Title
Using literary ethnography as a form of qualitative document synthesis to explore the maltreatment of vulnerable populations: An examination of verbal neglect and abuse in nursing homes
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
12-1-2009
Abstract
Studying vulnerable populations can be highly problematic. This is especially true when they are located in institutional settings. When gatekeepers block access and a researcher wants to examine a delicate topic, one ethical, feasible way to paint an interpretive picture of everyday life involves the use of a literary ethnography. With data on the verbal neglect and abuse of elders in United States nursing homes, this paper details the six-stages of a literary ethnography. It includes a discussion of identifying sources, reading and interpreting the documents, identifying textual themes, classifying themes, developing a set of analytic constructs, and re-reading documents for contextual confirmation. It concludes with a discussion of literary ethnography weaknesses and directions for future applications.
First Page
807
Last Page
824
Volume
14
Issue
4
Publication Title
Qualitative Report
ISSN
10520147
Recommended Citation
Ulsperger, J. S. (2009). "Using literary ethnography as a form of qualitative document synthesis to explore the maltreatment of vulnerable populations: An examination of verbal neglect and abuse in nursing homes." Qualitative Report 14(4): 807-824.