Vulnerable Populations: Life History Methodology Essay

Introduction

It should be noted that the previous studies of the homeless population were partially based on the data from quantitative research. However, qualitative research also appears to be a very beneficial tool for the investigation of the topic. In particular, this paper aims to observe the application of qualitative research to the chosen vulnerable population group and to utilize the life history methodology according to the developed outline of the research proposal. Additionally, two related scientific approaches will be discussed, and also the question of determining gaps in the literature about the topic will be mentioned.

Designing a Qualitative Research

Application of Ethical Principles

It could be hardly denied that the issue of homelessness is in many ways connected with ethical dilemmas and questions. When conducting qualitative research, it is critical to be consistent with one of the most important moral principles of respecting autonomy since every individual has a free will to decide how he or she lives his or her life. Also, the principle of beneficence is also of high importance because the primary goal of any vulnerable population research is to improve people’s quality of life.

How Qualitative Research Study Is Designed

The critical difference between quantitative and qualitative research is that the latter is primarily based on the exploration of ideas and underlying reasons rather than on the gathering of precise, numeric data. Qualitative research provides the understanding of the current situation or upcoming trends by the investigation of people’s ideas and experiences and the provision of helpful insights into different aspects of the research question. In the majority of cases, this type of study provides a basis for further quantitative research.

Developing an Outline for a Research Proposal

It is possible to note that one of the more frequently employed types of qualitative research is the interview. For this study, it was decided to utilize the life history methodology since it could be “an important, relevant and appropriate contribution” to the studying of the homeless vulnerable population (Etherington, 2009, p. 225). It is also possible to notice that the mentioned approach is vastly based on the concept of discourse, developed by Michel Foucault, according to which “narratives are seen as ways of positioning oneself as a subject” (Germeten, 2013, p. 612). Developing an outline for the interview with a member of a homeless vulnerable population group, it is possible to set the following objectives:

1. to ask about positive and negative role models
2. to impose broad questions about barriers to success and facilitative factors
3. to encourage an individual to recount his or her personal story and its critical points.

Report of the Interview

The interview was conducted with a member of the homeless vulnerable population group, who is male, White, 28-year-old. The major concepts that emerged in this interview were:

1. vulnerability as an integral part of life
2. experiencing the ethical dilemmas from the personal perspective
3. the quality of life as a complex factor.

These concepts were synthesized from the interview, in which the participant was describing his everyday life. From the researcher’s perspective, the core of the young man’s vulnerability is the exposure to different life threats and burdens of living on the street; however, in his opinion, he is vulnerable because he has no access to proper medication and caregiving. Among the challenges that he faces daily, the struggle to maintain personal hygiene should be noted as of high importance. Mentioning the positive factors, the young man observed that he has access to sufficient nutrition in the local shelter. It is possible to notice that the person’s self-efficacy is on a relatively high level since he does not give up on his situation and searches for solutions. In both opinions of the researcher and participant, the young man’s quality of life is adversely impacted by the inability to get proper medications for his vision disparity, which is a significant gap in his healthcare. The only healthcare resource which is available for the participant is the community-sponsored monthly distribution of medications. Concerning the suggestions for the improvement of his quality of life, he was offered to attend the local meetings for the unemployed to find a job.

Discussion of Related Scientific Approaches

Further, it is important to mention two approaches that could also be used in the research of the homeless population. The first one is the community-based participatory action research, a collaborative approach that could be employed to analyze a problem from the perspective of the whole community (De Chesnay & Anderson, 2016). The second one is a Model for Evidence-Based Practice Change approach by Larrabee. The core assumption of this model is that practitioners, possessing the required skills, can synthesize and translate the evidence from theoretical research into practice (De Chesnay & Anderson, 2016). It should also be mentioned that the qualitative analysis of the homeless population is not presented enough in the scholarly literature, and thus the further investigation is needed.

Conclusion

In conclusion, it should be noted that the outline for the interview was developed and the report for it was provided. Additionally, several related concepts, including ethical principles and the notion of qualitative research, were discussed. Overall, it is possible to say that the employment of life history methodology is significantly important for building theoretical evidence for the research of the homeless population.

References

De Chesnay, M., & Anderson, B. (Eds.). (2016). Caring for the vulnerable: Perspectives in nursing theory, practice and research (4th ed.). Jones & Bartlett Learning, LLC.

Etherington, K. (2009). Life story research: A relevant methodology for counsellors and psychotherapists. Counselling and Psychotherapy Research, 9(4), 225-233.

Germeten, S. (2013). Personal narratives in life history research. Scandinavian Journal of Educational Research, 57(6), 612-624.