8010wk 8 discussion

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Laveta Ebbin 

Initial Discussion Post Week 8 L Ebbin

COLLAPSE

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Explanation of two criteria for evaluating the quality of qualitative research designs

          Qualitative research designs provide a pathway to conduct research that must consist of quality for the conducted study. Quality research provides measures that show the findings as accurately based on the study. The quality of qualitative research involves validity, specifically through trustworthiness (Burkholder, 2020). Two criteria for evaluating the quality of qualitative research designs are credibility and transferability. Transferability is the degree to which results can be generalized or transferred to other settings or contexts (Korstiens & Moser, 2018). A few ways to promote credibility are through prolonged engagement or persistent observation. The extended engagement involves time where trust with the participants and learning the culture. Through continued observation, the researcher collects sufficient data to determine what is relevant and irrelevant based on the findings (Laureate Education, 2016). The criteria or standards provide a space for trustworthiness in the research findings.

 

Explanation of how these criteria are tied to epistemological and ontological assumptions underlying philosophical orientations and the standards of your discipline

          The criteria of credibility and transferability connect to epistemological and ontological assumptions. The epistemological assumption is the study of knowledge and the nature of reality (Burkholder et al., 2020). Credibility is the belief or trust in the research findings that connect with what we know or the epistemology. The ontological assumption relates to the findings' ability to be generalized to another context. The belief connects with the transferability of the research. The epistemology assumption also applies to the criteria. They focus on knowledge or what is known.

Credibility and transferability's connection with the assumptions relates to the standards in education as it allows for a study based on trustworthiness. For example, if a qualitative study examined how instructional leadership impacted teaching practices in mathematics, it would be vital that the design had criteria that findings are accurate based on the setting and that the results are transferable in a similar context. The importance of the trustworthiness for studies involving instructional leadership is due to student achievement and the possibility of extended research. The use of criteria provides a set guideline or insurance that the research findings are trustworthy.

 

Identify a potential ethical issue in qualitative research and explain how it might influence design decisions

      A potential ethical issue in qualitative research is informed consent by the participants. Burkholder et al. (2020) share that informed consent is a continuous communication process between the researcher and the potential participants. Clear communication is vital to ensure there is informed consent by the participants, including the use of forms that protect the participants' privacy. It is also essential that the researcher consider the participants' cultural beliefs for informed consent to ensure respect for their beliefs (Burkholder et al., 2020).

 

Explain what it means for a research topic to be amenable to scientific study using a qualitative approach

           A research topic amenable to scientific study using the qualitative approach must be based on a phenomenon from a real-world situation. The research topic developed from a phenomenon involves interviews or observations with findings founded through trustworthiness (Golafshani, 2003). One way of addressing a research topic's amenability to scientific study is by applying the litmus test. The test is designed to assess a research problem through a checklist such as justification, the problem based on literature, describing a significant gap in practice, and formulation without bias or preconceived conclusions (Walden University, 2015c). The litmus test provides that researcher with a tool to evaluate the research topic to determine if it is a qualitative approach viable for a scientific study.

 

 

 

                                                          References

Burkholder, G. J., Cox, K. A., Crawford, L. M., & Hitchcock, J. H. (Eds.). (2020). Research

            designs and methods: An applied guide for the scholar-practitioner. Thousand Oaks,

            CA: Sage.

Golafshani, N. (2003). Understanding reliability and validity in qualitative research. The

Qualitative Report, 8(4), 597-606. Retrieved from

https://nsuworks.nova.edu/tqr/vol8/iss4/6/

Korstjens, I. & Moser, A. (2018). Series: Practical guidance to qualitative research. Part 4:

            Trustworthiness and publishing. [Journal].

Laureate Education. (2016). Trustworthiness. [Document].

Walden University: Center for Research Quality. (2015c). Research resources: Research

            Planning & writing, Retrieved from

            https://academicguides.waldenu.edu/research-center/student-research/identify-problem

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Nadia Khan 

Week 8 Discussion Post: Designing Qualitative Research

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Two criteria for evaluating the quality of qualitative research designs:

According to Burholder et al. (2020), two criteria for evaluating the quality of qualitative research designs are validity and reliability. Validity refers to the idea of truth where valid conclusions are an accurate reflection of the study’s conclusions. The steps needed to promote valid findings include whether the method used for data collection allows the researcher to answer his/her research question, whether the types of data that is collected answers the research question, whether the data collection sample answers the research question, whether the questions that were asked to the participants were connected closely to the research question, and whether the participant pool was large enough so that the results could be used for future research (Burkholder et al., 2020). Study design, methodology, and framework are important components that guide a researcher to think through validity. According to Burkholder et al. (2020), validity is not only an outcome, but it is a continual process that assists with understanding the truth of what is being studied. Reliability refers to how different researchers who used the same methods of data collection and analysis have similar findings and results. Burkholder et al. (2020) refer to reliability to being similar to consistency. Reliability and validity work hand in hand and reliability would not be valid if it was to be used alone. Checks for reliability are done during data collection and data analysis. To ensure reliability it is important to have multiple sources analyze the data using the same analytical methods to see if all sources yield the same understanding of the data (Burkholder et al., 2020).

How these criteria are tied to epistemological and ontological assumptions underlying philosophical orientations and the standards of your discipline:

Validity is tied to ontological assumptions because ontological assumptions address the nature of reality. Validity refers to the truth. Therefore, validity and ontology both have to do with realism. Reliability is tied to epistemology assumptions because there are multiple ways in which knowledge can be accumulated (Burkholder et al., 2020). Reliability deals with yielding the same or similar results using the same methods, but analyzed by different sources. So reliability and epistemology are related because they both deal with multiple ways in which knowledge can be utilized.

Potential ethical issue in qualitative research and how it influences design decisions:

One potential ethical issue in qualitative research described by Burkholder et al. (2020) is deception. Deception is purposely misleading participants about the study and/or its procedures. This influences design decisions because the researcher influences participants to think/act in a certain way that will deem the researcher the results that he/she is hoping to gain. Debriefing is suggested in order to demystify any thoughts of deception by the participants (Burkholder et al. 2020). This allows any misconceptions to be brought to the forefront and clarified.

What it means for a research topic to be amenable to scientific study using a qualitative approach:

What it means for a research topic to be amenable to scientific study using a qualitative approach is that it can provide further knowledge on an unfamiliar topic through the guidance of the participants. The research topic must be guided by the research participants through interviews or other qualitative methods.

Reference:

Burkholder, G. J., Cox, K. A., Crawford, L. M., & Hitchcock, J. H.  (Eds.). (2020). Research designs and methods: An applied guide for the scholar

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