Introduction: This item asks you to do a very small scale research project. You need to choose a topic area, decide on which qualitative method to use, and write up the results. I suggest 3-4 one-on-one interviews or one 4-5 person focus group will suffice for data collection.
Doing the Project
Based on the methods, concepts and considerations from the course you need to:
decide your topic
investigate any previously published literature or research in the area
construct your research questions
organise participants and time/place to do the data collection
organise recording technology
do the interviews/focus group
listen and transcribe the data
analyse the data: what is important, does the data answer your research question, what unexpected issues came up, how does this all relate to the research question etc
select important passages for your report, summarise common themes/issues
write up report
Writing up the Report
It is the actual report itself that will be marked. The report should use the following subtitles:
Title: choose a relevant and informative title.
Executive summary/Abstract: write a very small (200 word or less) abstract.
Introduction: Introduce what you are investigating (the research question); what the research hopes to achieve; why it is important; brief overview of the report [a road map for your report] (the introduction should be brief; one or two paragraphs)
Background: provide the reader with a brief background to the research topic; explain WHY you think the research needs to be done at all; what other literature/research exists? The literature review is your additional reading on your topic. What other research is already out there that you can use to support your approach and findings (secondary data)?
(Note: This does not have to be an extensive Literature Review but you will need some information to compare your work to. Approx. half-1page page/two-three substantial paragraphs).
Research Design: provide an overview of the method adopted (remember, you also have to include the quantitative component from Assessment 2) so, it will be mixed/ multi methods, but you need to discuss each individually; discuss the pros and cons of the method you chose and justify why it is reliable/valid. Other information for this section:
how did you decide on these people to interview, what is their demographic information (age/sex/where do they live/ any other information that reflects their relationship to the RESEARCH QUESTION such as how long they have been studying, or their role in the organisation you are looking at etc)
The methodology is also where you describe your coding method. Also describe how you conducted the interviews (were they structured, semi-structured, narrative interviews?). Describe the context and interview setting did you interview them at their home? Their office? In a caf?
Findings/results: Present your survey findings from Assessment 2 very simply and briefly. Then present the qualitative data by using interview/focus group discussion to create an informative narrative of the findings. Use quotes, but also summarise what the participants had to say.
Discussion: This is where you make comparisons between and within your survey results with the interview data. This is also where you discuss the qualitative findings, i.e. what they had to say. Relate your findings to other research/theory; show what this actually means for your research topic etc. Present a clear argument addressing the research question
Conclusion: Sum up what you have said; make suggestions as to how this research may contribute to broader thinking on the topic area and/or to improving policies/ work situations/ relationships/ etc.
Reflection: briefly discuss the whole process of doing the project: what surprised you? What went wrong and what went well? What would you do differently?