Capturing the Complexity of Clinical Learning Environments with Multiple Qualitative Methods

Abstract

Clinical clerkships are multidimensional educational experiences. Collecting data to describe them accurately required the use of multiple data collection methods, including observation, interviews, short written questionnaires, activity log cards, and examination of clerkship documents. These methods varied in efficiency, ease of use in the various settings of the clerkships, the degree of nonintrusiveness in the patient care and educational processes, and usefulness in combination with other data collection techniques. Combining data collected by more than one method allowed the authors to capture both the big picture of the clerkships and the depth of detail required to describe them adequately. The authors increased the reliability of their study conclusions by frequently submitting them to review by students and clerkship directors.