualitative Research Interviewing. Sage Publications.