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Table 1 Data sources and analytic methods for structuration analysis of diabetes self-management

From: "This does my head in". Ethnographic study of self-management by people with diabetes

Level of analysis

Data sources

Analytic approach

Output

External structures

National policy and policy-related documents e.g. public health strategy, NICE guidance, agreements with the

food industry

Publicly accessible data on local demographics, disease patterns (from local public health reports) and built environment (food

outlets, leisure centres)

Index of multiple deprivation

for locality

Field notes on neighbourhoods, homes, workplaces, schools,

food outlets

Thematic analysis of documents

in historical context and texts. Findings drawn together by narrative synthesis to identify overall themes and key changes over time.

'Etic' understanding (from the researchers' perspective) of the wider structural context in which 'self-management' is contemplated and takes place

Internal structures

Ethnographic observations and naturalistic interviews with participant, including:

Participant's explanations of

what they were doing and why

Participant's drawing of 'my diabetes'

Participant's spontaneously disclosed beliefs, values and assumptions

Phenomenological analysis.

Where a series of interviews

was obtained from one agent,

these were analysed

longitudinally for change

over time

Hermeneutic understanding of dispositions, perceptions and understandings of the index case and other relevant actors

 

Ethnographic observations and naturalistic interviews with other relevant actors e.g.

Parent and teacher (if a child)

Partner or carer

Friends

Adult children

  

Actions

Ethnographic observation of

participant in activities of daily living at home, work, school

Meal in a café

Taking exercise (if this occurred)

Visiting a health professional

(if this occurred)

Interpretive analysis of actions in context, drawing on theories of symbolic interactionism and ethnomethodology

Understanding of why the agent-in-focus acted in particular ways in particular situations

Outcomes

Study of immediate consequences

of action e.g. via direct ethnographic observation

Interpretive analysis of actions in context

Understanding of the short-term intended and unintended impact of social action