The declarative mapping sentence method for qualitative disability and rehabilitation research

Research into disability is often complex and simultaneously involves multiple aspects of patients, health professionals, carers and the situations within which patients live and care is received. Qualitative research into healthcare in general, and more specifically disability, must likewise incorporate the multiple important components of the care situation. In this paper I present the declarative mapping sentence method for conducting qualitative research with a particular emphasis upon its use in undertaking studies into disability and rehabilitation. The declarative mapping sentence is a sentence in ordinary English language that incorporates the important features (facets) of a domain of research interest along with sub-divisions of these facets (called elements). The facets are joined together using ordinary language (connective ontology) with great care so as to suggest the real life relationships between facets. In this paper I explore the components of the declarative mapping sentence in some detail and offer illustrative examples of a declarative mapping sentence developed for use in disability research. I draw attention to and discuss the advantages of using this method in disability and other health related research and suggest that the approach offers a framework within which to understand patients and healthcare professionals within context.