MUSC 917 Qualitative Methods of Research

The doctoral dissertation is the final academic requirement for the candidate’s degree. This course is designed to equip the candidate with a deeper understanding of qualitative research design and data analysis as well as the skills and knowledge necessary for writing and publishing a doctoral dissertation.

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After reading the Course Syllabus and Student Expectations, the candidate will complete the related checklist found in the Course Overview.

Discussions are collaborative learning experiences. Therefore, the candidate is required to provide a thread in response to the provided prompt for each Discussion. Each thread must be 400-600 words and demonstrate course-related knowledge. In addition to the thread, the candidate is required to reply to 2 other classmates’ threads. Each reply must be 200-300 words. (CLO: A, C, D)

The candidate will complete training modules via the Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative Program. Upon completion of all modules, the candidate will receive a certification to upload to the IRB Library as well as to Canvas for a grade. (CLO: F)

Chapter One Assignment

The candidate will submit a well-developed, qualitative draft of the first chapter of his/her research plan, including all front matter found in the template on the School of Music Handbook Website. The final product must include background research on the topic related to historical, sociological, and theoretical foundations (7-10 pages); problem statement (1 page); purpose statement (1 page); significance (1 page); research questions (1/4 page); and pertinent definitions with peer-reviewed resources cited (as needed) for a total of 10 to 13 pages excluding the table of contents, other front matter, and bibliography. (CLO: A, B)

Research Design Assignment

The candidate will submit a well-developed draft of the qualitative research design best suited for his/her research study. The draft will include the identified research design, rationale for the design, research supporting selection of the design, variables central to the study, and peer-reviewed definitions of the variables for a minimum total of 2 pages. (CLO: C, E)

Participants and Setting Assignment

The candidate will submit a well-developed qualitative draft of the participants and setting section of his/her research study. The draft will include a clearly defined population with pseudonyms; a robust description of the physical setting; description of the leadership structure; a discussion of the sampling and/or recruiting procedure; the research-defined parameters for the sample size; a detailed accounting of the sample demographics; clearly identified groups (as needed); process for the groups’ formations; and a detailed accounting of the groups’ demographics for a minimum total of 2 pages. (CLO: E)

Researcher Positionality Assignment

The candidate will submit a well-developed draft of the researcher’s positionality designed to articulate the motivation for conducting the study. This section should include a discussion of the researcher’s interpretive framework (i.e., constructivism, pragmatism, post-positivism) and relate it to the topic and method; the researcher’s philosophical assumptions – ontological, epistemological, and axiological assumptions; a discussion of the researcher’s role in the study as a “human instrument” of data collection; the researcher’s role in relationship to the participants, their role in relationship to the setting or research site, and an accounting of any assumptions or biases the researcher and/or participants maintain related to the study for a minimum total of 3 pages. (CLO: E)

Procedures Assignment

The candidate will submit a well-developed draft of the procedures section of his/her research study. The draft will include a statement of IRB approval; the participant recruitment plan including informed consent and/or child assent, sampling method with citations, discussion of how sample was identified from the population, individual responsible for sample identification, introduction of the study protocols to the sample, and methods for garnering participation; a statement pertaining to conducting a pilot study (if appropriate); process for training individuals necessary for administering procedures; a chronological, narrative, step-by-step, detailed accounting of the procedures; an accounting of how data were collected. The procedures must be sufficiently detailed in order to replicate. This section should be a minimum total of 2 pages. (CLO: E)

Data Collection Plan Assignment

The candidate will submit a well-developed draft of the data collection plan including triangulation, each data collection approach with associated data analysis and synthesis approach. Include data collection approaches involving a robust description of how data were collected and documented, discussion of the sequence for data collection, rationale for the sequence chosen, subsections for each data collection strategy with associated research-supported definitions and rationales, appropriateness of the strategy, relevant logistics for the data collection strategy (when, where, how, with whom data are generated; use of recording devices, back-ups, alternative data collection methods such as virtual interviews, use of technology, specific hardware/software utilized), duration of data collection, and time commitment from participants. The candidate will include the proposed, open-ended (no yes/no questions) interview and focus group questions with a plan for piloting the questions and refining questions after initial interviews, plans for observations with a blank field note template/observation protocol, fully defined data analysis strategies cited from literature for each type of data collected, a concise rationale for each type of data analysis technique employed, a discussion of analysis software, and a data synthesis section describing how each form of data will be synthesized into a coherent set of findings for a minimum total of 4 pages. (CLO: D, E)

Proposal Excerpt Assignment

The candidate will include a section on trustworthiness organized into five subsections addressing credibility, transferability, dependability, confirmability, and ethical considerations. The candidate will combine all sections and submit a well-developed draft of chapters one and three. The chapter one draft will include background, problem statement, purpose statement, significance statement, research questions, and pertinent definitions. The chapter three draft will include research design, participants and setting, researcher positionality, procedures, data collection plan, and trustworthiness. The final draft will sufficiently incorporate all instructor edits and comments. (CLO: A, B, C, D, E)