Research Theory for Qualitative Studies – Social Constructivism

Research Theory for Qualitative Studies – Social Constructivism

Research Theory

Qualitative research includes the use of theories as part of the framework employed in actual research and the analysis of results. The qualitative research theories that are regarded as acceptable in qualitative research include interpretivism, social constructivism, and grounded theory. Interpretivism includes understanding the social world by comparing one’s personal views and experiences. Constructivism demonstrates how people impose meaning on reality based on their interactions and the context of those interactions. Grounded theory requires the development of a theory relevant to the findings of a research study. This report will provide a brief analysis of the key elements of the social constructivism theory and how the theory will be relevant to the current research study. The report will also explain the applicability of the findings of this study and their contributions to the existing qualitative research knowledge base.

Key Elements of the Theory

The social constructivism theory is applied in qualitative research to enable the researcher to analyze reality. Boyland (2019) argues that, under the constructivists’ approach, the role played by the researcher is based on the acknowledgment that the research participants’ understanding of their lived experiences might affect what is obtained from a particular research study. This argument forms the foundation of key elements of social constructivism theory. One of the elements is perceiving knowledge as a social construct. Akpan et al. (2020) argue that social constructivism assumes knowledge is a social construct since people generate meaning through interactions. The second element is contextual learning. Social constructivism assumes that people learn within the context of specified cultural and social contexts. This element is linked to the third element, which is collaborative learning. Social constructivism encourages learning environments that allow people to interact with others in the reconstruction of knowledge for an in-depth understanding of a particular aspect. According to Shah (2019), social constructivism also encourages the active participation of research participants, leading to the construction of meaningful learning experiences. The active participation of research participants enriches understanding and fosters knowledge creation.

How Theory Supports the Proposed Research

Social constructivism theory is applicable to current research because it supports the research. The social constructivism theory’s assumption that people construct their understanding of the world through interaction with others is relevant to the digital age since technology is embraced in social activities and shapes people’s culture. The social constructivism theory will assist the researcher in studying how people build their experiences within a world that depends on digital technologies. The researcher will use interviews to understand the research participants’ subjective experiences. This approach will assist in achieving the aim of the study, which is to explore the impact of digital communication on mental health by comparing different interpersonal communication patterns. The social constructivism theory also promotes the understanding of the role of the digital age in a specific context. For instance, the theory will help the researcher explain the role of the digital divide in creating digital variation in the usage of technology across different demographics and its role in culture and communication transformation. This contextual analysis is vital in identifying the current differences in experiences and outcomes among various groups using digital technology.

The social constructivism theory has also been selected for the proposed research because the research requires a theoretical framework that can support gathering information on the ethical issues arising from the digitalization of human lives. The social constructivism theory is relevant because it supports the understanding of the ethical concerns of the research participants in digital interactions and ethics-related problems, such as the effects of social networking sites on the psychological health of the users and their right to privacy. The theory can also be applied to discuss how people organize their relations and identities when facing issues such as privacy. This will help in understanding the ethical implications considered in the use of digital technologies. The researcher will also use the theory to determine how people develop meaning in the digital world. This knowledge is critical in the formulation of concrete strategies that may be applied to minimize the negative effects of the digital era.

Practical Implications of the Research Outcomes

The outcomes of the study on the impact of the digital age will have various practical implications for stakeholders such as mental health professionals, educators, technology developers, and policymakers. For instance, the study findings will provide insight into the impact of digital technologies on learning and communication. This information will help educators create a curriculum and teaching strategies that incorporate digital technologies in the learning and teaching process. Educators could also use the results to understand the students’ perceptions of the technologies used in the learning environment thus promoting the use of technology in developing better and more inclusive learning environments. For example, the results on the positive effects of digital communication in collaborative learning can assist in the implementation of digital technology in collaborative learning. According to Vali (2022), collaborative learning involves the incorporation of technology tools into the learning environment with the aim of enhancing communication between teachers and learners within the learning environment. Therefore, it is important for teachers to understand how digital technologies can be applied to enhance collaborative learning. The findings of the study can also help mental health professionals understand the patterns and behavior associated with the use of digital technologies, leading to the development of strategies that can be used to limit the negative influence of the digital age.

