16 Jan Review two peer-reviewed articles that employ qualitative research methods

Purpose

This assignment is intended to help you learn to do the following:

· Analyze the qualitative methods used in peer-reviewed research articles.

· Evaluate the strengths and limitations of these methods.

· Critically assess qualitative research methodologies.

· Engage in scholarly discussion and reflection on qualitative research practices.

Overview

In this assignment, you will review two peer-reviewed articles that employ qualitative research methods. Your goal is to critically analyze the methods used in each study, discuss their strengths and limitations, and provide a thoughtful critique. This exercise will deepen your understanding of qualitative research methodologies and enhance your ability to critically evaluate research.

Action Items

1. Choose two peer-reviewed articles that utilize qualitative research methods. Ensure that the articles are from reputable academic journals, were published within the last three years, and are relevant to your field of study. Make sure you begin each review by providing a full citation with a link to the article.

2. For each article, list the following details about the study. Make note of any components that are not included in the article:

a. Research problem and/or purpose;

b. Research question(s);

c. Methodology;

d. Data collection (include sampling strategy, data collection instruments, and the context in which data were collected);

e. Data analysis;

f. Ethics statement; and

g. Findings and conclusions.

3. Provide a critical evaluation of each study and the methods used, addressing the following:

a. Discuss the purpose of each study and what problems are being addressed. Include a critique of how the author(s) answer the ‘so, what?’ question and demonstrate whether this is achieved.

b. Thinking about the study details listed above, evaluate each study’s alignment – how each part of the study fits together – and discuss the data collection process and data analysis techniques.

c. Identify the limitations of the methods used in each study. Discuss any potential biases, weaknesses, or areas for improvement.

4. Reflect on your own learning and insights gained from this assignment. Consider how the review and critique process has influenced your understanding of qualitative research methods.

Submission Instructions

· Your review and critique should be approximately 3-4 pages in total.

· Use APA format for citations and references.

· Submit the completed first draft of your assignment. Your work will automatically be checked by Turnitin.

· Access your Turnitin report by reviewing your Submission Details for this assignment. Revise your work as needed based on the feedback from Turnitin.

· If revisions are made, submit the final version by the due date indicated.

Assignment 2

2-2: Case Study Analysis Due January 18

Purpose  

This assignment is intended to help you achieve the following:

· Develop a comprehensive understanding of ethical issues in qualitative research.

· Enhance your ability to critically evaluate research designs and methodologies.

· Apply ethical principles to real-world research scenarios.

· Improve your skills in designing and conducting ethical qualitative research studies.

Overview 

In this assignment, you will consider the ethical questions identified in the case study scenarios below. Each scenario presents ethical dilemmas commonly encountered in qualitative research. Your task is to select one scenario of your interest, identify the ethical issues, evaluate their impact on the research process, and propose strategies to ensure ethical compliance.

Action Items 

1. Choose one of the four case study scenarios:

Scenario A: You are a researcher conducting a qualitative study on the impact of remote work on employee productivity and well-being in a multinational corporation. You plan to conduct in-depth interviews with employees from various departments and locations. As you prepare for your study, consider the following ethical issues:

· How will you ensure the confidentiality and anonymity of the participants? Be sure to consider the recruitment process and identifiable data you will collect.

· What steps will you take to obtain informed consent from the participants?

· How will you address potential power dynamics between employees and management during the interviews?

2. Write a 2- to 3-page analysis of the ethical challenges and strategies for your chosen scenario that:

· Identify the key ethical issues present in the selected scenario.

· Consider challenges related to confidentiality, informed consent, participant well-being, and researcher bias.

· Describe how you would address the ethical concerns in your study.

· Outline specific steps and safeguards you would implement to ensure ethical research practices.

· Support your approach using at least one academic source in addition to the course textbook.

· Use APA format for citations and references.

3. Submit the completed first draft of your assignment. Your work will automatically be checked by Turnitin.

· Access your Turnitin report by reviewing your Submission Details for this assignment. Revise your work as needed based on the feedback from Turnitin.

· If revisions are made, submit the final version by the due date indicate

2-3: Reflexive Journal Due Sunday, Jan 18

Purpose

This assignment is intended to help you: 

· Develop self-awareness and reflexivity in qualitative research.

· Critically engage with course readings, discussions, and research activities.

· Document personal growth and learning throughout the course.

· Identify and reflect on ethical considerations and challenges encountered in qualitative research.

Overview

Throughout this course, you will maintain a weekly reflexive journal to document your learning experiences, thoughts, and feelings as you engage with course material and conduct qualitative research. Reflexive journaling is an essential practice in qualitative research, helping researchers become more aware of their biases, assumptions, and the impact of their positionality on the research process.

Action Items

1. Reflect on your weekly learning. Consider insights gained from course materials and qualitative research activities. Identify any significant “aha” moments, challenges, or lessons learned.

2. Write a 1- to 2-page journal entry (typed, double-spaced) that addresses the following topics (but is not limited to them):

· Reflection on Course Material: Discuss your thoughts and reactions to the readings, meet sessions, and discussions. Which concepts resonated with you? What questions or concerns arose?

· Research Activities: Reflect on any qualitative research activities conducted, such as interviews, observations, or data analysis. What challenges did you encounter, and how did you address them?

· Personal Insights: Consider how your background, experiences, and positionality influence your understanding of the research process and the data you collect. What biases or assumptions have you identified in yourself?

· Ethical Considerations: Reflect on any ethical dilemmas faced in your research and how you navigated them.

Research Paper 2: Conceptual Framework due January 18

Topic is at the bottom of this page

Purpose

This assignment is intended to help you develop your conceptual framework and refresh your literature review.

Overview

The conceptual framework is an outline of your research plan for conducting the study. In an APA-formatted Word document of approximately 600 to 800 words, describe your study design. Include the following:

· Briefly summarize the topic of interest.

· Define the theory of the study.

· Conceptual framework visual – Create a visual that illustrates the theory and how it applies to this study. A hand-drawn visual is preferable.

· Conceptual framework explanation – Describe how your study fits within the broader field and its theoretical concepts; where your work might build upon or support a theoretical model; what the objectives of your study are; how you explain the phenomenon that is the focus of your research; and so on.

Please keep in mind that this is the beginning of your work; you will not have all these pieces clarified in your work yet. However, you should be able to start thinking about them and mapping them out.

Action Items

1. Write your conceptual framework paper according to the directions in the Overview.

2. Submit the completed first draft of your assignment. Your work will automatically be checked by Turnitin.

3. Access your Turnitin report by reviewing your Submission Details for this assignment. Revise your work as needed based on the feedback.

4. By the due date indicated, re-submit the final version of your work.