DDBA 8303: Qualitative and Case Study Methodology for Business Analysis Research

DDBA/8303 Week 1 to Week 8 Assignment & Discussion Questions
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DDBA8303 Week 1 Selecting Your Small-Scale Project Subject

Assignment: Selecting Your Small-Scale Project Subject

To prepare for this Assignment, identify an applied business problem for the basis of your study. You are free to choose the problem for your project; however, you might consider choosing a problem related or similar to your proposed Doctoral Study problem, because the course exercises may assist you in moving forward with your own Doctoral Study. Select at least two interviewees to use for the study. Consider having backup interviewees to use if needed.

By Day 7

Submit

·         A two-paragraph summary of the process by which you selected your business problem, your interviewees (two or more), and how you will gain access to your participants

·         A brief rationale for why you have chosen this topic and detailed information identifying why the interviewees are appropriate


DDBA 8303 Week 1 Discussion: Qualitative Designs for DBA Research

To prepare for this Discussion, review this week’s Required Readings and consider the similarities and differences between case study and phenomenological research designs. Be sure to focus on the benefits of case study design in terms of time and cost within the context of DBA doctoral research.

By Day 3

Post an assessment of case study design versus phenomenological research design for doctoral research. Your assessment should include the following:

·         Compare and contrast case study and phenomenological research designs, including commitments of time and cost for each design.

·         Explain the benefits of using a case study for DBA doctoral research, including an example from scholarly research that supports your assertion.

Be sure to support your work with a minimum of two specific citations from this week’s Learning Resources and one or more additional scholarly sources.

DDBA/8303 Week 2 Assignment Small-Scale Qualitative Research Project—The Interview Guide

Assignment: Small-Scale Qualitative Research Project—The Interview Guide

To prepare for this Assignment, review the Small-Scale Qualitative Research Project: Interview Guide Template, provided in this week’s Required Readings, and consider what type of research questions to ask. Keep in mind that your research question (Level 2) for this Assignment should be one that can be answered, at least in part, by the Level 1 questions asked in each interview. Questions that provoke a yes/no response are not permitted in a Doctoral Study interview guide.

By Day 7

Submit your completed Interview Guide, including the following components:

·         Primary Business Research Phenomenon

·         Research Question (Level 2)

·         Primary Research Goal(s)

·         Initial Probe Questions

·         Targeted Interview Questions (Level 1)

·         Targeted Follow-up Questions

·         Wrap-up Question

Note: Be sure to use the Interview Guide Template to complete this Assignment.


DDBA-8303 Week 2 Discussion Principles and Methods of Qualitative Data Collection

To prepare for this Discussion, review this week’s Required Readings and consider why the different sources of evidence are important to the work of a DBA doctoral researcher, including the role of triangulation within the qualitative data collection process.

By Day 3

Post an analysis of sources and methods of data collection in the context of your DBA doctoral research question. In your analysis, do the following:

·         Explain how the “Four Principles of Data Collection” from Yin (2014) support your ability to address your DBA doctoral research question.

·         Explain the importance of utilizing multiple sources of evidence and triangulation within the data collection process. Be sure to address the specific types of data triangulation (data, investigation, investigator, methodological) and their relationship to data quality. Be sure to provide a scholarly example to support your explanation.

Be sure to support your work with a minimum of two specific citations from this week’s Learning Resources and one or more additional scholarly sources.

DDBA 8303 Week 3 Discussion: Reliability and Validity

To prepare for this Discussion, review Figure 2.3, “Case Study Tactics for Four Design Tests” on page 45 of Yin (2014), as well as Table 5.3, “Threats to Reliability” on page 203 of Saunders, Lewis, and Thornhill (2015), and consider the different data quality issues that can arise within the doctoral research process. Be sure to take into consideration such concerns as credibility, transferability, dependability, and confirmability.

