| By Prof. Dr. Fereshteh Ahmadi Department of Caring Sciences and Sociology, University of Gävle, Sweden Post Conference Ressources Video – open here PowerPoint – download here CV – open here |
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Abstract
I will discuss the use of qualitative methods in the health-related study of religion and spirituality. For illustrating my discussion I will use my own study. The study regards the religious and spiritual coping methods based on semi-structured interviews followed by deep interviews among the cancer patients in Sweden.
This study shows the importance of culture in informants’ understanding of the concepts of religion and spirituality. As these studies show, the culture in the framework of which the informant is socialized has a significant impact on the way informant understands and interprets the questions. Therefore in the qualitative studies of health, religious and spirituality the role of culture should be taken seriously into account.