Final Project, Part I: Evaluate a Qualitative Study

For Part I of your Final Project, you will comprehensively evaluate an article of your choice that reports on a qualitative study. (Remember, a study that uses qualitative methods utilizes data that is not numerical.) Locate an article in the professional literature that addresses a topic you are interested in. Use the Area of Interest interactive (Links to an external site.) to assist you with this process. The article you select should describe a qualitative study and should have all or most of the expected sections, either with their own headings or embedded in the article, including: Introduction, Literature Review, Methods, Results, and Discussion.

In writing your evaluation of the article, you will use the information in Section 3.3 in your text. Do not simply tell what is in the article, but evaluate it using the questions in your text. Explain and justify your evaluation based on specific examples from the article.

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Your paper should be 2100-2800 words (not counting the title, abstract and reference pages) and comprehensively evaluate an article of a qualitative study. Use proper APA formatting and good writing and organization in your evaluation paper.

In addition to your 2100-2800 word paper, upload a .pdf copy of the article to the Waypoint dropbox.

The following questions may help you in evaluating your articles, though you do not have to follow this format exactly. Be sure not to format your review as a Q/A list of responses. Rather construct a cohesive narrative focused on key themes in the literature.

1. Evaluate the Introduction and Literature Review.
   • Do the researchers present an adequate rationale for conducting the study? Explain.
   • What is the significance of the study?  What difference will it make to the field?
   • Is the literature review thorough and comprehensive?
   • Do the researchers demonstrate any potential biases in the literature review?
   • Are all important concepts clearly defined by the researchers?
   • Do the researchers clearly describe previous methods that are relevant to understanding the purpose for conducting this study?
2. Evaluate the Purpose Statement.
   • Does the article clearly state the purpose statement?
   • What is the purpose statement as expressed in the article?
   • Is the purpose statement clearly based on the argument developed in the literature review?
3. Evaluate the Methods Section.
   • Is a particular qualitative research design used (ethnography, case study, etc.)?  If so, what is it?
   • Is the research design consistent with the purpose presented in the introduction?
   • Did the researcher introduce any bias in the procedures used?
   • What type of sampling method is used?  Is that appropriate?
   • Are relevant demographic characteristics of the sample clearly identified?
   • Do the methods of sample selection used by the researchers provide a good representative sample, based on the population?
   • Are there any apparent biases in selection of the sample?
   • Is the sample size large enough for the study proposed?
   • What data collection method was used in the study (such as direct observation, interviews, survey)?
   • Is there an adequate description of the interview protocol or other instruments used?
   • What biases or limitations might there be in the data collection method?
4. Evaluate the Results Section.
   • How were the qualitative data analyzed?
   • Is the analysis method clearly described?
   • In describing the results, are concrete examples of the data clearly linked to identified themes, concepts, and/or theories?  Are these examples adequate?
5. Evaluate the Discussion Section.
   • Do the researchers clearly restate the purpose and research questions?
   • Do the researchers clearly discuss the implications of the findings and how they relate to theories, other findings, and actual practice?
   • Do the researchers identify potential limitations of the study and the results?
   • Do the researchers identify possible directions for future research?
6. Remaining Questions.
   • What aspects of qualitative methods do you still find challenging?
   • Was there any information in the above list that you were not able to find in the article you chose?

Point Value: 17 Points
Weekly Learning Outcome Alignment: 3
Course Learning Outcome Alignment: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6

Carefully review the Grading Rubric (Links to an external site.) for the criteria that will be used to evaluate your assignment.