Finetra Chambers

Identify whether a generic qualitative approach or a phenomenological approach was used, and describe the characteristics of the research that provide evidence to support the identification.

Upon reading the design of the study, the authors used a phenomenological approach (Humanistic perspective). The researchers wanted the subjects in the study to actively create the reality that they were living in during the qualitative study, hence, lining up withphenomenology that emphasizes a focus on people's subjective experiences and interpretations of the world.

Identify the key phenomena under investigation.

The key phenomenon under investigation in this study was multiple negative effects that various media have on adolescents' identity and body image.

Describe the data collection process, including the role of the researcher.

The data collection consisted of nine focus groups were held with 46 adolescents aged 16-19 years from two Mid-Western Canadian high schools.

Nine focus groups were contacted with two different study groups. Study A consisted of five focus groups and Study B had four focus groups with a total of 46 participants. Study A data collection was over a 3 month period where as Study B was over 10 month period after Study A was complete.

Describe the qualitative approach to analyzing the data in this study.

The qualitative approach used in this study was phenomenological.Phenomenology is interested in the individual experiences of people. It usually involves long, in-depth interviews (as in here with the 8 month focus groups) with subjects, and sometimes researchers will interview the same subject several times to get a full picture of their experience with the phenomenon.

From this approach, the researchers of the article were able to develop common themes emerging in the focus group discussions in both studies included the negative impact of media on adolescent body image and pressure to conform to the Western views of physical appearance (Spurr, Berry, & Walker, 2013).

Evaluate the scientific merit of the selected approach. How did the approach used, either phenomenology or generic qualitative, help the researcher answer the research question? How might you have designed this study differently?

The presence of scientific merit in a study reflects a researcher's commitment to quality. It means the researcher hopes to obtain information that will either be a direct benefit to participants or to the field. The findings of these studies reflected the congruence of the adolescents' idealistic views of body image with Western society that actively endorses the portrayal of extremely thin body stereotypes (Andrist, 2003; Presnell et al., 2007).

Reference:

Andrist, L.C. (2003). Media images, body dissatisfaction, and disordered eating in adolescent women. MCN American Journal Maternal Child Nursing, 28, 119-123.

Presnell, K., Bearman, S.C. & Madeley, M.C. (2007). Body dissatisfaction in adolescent females and males: risks and resilience. The Prevention Researcher, 14(3), 3-6.