Chapter 3
Introduction
301 Introductory paragraph that describes what this chapter includes. It begins with a restating of the Purpose of this Study as described in Chapter 1 and includes a brief summary of what the reader will find in Chapter 3 and includes 302-311. 550 words 12 pt Times New Roman 3I1
302 A brief summary of how the research design derives logically from the problem statement. 50 words 12 pt Times New Roman 3I2
303 A brief summary of the design which describes the qualitative tradition or paradigm that will be used. 50 words 12 pt Times New Roman 3I2
304 A brief summary of the Role of the Researcher. 50 words 12 pt Times New Roman 1I2
305 A brief summary that describes the setting and sample. 50 words 12 pt Times New Roman 3I2
306 A brief summary that describes the Data Collection procedures you will use. 50 words 12 pt Times New Roman 3I2
307 A brief summary that describes the Data Analysis. 50 words 12 pt Times New Roman 3I2
308 A brief summary of Trustworthiness 50 words 12 pt Times New Roman 3I2
309 A brief summary of the Protection of the Participant’s Rights 50 words 12 pt Times New Roman 3I2
310 A brief summary of the Exploratory Study (if used). 50 words 12 pt Times New Roman 3I2
311 A brief summary of the Presentation of the Results. 50 words 12 pt Times New Roman 3I2
Research Design Derived Logically from the Problem Statement
312 This section begins with a restatement of the research questions exactly as described in chapter 1 150 words 12 pt Times New Roman 3R1
313 State and define the central concept(s) / phenomenon (a) of this study.3R2 100 words 12 pt Times New Roman
314 Which research method will best answer your research questions? Quantitative, Qualitative, or a mix? Why? 150 words 12 pt Times New Roman (Here you will identify the research tradition 3R3)
315 Discuss more closely into the range of options within them. In qualitative: grounded theory, phenomenology, case study, biography/history, ethnography, and so on. Include a description of the research design and approach. Begin with the big picture, move through the range of options, to come to the method of your choosing. Include an explanation of why alternative methods were not chosen. 300 words 12 pt Times New Roman
316 Provide a justification for using the design and approach you have chosen, and make it clear why your chosen method was preferable: What will it yield for you that other methods will not? Which approach (or approaches) will best answer the research questions? Why, and why is your choice better than the other options? (Here you will provide the rationale for the chosen tradition. 3R4) 200 words 12 pt Times New Roman (The Design describes which qualitative tradition or paradigm will be used. The choice of paradigm is justified, with explanations why other likely choices would be less effective.)
Role of the Researcher
317 Define and explain your role as observer, participant, or observer-participant. 100 words 12 pt Times New Roman 3RR1
318 Describe the role of the Researcher in the data collection procedure. 100 words 12 pt Times New Roman
319 Reveal any personal and professional relationships researcher may have with participants, with emphasis on supervisory or instructor relationships involving power over the participants. 100 words Times New Roman 3RR2
320 State how any researcher biases and / or power relationships are or will be managed. 100 words 12 pt Times New Roman 3RR3
321 Discuss other ethical issues as applicable (these could include doing a study within one’s own work environment, conflict of interest or power differentials, and justification for use of incentives) and the plan for addressing these issues. 200 words 12 pt Times New Roman 3RR4
Describe the Setting and Sample
322 Where will your data be gathered including the reasons for your decisions? (Here you will identify and justify the sampling strategy,) 3MPS2 150 words 12 pt Times New Roman
323 What is the population you will study including the justification for your decisions? (Here you will identify the population) 3MPS1 (Describe the population from which the sample will be drawn) Here you will be stating the criterion/a on which participant selection is based. 3MPS3 300 words 12 pt Times New Roman
324 How will you determine the sample including the reasons for your decisions? Note: There is a justification for the number of participants, which is balanced with depth of inquiry – the fewer the participants the deeper the inquiry per individual. (here you will state the number of participants/cases and the rationale for that number. 3MPS5 200 words 12 pt Times New Roman
325 Describe and defend the sampling method including the sampling frame used. (for Quantitative and Mixed Methods Only) 200 words Times New Roman – If this section does not apply to your study write N/A here. Do not eliminate this section from the template.
