Psychology

Example 1

Research Methodology

Transcendental phenomenology is a research methodology where researchers gain first-hand information about the participant’s experience with the specific phenomenon. The researcher then reports that information just as the participant expressed it, without adding in any biases or interpretations (Percy & Kostere, 2008). Creswall and Poth (2018) have said that transcendental phenomenology would be best used when the goal is to obtain the participant’s raw feelings and lived experience about a phenomenon.

The sampling strategy that will be utilized is utilization focused sampling. In this sampling strategy, cases are selected in order to provide researchers with in-depth information that can lead to better decision-making in the future (Patton, 2015). This sampling strategy was chosen because they study will focus on parent experiences with token economies, which will provide practitioners with better direction on token economy implementation. If researchers find out what the families liked and didn’t like about the token economy, then future implementation could potentially exclude some of those disliked portions to make the token economy more likely to be implemented by families.   

Data will be collected through interview. In order to ensure that researcher bias is not included, the researcher will bracket her own beliefs in the margin (Capella, 2006). The sample size will be approximately 8 participants. Creswall and Poth (2018) reported that a sample size for phenomenology ranges from 3-15. By choosing 8 participants, there leaves room for participants to drop out, hopefully without falling below the recommended minimum.   

 

Interview Questions

1. Prior to this study, what were some experiences you have had with a token economy?

2.  What are your feelings about the token economy?

3. What did you like about the token economy?

4. What did you dislike about the token economy?

5. Can you describe a time where you experienced a complication with the token economy?

6. What were some things that were particularly easy about the token economy?

7. What were some things that were particularly difficult about the token economy?

8. How would you feel if you were asked to implement a token economy for another month?

9. How did your child adjust to the token economy?

10. What were some changes you had to make in order to develop the token economy?

Professor feedback

Below is general feedback that I am going to try to share with everyone:

Researchers have to be sure that they identify an appropriate sampling strategy and sample size, and then provide support for the choices that are made (support from primary sources, not textbooks). The decisions that are made regarding the strategies that are used to conduct the study need to be presented with a well-supported rationale. In other words, after you have read about the various sampling methods used within qualitative research, choose the method that best fits your study, and then provide the reasons that you decided to utilize the sampling strategy that was chosen. The reason should be related to the goal of your study, which is to obtain data capable of answering the research question, and presented with support.

It will also be necessary to determine the appropriate sample size. Capella requires 8 to 14 participants with the stipulation that data collection will continue until data saturation is achieved. The sample size will need to be supported. One way to support a specific 'sample size' is to locate similar, recently published studies using the same method, and review the sample sizes that were needed to complete the studies. You can then provide insight into the sample sizes that are typical, and utilize that range as a goal (and then stipulate that the overall goal is data saturation). For example, if you locate several similar studies using your method that were successfully completed using sample sizes ranging from 10 to 20 participants, you can state that your sample size aligns with these studies and will seek to secure 8 to 14 participants, but continue recruitment and data collection until data saturation is achieved.

When describing the data collection methods, keep in mind that data collection includes the methods that are used to capture, de-identify, transform, store, and manage the data that is collected. The methods that will be used to recruit participants and collect data will need to be described in detail. The main instruments that will be used to collect data include the researcher and the interview questions. For this reason, the researcher has to take steps to reduce bias and the interview questions have to be open (can't be answered with one or a few words) and aligned closely to the research question. 

Since the only question that the researcher truly wants to answer is the research question, the first question posed to participants within an interview would simply be the research question posed as a question to the participant. You want to explore the behaviors, emotions, thoughts, and influential factors surrounding a particular experience. Questions that probe things outside of the experience, like anything that led up to or happened subsequent to the experience, wouldn't be explored. When developing the interview questions, researchers have to avoid making assumptions and asking questions that are leading. They also should avoid asking compound question (multiple questions embedded in one question). This can overwhelm participants and reduce the amount of data that is collected. Participants will usually only answer one portion of compound question in detail. Framing questions in an open and non-leading manner provides researchers with the opportunity to collect large amounts of unbiased data capable of providing an in-depth answer to the research question.

Use this feedback to further develop what is presented.

Dr. Roberts

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The interview questions that you put together are good, Mashonda. You could also ask them to tell you about their personal experiences using this method, what they would tell someone else that was thinking about using this method, or to even tell you a story about using this method. A great way to end the interview is to simply ask them if there is anything else that they think is important to know that wasn't shared in the interview. Thank you for what you contributed to this discussion this week.

Example 2

Topic: Burnout and stress among direct support professionals (DSPs)

 

Methodological Approach: Phenomenological Research

 

Sampling Strategy: Purposeful Sampling- Typical Cases

 

Rationale: Purposeful Sampling is the selection of cases that are best suited to provide insight into the research question (Patton, 2015). To select participants that can explain the average experience, the typical case method can be used (Patton, 2015). A sample of average aged people who have worked residential direct support for the mean years of tenure would help provide a clear picture of what could be a normal experience (Patton, 2015). This study does not serve to make definitive statements, just highlight the burnout in this population which this technique is illustrative of (Patton, 2015).

 

Sample Size: Sample size is important when considering the purpose and rationale of a study (Patton, 2015). Typically, phenomenological research has 5 to 25 participants included (Creswell & Poth, 2018). I would like to choose a slightly larger minimum sample size of 15 to maximize breadth across participants as I am looking to determine a cultural phenomenon of burnout (Patton, 2015).

 

Data Collection Procedures: After finding a sample that has experienced the phenomenon of burnout, typically phenomenology includes multiple interviews with the identified participants (Creswell & Poth, 2018). This data is transcribed into digital files and evaluated to create textual and structural descriptions (Creswell & Poth, 2018). Additional data that can be collected beyond self-reflection can include depictions of the unique experience outside of the context of the project although this may be challenging to obtain for this population (Creswell & Poth, 2018).

 

Open-Ended Questions:

1.  How do direct support professionals experience burnout?

2.  How does their workplace environment support their well-being?

3.  What stressors do DSPs experience at work?

4.  What stressors do they experience at home?

5.  How is burnout defined?

6.  How do they cope with their life stressors?

7.  What makes the role of a DSP unique?

8.  What do they hope for in their career?

9.  How long do they intend to stay in this role?

10.  How has burnout affected their perception of the people they work with?

Professor Feedback

Be careful to remain focused on inner experiencing, only explore the topic of interest, and not allow your personal assumptions to creep into the interview questions, Amanda. Phenomenology explores inner experience, and would ask questions such as the following: What was it like? What were the dimensions of the experience? What feelings were experienced? What bodily sensations were experienced? What stood out within this experience? Sometimes thinking about what you would want to ask participants helps determine the focus of the study. If you wanted to explore outer world experiencing then you would need to consider a different method. Keep everything focused on the internal world of the participant and you will remain aligned with this method. I hope that this helps.

Dr. Roberts

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