Qualitative Research Essay Assignment:
Learning outcomes assessed:
A) Demonstrate knowledge of qualitative methodologies.
B) Demonstrate critical, creative and analytical thinking in relation to qualitative research approaches.
C) Demonstrate high level communication skills in the application of specific theoretical approaches.
Task description: This assessment is an analytic essay and requires you to write an introduction, a body and a conclusion. You must undertake research and cite the authors of any ideas you introduce into the essay.
The resources drawn on to support your points and arguments must be high quality academic sources including refereed journal articles and text books if appropriate. Please read whole articles and not just the abstract. Un-authored web sites are considered unacceptable.
What you need to do: Choose from one of the following but first note that the focus of the first assignment is on theoretical justification (theoretical argument) and not on research methods.
1) Select an area of theoretical knowledge that could inform qualitative research and critically explore the key concepts (or theoretical assumptions) of the approach.
2) The aim of traditional ethnography is to produce a 'factual description' of a cultural or sub-cultural group. Drawing on contemporary work on ethnography, critically challenge the idea of 'factual description' as an objective of ethnographic research.
3) Critically explore the use of action research as a strategy to promote social change.
4) Select an area of feminist knowledge and argue how it can inform research relevant to your area of practice.
5) Discourse analysis has gained currency as a research approach in the health sciences. Argue its application to a relevant area of your practice/or interest.
Note - Total 2500 words and use APA style.