Analysis of a Qualitative Study

The purpose of this essay is to answer a group of three questions with respect to a recent article by Mogotlane and Ntlangulela (2004) that focused on a qualitative analysis of morbidity and mortality among traditionally circumcised Xhosa males in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. The first questions calls for a detailed explanation of the characteristics of qualitative research. The second question requires a discussion of why the foregoing article complies with these characteristics. Finally, the essay will explain whether or not the research by Mogotlane and Ntlangulela (2004) complies with the criteria for trustworthiness that is implicit in qualitative research.

In describing qualitative research, Babbie (2004) notes that the distinction between qualitative and quantitative data in social and other forms of research is essentially the distinction between numerical and nonnumerical data. Every observation begins as a qualitative observation. Qualitative data can consist of purely verbal descriptions or can include references to previously published statistical studies and the data contained therein. Babbie (2004) states that the qualitative approach seems more aligned with idiographic than with nomothetic explanations. Contained within qualitative research are such strategies as ethnography, case studies, specific forms of field research, content analysis, studies that are naturalistic or based on grou

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he same problem addressed by Mogotlane and Ntlangulela (2004). Both qualitative studies meet the criteria described by Babbie (2004). In the case of the target article by Mogotlane and Ntlangulela (2004), the research moved from a review of relevant literature to the development of a problem statement. In the introduction/review of literature, the authors describe male circumcision and its history and its practice among different peoples and religious groups. Somewhat problematic is the reference made by Mogotlane and Ntlangulela (2004) to the difference between circumcision as practiced in the Islamic religion and by Muslims. The authors state that among members of the Islamic religion, circumcision is usually performed between the ages of 5 and 7 years, whereas Muslims perform the ritual between the ages of 4 and 13. Given that the reader finds it difficult to distinguish between members of the Islamic religion and Muslims, this statement in the article may be a typographic or other error. Because the article appears in a peer reviewed journal, this is an important concern which calls into question the reliability of the authors' interpretation of previously published literature. With respect to the use of previou

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