Assessment 1 Instructions: Developing a Research Topic for Qualitative Studies

Develop a research topic appropriate for a qualitative research proposal that most closely aligns to your program based upon one of the general topics listed in the assessment instructions.

Introduction

One of the first steps in a qualitative research study is developing a research topic. In this assessment, you will develop a research topic that you will use in the final assessment. The assessments in this course will prepare you for writing a research topic that would be appropriate for a qualitative research proposal.

Developing a research topic is not as easy as it might seem. It is unacceptable for a researcher to study something simply because it is personally interesting or because it is something he or she has witnessed in the workplace.

This is the first of four assessments that will help you prepare for writing qualitative research proposals. In the final assessment, you will write a paper with content that would be in a research proposal. For this assessment, you will develop a research topic that is appropriate for a qualitative research study. You will use the same subject and research topic in the later assessments in the course. Choose from one of the following subjects to develop the research topic for this assessment:

• Media bias.
• Intelligence tests.
• Employee rights.
• Medicaid, Medicare reform.
• Literacy in the United States.
• Digital age influence.

Instructions

Choose from one of the following subjects to develop the research topic for this assessment:

• Media bias.
• Intelligence tests.
• Employee rights.
• Medicaid, Medicare reform.
• Literacy in the United States.
• Digital age influence.

Write a paper that reflects your research topic. Use the Assessment 1 Template [DOCX] to structure your paper.

• Write one paragraph that describes your topic.
• Write one paragraph that communicates the background of your topic, including the relevant research surrounding this topic. This paragraph will provide the context of this topic.
• Write one paragraph that describes the rationale for investigating the topic and why this topic is appropriate for qualitative research.
• Write a research question based on this topic that is aligned with each of the five methodological approaches using Sample Research Questions [PDF] and Writing a Research Question [PDF] as guides. (In other words, write five research questions and indicate which methodology each question represents.) The five methodological approaches are:
  • Ethnography.
  • Case study.
  • Grounded theory.
  • Phenomenology.
  • Generic qualitative inquiry.
• Explain how the characteristics of each of the five methodological approaches align with its associated research question.
• Support your assessment with appropriate academic sources and include both citations and references in current APA format. Use 3–5 scholarly resources published within the past three years by recognized academic sources.
  • Several resources are available to assist with defining a literature search strategy, including Capella University Library’s Program Library Research Guides and Library Help services.

Additional Requirements

Your assessment should also meet the following requirements:

• Written communication: Written communication is free of errors that detract from the overall message.
• Length of paper: Meets the structure provided in the assessment instructions.
• Resources: 3–5 scholarly resources. Include a reference page at the end of the paper.
  • APA guidelines: Double-spaced paragraph formatting in the body of the paper. When appropriate, use APA-formatted headings. Resources and citations are formatted according to current APA style and format. See the Evidence and APA section of the Writing Center for more information on APA style and format.
• Font and font size: Times New Roman, 12 point.

Competencies Measured

By successfully completing this assessment, you will demonstrate your proficiency in the course competencies through the following assessment scoring guide criteria:

• Competency 1: Evaluate the characteristics, purposes, benefits, strengths, and weaknesses of qualitative research methods.
  • State a research topic that is appropriate for qualitative research.
  • Explain how the characteristics of each of the five methodological approaches align with an associated research question.
• Competency 4: Describe methods for data collection and analysis.
  • Provide a rationale for using a qualitative approach for the proposed study.
• Competency 5: Apply qualitative research methodology.
  • State a research topic that is appropriate for qualitative in nature, including key concepts or phenomena in appropriate language; specify clearly the relationships between or among the concepts; name the target population; and focus the concepts appropriately.
  • Develop one research question for each of the five methodological approaches, which is aligned with the research topic and qualitative method of research.
• Competency 6: Communicate in a manner that is scholarly, professional, and consistent with the expectations for members in the identified field of study.
  • Convey purpose in an appropriate tone and style, incorporating supporting evidence and adhering to organizational, professional, and scholarly writing standards.

