Abstract
Description Quantitative data are so often the major focus of measurement for improvement, yet relying solely on quantitative data provides an incomplete understanding of outcomes, experiences, and opportunities for adaptation and learning. This session provides an overview of qualitative data and methods (both on their own and in comparison and complement to quantitative methods) and describe how qualitative methods add to the rigor and depth of improvement. We will also describe how to be a thoughtful practitioner of these methods, including moving from ‘data for’ to ‘co-design with’ those with lived experiences to advance health equity. We will expose some common myths and pitfalls about the use of qualitative data and provide tangible guidance for how to integrate qualitative measurement in improvement practice. The session will feature examples from application of qualitative data and methods in improvement work from a wide range of topics and geographic contexts.
