Qualitative Article Analysis

Qualitative Article Analysis
For this Application, you will read and analyze an article detailing a study that employed a qualitative research approach. As you read, be sure to take note of the characteristics of qualitative research and why a qualitative research approach was more appropriate for the study.

To prepare for this Application:
Review the following readings for this week: Qualitative Inquiry and Research Design: Choosing Among Five Approaches; Qualitative Research and Evaluation Methods; and Research Design: Qualitative, Quantitative, and Mixed Methods Approaches. Consider the characteristics of qualitative research.

? Review Chapter 2 and Chapter 6 in the APA Manual.

? Locate the article your instructor has selected for the class to read and analyze (this should be posted as an announcement by Day 2 this week).

? For the article your instructor has selected:

o Analyze the article for characteristics of qualitative research.

o Analyze the strengths and weaknesses of using a qualitative approach for the study in question. Why use a qualitative approach instead of a quantitative one?

The assignment:
? Craft a 3- to 5-page paper in which you do the following:

o Analyze a qualitative research article for:
o Characteristics of qualitative research and
o The strengths and weaknesses of using a qualitative approach for the study instead of a quantitative approach

Required Resources
This page contains the Learning Resources for this week. Be sure to scroll down the page to see all of this week’s assigned Learning Resources. To access select media resources, please use the media player below.

MyMediaPlayer. This content requires the latest Adobe Flash Player. Get Flash

? Handout: Welcome letter to the foundational Research Sequence

This document provides information about the foundational research courses and the 48 doctoral competencies the research courses were developed to fulfill.
? Course Text: Creswell, J. W. (2013). Qualitative inquiry and research design: Choosing among five approaches (3rd ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications, Inc.
o Chapter 3, "Designing a Qualitative Study"

In this chapter, Creswell provides an overview of qualitative research, and describes the common characteristics shared by all forms of qualitative research. He then goes on to explain how to design a study that effectively employs qualitative research methods.
? Course Text: Patton, M. Q. (2002). Qualitative research and evaluation methods (3rd ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications, Inc.
o Chapter 1, "The Nature of Qualitative Inquiry"

In this chapter, Patton introduces the concept of qualitative research and explains how qualitative methods can be used to gather rich, meaningful data that can stand alone or be used to supplement quantitative research.

? Course Text from RSCH 8100: Creswell, J. W. (2009). Research Design: Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods approaches (3rd ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications, Inc.
o Review Chapter 1, "The Selection of a Research Design" as reminder of characteristics of qualitative and quantitative research approaches.
? Course Text: American Psychological Association. (2010). Publication manual of the American Psychological Association (6th ed.). Washington, DC: Author.
o Chapter 2, "Manuscript Structure and Content"

o Chapter 6, "Crediting Sources"

These two chapters will assist you with completing this week’s Application assignment.

? Media:
o "Doctoral Research: Preparing for Qualitative Research" (8:36)

Click here to download a transcript of this video segment.

In this video segment, qualitative research expert Laura Lynn discusses the distinctions between qualitative and quantitative research. Main topics include the continuum of inquiry and preparing for qualitative research. To view this video program, use the media player located at the top of this page.
? Handout: List of Articles

For this week’s Application, you will read and analyze an article detailing a qualitative research study. Your instructor will select an article from this list provided, and post an announcement by Day 2 indicating which article you will read and analyze.

? Software
o NVivo

Begin to familiarize yourself with the software this week. If you need assistance with the software, contact the manufacturer directly?QSR International?instead of Walden’s Student Support Team. Contact information and resources are listed below in the Research Toolkit and will be listed there through Week 9.
o Technical Requirements for Mac Users (Word document)

This document provides Mac users with specific information for using NVivo software.
arch term, or search by general categories.

Optional Resources
? Patton, M. Q. (2002). Qualitative research and evaluation methods (3rd. ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications, Inc.
?
o Between-Chapters Interlude: "Top Ten Pieces of Advice to a Graduate Student Considering a Qualitative Dissertation" (pp. 33-35)

In this interlude, Patton presents a series of tips gathered from multiple respondents who have experience working on a qualitative dissertation.

o Chapter 4, "Particularly Appropriate Qualitative Applications" (pp. 143?205)

These pages illustrate the range of uses for qualitative research.
? Bazeley, P. (2007). Qualitative data analysis with NVivo. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications, Inc.

This additional text is recommended to students who would like additional support with learning NVivo software.