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Letters The BMJ and qualitative research

Studies drawing on qualitative research are funded by the most prestigious research funders in the UK

BMJ 2016; 352 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.i1486 (Published 15 March 2016) Cite this as: BMJ 2016;352:i1486
  1. Fiona M Harris, senior lecturer
  1. NMAHP (Nurses, Midwives and Allied Health Professionals) Research Unit, School of Health Sciences, University of Stirling, Stirling FK9 4NF, UK
  1. fiona.harris{at}stir.ac.uk

It is astonishing that only a year after The BMJ published Medical Research Council (MRC) guidance on implementing process evaluations within complex interventions that we should be having this debate at all.1 2 3 This paper clearly states the importance of qualitative research to exploring context, mechanisms, and outcomes within randomised controlled trials. Studies drawing on qualitative research are funded by and thus endorsed by the most prestigious research funders in the UK: including the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR), the MRC, and the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC). If these studies are good enough for world class funding bodies, then why are they not good enough for The BMJ?

Footnotes

  • Competing interests: None declared.

References

  1. ↵
    Greenhalgh T, Annandale E, Ashcroft R, et al. An open letter to The BMJ editors on qualitative research. BMJ 2016;352:i563. doi:10.1136/bmj.i563. 26865572.
  2. ↵
    Loder E, Groves T, Schroter S, Merino JG, Weber W. Qualitative research and The BMJ. BMJ 2016;352:i641. doi:10.1136/bmj.i641. 26865061.
  3. ↵
    Moore GF, Audrey S, Barker M, et al. Process evaluation of complex interventions: Medical Research Council guidance. BMJ 2015;350:h1258. doi:10.1136/bmj.h1258. 25791983.
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