Introduction
Qualitative research uses inductive reasoning based on an exploration or observation. The focus is typically on the researcher investigating the reasons why something happened. The information comes from interviews or observations. The answers emerge as more information is discovered. You could relate it to the work of a detective who gathers facts and organizes them to find patterns that lead to explanations for events.
In this assignment, you will continue to expand your understanding of a research framework in the context of qualitative research by analyzing and evaluating research questions in qualitative studies. You will also continue to analyze the interrelated elements of a research study, making the connection between theory, problem, purpose, and, now, qualitative research questions and design.
Summary
For this assignment, you will craft a qualitative research question based on the HAC that you selected for the Research Problem and Purpose Statements assignment. You will also examine qualitative methodologies and data collection strategies that would enable you to answer your research question.
There is no length requirement for this assignment. Most submissions that fully address all scoring guide criteria will be 2–5 pages long.
Instructions
For this assignment, it is suggested that you build on the work that you did in the Research Problem and Purpose Statements assignment. This assignment has two distinct parts.
Part 1: Qualitative Research Question
For this first part of the assignment, you will formulate a research question that is appropriate for a research project that will use qualitative methodologies. Remember the HAC that you used in your Research Problem and Purpose Statements assignment for this course. Your research question should align with the problem and purpose statements that you developed in this assignment. A well-written research question should be a single statement.
When examining or creating qualitative research questions, the following checklist may be useful.
Qualitative Research Question Checklist
Does the purpose statement fit logically with the problem statement? Does the purpose statement use similar words to the problem statement, or does it seem to address a different topic?
Do the research questions align with the method and design of the study? For instance, are words like perception used that would automatically reject a quantitative study?
Do questions seek to describe responses to the variables described in the study?
Do the questions begin with the word why?
Do the questions focus on a single phenomenon?
Do the questions include exploratory verbs?
Is the language non-directional?
Are the questions open-ended?
Do the questions specify the participants and research site?
Relevant Scoring Guide Criteria
Formulate a qualitative research question.
Communicate in a manner that is scholarly, professional, and respectful of the diversity, dignity, and integrity of others and is consistent with expectations for health care professionals.
Part 2: Qualitative Methods and Data Collection
For this second part of the assignment, you will draw on your readings about qualitative methods and data collection to first identify specific qualitative methodologies that will enable you to answer your research questions. You will then discuss specific qualitative data collection tools or strategies that are appropriate for answering your research questions. Questions to consider when looking for tools and strategies and tools include:
Which research question are you specifically trying to answer?
How does the specific HAC affect the types of tools and strategies that would work best?
How does the health care setting where the research project will occur affect the types of tools and strategies that would work best?
This part should include a review of why it is important to a potential research plan as a whole to ensure that your data collection plan is relevant to your chosen methodology.
This section should be 2–5 pages long, depending on the level of detail required to fully present your methodologies and data collection tools and strategies.
Relevant Scoring Guide Criteria
Identify relevant qualitative methodologies that will support answering a research question.
Describe qualitative data collection tools or strategies that are appropriate for answering research questions.
Explain the importance of methodologically relevant data collection to a research plan as a whole.
Communicate in a manner that is scholarly, professional, and respectful of the diversity, dignity, and integrity of others and is consistent with expectations for health care professionals.
