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ResearchProfileQualitative-2respond2805.docxCLED 770
Research Profile-Qualitative
Shalawnda N. Rhodes
School of Christian Education, Liberty University
Author Note
Shalawnda N. Rhodes
I have no known conflict of interest to disclose.
Correspondence concerning this article should be addressed to
Shalawnda N. Rhodes
Email: [email protected]
LACK OF JOB OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUNG ADULTS
IN THE NORTHERN NECK OF VIRGINIA
Research Problem and Gap
Young adults who live in the Northern Neck of Virginia, are not exposed to businesses that will pay enough money to earn decent wages, live self-sufficiently, and independent of their parents or immediate family members. Therefore, this researcher is conducting a study to discover insight on how young adults, ages 18-24, in the NN of Virginia perceive the implementation of the Educating Youth through Employment (EYE) program, and if it has enough value to help combat the challenge of limited jobs opportunities which is causing young adults to quit jobs and relocate.
The Northern Virginia Educating Youth through Employment program matches young adults ages 18-24 with professional job opportunities (Virginia Works, n.d.). The program conducts a recruiting and screening process before connecting participants with a business in their area. They are required to attend workshops that will train them before starting their job, along with workshops while on the job (Virginia Works, n.d.). The EYE program provides professional opportunities for young people to have a career and not just a summer job.
Young adults in the Northern Neck (NN) of Virginia who are not enrolled in the EYE program, have limited employment choices to choose from. To pursue more prominent places of employment and careers, they are forced to leave the area, because they see that as their only opportunity for being successful (Zandt, n.d.). The NN of Virginia is located on a peninsula off the Chesapeake Bay. It is where the Potomac and Rappahannock Rivers meet the Chesapeake Bay (Virginia’s Northern Neck Tourism Commission, n.d.). The Northern Neck is made-up of four small counties: Westmoreland, Northumberland, Lancaster, and Richmond County. For research purposes, young adults ages 18-24 were studied. Currently, Westmoreland’s population of young adults ages 18-24 is 1,289. Northumberland has 737, Lancaster has 646, and Richmond County has 543 young adults between the same ages (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2021).
The Northern Neck of Virginia is a retirement community. The 2008-2012 Census estimated that adults under the age of 45, in the Northern Neck of Virginia, “shrank by 10.4 percent while the 45-and-older population grew by 14.7 percent” (Zandt, n.d.). According to the 2019 Census (U.S. Census Bureau, 2019), the highest percent of the population was made up of individuals 60-69 years old. The top two highest population for each county is as follows: Westmoreland- ages 60-69 was18% and ages 0-9 was 12%; Northumberland- ages 60-69 was 22% and ages 70-79 was 17%; Lancaster- ages 60-69 was 20% and ages70-79 was 16%; and Richmond County-ages 30-39 and 50-59 both made up 15% and ages 60-69 was 14% (2019).
The Northern Neck has a long history of agriculture, horticulture, and a thriving fishing industry, which has “played a significant role in the Virginia economy” (Rephann, 2013). Many jobs are done by older individual who have a trade in the market. According to demographer James H. Johnson Jr., “This resource tension between an aging population and an increasingly diverse youth population has been discussed broadly as a national and Southern challenge” (Zandt, n.d.). Many young adults who live in the Northern Neck of Virginia have no formal education after high school. High school students are facing a “skills crisis” (Hendricks, 2020). Between all four counties, in 2019, only 24.5% of people graduated with a bachelor’s degree or higher (U.S. Census Bureau, n.d.). The only secondary educational sector is a community college that offers online classes. However, internet and high-speed broadband is limited (Britt, 2020). Dominion Energy and Power, the leading power and electric provider in Virginia, plans to install “about 217 miles of middle-mile fiber infrastructure” (2020) to help combat the challenge of internet issues that affect online learning.
The challenge is “finding realistic ways to build an economic base that provides opportunities for residents—young and old—to make a life in the region” (Zandt, n.d.). This researcher attempts to gain insight on how young adults, ages 18-24, living in the NN of Virginia perceive the Educating Youth through Employment (EYE) program.
Research Purpose Statement
The purpose of this research study is to discover insight on how young adults, ages 18-24, in the NN of Virginia perceive the EYE program, and if it has enough value to help combat the challenge of limited jobs opportunities which is causing young adults to quit jobs and relocate.
Research Questions
The following Research Questions guided this study:
RQ1. How do young adults, ages 18-24, living in the Northern Neck of Virginia describe the value of having the Educating Youth through Employment (EYE) program?
RQ2. What perceived influence do young adults, ages 18-24, living in the Northern Neck of Virginia have on participating in the Educating Youth through Employment (EYE) program?
RQ3. What is the relationship, if any exists, between young adults, ages 18-24, in the Northern
Neck of Virginia quitting jobs and the lack of employment opportunities?
Delimitations of the Research
The study did not comprehensively research all young adults, ages 18-24, living in the Northern Neck of Virginia, limiting the influence and perception of implementing the EYE program to only 14 participants. Also, the study is limited to individuals who reside only in the Northern Neck of Virginia.
“Backyard” research (Glesne & Peshkin, 1992) will also affect this research study. The researcher has taught young adults in the age range that will be studied. In addition, the researcher has worked with young adults who were employed part-time for the same employer.
