FULL TITLE OF QUALITATIVE RESEARCH

[fo rmatted in inverted pyramid]

A research
presented to the Faculty of
(school)

In Partial Fulfillment
of the Requirements for the
Senior High School Applied Research Course

>FULL NAME OF RESERCHERS<

(Insert Year Here)
 APPROVAL SHEET

This research entitled (insert your research title here). Prepared by (Name of
Researchers) in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Applied Research Course of
Senior High School at (school) has been examined and recommended for acceptance
and approval.

NAME OF RESEARCH ADVISER

Adviser

Approved by the committee on Oral Examination with a grade of ______________.

Name of English Critic

English Critic Subject Specialist

Statistician Technical Editor

(name)
Chairperson

Accepted in partial fulfillment of the requirement for the Senior High School Applied
Research Course

(name)
Senior High School Coordinator
(school)
 ABSTRACT

The abstract consists of 150 to 250 words. Single-space within each paragraph, but
double-space between paragraphs. Do not indent the first lines of paragraphs. Remember
there is no indent in this paragraph. Your instructor may determine the length of the
abstract as long as it fits the parameters of no more than 250 words.

The abstract should be comprised of the following statements:

Statement covering the general context of the research topic
Statement regarding the specific research problem
Statement regarding the research methodology
Statement regarding the significant findings
A sentence regarding the conclusions and recommendations
TABLE OF CONTENTS
 CHAPTER 1

PROBLEM AND ITS BACKGROUND

Introduction

The introduction is developed in a preamble section that is not labeled as a

subsection. The introduction is developed in one to two paragraphs discussing the

general context of your research topic. You may recognize this as your background to

the study. This is both an expansion of your abstract and a more concise summation of

your Literature Review. This will determine the outline of the body of the Literature

Review. Think of this as an outline or a thumbnail sketch of the highlights of your Literature

Review. Since it is a summation of other author and theorists work remember to cite

heavily at the end of the paragraphs or as needed in the text. You should plan on one to

two paragraphs of general context regarding your research topic, which you might

consider a state of world affairs briefing, at least the nation of your research topic. Then

provide one to two paragraphs of more specific context regarding your topic, this

might be considered the state of your community briefing. You are preparing your

audience to understand and accept the statement of the problem.

Related Literature and Studies

The literature review should contain the following elements and should be distinguished through

the use of APA level 2 or 3 headings: (a) an introduction to the section; (b) a discussion of the

theoretical perspective (theoretical lens) within which the study will be grounded; (c) a historical

context of the study; (d) a synthesis of the findings in a “state-of-knowledge” summary in regard
to the problem area, including additional evidence as to the nature and the importance of the

phenomenon; (e) an identification of gaps and limitations of the literature; (f) a clear discussion

of how further research should extend, differ from, or replicate past studies; and (g) an

articulation of the unique contribution of the intended dissertation study.

Theoretical Perspective

A brief discussion of the theory your quantitative research study is investigating, or a

brief discussion of the theoretical perspective of your qualitative research. You might

have a specific rationalist or modernist theory that describes cause and effect and you

would discuss that theory. Or you might perceive this problem to be a result of a social

construction in the discourse between parents and children and you would discuss

social constructionism, or the conversations in society concerning the benefits of

rebellious individualism. So you would discuss the theories of hegemonic language and

the process of de-centering the discourse to change the source of power in the

discourse. In another example, you might compare the five common health behavioral

models to the results of the study and suggest my own intervention model. So you

would discuss the overarching theoretical field of behavioral change.

Statement of the Problem

One concise paragraph discussing your research problem that should include (a)

a clear statement that the problem exists, (b) evidence that supports the existence of the

problem, (c) evidence of an existing trend that has led to the problem, (d) definitions of

major concepts and terms (this can be provided below in a subsection), (e) a clear

description of the setting, (f) probable causes related to the problem, and (g) a specific

and feasibly statement.

Purpose of the Study

 Discuss in one paragraph what you will do in the research. This is made obvious

in the argument of the Literature Review. This is a brief statement of how you will

investigate the research problem.

Key points to keep in mind when preparing a purpose statement are as follows: (a)

create a sentence that begins with “The purpose of this study is . . .” (b) clearly identify

and define the central concepts or ideas of the study, (c) identify the central phenomenon

to be explored, and (d)Indicate the participants and research site.

Significance of the Study

Discuss what the benefit will be of addressing the research problem might be to

the population of your study, the academic community.

Scope and Limitations

Most research topics cover areas that are far too multitudinous, multifaceted,

complex, or inexhaustible to be addressed in a research study of any scope. There are

research directions and research questions suggested by your research topic but are not

addressed in this research study. Discuss a few of these to show that you know where

your research fits in its scholarly community and that you know what you can accomplish.

Describe what your research design cannot accomplish due to the scope of the

project, limitations of time and resources. However, do not adopt a whiny and petulant

tone; you are simply acknowledging reality, as does every other student in your position.
Definition of Terms

Provide complete scientific definitions and appropriate references if necessary.

