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Research Design and Data Collection Method
Student Name
Institution
Course
Instructor
Date
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Research Design and Data Collection Method
Phenomenology would be an appropriate research design for this study. Phenomenology
focuses on describing experiences from the perspective of the individuals who experience them
(Cresswell, 2013). Additionally, phenomenological research aims to “describe and elucidate the
meanings of human experience (Rudestam & Newton, 2014, p. 55). This makes a
phenomenological inquiry the most appropriate method for exploring how overweight young
adults perceive the effects of bullying on their emotional, psychological, and social well-being.
Qualitative interviews will be used to collect data for this dissertation. This is because
interviews are best suited to collect data in a phenomenological inquiry (Rudestam & Newton,
2014). This method involves conducting detailed, one-on-one interviews with participants to
collect qualitative data (Patton, 2015). For this dissertation, I will conduct face-to-face
interviews overweight young adults who have experienced bullying, interview them via
telephone, or engage focus group interviews. The interviews will include open-ended and
unstructured questions to collect first-hand information from the study participants.
One limitation of this study and data collection methods is that it will rely on self-
reported data, and thus its results will be dependent on the participants willingness to share their
experiences. The researcher’s interpretation plays a significant role in phenomenology, which
can introduce bias and affect the objectivity of the findings (Cresswell, 2013). This is because
the researcher is the primary instrument in a qualitative inquiry, bringing their own perspectives
to the selection and meaning of data. Additionally, the findings may not be generalizable to a
larger population due to the small, purposive sample sizes used in phenomenological studies
(Rudestam & Newton, 2014; Patton, 2015; Cresswell, 2013). Inconsistent documentation of
interviews, field notes, and data analysis processes can lead to reliability issues.
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Qualitative validity is the extent to which the data and the interpretation of the data are
credible (Cresswell, 2013). To prevent and minimize some of the validity issues that may arise
during this research, I would actively incorporate a number of validity strategies. First, I would
triangulate different data sources to establish and justify the themes from the perspectives of
participants (Cresswell, 2013). I would also clarify any biases I bring to the research and use peer
debriefing to enhance the validity of accounts (Cresswell, 2013).
On the other hand, qualitative reliability “indicates that the researcher’s approach is
consistent across different researchers and different projects” (Cresswell, 2013, p. 175).
Reliability issues in this study will be addressed by checking interview transcripts to ensure they
are free from obvious mistakes and constantly comparing data with the codes to make sure the
definition of codes remains consistent during the coding process (Cresswell, 2013).
References
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Creswell, J. W. (2013). Research Design: Qualitative, Quantitative, and Mixed Methods
Approaches. Sage Publications, Incorporated
Patton, M. Q. (2015). Qualitative research & evaluation methods: Integrating theory and
practice (4th ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE.
Rudestam, K., E., & Newton, R., R. (2014). Surviving Your Dissertation: A Comprehensive
Guide to Content and Process. Sage Publications.
