Moving Forward Together in Aboriginal Women's Health: - Theses ...

Moving Forward TogetherJanet Kellyindividually. Collaborative thematic analysis began with co-researchers duringsemi structured interviews and focus groups as they interpreted and clarifiedtheir responses to trigger questions. I conducted additional analysis using QSRNVivo 7 computer software and an electronic and hand written reflectivejournal (which enabled me to draw pictures more easily). All emergent themeswere taken back to co-researchers for further consideration and incorporationinto planning and action phases. Collaborative action involved poolingresources, skills and abilities and working together to put ideas into action.Reflections on our action informed the next cycle of look and listen again(evaluation), think and discuss and take action. Themes were gatheredtogether, compared and contrasted to create findings.Literature review, oral knowledge and document analysisA literature review was conducted throughout this research, searching forliterature that both supported and challenged what was being discussed ininterviews and focus groups. Reviewing government, health policy andorganisational documents enabled a stronger picture of health system andorganisational priorities and culture to be built, which we then compared withwhat was happening around us.The literature review evolved in four stagesDuring the first stage I read widely and spoke with many Aboriginalcommunity members and health, education, academic and researchprofessionals. In recognition that much Aboriginal and practice knowledge isoral rather than written, I considered community consultations and personalconversations as literature, as well as texts, refereed articles, conferencepresentations, project reports, government documents and policy documents. Icritically reviewed all of this information, further refining my researchquestions and identifying gaps in knowledge and literature. This early literaturereview informed the ethics process, just as ethical considerations informed theway the literature review evolved.The second stage developed alongside data collection and analysis activities.As new themes arose I checked that the literature I had gathered was stillrelevant and sought new literature. For example, early in the research I began131