Final Mini-Methods Paper

In this course you have explored Quantitative, Qualitative and Mixed Method approaches to research. Consider the research question you wrote in Module 1. Now that you have explored each type of methodology, decide which methodology would best answer your question and use this for your final mini-methods paper.

Based on the work you have previously prepared and the feedback you have received from your instructor and your peers, prepare the mini-methods section (including all appendices, such as informed consent, copy of instruments, interview protocol, etc.).

The final paper should not exceed 10 pages, not including the title page or reference pages. So the entire paper will be 12 pages in length. NOTE: THE INSTRUCTOR WILL NOT GRADE ANY TEXT WITHIN THE BODY OF YOUR PAPER THAT EXCEEDS 10 PAGES.

The paper must include the following components. Use proper headings and Subheadings, as per the current edition of APA guidelines.

1). Introduction, Problem Statement, Purpose, Research Questions and Literature Review including:

• An introduction to the research topic including the background of your topic. Should be no more than two paragraphs.

• A section about the significance of your topic and why it is important (problem statement). This should be no more than one paragraph.

• The purpose of your study, and your research questions and/or hypotheses. All three of these sections should take up no more than 1 page in total.

• Literature review

o Cite at least 5 references (3 must be from peer reviewed journals; a maximum of 2 can be from non-peer reviewed journals or governmental websites) for your literature review. This section will likely be at least five paragraphs long, a maximum of seven (maximum of 4 pages). These paragraphs will be a bit more brief than what you would include in your dissertation proposal, however you should include enough information so they lead up to a logical research question (yours).

2). Methods including:

• Design: A description of the design of your study covering each relevant aspect included in Modules 3-7.

o If you adopt a quantitative design, clearly identify the type of design (e.g., quasi-experimental, experimental, etc.); the primary constructs; and hypotheses to be tested. Justify why you chose this design.

o If you adopt a qualitative design, clearly identify the approach (ethnographical, phenomenological, case study, etc.), and what the primary phenomena you are studying is. Justify why you chose this design.

o A mixed methods design must address both of the above.

• A description of your proposed study's accessible population; sampling strategy; and the participants including the number, demographic information, setting, and other relevant information. Be sure this is consistent with the type of design.

• If you adopt the quantitative method, include a description of your intended instruments including sample questions, reliability measures, and types of measurement.

• If you adopt a qualitative method, describe your data collection method (interview, observation, document review, focus group, etc.).

o If you plan to conduct interviews, provide a list of sample interview questions including a rational for each question as to what information the response will provide towards answering your research question.

o If you plan to conduct an observation, describe who and how you will observe.

• A description of your data collection strategies and procedures for securing informed consent and collecting data.

• Address generalizability (this must fit the type of design you are using, i.e., remember that things are different for generalizability if your study is quantitative versus qualitative, etc.).

• All the above sections should be no more than a maximum of 3 pages in length.

3). Limitations in which you discuss the limitations of your study in terms of participants, design, data collection, etc. This is a new contribution to your methods. Please refer to your textbook for examples of limitations.

• For Quantitative studies, limitations should be discussed in terms of threats to internal and external validity.

• For Qualitative studies, limitations should be discussed in terms of rigor, credibility and transferability. This is where you would discuss triangulation, if it applies. This should be no more than 1 page in length.