Question 1:
In qualitative research, choosing an applicable research topic and problem should incorporate a desire to understand how and why something is happening. Sometimes researchers might also explore what is happening and if it aligns with individuals’ perspectives or understanding of an issue or event.
Write a 250- to 300-word response to the following:
- Write a succinct research problem statement that you are considering for your mock study in this class. Remember the research problem must be cited from current literature and contain a situation along with a consequence. See College of Doctoral Studies Central Website – Doctoral Journey- Click into Precis – go to right had side of page and scroll down to locate Dr. Shawn Boone’s tutorial on Problem Formulation. See also week four additional resources. The research problem cannot come from learners opinion.
Question 2:
Think about the different types of qualitative research topics that are available. Depending on your particular scholarly and professional interests, these topics can be vast and encompass so many areas of our social world, including leadership, business, education, and healthcare, among others.
Write a 250- to 300-word response to the following:
- How does a researcher find people and places to study? In research there is a distinct difference between population and sample. Please make sure you have clarity on these two terms used in research.
Expert Solution Preview
Introduction:
As a medical professor, I am responsible for designing and conducting lectures, evaluating student performance, and providing feedback through examinations and assignments. In this assignment, I am providing answers to two questions related to qualitative research.
Question 1:
Qualitative research is a type of research that aims to explore and understand a phenomenon in depth. Choosing an appropriate research topic and problem is crucial in qualitative research. The research problem statement should incorporate a desire to understand how and why something is happening, and it should align with individuals’ perspectives or understanding of an issue or event.
For my mock study in this class, I am considering the following research problem statement: “The COVID-19 pandemic has led to an increase in mental health problems among healthcare workers, and this has resulted in significant consequences such as burnout, absenteeism, and decreased quality of care for patients.”
This statement identifies a situation (i.e., the COVID-19 pandemic has led to an increase in mental health problems among healthcare workers) and its consequences (i.e., burnout, absenteeism, and decreased quality of care for patients). This problem statement is cited from current literature and aligns with the aim of qualitative research to explore and understand a phenomenon in depth.
Question 2:
In qualitative research, researchers use a variety of methods to find people and places to study. They may use purposive sampling to select participants who fit specific criteria and who can provide rich data on the research topic. Researchers may also use snowball sampling to recruit participants through referrals from existing study participants.
It is essential to understand the difference between population and sample in research. Population refers to the entire group of individuals or objects that share common characteristics. For example, the population of interest in a study on mental health problems among healthcare workers may be all healthcare workers who work in hospitals.
On the other hand, a sample is a subset of the population selected for a study. Researchers can use different sampling techniques to select a representative sample from the population. The sample size and sampling technique depend on the research question and the type of data needed.
In conclusion, qualitative research offers a range of topics that can be explored through various sampling techniques. Researchers can use their scholarly and professional interests to find people and places to study, and they should have a clear understanding of population and sample in research.
