Qualitative inquiry: an overview for pediatric psychology.

OBJECTIVE To provide a framework for critically evaluating qualitative research to professionals interested in pediatric psychology. Qualitative methods emphasize the phenomenological experience of participants and may be pertinent to studying contextual factors that contribute to child health and well-being. METHOD A basic overview of the types of qualitative research, methodological procedures, and ethical considerations is provided. Examples are drawn from qualitative studies that focus on child and family health. RESULTS The article concludes with guidelines for examining qualitative research and recommendations for use in pediatric psychology. CONCLUSION Qualitative methods have the potential to address important issues in pediatric psychology.