Qualitative Research Designs - Definitions, Characteristics, And Applications

Qualitative Research Designs – Definitions, Characteristics, and Applications

Type of Research Design	Definition (Due Week 2)	Key Characteristics (Due Week 2)	Appropriate Sample Sizes (Due Week 3)	Types of Data Collected (Due Week 3)	Example of a Problem Statement Using This Design (Due Week 3)
Action Research	The design is targeted at producing positive social change within organizations or communities. The researcher works collaboratively with communities, organizations, or individuals to create a policy or address an identified problem. Action research can produce knowledge from a specific group, resulting in more individualized interventions against an identified problem (Moreno‐Poyato et al., 2022).	Focuses on solving problems within social systems such as schools, organizations, and communities. The design also utilizes a collaborative approach toward its problem-solving goal (Moreno‐Poyato et al., 2022).
Appreciative Inquiry	The researcher works with an organization to discover and amplify positive aspects of the organization. This design is skewed toward generating positive ideas to improve the organization (Oranga & Matere, 2023).	Focuses on discovering rather than fixing a problem within an organization (Oranga & Matere, 2023).
Case Study	The researcher gathers in-depth insights into a phenomenon. It involves exploring a program, process, activity, events, or individuals in their naturalistic environment to have a better understanding of their perspectives or experiences (Priya, 2020).	Utilizes multiple sources of evidence to triangulate knowledge about an existing phenomenon (Priya, 2020).
Delphi	Involves systematic forecasting through a panel of experts. In this respect, their role is to gather expert opinion through diverse data collection tools such as questionnaires to obtain findings and reach a consensus (Oranga & Matere, 2023).	Utilizes a group response integrating experts. There is also an aspect of anonymity as the group members remain unidentified (Oranga & Matere, 2023).
Ethnography	The researcher explores a culture to identify the social structures, cultural norms, and other patterns that can facilitate a deeper understanding of the culture. The researcher, in this respect, immerses themselves in the culture to better understand their way of life (Black et al., 2021).	The researcher should develop an interest in a culture to make meaning of the cultural practice under scrutiny and understand it (Black et al., 2021).
Grounded Theory	It involves generating a new theory. Grounded theory design is based on the precinct that no theory currently exists. The researcher, in this case, collects data on a topic of interest to develop theoretical models that can inform current practice (Chun Tie et al., 2019).	Data is grouped into themes or concepts. Similarly, data collection and analysis processes occur simultaneously as concepts and themes are developed (Chun Tie et al., 2019).
Narrative Inquiry	The narrative inquiry design focuses on human stories. The researcher collects raw data as recounted by community members themselves. This may include story interviews, biographies, oral histories, human experiences, and photo voice projects. Information obtained from these sources can be analyzed to gather insight into the culture, identity, historical experiences, and lifestyle of the participants (Oranga & Matere, 2023).	The design encompasses aspects of time, social experiences, and place. It interrogates the passing and experience of time. It also explores the social and personal dimensions (Oranga & Matere, 2023).
Needs Assessment	The researcher collects data about an area within the organization that requires improvement to define its requirements and the competencies required to address it (Oranga & Matere, 2023).	Employs a systematic method of obtaining data (Oranga & Matere, 2023).
Phenomenology	The researcher explores the lived experiences of individuals within their communities to understand their perspective on a phenomenon. It utilizes data collection tools such as interviews, surveys, and observations to obtain communities’ and individuals’ experiences in their natural environment (Alhazmi & Kaufmann, 2022).	Focuses on the participants’ interpretation of a phenomenon (Alhazmi & Kaufmann, 2022).
Program Assessment	The researcher evaluates a program against its intended outcomes. In this respect, the researcher measures the program outcomes to ascertain whether the intended objectives were met. Program assessment will inform improvement areas for the project and the effectiveness of the project in attaining its intended goals (Oranga & Matere, 2023).	The method is quantifiable, measurable, and standardized to allow for comparison (Oranga & Matere, 2023).

References

Alhazmi, A., & Kaufmann, A. (2022). Phenomenological qualitative methods applied to the analysis of cross-cultural experience in novel educational social contexts. Frontiers in Psychology, 13. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.785134

Black, G. B., van Os, S., Machen, S., & Fulop, N. J. (2021). Ethnographic research as an evolving method for supporting Healthcare Improvement Skills: A scoping review. BMC Medical Research Methodology, 21(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12874-021-01466-9

Chun Tie, Y., Birks, M., & Francis, K. (2019). Grounded Theory Research: A design framework for novice researchers. SAGE Open Medicine, 7, 205031211882292. https://doi.org/10.1177/2050312118822927

Moreno‐Poyato, A. R., Subias‐Miquel, M., Tolosa‐Merlos, D., Ventosa‐Ruiz, A., Pérez‐Toribio, A., EL Abidi, K., Navarro‐Maldonado, R., Suárez‐Pérez, R., Valera‐Fernández, R., Romeu‐Labayen, M., Lluch‐Canut, T., Roldán‐Merino, J., & Puig‐Llobet, M. (2022). A systematic review on the use of action research methods in mental health nursing care. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 79(1), 372–384. https://doi.org/10.1111/jan.15463

Oranga, J., & Matere, A. (2023). Qualitative research: Essence, types and advantages. OALib, 10(12), 1–9. https://doi.org/10.4236/oalib.1111001

Priya, A. (2020). Case study methodology of qualitative research: Key attributes and navigating the conundrums in its application. Sociological Bulletin, 70(1), 94–110. https://doi.org/10.1177/003802292097031

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Question

For this assignment, you will explore various qualitative research designs in the CDS Dissertation Guide located on CDS Central. This week, you will define each design and highlight key characteristics of each design.

Qualitative Research Designs – Definitions, Characteristics, and Applications

** https://www.phoenix.edu/doctoral-studies/doctoral-journey.html

Complete the Definition and Key Characteristics Columns of the Research Design Worksheet (note the due dates in the top row of each column).

Note: For next week’s assignment, you will continue to develop this worksheet by exploring sample size differences and data collection used in each design. Next week, you will offer your own examples of a problem statement that you might find in each qualitative design, incorporating the key words we have explored this term.

The CDS Dissertation Guide (located on CDS Central) outlines 10 qualitative research designs. For this assignment, you should review each of these research designs and complete this worksheet. You will complete Part 1 in Week 2 and Part 2 in Week 3.

Part 1 (Due in Week 2)

Complete the following sections of the table below for each type of qualitative research design listed in the first column:

Provide a definition in the second column.
Identify the key characteristics in the third column.
Include in-text citations (one citation per box) and references for the first two columns in the appropriate area at the bottom of this worksheet.

Note: You will submit this worksheet in Week 2 but will only be graded for Part 1 that week.

Part 2 (Due in Week 3)

Complete the following sections of the table below for each type of qualitative research design listed in the first column:

Identify appropriate sample sizes in the fourth column.
List the types of data collected in the fifth column.
Provide an example of a problem statement using each design in the sixth column. Remember: A problem statement is very different from a topic.
Include in-text citations (one citation per box) and references for the last three columns in the appropriate area at the bottom of this worksheet.

Note: You will submit this worksheet again in Week 3 with everything completed.

Qualitative Research Designs – Definitions, Characteristics, and Applications