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Cora Roelofs, ScD, Department of Work Environment, University of Massachusetts Lowell, 1 University Ave., Lowell, MA 01854, 617 983 1054, Cora_Roelofs@uml.edu
A qualitative research strategy can be an effective way of both evaluating and making change in occupational health policy and conditions. Because of the legal and political context of the work environment, quantitative measures of work environment factors may not capture what is really going on. Additionally, qualitative techniques, such as open-ended surveys and in-depth interviews, can assist the researcher in finding out why things are the way that they are, as well as aid in understanding the barriers and opportunities for change. Despite the lack of a p-value, a report with quotes can be effective at persuading decision-makers to pay closer attention to occupational health and safety issues. This presentation will review lessons learned from the investigator’s use of qualitative methods in six studies in occupational health and safety research. The studies reviewed include research on small business occupational health and safety management, carpenter stewards’ perception of their role in health and safety, chemical substitution by Massachusetts manufacturers, Vietnamese-American’s assessment of their work environment, highway department policies to protect workers from lead, and environmental technical assistance providers’ impact on occupational health and safety.
Learning Objectives:
Keywords: Occupational Health, Methodology
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.