Hi,

In my qualitative interviews, for one of the questions, I provided a series of cards to participants, each contained a different way to do something, and asked the participant to choose the three he most preferred.

(Lets say, each card was a different mode of transport, and asked the participant to choose the three cards (modes) he most preferred, and I noted it down)

I am now writing up the methods section and wondering what do I call these cards? They are not vignettes but what are they?

And does the use of these cards mean my study is not a qualitative study but a mixed methods?

Thanks!

I would say it depends on what you are doing with the information you get from the cards. If it was just used as a device to prompt conversation or to add more info to the interview, then it would still be qualitative. If you were reporting on something like what percentage of people chose each of the cards, or were attempting to study some relationship between choosing a certain card and giving certain answers, then it may be more mixed methods.

Thanks chickpea!

The cards were used to understand the choices and preference, and I have used them to report which method was most popular and which was least popular.

I have used applied thematic analysis which allows the use of quantification in the analysis. Does this mean it would still be a qualitative study?

If your method allows you to quantify how many participants thought X and how many thought Y, I would say you are sticking to your qualitative methodology and it's not mixed methods. You're not doing any statistical manipulations or inferring any relationship between card choice and something else.

Have you discussed why you are using cards as opposed to simply verbally asking?

It is still qualitative but I would touch on why the method was to use a card. Would you have seen different results if not using cards etc

Thanks!

simply verbally asking is better. It is qualitative but I think it needs to improve more.