Challenging Taken-For-Granted Assumptions in Qualitative Health Psychology: Enhancing Methodological Rigour through Interpretation

In the past two decades, qualitative research has received increased attention from health psychologists. This growing interest is related to the potential of these methods to embrace the complexity of human behaviour. Qualitative methods can be used to analyse subjectivity, as well as social, political and cultural issues which shape and organize the lived experiences of well-being, health, and illness. However, qualitative research lacks of scientific recognition in our field. It is often criticised for its interpretative basis to produce results. The present article argues that interpretation is an integrative part of any research process in psychology, regardless its qualitative or quantitative perspective. It aims to show that interpretation can actually enhance methodological rigour in qualitative health psychology by making explicit certain taken-for-granted assumptions regarding the social, historical, and cultural grounding of this field. Reflexivity becomes a powerful tool in this context, by enabling the researcher to position him/herself throughout different stages of the research process. Several methodological guidelines will be outlined to illustrate different means to ensure the adequacy of researchers’ interpretations within qualitative approaches. These will be discussed in light of health psychology concepts and theories more generally