326 Describe and defend the sampling size. (Here you will describe the relationship between saturation and sample size.) 3MPS7 200 words 12 pt Times New Roman
327 Describe the eligibility criteria for study participants. 200 words Times New Roman (Here you will establish how participants are known to meet the criterion/a.) 3MPS4
328 Describe the characteristics of the selected sample. 200 words Times New Roman
329 Explain the specific procedures for how participants will be identified, contacted, and recruited. 200 words 12 pt Times New Roman 3MPS6
Data Collection Procedures
330 Begin by identifying each data collection instrument and source (observation sheet, interview protocol, focus group protocol, video-tape, audio tape, artifacts, archived data, and other kinds of data collection instruments.) 3IS1 Include in the identification of each instrument the identity source of the instrument (published or researcher produced). 3IS2 300 words 12 pt Times New Roman
331 If historical or legal documents are used as a source of data, demonstrate the reputability of the sources and justify why they represent the best source of data. 3IS3 – If not applicable write N/A here. Do not eliminate the section. 200 words 12 pt Times New Roman
332 Establish the sufficiency of data collection instruments to answer the research questions. 200 words 12 pt Times New Roman. 3RDI3
333 If you are using a published data collection instrument, provide who developed the instrument and its date of publication. 3PDC1 Further provide where and with which participant group has it been used previously. 3PDC2 150 words 12pt Times New Roman
334 Discuss how appropriate this instrument is for the current study (that is, context and cultural specificity of protocols/instrumentation) and whether modifications will be or were needed. 200 words 12 pt Time New Roman 3PDC3
335 Describe how content validity will be or was established for this published instrument. 150 words 12 pt Times New Roman 3PDC4
336 Address any context – and culture – specific issues specific to the population while this instrument was being developed. 150 words 12 pt Times New Roman 3PDC5
337 If you are developing your own data collection instrument state the basis for the instrument development (literature sources, other bases, a pilot study, etc.) 200 words 12 pt Times New Roman 3RDI1 – If this section is not applicable state N/A but do not eliminate this section.
338 Describe how content validity for your developed instrument will be or was established. 150 words 12 pt Times New Roman 3RDI2
339 If you used a pilot study include all the procedures you used for recruitment, participation, and data collection associated with the pilot study and the main study. 200 words 12 pt Times New Roman 3PS1
340 If you used a pilot study describe the relationship of the pilot study to the main study (e.g., what is the purpose of the pilot study?) 200 words 12 pt Times New Roman 3PS2 (Include the IRB approval number – you will need this when modifying this section for the completed dissertation. 3PS3
341 For each research question and each data collection instrument the following information is collected: from where will the data be collected; who will collect the data; what is the frequency of the data collection events; what is the duration of the data collection events; how will the data be recorded; and, what is your follow up plan if your recruitment results in too few participants? 3POR1 3POR2 600 words 12 pt Times New Roman
342 Explain how participants in your study will exit the study (for example debriefing procedures). 3POR3 150 words 12pt Times New Roman
343 Describe your follow up procedures (such as requirements to return for follow up interviews). 3POR4 150 words 12pt Times New Roman
Data Analysis
344 How will you work with the data once you have collected it? Here you will identify for each type of data collected the connection of the data to each specific research question. 300 words 12 pt Times New Roman 3DA1 3DA2
345 What sorting/coding will you perform? Here you will identify for each type of data collected the type of and procedure for coding. 200 words 12 pt Times New Roman 3DA1 3DA2
Deciding what the researcher will do with the data once gathered is essential to describe in advance of the data collection. The data analysis plan is not sufficient to tell the reader you know what to do with the data once collected. Interviews are typically coded as you do them. Are you planning on using a continual iterative process for transcribing and coding the data? Will you be using inductive or deductive coding? Initially, you will be using a form of open coding, but then what? Are you looking for emotions, processes, or axial codes? In this section, detail a preliminary coding framework that links the interview protocol with the theoretical framework and research question.
Be specific about how your coding will connect with the research questions, interview questions, and theory. Intending to do something and having a set plan are two different things. A simple coding framework might be based on this simple framework:
Theory Primary Code Secondary code Interview question
Please Google Saldana’s coding information for a useful review. Google him!
