8. RSCH Design: Qualitative (L)

Question 1

2024

Qualitative research design in Counselor Education. Question prepared for the CAU faculty by Dr. Rubel.

Be prepared to do the following:
* Define “research paradigm” (Creswell & Poth, 2017; Ponterotto, 2005)
* Define epistemology as applied to research (Creswell & Poth, 2017; Ponterotto, 2005)
* Describe the ‘constructivist perspective’ as applied to qualitative research (Creswell & Poth, 2017)
* Define research question (Creswell, 2008; Creswell & Poth, 2017)
* Describe qualitative research in terms of at least 4 characteristics (Creswell & Poth, 2017)
* Differentiate between qualitative research and quantitative research in terms of epistemology
* Define purposeful or purposive sampling (Creswell & Poth, 2017)
* Define ‘coding’ as it is used for qualitative research (Creswell & Poth, 2017)
* Describe the concept of “reflexivity” (Creswell & Poth, 2017 is wayyyy too simplistic; please use Morrow, 2005 and specifically her discussion on page 254 to augment their description)
* Describe these concepts related to the quality of qualitative research (Lincoln & Guba,1985; Morrow, 2005):
 Trustworthiness (Here rely on Lincoln & Guba, 1985 mostly or Morrow’s 2005 discussion of them)
 Credibility (Ditto)
 Transferability (Ditto)

Subjectivity as it is used in constructivist qualitative research (Morrow, 2005, p. 254. is a particularly good resource).

Additionally, be prepared to define, describe, discuss, and illustrate through qualitative research design elements the following:

• ‘Research paradigm’ and how this affects the major stages of qualitative research design and implementation - including results and how results are considered.
• Subjectivity throughout the qualitative research design process. How is it considered, where does it come from, and how is it dealt with?
• The concepts of rigor and trustworthiness – what are they and how are they promoted throughout a qualitative research design?
• Two qualitative approaches - grounded theory and phenomenology, their background, philosophical underpinnings, and use in research design from problem and research question formation to participant selection, data collection, and data analysis.

Sample Question #1:

In an orderly, bullet-pointed fashion describe a rationale and “problem” associated with teaching master’s students about social justice counseling (no more than 6 bullet-points, please make them full sentences. Linear progression of the rationale is paramount). The last bullet-point is “An understanding of X populations’ experience of Y gained through qualitative research can help inform counselor training.”

Identify a research question that addresses this problem, select an appropriate approach, and write a complete purpose statement around this question and approach (Creswell & Poth, 2017).

Explain why qualitative research and, specifically, your selected approach are the best way to address this problem and question.

Describe how you would go about each of these phases – participant selection, data collection (including questions), data analysis, and promoting trustworthiness. Make sure to include not just the “hows” but the “whys” and citations for your methodological choices.

Sample Question #2:

Pick a research paradigm or interpretive community, define, and describe it. Clearly delineate a research problem and research purpose relevant to an area of counseling or counselor education of your choosing (please use Creswell & Poth’s formulaic research purpose statement structure). Include in the statement your choice of phenomenology or grounded theory and a clear research question that is consistent with your approach, your research problem and purpose, and your research paradigm.

Outline how you would enact each of these phases 1. recruiting and selecting participants, 2. collecting 3. data analyzing data, and4. promoting trustworthiness. Then provide a brief description of how subjectivity and your research paradigm affect each of those 4 phases. Connect your descriptions to the methodological literature using citations.

Resources: Creswell and Poth (2013, 2017) Qualitative Inquiry and Research Design: Choosing Among Five Approaches
Lincoln & Guba (1985) Naturalistic Inquiry – Ch. 13 on Trustworthiness
Morrow (2005) “Quality and Trustworthiness in Qualitative Research…” (assigned reading in TCE 612)
Ponterrotto (2005) “A Primer on Research Paradigms and Philosophy of Science” (assigned reading in TCE 612)