Research Population
The population will be comprised of young people, ages 18-24, who live in the Northern Neck of Virginia. All participants will be high school graduates that work a part-time job. Population: one male and one female residing in Westmoreland County; one male and one female residing in Northumberland County; one male and one female residing in Lancaster County; and one male and one female residing in Richmond County. There will be a total of 14 participants.
Research Sample and Sampling Technique
The researcher will purposefully select participants (Creswell & Creswell, 2018) to better understand the problem. Contrary to conducting a random sampling (2018) with a large number of participants that is usually done in quantitative research studies. The participants will be selected based on their place of employment. Each county (Westmoreland, Northumberland, Lancaster, Richmond County) has a least one gas station that is employed by residents of all ages. The researcher will select one male, and one female from each gas station. Each participant will be a different age (ranging from 18-24). There will be a total of 14 participants.
This researcher may have past experiences (Creswell & Creswell, 2018) with some of the participants. This is considered to happen when studies involve participants that are directly connected to the research via culture, race, work experience, setting etc. (2018).
Methodological Design
A qualitative design with a phenomenological method will be used. The researcher will have qualitative interviews. This can include face-to-face interviews, telephone interviews, or group interviews that are open-ended questions intended to elicit opinions and view (Creswell & Creswell, 2018). An advantage of having an interview is that participants can provide historical information (2018). However, a disadvantage is recognizing that all people are not perceptive or able to articulate well (2018). This researcher is still considering what type of incentives can be provided for participants. Considerations include: a five-dollar gift card to a fast-food restaurant, a movie theater ticket, or a gift certificate to a local ice cream pallor.
Proposed Instrumentation
Qualitative interviews will take place at the county library or via Zoom or Google Meet. Each county has a library which will ensure that participants do not have to travel a long distance. If there are individuals who do not feel comfortable doing an in-person interview, Zoom or Google Meet video interviews will be scheduled. This researcher has chosen for qualitative interviews to be the primary instrument, because according to Creswell & Creswell, researchers are the key instrument (2018). Being a key instrument includes: collecting data, interviewing, examining documents, and observing behavior (Creswell & Creswell, 2018).
Limitations of Generalization
In qualitative study, research findings are typically not generalizable to other populations
(Creswell & Creswell, 2018) however, it seeks transferability to other contexts (2018). In this research study, there are limitations to transferability because the EYE program is currently only being offered in the Northern Neck of Virginia.
Research Competencies to Conduct Study
Researchers need training on how to thoroughly use Zoom, and Google Meet.
Precedent Literature
The following literature needs to be reviewed prior to conducting this research study. This literature considers pertinent categories such as youth unemployment, the impact of job loss, being a Northern Necker, reemployment and mental health, the Educating Youth through Employment (EYE) program, and basic knowledge about the Northern Neck.
Ayyildiz, Y. (2021) Youth unemployment and its effects in the world and turkey.
file:///C:/Users/Living%20Room/Downloads/YASEM%C4%B0N%20AYYILDIZ%20-
%20%C4%B0NG%C4%B0L%C4%B0ZCE%201.pdf
Brand, J. E. (2015). The far-reaching impact of job loss and unemployment. Annual review of
sociology, 41, 359-375.
Egnal, M. (2018). Virginia: Rise of the Northern Neckers. In A Mighty Empire (pp. 87-101).
Cornell University Press.
Vinokur, A. D., Schul, Y., Vuori, J., & Price, R. H. (2000). Two years after a job loss: Long-term
impact of the JOBS program on reemployment and mental health. Journal of Occupational Health Psychology, 5(1), 32–47. https://doi.org/10.1037/1076-8998.5.1.32
Virginia Works (n.d.). Eye program. https://vcwnorthern.com/eye-programs
Zandt, A. (n.d.). Northern neck virginia. https:// MDC_StateOfTheSouth_NorthernNeck.pdf
References
Britt, P. (2020, October 12). Dominion energy proposes broadband pilots in virginia.
Telecompetitor. https:// Dominion Energy Proposes Broadband Pilots in Virginia - Telecompetitor
Creswell, J., & Creswell, J. (2018). Research design. (5th ed.). SAGE Publications, Inc.
Glesne, C., & Peshkin, A. (1992). Becoming qualitative researchers: An introduction. Longman.
Hendricks, A. (2020). The relationship between the earning of career and technical industry
credentials and the virginia economy (Publication No. 28258140) [Doctoral dissertation, Old Dominion University]. ProQuest Dissertations and Theses Global.
Rephann, T.J. (2013). The economic impacts of agriculture and forest industries in virginia.
https:// coopercenter.org
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (2021).
https://CountyEmploymentandWagesinVirginia–FirstQuarter2020:Mid–
AtlanticInformationOffice: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
U.S. Census Bureau (2019). American community survey 5-year estimates.
http://censusreporter.org/profiles/
U.S. Census Bureau (n.d.). Quickfacts: Lancaster county, virginia; richmond county, virginia;
westmoreland county, virginia; northumberland county, virginia; virginia.
Virginia’s Northern Neck (n.d.) The northern neck.
https:// The Northern Neck - Northern Neck Tourism Commission
Virginia Works (n.d.). Eye program. https://vcwnorthern.com/eye-programs
Zandt, A. (n.d.). Northern neck virginia. https:// MDC_StateOfTheSouth_NorthernNeck.pdf
