Context:

This assessment is prescribed to advance literature searching, critical analysis, research question development, research planning skills, and reflexivity as a researcher.

This assessment involves developing a research question, preparing interview and probe questions, identifying four people that you can interview on this topic (for example, your family or friends, colleagues), and reflecting on your motivation and justification of your research proposal.

It assesses the key understanding necessary for conceptualising and developing a qualitative research proposal, which will prepare you for the use of qualitative methods in research and evaluation as a public health practitioner.

There are two steps to completing this assignment.

Instructions: Step 1:

Develop a research question (similar to the ones you have explored throughout this subject) that supports qualitative exploration of a topic of your choice. Review the materials from Module 1 to familiarise yourself with the scope and purpose of qualitative research.

Step 2:

Write a research proposal for your qualitative project. You must include:

• A brief literature review to summarise the existing knowledge in this space, and justify your proposed
• Your research question and the knowledge gap that it will
• A summary of the key elements of the methodology that you think would be the most appropriate methodology to use to explore your research question (ie grounded theory, phenomenology etc), and why it is appropriate for exploring your research
• Your methods, including how you will select your participants (in this case, four people whom you already know) and your interview
• Your interview
• A personal reflection on your motivation for exploring this research question, any ethical or cultural considerations for your project, and anything that could create a risk of bias in your data (ie interviewing friends).

IMPORTANT NOTES

1. DO NOT commence interviews until you have received feedback from your facilitator on your research and interview questions, and made any necessary changes.
2. Make sure that you have the permission of your interviewees before recording your conversations.

Assessment Criteria:

• Justification of your research project (40%)
• Summary of methodology and methods (30%)
• Reflective writing on motivation and potential for bias (10%)
• Use of academic conventions (20%)