Research Questions That Lend Themselves To A Qualitative App

Research Questions That Lend Themselves To A Qualitative Approach Ofte

Research questions that lend themselves to a qualitative approach often address questions about how people construct meaning. In this way, qualitative research questions set the stage for open-ended, inductive inquiry. For this Discussion, review the case study entitled, "Social Work Research: Program Evaluation." Consider the kinds of questions that inform a qualitative approach. Think about the quantitative method described in the case study and consider methods you might use to investigate the effectiveness of a program from a qualitative perspective. By Day 3 Post your explanations of the following: What kinds of research questions lead to a qualitative approach? If you chose to conduct quantitative research in your Week 4 proposal, how might you reframe the research question in a way that lends itself to a qualitative approach? If you focused on a qualitative proposal in Week 4, describe the qualitative research question and explain the rationale for choosing a qualitative approach. Be sure to explain how you might collect the data. Consider which qualitative method (case study, grounded theory, ethnographic research, cross-sectional research, feminist research, or participatory action research) would be most suitable for answering the research question. Plummer, S.-B., Makris, S., & Brocksen, S. M. (Eds.). (2014). Social work case studies: Foundation year. Baltimore, MD: Laureate International Universities Publishing. [Vital Source e-reader]. Social Work Research: Program Evaluation

Paper For Above instruction

Qualitative research questions primarily focus on understanding the depth and complexity of human experiences, perceptions, and social phenomena. They seek to explore how individuals or groups construct meaning, interpret their experiences, and interact within their social contexts. These questions are open-ended, flexible, and often aim to uncover underlying motivations, beliefs, values, and processes that influence behavior or perceptions. Examples of qualitative research questions include: "How do social workers perceive the challenges of implementing new programs?" or "In what ways do clients experience and interpret community outreach initiatives?" These questions are suited for inductive approaches because they aim to generate rich, detailed data that can lead to deeper understanding and theory development (Creswell, 2013).

When transitioning from quantitative to qualitative research, the framing of the research question must shift from measuring variables to exploring meanings and experiences. For example, a quantitative question like "Does the new intervention improve client outcomes?" might be reframed qualitatively as "How do clients experience and perceive the impact of the new intervention?" This reframing emphasizes understanding individual perspectives and interpretations rather than quantifying effects (Denzin & Lincoln, 2018). Similarly, a quantitative study on program effectiveness might focus on statistical improvements, while its qualitative counterpart would investigate personal stories, perceptions, and contextual factors influencing outcomes.

For a qualitative proposal, a possible research question could be: "How do participants in a community-based social work program perceive its impact on their personal empowerment?" This question aims to explore participants' subjective experiences and interpretations, which can provide valuable insights into the program’s effectiveness from the recipients’ perspectives. The rationale for choosing a qualitative approach stems from the desire to understand contextual and meaning-making processes that cannot be captured solely through numerical data (Patton, 2015).

In terms of data collection, methods such as semi-structured interviews, focus groups, and participant observations are appropriate. These methods allow researchers to gather in-depth narratives, observe interactions in natural settings, and probe participants’ perspectives. For instance, conducting in-depth interviews with participants can reveal nuanced experiences and personal perceptions, while ethnographic methods could provide contextual insights into how the program functions within the community (Hesse-Biber & Leavy, 2011). The choice of qualitative method depends on the specific research question; for understanding individual experiences, phenomenology or narrative approaches may be suitable. For exploring community dynamics, ethnography or participatory action research could be more appropriate.

Consequently, selecting the appropriate qualitative method enhances the richness and validity of findings, ultimately leading to a comprehensive understanding of the social phenomena under investigation. Employing these methods aligns with a constructivist paradigm, emphasizing the co-creation of knowledge between researchers and participants (Lincoln & Guba, 1985). Overall, qualitative research questions and methods enable social work researchers to delve deeply into human experiences, providing insights that inform practice, policy, and program development.

References

• Creswell, J. W. (2013). Qualitative inquiry and research design: Choosing among five approaches. SAGE Publications.
• Denzin, N. K., & Lincoln, Y. S. (2018). The SAGE handbook of qualitative research. SAGE Publications.
• Hesse-Biber, S. N., & Leavy, P. (2011). The practiced qualitative researcher: Strategies for data collection and analysis. SAGE Publications.
• Lincoln, Y. S., & Guba, E. G. (1985). Naturalistic inquiry. SAGE Publications.
• Patton, M. Q. (2015). Qualitative research & evaluation methods. SAGE Publications.
• Creswell, J. W. (2014). Research design: Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods approaches. SAGE Publications.
• Plummer, S.-B., Makris, S., & Brocksen, S. M. (2014). Social work case studies: Foundation year. Baltimore, MD: Laureate International Universities Publishing.
• Seidman, I. (2013). Interviewing as qualitative research: A guide for researchers in education and the social sciences. Teachers College Press.
• Marshall, C., & Rossman, G. B. (2016). Designing qualitative research. SAGE Publications.
• Patton, M. Q. (2002). Qualitative evaluation and research methods. SAGE Publications.