Strengthening Your Qualitative Genetic Counseling Research Through Methodological Coherence: Presented in Collaboration with the Journal of Genetic Counseling

In this session, we aim to prepare genetic counselor readers, researchers, and reviewers to engage in meaningful and rigorous qualitative inquiry. Methodological coherence is the alignment of major elements of a research study (e.g. research question, methodology, presentation of results) with the philosophical assumptions underpinning the research, and is necessary to strengthen qualitative inquiry. However, inconsistencies in methodological coherence have been noted by members of the editorial board and reviewers for the Journal of Genetic Counseling, impacting the production of high quality research that is necessary for informed evidence-based genetic counseling practice and recognition as a rigorous area of academic study. Through engaging activities, this session will increase awareness of the importance of methodological coherence, and will provide foundational information about qualitative paradigms and strategies for ensuring coherence in qualitative research. We believe this session may be useful for genetic counselors in a variety of positions including: as a reader/end-user of qualitative research findings, as a reviewer critically appraising qualitative research, and as researchers who are planning, conducting, and supervising qualitative research.

Presented by:

1. Tasha Wainstein, PhD, MSc (Med), CCGC
2. Krista Redlinger-Grosse, MS, CGC, PhD, LP
3. Kimberly Zayhowski, MS CGC

Learning Objectives:

1. Define methodological coherence in qualitative genetic counseling research
2. Describe common paradigmatic approaches in qualitative research, including positivism and constructivism
3. Identify ontological, epistemological, axiological, and methodological assumptions of each described paradigm
4. Compare philosophical paradigms, their corresponding assumptions, and how they influence methodological congruence
5. Identify individual philosophical alignments and how they influence lens as researchers, reviewers, and readers of qualitative inquiry
6. Construct positionality statements as a reader, reviewer, and researcher
7. Evaluate the importance of acknowledging positionality in reading and conducting qualitative research in a just and equitable manner
8. Utilize published guidelines like COREQ, BQQRG, and RTARG to report and critique qualitative research
9. Engage in constructive critical appraisal of qualitative research
10. Design qualitative research that is methodologically coherent through participation in a simulated research scenario

Genetic Counselor CEUs:

The National Society of Genetic Counselors (NSGC) has authorized National Society of Genetic Counselors (NSGC) to offer up to .18 CEUs or 1.8 Category 1 contact hours for the activity, Strengthening Your Qualitative Genetic Counseling Research Through Methodological Coherence: Presented in Collaboration with the Journal of Genetic Counseling. The American Board of Genetic Counseling (ABGC) will accept CEUs earned at this program for the purposes of genetic counselor recertification.

Successful Completion:

1. View recording
2. Pass quiz
3. Complete evaluation