Designing a Qualitative Research Project

Designing a Research Project

• Designing a research project is similar to creating something, which requires appropriate materials and necessary steps to follow.
• A research project must have significance to the researcher to ensure efforts are put to use.
• The first step in designing a qualitative research project is to choose a topic that is relevant to the researcher as a learner, constituent, and citizen.
• Questions to consider when choosing a topic:
  • What are the issues and problems in my school and community that need my special attention?
  • What are the things that bother me at home?
  • What are the usual complaints of my neighbors regarding ordinances, practices, and activities in the barangay?
• Qualitative research is an emergent design that requires ongoing decisions about what has been learned.
• A researcher's decision-making involves:
  • How to gather data
  • From where and whom to collect
  • When to gather
  • For how long

Qualitative Research

• Qualitative research requires congruence between methods of data analysis and research questions.
• The method of data collection should turn out data that is appropriate to the method of analysis.
• A research project should consider the kind and field of the topic, as well as its relevance to daily life.

Writing a Research Title

• A research title is a product of real-world observations, dilemmas, wide reading, selective viewing, meaningful interactions, and deep reflection.
• A research title should:
  • Clearly reflect the topic of investigation
  • Be original, clear, concise, or specific
  • Reflect the variables under study
• A good title has several functions:
  • Predicts content
  • Catches the reader's interest
  • Reflects the tone or slant of the piece of writing
  • Contains keywords that make it easy to access a computer search
• Parameters to help formulate a research title:
  • The purpose of the research
  • The narrative tone of the paper
  • The methods used
• Steps to write a research title:
  • Determine what the paper is about
  • Identify the techniques/design used
  • Determine who/what will be studied
  • Use answers to list key words
  • Create a sentence that includes the key words
  • Delete unnecessary/repetitive words and link the remaining
  • Delete non-essential information and reword the title
• Characteristics of effective titles in academic research papers:
  • Indicate accurately the subject and scope of the study
  • Rarely use abbreviations or acronyms unless they are commonly known
  • Use words that create a positive impression and stimulate reader interest
  • Use current nomenclature from the field of study
  • Reveal how the paper will be organized
  • Is limited to 2 to 15 words
  • Takes the form of a question