Essay: Success Criteria In Academia - A Qualitative Study

Research Design and Data Collection Methods

Study by Currie, Gray, Shepherd and McInnes (2016) used exploratory design using focused group where semi-structure focus group guide was used to collected data. Weir, Bush, Robson, McParlin, Rankin and Bell (2010) on the other hand, used combination of Subtle Realism and Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB) approach where semi-structured interview guide was used to collect data. The data analysis was conducted based on Framework Approach which was used to manage, describe and explore data collected. Currie, Gray, Shepherd and McInnes (2016) used data analysis approach that uses thematic analysis. Thematic analysis involved two authors RM and AS agreed on the themes to use in data analysis. Currie, Gray, Shepherd and McInnes (2016) used exploratory approach of the qualitative research which enables exploring the physical activity phenomenon from the pregnant mother perspective. This attempts to answer the question of experience of antenatal women on physical activities. This can be compared alongside Weir, Bush, Robson, McParlin, Rankin and Bell (2010) who only focused on application of two theories to design methodology.

The two research studies uses differed data collection approach to achieve research objectives. Currie, Gray, Shepherd and McInnes (2016) uses semi-structure focus group discussion where participants were involved in focus discussion lasting for one hour. Weir, Bush, Robson, McParlin, Rankin and Bell (2010) used semi-structure interviews for data collection. Currie, Gray, Shepherd and McInnes (2016) employs focus group discussion that involves discussing various issues that prevent pregnant mother from participating in physical activities. This was conducted within the facility and data were collected through digital audio recording after participants consented for the recording. In addition, the discussion allowed women to discuss their experience on the pregnancy in relation to physical activities. In contrast, Weir, Bush, Robson, McParlin, Rankin and Bell (2010) employ a different method of in-depth semi-structured interview to collected data from women. This allowed the participants to provide as detail as possible answers to the interview questions.

There are some issues that I would have added to the two research to increase data collection of the research studies. I would have added some interview aspects to the data collection method used in the Currie, Gray, Shepherd and McInnes (2016) study. The research employs focus group discussion which could also work alongside interview to ensure the quality of data brings about personal experience. The interview would focus on personal information especially personal experience about physical activity. In addition, the author indicated that analysis of the data without clear indication of themes used in analysis. I could shows various thematic analyses carried out during the research.

I will choose interview subjects based on some factors this include seniority, area of specialization, academic level, diversity and age or experience. Firstly, I will choose based on the level of seniority that include those staff that are seniors or hold senior position. This will enable obtaining data that reflect academic success since most senior staff has successful academic background. Secondly, I would choose interview subjects based on area of specialization since this will enable collecting data that is directly linked to people working in a particular field or specialized area. This will bring out the beliefs and opinion based on the area of specialization. Thirdly, academic level will also help in collection of data from different people with different level of success. For instance, those that are still studying master’s degree may give response different from those studying lower degree or doctorate degree. Fourthly, I use diversity that includes people from different back ground and gender to show beliefs or opinion of people from background and genders. Lastly, I will use age and experience also to select subject since old people have experience than young people working within the university. This also implies that data collection will be conducted through analysis of the opinion of people with different experience for instance one person has been academia for 30 year while another join 3 years ago. This will bring the differences in opinion, view and beliefs which has reflection on the success criteria in academia (Adler, Salanterä & Zumstein-Shaha, 2019).

Issues in the Current Research

I will introduce the topic through a robust explanation that brings importance, necessity and benefits of the topic in a more thrilling way. I will explain the importance of the exploring success criteria within academia. This will enable participants to gain interest in the interview and accept to participate in the interview. In addition, I will show the potential participant the necessity of exploring success in academia with intension to make them feel the importance of success in academia. I will ensure that benefits of exploring the topic is well communicated to participants and this will enable them understand the need for participating. For instance, I will show participants that success in academia will enable one realize academic ambition and earning related to area of specialization. I will use language that is thrilling and attracting to impressed participants and attracted them to feel part of the success join in academia. This will help win the interest of participants in the research study (Moore, 2014).

I maintain focus on the topic through many different ways. Firstly, I will use interview questions that are directly linked to the topic. Moreover, using questions that are linked to topic will ensure that participants are giving answer that is related to the topic under study. Secondly, I will maintain and check interview questions to ensure that answers are still within the study questions. Maintaining topic during interview require one to discuss the topic based on study questions that are designed with topic in mind. Thirdly, I will used semi-structured interview questions which are designed based on the topic. I will use questions that are related to the study topic. I will maintain focus on the topic through explain only topic aspects and not discussing details that are not related to the topic (Ponizovsky-Bergelson, Dayan, Wahle & Roer-Strier, 2019).

I will use many different ways to motivate participant to provide more information for the study. Firstly, I will motivate study participants through appreciating them and this is ensuring that participant’s feels valued and recognized. This is essential for those participants that are busy and may not feel the study’s importance. Participants that are appreciated feels valued and may be willing to participate and give more information. Secondly, building rapport with participants create a relaxed environment. I will engage participants in a more relaxed environment that make them feel comfortable giving out information. A more relaxed condition or environment for research interview is critical for participants to give information without feeling of pressed hard. Thirdly, assurance of privacy and confidentiality of the data collected especially on the personal experience or information may lead participant provide more information. The participant needs to be assured of the privacy and use of data before collection of the data and this will make participants feel that data is safe. In addition, participants will feel that information will not be shared to third party hence free to give more detail on the topic. Lastly, informed consent is another way to ensure that participants give more information on the topic. Participants that have consented to participant may feel regarded and valued for the discussion (Braun & Clarke, 2019).

