Qualitative Methods for Social Health Research Essay

Study Design

For this qualitative study, the study design was to establish the impacts of cultural factors on Saudi students’ approach to managing stress during their study in Australia. The researcher should consider and understand the unique features of the research subject, its setting and develop response methodologies to encounter the problems (Creswell 2009, p. 39). Therefore, the researcher used ethnography as the design in conducting the study.

Participants and Sampling

Participants

In this research, five Saudi students at the University will be interviewed for the study to represent the population being studied. In addition, the study will ensure anonymity and confidentiality of the participants for their input in the research. The participants will also be assured of the freedom to withdraw from the study whenever they feel to pull out. Moreover, the participants would be accessed at the University through a written request to take part in the study.

Convenience and purposive sampling were used to make the qualitative research objective in nature, and its outcome dependable (Grbich 2007, p. 17). The researcher has contacted the prospective respondents, and five have been selected for interview. They will be interviewed on the impacts of cultural factors on Saudi students’ approach to managing stress during their study in Australia.

Data Collection

Proper and accurate data collection is central to the success of qualitative research (Patton 2002, p. 27). The data collection methods, which were used in determining the impacts of cultural factors on Saudi students’ approach to managing stress during their study in Australia was through conducting four qualitative interviews. Here, the interviews were structured in such a way that they give detailed protocol.

In conducting the interviews, open-ended questions would be used so that the respondent may give a detailed account of their concern about the problem (Grbich 2007, p. 26). Sometimes, the researcher may be forced to use video and audiotapes in capturing the raw information to enhance accuracy and reliability. For the participants who might not accept video-taping, the researcher will take notes while interviewing.

Data Analysis

Once the raw data are collected, the researcher commences the task of analysis. Preferably, thematic data analysis would be applied in this research (Grbich 2007, p. 29). For this study, the right methods as Grbich (2007, p. 40) identified will be used in the analysis of the data collected, and these include using constant comparative analysis, phenomenological, ethnographic, Narrative, and disclosure analysis. Therefore, analytical reasoning will be used to interpret the people’s feelings and the circumstances under which the opinion originates, other than basing the analysis on validating the thought (Minichiello, Aroni & Hays 2008, p. 64).

Questions

1. Tell me something about your life here in Australia.
2. How different is your life here compared to your home country?
3. Are there any similarities between the two cultures, Saudi and Australian?
4. If you were to change something about your life here in the Australian culture, what would you choose?
5. How does stress impact your family life?
6. Which part of Australian society makes you stressed?

References

Creswell, J., 2009, Qualitative, Quantitative and Mixed Methods Approaches (3^rd Ed), Thousand Oaks, Sage.

Grbich, C., 2007. Qualitative Research in Health, London, Sage.

Minichiello, V., Aroni, R., & Hays, T., 2008, In-Depth Interviewing (3^rd Ed.), Pearson Education Australia, Sydney.

Patton, M., 2002, Qualitative Evaluation and Research Methods, (2^nd Ed), Thousand Oaks, Sage.