CONSIDERATIONS IN DESIGNING A QUALITATIVE STUDY

Using what you have learned about your topic from your literature search, you are working towards formulating a research purpose and question. Note that in the Learning Resources for this week, the language of qualitative research is incorporated into how the research purpose and question is formulated. Here are some basic do’s and don’ts.

For example, in the ongoing scenario for each of the weeks of this course, the qualitative research question is formulated based on:

DO: The purpose of this study is to 
understand the narratives of childcare and support in families in impoverished communities.

DO: What is the 
meaning of a “well-behaved child” to early childhood caregivers in impoverished neighborhoods?

While as in this example, the research question is formulated based on quantitative information

DON’T: The purpose of this study is to examine the demographic and family factors that 
predict the use of childcare services in impoverished communities.

DON’T: What are the 
differences in early childhood social skill acquisition between children that do receive childcare services and those that do not?

For this Discussion, you will examine qualitative research as it relates to qualitative design considerations.

To prepare for this Discussion:

· Review the Learning Resources and the 
Fundamentals of Qualitative Research Methods: Developing a Qualitative Research Question video and consider the basic guidelines for qualitative research design.

· Use the Course Guide and Assignment Help found in this week’s Learning Resources and search for a qualitative research article. (
Note: This article should be the research article you are using for your Major Assignment 1.)

· Review the qualitative research article you found and identify each of the components of the research design and consider what is present and what is missing.

· Identify what the authors did to document positionality, reflexivity, and bias.

BY DAY 4

Transform your notes from your preparation work into three paragraphs and post the following:

· A brief statement of the purpose and primary research question the article addresses

· An assessment of how thoroughly the research design was presented, including what was missing

· An assessment of the extent of the researcher’s presentation of positionality, reflexivity, and bias

Be sure to support your main post and response post with reference to the week’s Learning Resources and other scholarly evidence in APA style.

RESOURCES

Required Readings

· Ravitch, S. M., & Carl, N. M. (2021). 
Qualitative research: Bridging the conceptual, theoretical, and methodological (2nd ed.) Sage Publications.

· Chapter 3, “Critical Qualitative Research Design” “Qualitative Research Design” (pp. 62–103) (focus on pp. 62-63)

· Chapter 4, “Design and Reflexivity in Data Collection” (pp. 105–122)

· Rubin, H. J., & Rubin, I. S. (2012). Qualitative interviewing: The art of hearing data (3rd ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.

· Chapter 3, “Qualitative Data-Gathering Methods and Style” (pp. 25–39)

· Chapter 4, “Designing Research for the Responsive Interviewing Model” (pp. 42–57)

· Walden University Office of Research and Doctoral Services. (2015). 
Research Resources: Research Design & Analysis
Links to an external site.
. Retrieved from 
http://academicguides.waldenu.edu/researchcenter/resources/Design
Links to an external site.

Use this website to guide as you as you consider research design and analysis for your Discussions and Assignments during this week.

· Walden University Library. (n.d.). 
Course Guide and Assignment Help for RSCH 8310
Links to an external site.
. Retrieved from 
http://academicguides.waldenu.edu/rsch8310
Links to an external site.

Use this website to search for articles based on the requirements for the Discussion and/or Assignment.

Required Media

· Yale University. (2015, June 23). 
Fundamentals of qualitative research methods: Developing a qualitative research question (Module 2) [
Links to an external site.
Video file]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_0HxMpJsm0I

Note: The approximate length of this media piece is 12 minutes.

As you review this video, focus on how you will develop a good research question for your Major Assignment 1.

· Walden University, LLC. (Producer). (2010). Doctoral research: Ensuring quality in qualitative research [Video file]. Baltimore, MD: Author.

Note: The approximate length of this media piece is 4 minutes.

In this media program, qualitative research expert Dr. Laura Lynn talks about the issue of researcher bias in the interview process.