A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal
Think-Aloud Technique and Protocol Analysis in Clinical Decision-Making Research
Authors: Lundgren-Laine H, Salantera S
Publisher: SAGE PUBLICATIONS INC
Publication year: 2010
Journal: Qualitative Health Research
Journal name in source: QUALITATIVE HEALTH RESEARCH
Journal acronym: QUAL HEALTH RES
Number in series: 4
Volume: 20
Issue: 4
First page : 565
Last page: 575
Number of pages: 11
ISSN: 1049-7323
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/1049732309354278
Abstract
In this article, we aim to describe the practical aspects of research actions that should be taken into account when two methods-the think-aloud technique for data collection and protocol analysis as an analysis technique-are combined with research of decision making in acute clinical settings. These methods are rarely used together or written about in health care research. In addition, careful consideration of the pros and cons of study sampling, data collection, data management, and analysis techniques or approaches is still lacking when these methods are used in health care research. We discuss the background of the think-aloud technique and protocol analysis and review previous studies that have used these methods. The examples in the article are based on our study, in which we investigated the decision making of critical care experts. We find that the combination of the think-aloud technique and protocol analysis is applicable when investigating complex and overlapping decision-making processes and rapid, ad hoc decisions made by critical care experts.
In this article, we aim to describe the practical aspects of research actions that should be taken into account when two methods-the think-aloud technique for data collection and protocol analysis as an analysis technique-are combined with research of decision making in acute clinical settings. These methods are rarely used together or written about in health care research. In addition, careful consideration of the pros and cons of study sampling, data collection, data management, and analysis techniques or approaches is still lacking when these methods are used in health care research. We discuss the background of the think-aloud technique and protocol analysis and review previous studies that have used these methods. The examples in the article are based on our study, in which we investigated the decision making of critical care experts. We find that the combination of the think-aloud technique and protocol analysis is applicable when investigating complex and overlapping decision-making processes and rapid, ad hoc decisions made by critical care experts.
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