Using metaphor as a qualitative analytic approach to understand complexity in primary care research

Virginia Aita; Helen McIlvain; Jeffrey Susman; Benjamin Crabtree

doi:10.1177/1049732303255999

Using metaphor as a qualitative analytic approach to understand complexity in primary care research

Virginia Aita, Helen McIlvain, Jeffrey Susman, Benjamin Crabtree

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

Metaphors offer exciting opportunities to identify and explore tacit knowledge and behavior that are embedded in complex organizations and shape health care practices. In this article, the authors explore the theoretical rationale, background, and advantages of using metaphor as an analytic strategy in qualitative health research. They used an analysis of 18 practices in a comparative case study designed to explore office practice strategies for delivering cancer prevention services for illustrations. During the individual and comparative stages of the analysis process, researchers heeded the metaphors that they used in their descriptive language of practices. The authors explore examples showing how metaphors clarify unwritten assumptions, values, and motivators that shape variations in practice behavior.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	1419-1431
Number of pages	13
Journal	Qualitative Health Research
Volume	13
Issue number	10
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1177/1049732303255999
State	Published - 2003
Externally published	Yes

Keywords

Metaphor
Practice organization, values
Primary care
Qualitative health research

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health

Access to Document

10.1177/1049732303255999

Cite this

@article{57fcec0c7d4746d6a2025b5eb9346c78,

title = "Using metaphor as a qualitative analytic approach to understand complexity in primary care research",

abstract = "Metaphors offer exciting opportunities to identify and explore tacit knowledge and behavior that are embedded in complex organizations and shape health care practices. In this article, the authors explore the theoretical rationale, background, and advantages of using metaphor as an analytic strategy in qualitative health research. They used an analysis of 18 practices in a comparative case study designed to explore office practice strategies for delivering cancer prevention services for illustrations. During the individual and comparative stages of the analysis process, researchers heeded the metaphors that they used in their descriptive language of practices. The authors explore examples showing how metaphors clarify unwritten assumptions, values, and motivators that shape variations in practice behavior.",

keywords = "Metaphor, Practice organization, values, Primary care, Qualitative health research",

author = "Virginia Aita and Helen McIlvain and Jeffrey Susman and Benjamin Crabtree",

year = "2003",

doi = "10.1177/1049732303255999",

language = "English (US)",

volume = "13",

pages = "1419--1431",

journal = "Qualitative Health Research",

issn = "1049-7323",

publisher = "SAGE Publications Inc.",

number = "10",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - Using metaphor as a qualitative analytic approach to understand complexity in primary care research

AU - Aita, Virginia

AU - McIlvain, Helen

AU - Susman, Jeffrey

AU - Crabtree, Benjamin

PY - 2003

Y1 - 2003

N2 - Metaphors offer exciting opportunities to identify and explore tacit knowledge and behavior that are embedded in complex organizations and shape health care practices. In this article, the authors explore the theoretical rationale, background, and advantages of using metaphor as an analytic strategy in qualitative health research. They used an analysis of 18 practices in a comparative case study designed to explore office practice strategies for delivering cancer prevention services for illustrations. During the individual and comparative stages of the analysis process, researchers heeded the metaphors that they used in their descriptive language of practices. The authors explore examples showing how metaphors clarify unwritten assumptions, values, and motivators that shape variations in practice behavior.

AB - Metaphors offer exciting opportunities to identify and explore tacit knowledge and behavior that are embedded in complex organizations and shape health care practices. In this article, the authors explore the theoretical rationale, background, and advantages of using metaphor as an analytic strategy in qualitative health research. They used an analysis of 18 practices in a comparative case study designed to explore office practice strategies for delivering cancer prevention services for illustrations. During the individual and comparative stages of the analysis process, researchers heeded the metaphors that they used in their descriptive language of practices. The authors explore examples showing how metaphors clarify unwritten assumptions, values, and motivators that shape variations in practice behavior.

KW - Metaphor

KW - Practice organization, values

KW - Primary care

KW - Qualitative health research

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=1542674601&partnerID=8YFLogxK

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=1542674601&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1177/1049732303255999

DO - 10.1177/1049732303255999

M3 - Article

C2 - 14658355

AN - SCOPUS:1542674601

SN - 1049-7323

VL - 13

SP - 1419

EP - 1431

JO - Qualitative Health Research

JF - Qualitative Health Research

IS - 10

ER -

Using metaphor as a qualitative analytic approach to understand complexity in primary care research

Abstract

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Access to Document

Other files and links

Fingerprint

Cite this