Conceptualizing a Qualitative Research Question

Conceptualizing a Qualitative Research Question

The Research Purpose

A well-formulated research question is critical to conducting proper research. One of the main benefits of a well-crafted research question is that it helps define the purpose of the research study (Yale University, 2015). The research purpose of my inquiry is to understand the stress that caregivers of children with physical and intellectual disabilities endure. The research study aims to explain the type of challenges, including emotional turmoil that caregivers of children with disabilities encounter. The goal of the study is to predict the difficulties that these caregivers face that may not be so obvious. It is essential to have a clear picture of the stress that these caregivers face in their day-to-day activities.

The Rationale

The rationale of a study focuses on the reason for conducting the research. It answers and highlights the need for conducting the study (Ravitch & Carl, 2016). The rationale I have for conducting this study is to contribute methodological literature to the existing body of research regarding caregivers working with children with special needs (Ravitch & Carl, 2016). My interest in this study is based on my personal experience of working with children with special needs. I have previously been a caregiver of children with special needs at a public health institution.

Through this first-hand experience, I endured some stressful moments and encountered other caregivers who felt that the job was challenging. I feel that these caregivers encounter stress owing to the strenuous level of the work environment. I would want to understand the specific stress, whether physical or emotional, that caregivers of children with disabilities encounter. Even today, I still work with children, and having the knowledge could become essential in promoting the welfare of many caregivers.

Issues of Positionality

The role of researcher positionality is to assist in developing a structure early on in the research development process. The positionality helps the researcher to provide a written reflection of one’s research identity (Rubin & Rubin, 2012). From my personal experiences, my position about the study is that caregivers of children with special needs endure significant stress. I aim to explore and investigate to see if the conclusions of the study support my position. Given that it is still early in the research study, my position may add or change in the course of the study (Ravitch & Carl, 2016). The findings I obtain will determine my final stand. Also, each goal of the research project will determine the position and my identity in the research topic. The various phases of the research may have unique positions based on what I will be evaluating.

The Research Question

My research question: To understand the stress displayed by caregivers of children with intellectual and physical disabilities. The research question will guide my research study, design, and purpose (Yale University, 2015). It is the first step in the process of completing a research project, and it provides an inquiry into the issue or problem (Rubin & Rubin, 2012). My research will be centered on the research question to explore the challenges faced by caregivers who work with children with disabilities. This research question will form as the basis of the entire research project.

 

 

 

 

 

References

Ravitch, S. M., & Carl, N. M. (2016). Qualitative research: Bridging the conceptual, theoretical, and methodological. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.

Rubin, H. J., & Rubin, I. S. (2012). Qualitative interviewing: The art of hearing data (3rd ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.

Yale University. (2015, June 23). Fundamentals of qualitative research methods: Developing a qualitative research question (Module 2) [Video file]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_0HxMpJsm0I