Researcher Interested In Studying College Students
A Researcher Is Interested In Studying How College Students Describe T
A researcher is interested in studying how college students describe the influence of physical activity on their life satisfaction. The researcher plans to interview a sample of college students and have them journal daily about their exercise and life satisfaction for two weeks. Using this scenario, which GCU qualitative core designs do you think would be most appropriate for this research problem? Why? Create and provide two examples of research questions that could be addressed using the design you selected. What might the advantages and challenges be of using the identified design for this scenario? Explain and references.
Paper For Above instruction
The qualitative research design most appropriate for exploring how college students describe the influence of physical activity on their life satisfaction is the phenomenological approach. Phenomenology is suited to capturing the lived experiences and subjective perceptions of individuals, which aligns with the researcher’s goal of understanding students’ personal descriptions and insights regarding the impact of exercise on their well-being.
Justification for Selecting Phenomenology
Phenomenology focuses on exploring and understanding individuals' lived experiences from their own perspectives. Since the researcher aims to examine how students perceive and interpret the influence of physical activity on their life satisfaction, phenomenology provides a framework for uncovering the rich, detailed nuances of these personal experiences (Creswell & Poth, 2018). Conducting in-depth interviews complemented by journaling allows for capturing both immediate reflections and reflective insights, enhancing depth and contextual understanding. Journaling over two weeks provides longitudinal insights into evolving perceptions, while interviews can clarify and elaborate on journal entries, further illuminating the subjective meaning-making processes of participants.
Research Questions Using Phenomenology
1. How do college students describe the impact of physical activity on their perception of life satisfaction?
2. What are the lived experiences of college students regarding the relationship between regular exercise and their emotional well-being?
These questions aim to explore the essence of students’ personal experiences and interpretations concerning physical activity’s influence, which aligns with phenomenological interests.
Advantages of Phenomenology
One major advantage of using phenomenology is its capacity to provide deep insights into individuals' subjective experiences, offering a nuanced understanding of complex phenomena like life satisfaction and physical activity (Moustakas, 1994). It also allows researchers to gather rich, detailed data directly from participants, fostering a comprehensive understanding of personal meanings (Smith, 2015). Additionally, the combination of journaling and interviews supports triangulation, enhancing the validity of findings (Polkinghorne, 1989).
Challenges of Phenomenology
However, phenomenological research presents certain challenges. Analyzing large volumes of qualitative data can be time-consuming and requires careful, systematic coding to ensure accuracy. Researchers must also be skilled in bracketing personal biases to prevent influencing interpretations—a process that can be difficult (Husserl, 1931/2012). Moreover, the subjective nature of data collection and analysis may limit generalizability, as findings are context-specific and deeply rooted in individual experiences (Laverty, 2003). Participant commitment over two weeks for journaling and interviews might also pose practical challenges, such as participant attrition or inconsistent reporting.
Conclusion
In sum, phenomenology is particularly suitable for exploring how college students experience and interpret the influence of physical activity on their life satisfaction. Its capacity to uncover deep, subjective insights makes it an ideal choice for this research, despite the associated methodological and practical challenges. Properly addressing these challenges, such as through rigorous training and clear communication with participants, can help maximize the study’s benefits and contribute valuable knowledge to health promotion and educational interventions.
References
Creswell, J. W., & Poth, C. N. (2018). Qualitative inquiry and research design: Choosing among five approaches (4th ed.). Sage Publications.
Husserl, E. (2012). Ideas: General Introduction to Pure Phenomenology (W. R. Boyce Gibson, Trans.). Routledge. (Original work published 1931)
Laverty, S. M. (2003). Hermeneutic phenomenology and research methodology. The International Journal of Qualitative Methods, 2(1), 23-32.
Moustakas, C. (1994). Phenomenological research methods. Sage Publications.
Polkinghorne, D. E. (1989). Phenomenological research methods. In R. S. Valle & S. Halling (Eds.), Existential-phenomenological perspectives in psychology: Exploring the breadth of human experience (pp. 41-60). Plenum.
Smith, J. A. (2015). Qualitative psychology: A practical guide to research methods. Sage Publications.