Assignment: qualitative research approaches matrix, part i & 2

 Part 1

In order for you to select the qualitative research approach that best fits your research question, you will need to develop a deeper familiarity with the approaches available to you. This week’s Assignment is the first of a two-part activity designed to broaden and deepen your base of knowledge of qualitative research approaches. While the activity does not encompass all possible approaches, it does allow you to explore the eight most common approaches you are likely to encounter and may wish to consider for yourself.

For this Assignment, you will complete the first half of the Qualitative Research Approaches Matrix Template, which is designed to allow you to compare and contrast qualitative research approaches.

To prepare for this Assignment:

• Review this week’s readings, focusing on the differences among the following four types of qualitative research approaches:
  • Generic qualitative inquiry
  • Qualitative case study
  • Grounded theory and realism
  • Phenomenology and heuristic inquiry
• Locate the Qualitative Research Approaches Matrix Template in this week’s Learning Resources.
• Read the examples of research studies provided in this week’s Learning Resources.
• Select additional readings that focus on specific approaches (some suggestions have been provided for you in the Optional Resources).

Assignment: 

 Complete the Qualitative Research Approaches Matrix Template for the four approaches highlighted this week. Some of the cells have been pre-populated with sample entries or with prompts to help you focus your comparisons. 

Required Readings

Patton, M. Q. (2015). Qualitative research & evaluation methods: Integrating theory and practice (4th ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE.
Chapter 3, “Variety of Qualitative Inquiry Frameworks: Paradigmatic, Philosophical, and Theoretical Orientations” (pp. 85–168)
Chapter 4, “Practical and Actionable Qualitative Applications” (pp. 169–242)

Basic Qualitative Research

Bowers, B. J., Fibich, B., & Jacobson, N. (2001). Care-as-service, care-as-relating, care-as-comfort: Understanding nursing home residents’ definitions of quality. The Gerontologist, 41(4), 539–545. Retrieved from http://gerontologist.oxfordjournals.org/
Care-as-Service, Care-as-Relating, Care-as-Comfort Understanding Nursing Home Residents’ Definitions of Quality by Bowers, B.; Fibich, B.; Jacobson, N., in The Gerontologist, Vol. 41/Issue 4. Copyright 2001 by Oxford University Press – Journals, The Gerontological Society of America. Reprinted by permission of Oxford University Press – Journals, The Gerontological Society of America via the Copyright Clearance Center.

Qualitative Case Study

Donnelly, C., Brenchley, C., Crawford, C., & Letts, L. (2013). The integration of occupational therapy into primary care: a multiple case study design.BMC family practice, 14(1), 1.

Grounded Theory

Barello, S., Graffigna, G., Vegni, E., Savarese, M., Lombardi, F., & Bosio, A. C. (2015). ‘Engage me in taking care of my heart’: a grounded theory study on patient–cardiologist relationship in the hospital management of heart failure. BMJ open, 5(3), e005582.

Heuristic Inquiry

Howard, A., & Hirani, K. (2013). Transformational change and stages of development in the workplace: A heuristic inquiry. Journal of Integral Theory and Practice, 8(1/2), 71–86.

Documents and Tools

Document: R8360 Guidelines for Reading and Evaluating Qualitative Research Articles (PDF)

Document: Example of How to Read and Evaluate a Qualitative Research Article (PDF)