A Practical Guide to Qualitative Research

Farhad Daneshgar PhD

Description

The book focuses on practical aspects of writing an academic thesis, preparing a research proposal, applying for a research grant, and publishing in academic journals. The book consists of ten modules each corresponding to one academic research threshold providing references and associated links, clarifying notes, examples, and practical advice on various research methodology topics. Topics cover the entire range of basic to advanced concepts and issues with additional references provided for the benefit of more specialized investigation by the reader. The typical audience of the book include postgraduate students, research supervisors, early-career researchers, potential referees of academic journal articles, and potential applicants of research grants. Annual online updates will also provide to the readers upon request when purchasing the book.

Sujets

• Reference
• Research

Informations

• Publié par: Xlibris AU
• Date de parution: 16 février 2023
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9781669889557
• Langue: English
• Poids de l'ouvrage: 1 Mo

Extrait

A PRACTICAL GUIDE TO QUALITATIVE RESEARCH

A GUIDE FOR RESEARCH STUDENTS, SUPERVISORS, AND ACADEMIC AUTHORS








FARHAD DANESHGAR P h D



Copyright © 2023 by Farhad Daneshgar.

ISBN:
Softcover
978-1-6698-8956-4
eBook
978-1-6698-8955-7

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.
Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.






Rev. date: 02/14/2023





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CONTENTS
Introduction
MODULE 1: RESEARCH PARADIGM AND PHILOSOPHICAL ASSUMPTIONS
Chapter 1 Philosophical Assumptions of Resea0rch
Chapter 2 Research Paradigm: Journey from Epistemology to Publishing Research Results
MODULE 2: BASICS OF QUALITATIVE RESEARCH
Chapter 3 Qualitative Methods
Chapter 4 Major Types of Qualitative Research
Chapter 5 Quality and Rigor of Qualitative Research
MODULE 3: TYPES OF QUALITATIVE RESEARCH
Chapter 6 Focus Group as a Research Methodology
Chapter 7 Phenomenological Research and Theoretical Perspective
Chapter 8 Grounded Theory: A Research Methodology and a Data Analysis Method
Chapter 9 Grounded Theory – Part Two
Chapter 10 Design Science Research (DSR)
MODULE 4: LITERATURE REVIEW
Chapter 11 Literature Review: Basics
Chapter 12 Literature Review as Research Methodology
Chapter 13 Rigor and Quality in Literature Review
Chapter 14 Publishing in Academic Journals
Chapter 15 Refereeing Scientific Journal Article and Report
MODULE 5: RESEARCH DESIGN - BASICS, CASE DESIGN, MIXED DESIGN
Chapter 16 Research Design - Basics and Types
Chapter 17 Design of Case Study Research (CSR)
Chapter 18 Mixed Method Research
MODULE 6: RESEARCH ARGUMENTATION, THEORIZING, AND FRAMING
Chapter 19 Argument Development for Thesis and Journal Articles
Chapter 20 Role of Theory in Research (Theorizing)
MODULE 7: DESIGN SCIENCE RESEARCH (DSR)
Chapter 21 Design Science Research (DSR) Basics
Chapter 22 DSR Extensions and Variations
MODULE 8: QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH
Chapter 23 Basics of Quantitative Research and Relevance to Qualitative Researcher
Chapter 24 Recent Innovations in Data Analysis
MODULE 9: ‘FURURES RESEARCH’ AND ‘FUTURE OF RESEARCH’
Chapter 25 Future Trends in Research Methodology
Chapter 26 Futures Research (FR)
MODULE 10: WRITING THESIS
Chapter 27 Ethical Issues in Academic Research
Chapter 28 PhD Proposal and Grant Application
Chapter 29 Writing a PhD Thesis



