The Article in Brief

Background: Research using qualitative approaches often involves the collaboration of a team. This article discusses teamwork issues and tools and techniques used to improve qualitative research by teams.
What This Study Found: Building effective research teams requires attention by the team leader, a commitment to early and regular team meetings, and discussion of the roles, responsibilities and expectations of team members. Team members should discuss differences in styles of analyzing data and managing information. Teams can capture ideas and insights that develop by using common tools (such as summary forms) and common methods of coding data, keeping the data analysis moving along, and writing down ideas, assignments, and decisions.
Implications:
• In team research, little should be left to chance.
• Processes and documentation are key elements of teamwork.
• Tools and strategies for qualitative team research do not have to be rigid or highly structured, but they do need to be documented and systematic.