Interview Subject Selection Criteria

There are some ways that enable deal with stereotype answer during interview through avoiding leading questions. I will avoid leading questions that might lead to stereotype answers or lies in the answer. For instance, asking participant questions that directly linked to stereotype answer may make them give stereotype answer. Secondly, I applied pause and silent to allow participant to give answer to prevent evasiveness during interviews. Thirdly, I will seek explanation or more information from participants on the answer to obtain more information on answer that seems like a lie. This will enable participants to explain the answer with clarity without lie or avoiding the question (Savin-Baden & Major, 2013).

1. Examples of the observation
2. Gaining familiarity with physical environment that determine behaviour

Observing the impact of socio-economic determinants of health within indigenous communities of Maldives

a. Gaining in-depth understanding of event process

Example: observing how mental health patient gain access to multidisciplinary care and medication within community hospital

b. Gaining insight in social interactions

Example: Observing the interaction between members of community health organization during community health campaign

Observation is useful in addressing a particular topic which requires observing subject for greater understanding of the subject.  Firstly, observing how mental health patient gain access to multidisciplinary care and medication within community hospital will be used in connecting the process of accessing health care services and the problem affecting patient. Observation may increase our understanding of the topic since the method can be used alongside other methods such as interview to connect observed behavior and information obtained from subject. Secondly, observing the impact of socio-economic determinants of health within rural area of indigenous communities will be useful in determining the behavior of subjects with context of the rural environment. In addition, observation enables observing behavior of subject as oppose to written on spoke information. Thirdly, observing the interaction between members of community health organization during community health campaign will enable understanding the interaction people within social context. This enables obtaining more information from the researcher perspective as first hand. Observation also helps in connecting theoretical information about a particular subject with what can be physically observed (Anglemyer, Horvath & Bero, 2014).

The suggested observational data can be collected through a number of ways. Firstly, the data can be collected through note taking where the data is observed and noted down. Researcher can take notes during the observational of patient movement while seeking services. Secondly, the observational data can also be collected through coding behaviour of the subject hence writing down. Observational data involves coding the data using the codes which form part of data analysis after data collection. For instance, observing behavior of members of community health organization can be coded and later analyzed. Thirdly, data can also be recoded using digital video recordings for later analysis. The observational data can be recorded using camera for later analysis based on the best analyses method (Kennedy-Martin, Curtis, Faries, Robinson & Johnston, 2015).

There are some challenges that are important during observational data collection. Firstly, observer bias is a challenge that involves forming a prejudgment perspective about the subject and their behavior before data collection. Observer may be moved by emotions for instance, when observing mental health patient may illicit emotional reactions thus increasing level of bias. Secondly, observing subjects may result into seeing things that are not always normal. For instance patient may behaviour abnormally during observation contrary to how patient normally behave (Lopez-Dicastillo & Belintxon, 2014). 

References

Adler, K., Salanterä, S. & Zumstein-Shaha, M. (2019). Focus Group Interviews in Child, Youth, and Parent Research: An Integrative Literature Review. International Journal of Qualitative Methods. 18: 160940691988727. Doi:10.1177/1609406919887274. 

Anglemyer, A., Horvath, H.T., & Bero, L. (April 2014). Healthcare outcomes assessed with observational study designs compared with those assessed in randomized trials. The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. 4 (4): MR000034.

doi:10.1002/14651858.MR000034.pub2. 

Braun, V. & Clarke, V. (2019). Thematic analysis. Handbook of Research Methods in Health Social Sciences. Hoboken, New Jersey: Springer: 843–860. Doi: 10.1007/978-981-10-5251-4_103. 

Currie, S., Gray, C., Shepherd, A., McInnes, R.J. (2016). Antenatal physical activity: a qualitative study exploring women’s experiences and the acceptability of antenatal walking groups. BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth. 16(1):182. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-016-0973-1

Kennedy-Martin, T., Curtis, S., Faries, D., Robinson S., & Johnston, J. (November 2015). A literature review on the representativeness of randomized controlled trial samples and implications for the external validity of trial results. Trials. 16 (1): 495. Doi: 10.1186/s13063-015-1023-4.

Lopez-Dicastillo, O. & Belintxon, M. (2014). The Challenges of Participant Observations of Cultural Encounters within an Ethnographic Study. Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences. 132. 522-526. 10.1016/j.sbspro.2014.04.347.

Moore, B. (2014). In-Depth Interviewing in Routledge Handbook of Research Methods in Military Studies, (eds.) J. Sorters, P. Shields, S Henriette. New York: Routledge. 115-128. https://books.google.com/books?id=ENDpAwAAQBAJ&pg=PT23

Savin-Baden, M. & Major, C. (2013). Qualitative research: The essential guide to theory and practice. London: Routledge.

Ponizovsky-Bergelson, Y., Dayan, Y., Wahle, N. & Roer-Strier, D. (2019). A Qualitative Interview with Young Children: What Encourages or Inhibits Young Children's Participation? International Journal of Qualitative Methods. 18: 160940691984051. Doi: 10.1177/1609406919840516

Weir, Z., Bush, J., Robson, S.C., McParlin, C., Rankin, J., & Bell, R. (2010). Physical activity in pregnancy: a qualitative study of the beliefs of overweight and obese pregnant women. BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth. Apr 28; 10(1):18. https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2393-10-18