The research also has implications for the advancement of technology and technology policies since it will offer insight into user experience based on the use of various digital technologies. For example, policymakers may use the research findings to understand how the digital divide could be relevant to issues of social justice. This information can be used in developing policies that enhance digital literacy and access to technology among underprivileged groups, thus enhancing equal representation in the digital world. Policymakers can also use the research findings to develop policies that promote the positive use of digital technologies by outing restrictions on the information shared on digital platforms. The research study findings can also benefit technology developers, especially in enhancing the application of ethics in the use of digital technologies and the experiences of the users. This information is useful in the development of better, sensible, and accountable digital interfaces. Besides, Millagala (2023) argues that regulators, learning institutions, and digital media companies have a responsibility to support and encourage users to embrace ethical practices. Therefore, technology developers can use the research findings to get an idea of how they can assist users in observing ethics in the new interaction technologies.

Contributions to the Qualitative Research Knowledge Base

The research contributes to the existing qualitative studies on the use of digital technologies. For instance, the study findings will contribute to understanding social isolation and cyberbullying from the participants’ first-hand experiences. This information is relevant in determining the impact of living in a digital age. The research shall also contribute to closing the gap between research and practice in mental health, education, and technology development. Closing this gap will promote the applicability of the study findings in real-world situations. The findings will also help stakeholders ensure that the policies and strategies used in regulating the use of digital technologies are responsive to the actual needs and experiences of those using digital technologies.

References

Akpan, V. I., Igwe, U. A., Mpamah, I. B., & Okoro, C. O. (2020). Social constructivism: Implications on teaching and learning. British Journal of Education, 8(8). https://www.eajournals.org/wp-content/uploads/Social-Constructivism.pdf

Boyland, J. R. (2019). A social constructivist approach to the gathering of empirical data. Australian Counselling Research Journal, 13(2).

Millagala, N. (2023). Towards a self-directed ethical framework for digital communication, fostering responsible engagement in social media and digital media. SSRN Electronic Journal. http://dx.doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.8167011

Shah, R. K. (2019). Effective social constructivist approach to learning for social studies classroom. Journal of Pedagogical Research, 3(2), 38-51. https://doi.org/10.33902/jpr.2019254159

Vali, I. (2022). The impact of technology on collaborative learning. Edu World International Conference Education Facing Contemporary World Issues, Europe.

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Overview

This is the second of the four assignments that will help you prepare for writing qualitative research proposals. For this assignment, you will write a paper about research theory that supports the research topic you developed in the Week 4 assignment.

Research Theory for Qualitative Studies – Social Constructivism

In this assignment, you will use research theory to demonstrate how the proposed study:

• Provides intended outcomes that could have practical implications that could be used by the stakeholders of the research.
• Contributes to the qualitative research knowledge base.
• Addresses something that is not known, something that is new or different from prior research, extends prior research, or fills a gap in the existing literature.
  • An analysis of any theoretical implications that the proposed study may have for understanding phenomena.
  • A description of the practical implications that may result from the research.

Instructions

Write a paper that reflects the research theory that supports the research topic and qualitative research for a proposed study. Use the Week 6 Assignment Template [DOCX] to structure your paper. In your paper:

• Describe the key elements of a theory for qualitative research (one paragraph).
• Explain how the theory supports the proposed study and/or understanding of the research topic (1–2 paragraphs).
• Describe how the practical implications resulting from the research could be used by stakeholders of the research (1–2 paragraphs).
• Support your assignment with appropriate academic sources and include both citations and references in the current APA format. Use 5–7 scholarly resources published within the past three years by recognized academic sources.

Requirements

Your assignment should also meet the following requirements:

• Written communication: Written communication is free of errors that detract from the overall message.
• Length of paper: Meets the structure provided in the assignment instructions.
• Resources: 5–7 scholarly resources. Include a reference page at the end of the paper.
• APA guidelines: Double-spaced paragraph formatting in the body of the paper. When appropriate, use APA-formatted headings. Resources and citations are formatted according to current APA style and format. See Evidence and APA for more information on APA style and format.
• Font and font size: Times New Roman, 12 point.