MAY 2013 HMEF5103: QUALITATIVE RESEARCH METHODOLOGY ASSIGNMENT 2 (50 marks)

Assignment 2 is the continuation of Assignment 1. The goal of Assignment 2 is to give you the opportunity to write a paper based on the analysis of qualitative data. You will complete this assignment in two (2) parts: data analysis, and data interpretation and presentation of findings. The assignment should be presented in about 3000 words. PART I: Data Analysis In this part of the assignment, you will analyse all the data that you have collected in Assignment 1 for the topic What are the challenges posed by the assessment system adopted by the public schools in your country? Use a three-step procedure to analyse your data. Step 1: Identifying a thematic framework This thematic framework is derived from the main issues, concepts and ideas that are raised in the data collected. Make a list of the recurrent themes and the subthemes, and how they may be substantiated by the data collected. Present the themes and subthemes in some form of framework, using a diagram if necessary. Step 2: Categorising data Categorise your sets of data (audio/video recording of interviews and interview transcripts, and documents) under the various themes established in your thematic framework. Identify data samples for each theme and prepare a chart for all the data that you have collected. Step 3: Conducting Inter-rater Reliability Test Conducting an inter-rater reliability test involves preparing two lists: one comprises a list of themes and the other a list of data samples. After that, get one or two colleagues to match the themes to the data samples. If there are disagreements, resolve the discrepancies by discussion. Inter-rater reliability is described as the extent to which different coders, each coding the same content, come to the same coding decisions (Rourke, Anderson, Garrison and 1

Archer (2001, p.6). This verification process is necessary as some amount of subjectivity may be unavoidable in coding transcripts.

PART II: Data Interpretation and Presentation of Findings This part of the assignment requires you to interpret the data and report your findings.

Assignment Description Based on your qualitative data collection and data analysis, write a paper that is a response to the topic What are the challenges posed by the assessment system adopted by the public schools in your country? You may include the following outline for the paper: Data analysis: describe how data were analysed, describe how the thematic framework was derived include a diagrammatic outline of inter-related themes Inter-rater reliability: explain how it was conducted Data presentation: explain how the data will be presented Findings: write the outcome of the analysis of the data

Reference: Golafshani, N. (2003). Understanding reliability and validity in qualitative research. The Qualittaive Report. Vol. 8(4). http://www.nova.edu/ssss/QR/QR8-4/golafshani.pdf Morse, J.M., Barrett, M., Mayan, M., Olson, K., & Spiers,J. (2002). Verification strategies for establishing reliability and validity in qualitative research. International Journal of Qualitative Methods 1 (2) Spring 2002. http://www.ualberta.ca/~iiqm/backissues/1_2Final/pdf/morseetal.pdf

Guidelines for Submission 1) Your assignment should be typed on A4 paper using 12 point Times New Roman and 1.5 spacing. 2) All assignment documents, including tables and charts, should be appropriately labelled. 3) The assignment should NOT be presented in a series of bullet points or in paragraphs lifted directly from the original articles 4) You are to submit a softcopy of your assignment online through myVLE and a hardcopy to your facilitator. 5) Plagiarised assignments will be rejected.