INTRODUCTION
One unique feature of the Practical Guide to Qualitative Research is its sharp focus on the practical aspects of research, the latter being the product of author’s decades of involvement in both producing and managing research products and processes. The author has over thirty years of experience in teaching and learning principles of research methodology, has supervised many research students some of them are currently Professors in Australian and overseas universities, inside and outside Australian Universities, has published in the ‘Basket of Eight’ and A-A*-ranked academic journals, refereeing for high impact academic journals, and was awarded several research grants.
Due to the specific focus on practical aspects of the research, this practical guide has deviated from the traditional book format and instead has adopted more flexible ‘lecture note’ format that allows insertion of various references and associated links, clarifying notes, examples, and practical advice without being constrained by the traditional textbook formats. Discussions and examples of the book cover the entire range of basic to advanced concepts and issues with additional references provided for the benefit of more specialized investigation by the reader.
Preparation of ach of the 29 Chapters required several hours of research over several years. Such evolutionary process is also reflected in the structure of various Chapters when providing historical accounts of the topic wherever applicable. I believe such historical perspective is necessary for a rapidly growing subjects such as research methodology.
The typical audience of the Practical Guide to Qualitative Research include postgraduate research students, research supervisors, early-career researchers, potential referees of academic journal articles, and potential applicants of research grants. More specifically, the book covers basic to advanced methodological topics and relevant practical guides for writing a postgraduate proposal and thesis, applying for internal/external research grants, preparing an ethics clearance application, writing a journal article, and/or refereeing research articles. The book consists of ten modules each corresponding roughly to one major research threshold that the author has witnessed both as a research student, a lecturer, a supervisor, and as a referee of several high-impact journals.
To remain contemporary, the author will provide regular annual updates that will also be available to the purchasers of the book if this option is selected when purchasing the book. The main idea here is to collectively maintain the book’s relevance, recency, and practicality and as a result, to remain on the edge of latest innovations in the field of qualitative research methodology and thesis preparation. Also, despite the focus of this book being on qualitative research, basic knowledge of quantitative research is also discussed in various Chapters for (i) clearer scoping of the qualitative research, (ii) better understanding of the mixed research methodology, and (iii) guiding researchers towards appropriate choice of research methodology.
And finally, please email the author at [e-mail] and share your comments, views, and ideas on the book or about your research project.
Farhad Daneshgar, PhD
Victoria University Sydney, Australia ( [e-mail] )
February 2023



MODULE 1
Research Paradigm and Philosophical Assumptions



MODULE 1 - Research Paradigm and Philosophical Assumptions.
In this module the highly controversial topic of research paradigm is explained with several examples. Research paradigm is a single word or statement that incorporates various philosophical assumptions adopted by the researcher for the research. These assumptions are discussed in first Chapter in the module. A common research threshold that I have witnessed has been a lack of understanding by many students about research paradigm of their research. The module concludes with a Chapter on research paradigm and related voncepts and examples.



1
Philosophical Assumptions of Resea0rch
Scientific Research Philosophy
Philosophy is the study of the fundamental nature of knowledge , reality , and existence . Research philosophy is also referred to as ‘theoretical approach’ that provides an approach that researcher adopts for the development and/or testing scientific theories. For example, in the study of male superior power over women, the researcher can adopt a religious approach, or a cognitive approach. These approaches are different from the existing scientific theories in male superiority in the fields of sports sciences , nursing , and so on. The former is the philosophical assumptions purposefully adopted by the researcher to guide the researcher for studying the phenomenon, whereas the latter is the scientific theories that guides the methodological decisions of the research, such as data collection and analysis for extending and/or testing those theories about man’s superiority.
Scientific Research Philosophy is one major branch of philosophy that focusses on science. Other branches of philosophy include language, mind, society, and body. Our focus in research is on scientific research philosophy. In short, scientific research philosophy is a fundamental belief about the way we collect, analyse, and use data about a particular phenomenon. It involves the choice of (and not the actual) research strategy, research problem, data collection, data processing, and data analysis.
Benefits of Research Philosophy
Research philosophy enables the researcher to answer the following questions:
• What is the nature of reality in the research?
• What attitude and perspective should we adopt to achieve our research goals with greatest possible certainty, accuracy, and relevance? Examples are ‘being critical’, ‘being descriptive’, ‘focussing on one case only’.
• What forms of reasoning should we deploy for gaining a better understanding of phenomena around us? Examples are “should a doctor test patient’s blood to be certain (positivist paradigm)?” or ‘just observing few symptoms on the face and body would be sufficient (pragmatist paradigm)?’.
• What is the status of what we believe we know? how do we ascertain if what we believe we know is true or false? Examples are ‘do I really need to discuss the results with experts?’ or ‘there is no need for it?’.
• How do we justify our beliefs to others? For example, ‘should I justify mysel