  Resources: The Nature of Qualitative Research

• Qualitative Research Documents and Deliverables

  In this course, you will learn about essential aspects of qualitative research that are usually included in a qualitative research proposal. The same essential aspects of qualitative research are also usually described in a doctoral research plan document. Throughout your doctoral program, you will submit various documents and doctoral deliverables for approval by your school. One of the early documents you will submit for your program is a doctoral research plan. The research proposal information you will learn about during this course will help you prepare for writing your doctoral research plan later in your program. Like a research proposal, a doctoral research plan provides the foundation for conducting research, and the resulting the doctoral deliverables for a doctoral study. Information about documentation and required doctoral deliverables for qualitative research in various programs at Capella University can be found on the Doctoral Resources and Support: PhD page on Campus.

  The Nature of Qualitative Research

  The difference between qualitative research methodology and quantitative research methodology is evident in the underlying philosophies and assumptions of each methodology, and in their fundamental characteristics. The resources in this section provide the basis and rationale for the application of various methodological approaches to conduct qualitative research.

  • Patton, M. Q. (2015). Qualitative research & evaluation methods (4th ed.). Sage. Available in the courseroom via the VitalSource Bookshelf link.
    • Chapter 1, “The Nature, Niche, and Value of Qualitative Inquiry,” pages 2–44.
  • Creswell, J. W., & Poth, C. N. (2018). Qualitative inquiry and research design: Choosing among five approaches (4th ed.). Sage. Available in the courseroom via the VitalSource Bookshelf link.
    • Chapter 2, “Philosophical Assumptions and Interpretive Frameworks,” pages 15–40.
      • Focus on the following subsections:
        • “Philosophical Assumptions.”
        • “Interpretive Frameworks.”
    • Chapter 3, “Designing a Qualitative Study,” pages 41–64.
      • Focus on the following subsections:
        • “The Characteristics of Qualitative Research.”
        • “When to Use Qualitative Research.”
        • “The Process of Designing a Qualitative Study.”
  • Qualitative Versus Quantitative Research.
    • Please note that while this presentation refers to both quantitative and qualitative research methodologies, this course focuses on qualitative research.
  • Qualitative Research Proposal.
    • This illustration appears throughout the course to help guide you as you complete the various activities. Boxcars will continue to be added to the train as you progress through the course. Each boxcar provides information regarding the development of individual components of a research proposal.

  Use the following as the primary reference for formatting and writing the academic papers for the assessments in this course.

  • American Psychological Association. (2020). Publication manual of the American Psychological Association (7th ed.). Available in the courseroom via the VitalSource Bookshelf link.

  Resources: Themes of Qualitative Inquiry

The resources in this section will help you develop knowledge about themes of qualitative inquiry and strategic frameworks for conducting qualitative research. The Qualitative Research and Evaluation Methods text discusses 12 themes of qualitative inquiry, each of which fits into one of the following three categories:

Design Strategies: These include the following themes:

1. Naturalistic.
2. Emergent design.
3. Purposeful sampling.

Data Collection and Fieldwork Strategies: These include the following themes:

1. Qualitative data.
2. Personal experience and engagement.
3. Empathic neutrality and mindfulness.
4. Dynamic systems.

Analysis Strategies: These include the following themes:

1. Unique case orientation.
2. Inductive analysis and creative synthesis.
3. Holistic perspective.
4. Context sensitivity.
5. Voice, perspective, and reflexivity.

Strategic Framework for Qualitative Research

The 12 themes of qualitative inquiry work together as a framework that embrace the characteristics of qualitative research. The themes of qualitative inquiry:

• Provide a common purpose and direction for decision making while conducting qualitative research.
• Define vital characteristics that demonstrate the value of qualitative research and qualitative data.
• Reinforce how a qualitative approach is the most appropriate way to acquire particular types of information.

Patton, M. Q. (2015). Qualitative research & evaluation methods (4th ed.). Sage. Available in the courseroom via the VitalSource Bookshelf link.

