Topic: IPA mini qualitative research project

A. TASK You have been asked to conduct a mini-project using qualitative methods. The objective of this coursework is to provide you with an opportunity to put what you learn in the module into practice. This will help you demonstrate your knowledge of qualitative research methods, your skills in conducting them, your ability to engage in reflexivity, and your ability to write a research report at postgraduate level. B. MARKING CRITERIA In addition to the coursework criteria in the Handbook, this will be assessed on: a. Demonstration of skills in collecting and transcribing qualitative data. b. Demonstration of skills in analysing qualitative data. c. Understanding of the theoretical underpinnings of qualitative analysis methods. d. Ability to be reflective and be critical about the research process. All module learning outcomes are assessed. 2. CONDUCTING THE MINI-PROJECT A. DESIGNING YOUR MINI-PROJECT o You need to carry out a small scale, mini-project using qualitative research methods. To do this you first need to select a research topic, ee.g., exercise. Then think about a specific question, e.g., how do young women who don?t take regular exercise feel about exercise and what would encourage them to do more? You nees a 10-15 minute long interview, transcribed, relating a health research topic (smoking, alcohol, exercise) and be analyses with IPA. ? Then you need to construct an interview schedule ? TRANSCRIBING YOUR INTERVIEW o Transcribe your interview/focus group data verbatim (word for word). For the purposes of this exercise you don?t need to use Jeffersonian transcription symbols as we?re not doing a discursive or conversation analysis. It is however useful to use pauses, underlining and ?stage directions? to inform readers of non-verbal information which may be useful. It can be difficult to transcribe in sentences as we rarely speak in grammatically correct sentences. Therefore avoid this and instead use the pause symbol to demonstrate where a participant pauses for breath or pauses. o Symbols for your transcription: o (.) pause o (pause) significant pause o ? rise in intonation/question o not really stress on a word o YES word spoken loudly D. CONDUCTING YOUR ANALYSIS o Now you need to conduct your analysis following the guidelines for that particular method. You may use IPA o Be sure to listen to your tape/sound file and read your transcript several times in order to familiarise yourself with the data. o Writing up your analysis is often seen as the last stage of any qualitative analysis; at this stage that you need to think about conveying the results of your analysis in a narrative account. The presentation of your results needs to be coherent, persuasive and evidenced (using data extracts).

3. WRITING YOUR MINI-PROJECT REPORT You will be assessed on your mini-project Report: 1. Research question. JUST a statement of your research question. NO literature review or rationale required. (5%) 2. Method. BRIEF justification & description of methods of data collection and analysis. (10%) (500 words) 3. Analysis results. Report the results of your analysis including verbatim extracts from your transcript (data extracts are included in word count). (50%) (2.500 words) 4. Reflective account . Recount your reflections on the process of conducting this mini-project. This should include your experience of conducting the interview/focus group, reflections on the experience of doing the analysis, any challenges faced throughout the process, and a critical appraisal of the mini-project including limitations. (15%) (1.000 words) 5. Appendices. Interview/focus group schedule, annotated transcript and diagrams/tables illustrating the analytic process & development of themes (not included in word count). (20%) 4. SUBMISSION OF YOUR REPORt o Your report should be typed and double-spaced with clearly labelled sections (as outlined above). I like to see handwritten, underlining, highlighting etc. on the annotated transcripts. Please don?t feel you need to ?tidy? these up.