By Day 3

Post an analysis of reliability and validity within the context of qualitative research data analysis. In your analysis, do the following:

·         Identify sources for data quality issues that could negatively impact a doctoral research study.

·         Explain the importance of reliability and validity within a DBA doctoral research study.

·         Explain how reliability and validity can be achieved within the doctoral research process.


DDBA - 8303 Week 4 Assignment 2 Small-Scale Qualitative Research Project—Conducting the Interviews

Assignment 2: Small-Scale Qualitative Research Project—Conducting the Interviews



This week you will complete your interviews and transcription for your small-scale qualitative research project.

To prepare for this Assignment, you will take into consideration feedback from your Instructor on the Interview Guide submitted in Week 2 when conducting your interviews. Each interview should last 15–20 minutes and must be audio-recorded, because this is the standard for good practice in qualitative research interviews. Be sure to consider the different options for recording the audio of your interviews, including programs like Audacity, Sony Acid Xpress, and others. Don’t forget to save each interview audio recording as an MP3 file in case your Instructor asks to review it. Once you have completed your interviews and captured them as audio files, you will need to transcribe the interviews.

By Day 7

Submit your completed interview transcriptions.

o   If either of your interviews lasts longer than 20 minutes, transcribe only a maximum of 20 minutes for each interview.


DDBA 8303 Week 4 Discussion Dealing With Difficult Participants

To prepare for this Discussion, consider the following scenario:

You are a researcher conducting a qualitative research study and have scheduled a series of interviews. As you begin to conduct your interviews, you encounter a number of problems: Particiant A does not expand on his or her responses, providing mostly one-word answers, and refuses outright to answer some questions. Participant B continually goes off topic, sharing personal anecdotes, and takes up interview time with unrelated information. Finally, Participant C has been difficult to schedule and attempts to withdraw his or her contribution to the process after showing initial interest. Consider strategies you might employ to address these challenges and any potential insights you may gain toward your growth as an independent scholar.

Post a strategic approach for addressing participant difficulty in qualitative interviews. In your strategic approach, do the following:

·         Identify two or more strategies for addressing difficult participants within the interview process.

·         Assess the effectiveness of your identified strategies based on scholarly research. Be sure to provide scholarly examples to support your assessment.


DDBA_8303 Week 5 Assignment Small-Scale Qualitative Research Project–Coding of the Interviews and Theme Analysis

Assignment: Small-Scale Qualitative Research Project–Coding of the Interviews and Theme Analysis

To prepare for this Assignment, review the Transcript and Coding Template document provided in this week’s Required Readings and consider again the transcription of your interviews that you submitted in Week 4.

By Day 7

Submit a completed coding and theme analysis for each interview based on the template provided in this week’s Learning Resources. Your analysis should include the following:

o   Your research question for these interviews

o   A list of the codes you developed from your interview transcripts

o   A description of your thinking or working process, explaining how you developed your codes, including any evolution of your coding system

o   In-text coding for your interviews (This means that you are to select and identify chunks of data [codes]. Then create a list of themes and their descriptions developed from the codes. Keep your interview transcripts intact, and show where you have applied the codes to the text.)

Note: Be sure to use the Transcript and Coding Template to complete this Assignment.


DDBA 8303 Week 5 Discussion: Data Analysis Processes

Post an explanation for your choice of data analysis technique for doctoral qualitative research. In your explanation, do the following:

·         Briefly describe the business problem identified for your DBA Doctoral Prospectus.

·         Explain which data analysis process is most appropriate to your DBA Doctoral Study, providing a rationale for your choice using supportive scholarly examples.

Be sure to support your work with a minimum of two specific citations from this week’s Learning Resources and one or more additional scholarly sources.


DDBA/8303 Week 6 Assignment: Small-Scale Qualitative Research Project Write-Up

To prepare for this Assignment, consider the process by which you chose and conducted your interviews, including any inisights gained through the coding and theme analysis process. How does the analysis impact your perspective of the chosen business problem, and how would you change your interview questions if you were to replicate this project?