The following is a simple example of the mapping:
Theory: Emotional intelligence
Parent code (aspects or characteristics of the
Theory) Child Code Interview question/s
Self-awareness reflection 1, 4, 6
Balance Work/life balance all
Perception World view 1, 6, 7, 9
Concerns Agency policy 2,3
M&L 5,8
Decision making all
346 Will you use software for data analysis? If so, explain what it will and will not do for you. Here you will identify for each type of data collected any software used for analysis. 3DA1 3DA2 200 words 12 pt Times New Roman
347 Here you will identify for each type of data collected the manner of treatment of discrepant cases. 3DA1 3DA2 200 words 12 pt Times New Roman
Trustworthiness
348 How will you determine the trustworthiness of your data? Here you will discuss credibility (internal validity) by describing the appropriate strategies you will use to establish credibility, such as, triangulation, prolonged contact, member checks, saturation, reflexivity, and peer review. 150 words 12 pt Times New Roman 3TR1
349 How will you determine the trustworthiness of your data? Here you will discuss transferability (external validity) by describing the appropriate strategies you will us to establish transferability, such as, thick description and variation in participant selection. 150 words 12 pt Times New Roman 3TR2
350 How will you determine the trustworthiness of your data? Here you will discuss dependability (the qualitative counterpart to reliability) by describing the appropriate strategies you will use to establish dependability, such as audit trails and triangulation. 150 words 12 pt Times New Roman 3TR3
351 How will you determine the trustworthiness of your data? Here you will discuss confirmability (the qualitative counterpart to objectivity) by describing the appropriate strategies you will use to establish confirmability, such as reflexivity. 150 words 12 pt Times New Roman 3TR4
352 How will you determine the trustworthiness of your data? Here you will discuss intra and intercoder reliability as it relates to your study. 150 words 12 pt Times New Roman 3TR5
Protection of the Participant’s Rights/Ethical Procedures
353 Discuss how all research involving human subjects requires that certain formal steps be taken to protect their rights to privacy and protection from harm. 300 words 12 pt Times New Roman
354 Discuss the institutional permissions, including IRN approvals that are needed (proposal stage) or were obtained (for the completed dissertation, including relevant IRB approval numbers.) 150 words 12 pt Times New Roman 3EP3
355 In relation to the treatment of human participants discuss the ethical concerns related to recruitment materials and processes and a plan to address them. 200 words 12 pt Times New Roman 3EP4
356 In relation to the treatment of human participants discuss the ethical concerns related to all data collection/intervention activities (these could include participants refusing participation or early withdrawal from the study and response to any predictable adverse events) and a plan to address them. 200 words 12 pt Times New Roman 3EP5
357 Discuss the agreements you have or will obtain to gain access to participants or data (incude the actual documents in the appendix of this chapter). 3EP1 150 words 12pt Times New Roman
358 Describe the treatment of data (including archival data), by discussing whether data are anonymous or confidential and any concerns related to each. 150 words 12 pt Times New Roman 3EP7
359 Describe the treatment of data (including archival data), by discussing protections for the confidential data (data storage procedures, data dissemination, who will have access to the data, and when the data will be destroyed). 200 words 12 pt Times New Roman 3EP8
360 Describe the treatment of data (including archival data), by discussing any other applicable ethical issues (these could include doing a study within one’s own work environment; conflict of interest or power differentials; and justification for use incentives). 200 words 12 pt Times New Roman 3EP9
Exploratory /Pilot Study
361 If an exploratory study will be (or was) conducted, its relation to the larger study is explained and continue to section 362. 200 words 12 pt Times New Roman – If no exploratory study will be/was used so state and, if not, why will/was one not (be) used.
362 If you conducted a pilot study, what did you learn from it? 100 words Times New Roman
Presentation of the Results
363 How will you convey your results: tables, charts, descriptions, etc? (Attach your results: tables, charts, descriptions, etc)
Summary
364 Describe the highlights of your methodology by summarizing the main points of the chapter. This section is different from the Introduction. It performs different roles. It cannot be repetitive of the Introductory section. 300 words 12 pt Times New Roman 3SU1
365 Write a transition paragraph into Chapter 4. 100 words 12 pt Times New Roman 3SU2
References Chapter Three
Sample Solution