• Chapter 2, “Strategic Themes in Qualitative Inquiry,” pages 45–84.
  • Focus on recognizing the 12 themes of qualitative inquiry.

  Resources: Introduction to the Five Approaches

• There are five general methodological approaches for conducting qualitative research acceptable to Capella University.
  • Ethnography.
  • Case study.
  • Phenomenology.
  • Grounded theory.
  • Generic qualitative inquiry.

  Important note: Not all academic programs recommend all five of these methodological approaches, and you may, or may not, choose to apply a qualitative research method to conduct own research. In any case, to be a well-rounded scholar-practitioner in your field, you need to have a solid understanding qualitative research, which you will gain by reading scholarly articles about qualitative research studies in the literature for your field and by interpreting the methodological approaches applied in those qualitative research studies. Therefore, it is important to learn the basic methodological approaches applied in qualitative research.The five core methodological approaches presented in this course are considered acceptable because they:

  • Can be applied to research topics and questions acceptable to specializations in many of the doctorate programs.
  • Have clear, linear, and rigorous data collection and data analysis procedures.
  • Are supported well by the standard methodology literature used in Capella courses.
  • Are presented to learners at residencies and colloquia.

  Following are helpful resources:

  • Patton, M. Q. (2015). Qualitative research & evaluation methods (4th ed.). Sage. Available in the courseroom via the VitalSource Bookshelf link.
    • Chapter 3, “Variety of Qualitative Inquiry Frameworks: Paradigmatic, Philosophical, and Theoretical Orientations,” pages 85–168.
  • Creswell, J. W., & Poth, C. N. (2018). Qualitative inquiry and research design: Choosing among five approaches (4th ed.). Sage. Available in the courseroom via the VitalSource Bookshelf link.
    • Chapter 1, “Introduction,” pages 7–14.
      • Focus on the subsection “Selection of the Five Approaches.”
    • Chapter 4, “Five Qualitative Approaches to Inquiry,” pages 76–102.
      • Focus on the following subsections:
        • “Phenomenological Research.”
        • “Grounded Theory Research.”
        • “Ethnographic Research.”
        • “Case Study Research.”
        • “Generic Qualitative Inquiry.”
  • Percy, W. H., Kostere, K., & Kostere, S. (2015). Generic qualitative research in psychology. The Qualitative Report, 20(2), 76–85.
    • This article summarizes the goals of the generic qualitative approach and how it differs from phenomenology. It provides details regarding generic qualitative design data collection and analysis.
  • Tellis, W. M. (1997). Introduction to case study [PDF]. The Qualitative Report, 3(2).

  Education Programs

  If you have not already done so, review the acceptable topics of study and methodologies for your specific program in the Programs of Research: Theoretical and Topic Area Guidelines for PhD Dissertation Research [PDF] document. You will be expected to adhere to these guidelines and standards in your doctoral research work, so be sure to focus your work in the research courses on these topics and methods.

  Psychology Programs

  Review the acceptable topics of study and methodologies for your specific program in the following resources. You will be expected to adhere to these guidelines and standards in your dissertation work, so be sure to focus your work in the research courses on these topics and methods.

  • Programs of Research: School of Psychology [PDF].
    • Review the section specific to your program.
  • Acceptable Research Methods and Research Designs for PhD Dissertations in the Harold Abel School of Psychology [PDF].
    • Review pages 4–8.
  • Qualitative Research Approaches in Psychology [PDF].
    • Review the introduction on pages 4–5, the appropriate method-specific sections, and Appendix E on page 54.

  Heuristics

  Among the methodologies approved for research in the School of Psychology is heuristics. While Clark Moustakas is known for transcendental phenomenology, the first methodology he published was heuristic inquiry, which differs significantly from phenomenology.If you are considering the use of heuristics as the research methodology, you should read the following:

  • Douglass, B., & Moustakas, C. (1985). Heuristic inquiry: The internal search to know [PDF]. Journal of humanistic psychology, 25(3), 39–55.
  • Moustakas, C. (1990). Heuristic research: Design, methodology, and applications. SAGE.