Description
Is there a topic or idea that has been on your mind that you are thinking about for your dissertation or doctoral study? Is there a problem in your work or social sphere that you feel compelled to understand and act upon? Have you read a story or viewed a documentary and thought “I could do something like that”?
These are just a few of the ways Walden students become inspired to choose what they would like to study for their dissertation or doctoral study.
Once you have watched this week’s Scholar of Change video, you have the opportunity to reflect on how that student merged their academic studies with their passion for making a difference. In this Discussion, you have an opportunity to start that journey, to consider a topic you would like to explore.
For this Discussion, you will explore topics in your discipline of interest to you that you want to research using a qualitative approach.
To prepare for this Discussion:
Review the Learning Resources related to qualitative research.
Consider a topic in your discipline that is of interest to you.
This could come from a prior course or something from your work or personal setting for which you have a passion.Based on your initial understanding of qualitative research, post a description of the topic you chose in terms of how it could be conceptualized as a qualitative study. Include:
What is the phenomenon of interest?
What experiences or contextual issues might influence how this phenomenon could be studied?
In what setting(s) could a topic like this be explored?
What connection do you have to this topic, and why do you think it is important to explore this as a qualitative study?
What possibilities could the results of this research have for social change?
Be sure to support your main post and response post with reference to the week’s Learning Resources and other scholarly evidence in APA style.
Respond to one of your colleagues’ posts and provide additional insight as to what other opportunities your colleague might want to explore further in their research.Return to this Discussion in a few days to read the responses to your initial posting. Then, repost under your first post your reflections on your choice of topic. Would you like to adjust, re-direct, or start over?
Ravitch, S. M., & Carl, N. M. (2021). Qualitative research: Bridging the conceptual, theoretical, and methodological (2nd ed.) Sage Publications.
Chapter 1, “Qualitative Research: An Opening Orientation” (pp. 1–29)
Erickson, F. (2011). Chapter 3: A history of qualitative inquiry in social and educational research. Download Chapter 3: A history of qualitative inquiry in social and educational research.In N. K. Denzin, & Y. S. Lincoln (Eds.), The SAGE handbook of qualitative research (4th ed., pp. 43–58). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.
Denzin, N. K., & Lincoln, Y.S. (2013). Chapter 1: Introduction: The discipline and practice of qualitative research. Download Chapter 1: Introduction: The discipline and practice of qualitative research.In The landscape of qualitative research (4th ed., pp. 1–44). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications. Retrieved from http://www.sagepub.com/sites/default/files/upm-bin…
Yob, I., & Brewer, P. (n.d.). Working toward the common good: An online university’s perspectives on social change. Download Working toward the common good: An online university’s perspectives on social change. 1-25.
Walden University Library. (n.d.). Course guide and assignment help for RSCH 8310Links to an external site.. Retrieved from http://academicguides.waldenu.edu/rsch8310
Use this website to search for books, encyclopedias, or articles based on the requirements for the Discussion and/or Assignment.
Document: Video Field Notes Guide (Word document)Download Video Field Notes Guide (Word document)
Use this guide to help you as you take notes for your Scholar of Change video.
Document: Major Assignment 1: Developing a Research Topic for a Qualitative Study Overview and Guidelines (PDF)Download Major Assignment 1: Developing a Research Topic for a Qualitative Study Overview and Guidelines (PDF)
Use this document to guide you through your Major Assignment 1 for this course.
Document: Major Assignment 2: The Analysis and Interpretation of Qualitative Data Overview and Guidelines (PDF)Download Major Assignment 2: The Analysis and Interpretation of Qualitative Data Overview and Guidelines (PDF)
Use this document to guide you through your Major Assignment 2 for this course.
