Qualitative Study

TASK DESCRIPTION

Research Project 1 requires students to develop a research proposal. The proposal developed will be used as the blueprint to carry out an empirical investigation the following semester as Research Project 2.

Instruction:

• Students are required to write a research proposal in order to present and justify the need to study a research problem and to present the practical ways in which the proposed study should be conducted.
• The design elements and procedures for conducting the research should be governed by standards within the predominant discipline in which the problem resides.
• A proposal should contain all the key elements involved in designing a completed research study, with sufficient information that allows readers to assess the validity and usefulness of your proposed study.
• The only elements missing from a research proposal are the findings of the study and your analysis of those results. Finally, an effective proposal is judged on the quality of your writing and, therefore, it is important that your writing is coherent, clear, and compelling.

GUIDANCE FOR STUDENTS IN THE COMPLETION OF TASKS

NOTE: The guidance offered below is linked to the chapter organisation that must be followed.

1. Chapter 1 (Introduction)

The first chapter will provide a clear introduction on the following sections:

1.1 Background of the Study

• Introduce the study with background information regarding the problem under investigation.

• Brief summary of literature and research related problem.

1.2 Statement of the Problem

• The purpose of the study which provides focus and direction (scope) for the remainder of the research
• Defines the problems and identifies variables that will be investigated in the study

1.3 Significance of the Study

• Describe the potential value of the study and findings to the relevant fields.
• Identify the audience for the study and how the findings will be beneficial to them.
• Write the significance of the study by looking into the general contribution of the study, such as its importance to society as a whole, then proceed downwards, towards its contribution to individuals and that may include you as a researcher.

1.4 Study Objectives

• Study objectives define the specific aims of the study and should be clearly stated in the introduction of the research protocol.
• Note that the study objective is an active statement about how the study is going to answer the specific research question.

1.5 Research Question

• Research question is a specific question which the research aims to answer. It derives from the problem statement or research topic. It is generally broken down into sub-questions.
• There are different types of research questions and the kind that you choose by determine the type of research methodology that is employed in the research project. For example, Descriptive research may formulate a research question: What are the characteristics of ageism? Predictive testing may generate a research question: What are the predictors of ageism?

1.7 Conceptual and Operational Definition of the Variables

Conceptual Definition

• Provide the general definitions of terms and variables that are not widely understood in the study.

Operational Definition

• Define the operational definitions of the variables (the specific definitions of variables used in the study, usually involve how the variables would be measured or manipulated in the study.

2. Chapter 2 (Literature Review)

2.1 Review of Literature

• This chapter comprises a critical and comprehensive review of the literature related to the
• topic of the research project. Also, it introduces the scientific ground of the research project, the theoretical framework. The review should describe, summarise, evaluate and clarify this literature. It should give a theoretical base for the research and help you (the author) determine the nature of your research.
• The key points for a review may concern areas of similarities and/or differences in:
• Research aim(s) or hypotheses
• Research design and sampling
• Instruments and procedures used
• How data were analysed o Results or findings
• Interpretations

2.2 Theoretical Framework

• The theoretical framework is the structure that can hold or support a theory of a research study. The theoretical framework introduces and describes the theory that explains why the research problem under study exists.
• The use of a theoretical framework as a guide in a research study plays an important role in guiding the entire process of the research study. Theories are constructed in order to explain, predict and master phenomena (e.g. relationships, events, or the behaviour). The theoretical framework should explain:
• What the theory is about?
• Who is credited with comping up with the original theory?
• Any changes made in this research?

3. Chapter 3 (Methodology)

• This section presents a discussion of the specific steps used in how research is carried out. Essentially, the procedures by which researchers go about their work of describing, explaining and predicting phenomena are called research methodology.
• The information on methodology should be comprehensive and detailed enough to permit replication of the study by other researchers.

3.1 Research Design

• This section explains the research design adopted in the research.
• The research design refers to the overall strategy that you choose to integrate the different components of the study in a coherent and logical way, thereby, ensuring you will effectively address the research problem; it constitutes the blueprint for the collection, measurement, and analysis of data.
• Qualitative
• Experimental or correlational design
• Between subject or within subject o Single case design

3.2 Sample (participants)

• Describe the population used in the study and the process utilised in recruiting the sample. Sample selection should reflect appropriate sampling design and is large enough for data collecting instruments to be used.
• A set of individuals or items selected from a population for analysis to yield estimates of, or to test hypotheses about, parameters of the whole population.

3.3 Instrument (apparatus)

• When conducting your research, it is important to acknowledge why you are using certain research instruments, what exactly they are measuring, and how you can maintain proper use.
• Description, validity and reliability of the research materials should be discussed.
• List of considered questionnaire(s) with their validity and reliability

3.4 Data Collection

• How the data will be/were obtained. This includes what, when, and how the materials were distributed/presented to the sample.
• Data collection is the process of gathering and measuring information on variables of interest, in an established systematic fashion that enables one to answer stated research questions, test hypotheses, and evaluate outcomes.

3.5 Data Analysis

• Detail analysis of the data collected. Methods of analysis will be discussed based on the hypotheses provided in Chapter 1.
• Data Analysis is the process of systematically applying statistical and/or logical techniques to describe and illustrate, condense and recap, and evaluate data.
• An essential component of ensuring data integrity is the accurate and appropriate analysis of research findings.

3.6 Ethical Consideration

• The participants are more important than the study, and therefore always respected. The participants must be informed that the study was completely voluntary, and would not affect their jobs, in any way. Confidentiality was provided, as the subjects’ identifying information was not sought. Make sure you are clear with the ethical consideration and obtain approval from the respective supervisor before you start conducting the research.

Journal articles have been included as reference to prepare assignment:

1. https://theconversation.com/<wbr>how-watching-tv-in-lockdown-<wbr>can-be-good-for-you-according-<wbr>to-science-156147
2. https://www.pediatricnursing.<wbr>org/article/S0882-5963(20)<wbr>30269-4/pdf
3. https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/<wbr>papers.cfm?abstract_id=3744261
4. https://www.frontiersin.org/<wbr>articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2021.<wbr>599859/full
5. https://www.emerald.com/<wbr>insight/content/doi/10.1108/<wbr>SAJM-05-2021-0070/full/pdf?<wbr>title=impacts-of-binge-<wbr>watching-on-netflix-during-<wbr>the-covid-19-pandemic