Week 4 Assignment: Developing a Qualitative Research Topic a…

Overview

In this assignment, you will develop a research topic appropriate for a qualitative study and formulate a corresponding research question. This activity is crucial in laying the foundation for your qualitative research by ensuring that your topic is well-defined and that your research question is aligned with qualitative methodology.

Instructions

• Identify and clearly define a research topic suitable for qualitative inquiry. Provide a brief background, with examples, that explains why this topic is significant–including your objectives (or purpose) in conducting the study–and how it fits within the scope of qualitative research.
• Build on your research activity by stating a specific, open-ended research question that aligns with the chosen topic. Explain how this question is suitable for qualitative research and why it cannot be answered by quantitative methods.
• Justify why the selected qualitative approach is the most appropriate for answering your research question compared with other potential qualitative methodologies. Discuss the characteristics, strengths, and weaknesses of three potential qualitative methodologies (e.g., generic qualitative inquiry, case study, phenomenology) that could be used to explore this topic.
• Discuss how your research question aligns with the overall research topic and objectives. Ensure that your question is focused, clear, and researchable within the scope of qualitative methods.
• Include at least three scholarly references to support your topic choice and methodological justification.
• Communicate in a manner that is scholarly, professional, and consistent with the expectations for members in the identified field of study.

Deliverable: Submit a 3-5 page paper (excluding references) that includes your research topic, research question, methodological justification, and alignment discussion.

Requirements

Your assignment should also meet the following requirements:

• Written communication: Written communication is free of errors that detract from the overall message.
• Length of paper: 3-5 page paper (excluding references).
• Resources: At least three scholarly resources. Include a reference page at the end of the paper.
• APA guidelines: Double-spaced paragraph formatting in the body of the paper. When appropriate, use APA-formatted headings. References and citations are formatted according to current APA style and format. Use the
• as the primary reference for formatting and writing. See the
• for helpful APA resources.
• Font and font size: Times New Roman, 12 point.

Competencies Measured

By successfully completing this assignment, you will demonstrate your proficiency in the following course competencies and rubric criteria:

• Competency 1: Evaluate the characteristics, purposes, benefits, strengths, and weaknesses of qualitative research methods.
• Define a research topic suitable for qualitative inquiry, and explain its significance.
• Justify why a selected qualitative approach is the most appropriate for answering a research question compared with other potential qualitative methodologies.
• Competency 4: Describe methods for data collection and analysis.
• Discuss how a research question aligns with an overall research topic and objectives.
• Competency 5: Apply qualitative research methodology.
• State a specific, open-ended research question that aligns with a chosen topic.
• Competency 6: Communicate in a manner that is scholarly, professional, and consistent with the expectations for members in the identified field of study.
• Convey purpose in an appropriate tone and style, incorporating sufficient supporting evidence and adhering to organizational, professional, and scholarly writing standards.

Week 4 Assignment: Developing a Qualitative Research Topic and Question

Week 4 Assignment: Developing a Qualitative Research Topic and QuestionCriteriaRatingsPtsDefine a research topic suitable for qualitative inquiry, and explain its significance.

32 to >27.2 pts

DISTINGUISHED

Defines a research topic suitable for qualitative inquiry, and explains its significance, providing examples of its significance.

27.2 to >22.4 pts

PROFICIENT

Defines a research topic suitable for qualitative inquiry, and explains its significance.

22.4 to >0 pts

BASIC

Defines a research topic, though it’s unclear how suitable it is for qualitative inquiry, or its significance is unclear.

0 pts

NON_PERFORMANCE

Does not define a research topic suitable for qualitative inquiry, and explain its significance.

/ 32 pts

State a specific, open-ended research question that aligns with a chosen topic.

32 to >27.2 pts

DISTINGUISHED

States a specific, open-ended research question that aligns with a chosen topic, explaining how the question is suitable for qualitative research and not quantitative methods.

27.2 to >22.4 pts

PROFICIENT

States a specific, open-ended research question that aligns with a chosen topic.

22.4 to >0 pts

BASIC

States a research question, though it’s unclear how it aligns with a chosen topic.

0 pts

NON_PERFORMANCE

Does not state a specific, open-ended research question that aligns with a chosen topic.

/ 32 pts

Justify why a selected qualitative approach is the most appropriate for answering a research question compared with other potential qualitative methodologies.

32 to >27.2 pts

DISTINGUISHED

Justifies why a selected qualitative approach is the most appropriate for answering a research question compared with other potential qualitative methodologies. Discusses the characteristics, strengths, and weaknesses of three potential qualitative methodologies that could be used to explore this topic.

27.2 to >22.4 pts

PROFICIENT

Justifies why a selected qualitative approach is the most appropriate for answering a research question compared with other potential qualitative methodologies.

22.4 to >0 pts

BASIC

States why a selected qualitative approach is the most appropriate for answering a research question, but without comparing that approach to other potential qualitative methodologies.

0 pts

NON_PERFORMANCE

Does not justify why a selected qualitative approach is the most appropriate for answering a research question compared with other potential qualitative methodologies.

/ 32 pts

Discuss how a research question aligns with an overall research topic and objectives.

32 to >27.2 pts

DISTINGUISHED

Discusses how a research question aligns with an overall research topic and objectives,. ensuring the question is focused, clear, and researchable within the scope of qualitative methods.

27.2 to >22.4 pts

PROFICIENT

Discusses how a research question aligns with an overall research topic and objectives.

22.4 to >0 pts

BASIC

Provides a rationale for using a qualitative approach for the proposed study that is unclear and vague.

0 pts

NON_PERFORMANCE

Does not discuss how a research question aligns with an overall research topic and objectives.

/ 32 pts

Convey purpose in an appropriate tone and style, incorporating sufficient supporting evidence and adhering to organizational, professional, and scholarly writing standards.

32 to >27.2 pts

DISTINGUISHED

Conveys clear purpose in a tone and style well-suited to the intended audience. Supports assertions, arguments, and conclusions with relevant, credible, and convincing evidence. Exhibits strict and nearly flawless adherence to organizational, professional, and scholarly writing standards, including APA style and formatting.

27.2 to >22.4 pts

PROFICIENT

Conveys purpose in an appropriate tone and style, incorporating sufficient supporting evidence and adhering to organizational, professional, and scholarly writing standards.

22.4 to >0 pts

BASIC

Conveys purpose in an appropriate tone or style. Clear, effective communication is inhibited by insufficient supporting evidence and/or minimal adherence to applicable writing standards.

0 pts

NON_PERFORMANCE

Does not convey purpose in an appropriate tone and style, incorporate sufficient supporting evidence or adhere to organizational, professional, and writing scholarly standards.

/ 32 pts

Total Points: 0