Include as many terms or variables as needed.

 Chapter 2

METHODOLOGY

The research methodology section describes the worldview or philosophy,

the underpinning practices and procedures for conducting and replicating your

research, and the type of research study. It also informs scholars and practitioners

regarding the rigor and the appropriateness of your methodology in relation to the

scholarly community in which the research belongs. Some research

methodologies are rigid in their expectations and do not allow for variance, while

others allow for variation in the form of the research design, which can make each

research project unique. This is acceptable as long as the research design is

approved by your faculty and can be replicated. Please do not over invest your

time until your instructor has approved your research methodology. Cite the

textbooks and research articles, which inform you. Have great discussions of

qualitative research methods and useful checklists.

Research Design

Discuss in narrative form the detailed step by step process of how you will

conduct the entire research study (the collection of your data). Think of this as the

operator’s manual for your experiment that you might share with others so they

can be assured that it is replicable and of the rigor of your experiment. Give a step

by step how to description that another would follow to replicate your methodology.

You might start by making a bulleted list in another document, and then narrate
that list here in this section. It needs to have enough good detail to eliminate

assumptions or the need to ask questions without becoming so granular in detail

that no one will read it. It is a balancing act between too much information and not

enough information. Cite the textbooks and research articles, which inform you.

Qualitative Research Approach

Provide some background to the approach and why it is a good strategy for

your research. This section should include the following: (a) identify the specific

strategy of inquiry to be used with references (e.g., narrative, phenomenology,

case study, ethnographic), (b) provide some background information about the

strategy (e.g., applications of and brief definition for discipline origin), (c) discuss

the intended outcome from this type of strategy, (e) discuss the source of this

strategy, (f) discuss why it is an appropriate strategy and (g) identify how the use

of this approach will shape the type of questions asked, the form of data collection,

and the steps of data analysis.

Participants

This section should include the following elements: (a) the participants

should be defined, consistent with the Purpose Statement and the Research

Questions (this should also include demographic information such as age,

gender, and ethnicity) and (b) a discussion of the type of sampling with reference

citations (e.g., purposive, criterion, snowball sampling technique).

 This section should contain a discussion about participants and the site,

including the following: (a) the setting, (b) the actors (who will be interviewed), (c)

the events (what will the actors will be observed or interviewed doing), (d) the

process (the evolving nature of events undertaken by the actors within the setting),

and (e) the type or types of data to be collected (e.g., focus groups, observations,

interviews, documents, audio and visual material; be specific about the strengths

and weaknesses of each type).

Data Collection Tools

If established instruments will be utilized, this section will detail each data-

collection instrument. The relevant information pertaining to each instrument

should include the source or developers of the instrument and any other salient

information. Also permission from the author must be granted or you must state

why permission was not necessary. Both the instrument and a permission note

must also appear in the appendix. If an original instrument is created, you must

identify the influencing literature. Additionally, describe how the instrument was

validated; you may explain that is was piloted and reviewed by a group of experts.

The actual instrument should be included in the dissertation document as an

appendix.

Research Procedures

The Procedures section will be based directly on the research questions.

Specifically, this is the “how-to” section of the study: how the data will be collected
based on the questions of interest. This section should read like a step-by-step

recipe of how the study.

Data Analysis

Name the steps involved in conducting an analysis of qualitative data.

Describe how the data will be organized and transcribed. Discuss the coding

procedures of the transcripts or text files. If used, discuss specific qualitative

software you will use for your analysis. Develop a detailed qualitative description.

Make sure that the approach used for the study is reflective in the language used

when describing the analysis. For example, a phenomenological study has specific

language when describing the stages of analysis.

Ethical Considerations

This section should describe how you will maintain ethics of the study.

Preserve anonymity and keep the documents secure.

 Chapter 4

FINDINGS

Findings are discussed according to the qualitative approach. This section should

include quotes from interviews with informants or from analyzed documents to illustrate

themes and findings.

Examples of Approaches:

 Phenomenology

For instance phenomenology, the findings will be reported differently. Examples might

include (a) a description of experiential themes, (b) a description of the essences of

experience, and (c) a description of relationships among essences.

 Grounded Theory

In grounded theory, the aim is the generation of theoretical constructs. In this section,

then, you would have findings from the process of memo writing, theoretical sampling,

sorting, saturation, the review of literature, and developing the theory.

 Ethnography

With an ethnographic approach, the findings may be reported in a smooth, flowing

description narrative. The aim of the narrative is to portray a full context of the experiences

and the culture of research participants as observed and analyzed.

 Case Study

 Narrative

 Historical Narrative
 Chapter 5

DISCUSSION

While you write this section incorporate the following: (a) preconceptions and ideas

as discussed in your introduction, (b) existing literature and practice in the area of study,

and (c) the utilization of the method.

Discuss:

 Meanings and understandings

 Implication of the study

 Relevance of the study

Integrate the following:

 Significance and substance

 Importance to discipline

 Critique of findings with suggestions for change and future inquiry

Conclusions and Recommendations

BIBLIOGRAPHY