By Day 7

Submit a 5- to 7-page synthesis in which you detail the process and results for your small-scale qualitative research project. Your synthesis should include the following components:

·         Background of the Problem

·         Research Problem

·         Interview Questions

·         Data Collection (Interview Transcripts)

·         Data Analysis (Coding and Theme Analysis)

·         Presentation of Findings

·         Conclusion

·         References (in APA format)


DDBA 8303 Week 6 Discussion: Yin and Stake Case Study Philosophical Worldviews

To prepare for this Discussion, review this week’s Required Readings that include the different perspectives of Yin and Stake and consider which one is most appropriate to your work as an independent scholar and doctoral researcher.

By Day 3

Post an assessment of the alignment between professional and academic worldviews within your doctoral research. In your assessment, do the following:

·         Describe whether your perspective as a qualitative doctoral researcher more closely aligns with either Yin or Stake’s worldview. Be sure to include illustrative examples of this alignment.

·         Explain your rationale for your choice, including providing at least one scholarly resource to support your rationale.


DDBA 8303 Week 7 Assignment Final Draft Qualitative Doctoral Study Prospectus

To prepare for this Assignment, review any feedback received on your Draft Doctoral Study Prospectus from DDBA 8300 and make any necessary changes. Also, consider how you can use the insights gained in this course to improve your Prospectus and later Doctoral Study. Be sure to review the DBA Doctoral Study Rubric and Research Handbook for further details and expectations.

By Day 7

Submit the final draft of your qualitative Doctoral Study Prospectus, including your Literature Review, with the following components:

·         Problem Statement

·         Purpose Statement

·         Nature of the Study

·         Research Question(s)

·         Interview Questions (4–5)

·         Conceptual Framework

·         Significance of the Study

·         Literature Review (minimum of 15 peer-reviewed references)

·         References

Note: Be sure to use the draft of your qualitative Doctoral Study Prospectus that you submitted in your previous research course to complete this Assignment.


DDBA 8303 Week 7 Discussion: Your Doctoral Research Problem and Social Change

To prepare for this Discussion, consider your goals as a DBA independent scholar at Walden University in light of its mission of positive social change. Also, thinking about the literature that you have reviewed—and the literature reviews you have completed previously—you can determine a clear statement of the problem you have identified for your doctoral study research.

By Day 3

Post an analysis of the significance of your doctoral research problem for promoting positive social change. Your analysis should include the following:

·         A description of your doctoral research study business problem

·         An explanation of the significance of the business problem using scholarly literature for support

·         An application of the significance to promoting positive social change within both the field of research and the industry of the specific business problem


DDBA 8303 Week 8 Discussion 1 Reflecting on Bias

To prepare for this Discussion, consider what you have read about bias, as well as your experiences as an independent scholar and doctoral researcher thus far. Reflect on any preconceived biases you might have that would impact your ability to remain objective.

By Day 3

Post an evaluation of ethical considerations for independent scholars within the doctoral research process. In your evaluation, do the following:

·         Briefly describe your problem statement and the topic you have chosen for your individual Doctoral Study.

·         Analyze any potential biases, assumptions, and attitudes that may impact your Doctoral Study, including how you identified these issues.

·         Explain potential strategies for addressing and limiting the negative impact of your own biases, assumptions, and attitudes on your study. Be sure to provide scholarly examples to support your explanation.


DDBA8303 Week 8 Discussion 2: Doctoral Study and the Scholar-Practitioner Model

To prepare for this Discussion, reflect upon how your Doctoral Study concept has evolved since the beginning of this course and the ways in which you have built a solid foundation for your Doctoral Study project.

By Day 4

Post an assessment of the doctoral research process within the context of the scholar-practitioner model. In your assessment, do the following:

·         Describe how your particular Doctoral Study might bring about improvement on management or business practice.

·         Reflect on the most important components of the doctoral research process from your perspective as an independent scholar.