ABSTRACT
This chapter outlines the qualitative research methods used in the literature on mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs). Any discussion of qualitative research would be incomplete without an analysis of the role of ontology and epistemology in such methods of inquiry. The focus of the present chapter then shifts to outlining how a variety of qualitative or mixed-method approaches have been used to explore diverse research questions related to MBIs. This includes research to gain a more detailed understanding of the effects of MBIs as well as their hypothesised mechanisms of action. Often informed by parallel quantitative analyses such as in mixed- or multi-method studies, qualitative data have also been collected to explore barriers to practising mindfulness, which can directly inform further intervention design features to increase participants’ engagement and to reduce drop-out rates. In this regard, qualitative research has also been very informative to outline the types of attitudes and preconceptions that participants might bring into an MBI, which may also play a role in the therapeutic journey of the MBI participants. Lastly, various qualitative methods have been used to explore to what extent MBIs may be modified to expand their original context of application to novel content, aims, and target populations.
