ABSTRACT
A qualitative descriptive methodology is the most generic approach to qualitative research within an interpretive paradigm and is a commonly used approach within occupational science and occupational therapy research. Unlike other qualitative methodologies, it does not have an alignment to a specific philosophical or theoretical position. The chapter describes the approaches to sampling and recruitment, data collection, and analysis that are congruent with the methodology and draws on the example of a study which sought the perspectives of older people in Australian on the introduction of driverless cars. Content analysis and framework analysis are discussed briefly with a more detailed step by step description provided of reflexive thematic analysis utilizing the worked example of the driverless car study. Strategies for ensuring rigor including reflexivity, member checking, and triangulation are presented, along with questions that can be used to evaluate qualitative descriptive studies. When conducted with thought and attention to rigor, descriptive qualitative studies have the potential to add rich insightful knowledge to occupational science and occupational therapy practice.
