Discussion: Evaluating Research Questions and Qualitative Research Designs
Just as in quantitative research, when researchers set out to design a qualitative research study, they are guided by its purpose, and their research questions align with their selected approach and the data that will be collected.
As you learned in previous weeks, alignment means that a research study possesses clear and logical connections among all of its various components. In addition to considering alignment, qualitative researchers must also consider the ethical implications of their design choice, including, for example, what their choice means for participant recruitment, procedures, and privacy.
For this Discussion, you will evaluate qualitative research questions in assigned journal articles in your discipline and consider the alignment of theory, problem, purpose, research questions, and design. You will also identify the type of qualitative research design or approach the authors used and explain how it was implemented. Narrative, ethnographic, grounded theory, case study, and phenomenology are examples of types of research designs or approaches used in qualitative research.
Post a critique of the research study in which you:
• Evaluate the research questions (The Research Questions and Hypotheses Checklist can be used as a guide to facilitate your evaluation; it is not meant to be used in a Yes/No response format in writing your Discussion post.)
• Identify the type of qualitative research approach used and explain how the researchers implemented the design.
• Analyze alignment among the theoretical or conceptual framework, problem, purpose, research questions, and design.
The response should include a reference list. Double-space, using Times New Roman 12 pnt font, one-inch margins, and APA style of writing and citations.
Reference
Seda, L. (2014). Identity theft and university students: Do they know, do they care? Journal of Financial Crime, 21(4), 461-483. doi:10.1108/JFC-05-2013-0032.