Qualitative article critique Essay

INTRODUCTIONThere are a number of factors that contribute to effectively demanding soft investigate. It is non only choosing the right field setting or well-formulated query question that counts, but also the reliability of the evidence and the skills of the inter affecter make tremendous difference to the outcome of a qualitative investigate. soft look into involves the scrutiny of social phenomena.(Gubrium and Holstein 1997, p.11-14). Qualitative investigators look beyond the ordinary and try to understand how participants understand themselves or their world.. Unlike in quantitative inquiry, when conducting a qualitative study, the researcher is considered as the main instrument for data collection, data analysis, and data interpretation (Paisley & Reeves, 2001). The next few p eras impart critically analyse the qualitative research articles of Russell, L. (2005) Its a question of consider balancing the relationship between students and teachers in ethnographic fie ldword and Kamenou, N. (2008) Reconsidering Work-Life balance debates Challenging Limited Understandings of the Life Component in the Context of Ethnic Minority Womens Experiences(British Journal of Man climb onment, Vol. 19, S99-S109).Look to a greater extentproblem definition essay1. RUSSELL, L. ITS A QUESTION OF TRUST reconciliation THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN STUDENTS AND TEACHERS IN ETHNOGRAPHIC FIELDWORK.THE AUTHOR IS A YOUNG ETHNOGRAPHER RESEARCHING TEENAGERS (P.193). WHAT DIFFERENCE DOES HER AGE MAKE?In this particular field study, the age of the ethnographer Russell, L. had twain a positive as well as a negative impact on the research. This field research was conducted in a naturalism way, this marrow that the researcher inquires the lives and perspectives of the targeted population as precise as possible in their natural setting (Gubrium and Holstein, 1997). The researcher Lisa Russell was a materialization, novice, female, white, northern English ethnographer investigati ng the slender topic of student resistance (Russell, 2005181). Spradley (1979) refers to ethnography as the play ofdescribing a culture with the aims to understand a nonher way of life from the native point of view.To get more trust and reli fitting data of the studied culture, the more similarities of characteristics between the ethnographer and the researched would be an advantage because this could decrease the differences between them. With this as well, the researcher could prepare herself to adapt to the situation that she would be researching. Lisa Russell has the great advantage of her gender, nationality, use of language, size and age to naturally blend in as a member of the studied radical, because ethnography relies heavily on observations of interactions and interviews with participants in naturally occurring situation.My age helped me engage in and indeed understand discussions (p.194). Making use of her naivety and young age, her own in the flesh(predicate) reserve d liking and her figure of being smallness in height and build (p.195), which is not much difference with the teenagers (Lisa mentioned her age is between 23-24 at time of researched), these personal characteristics of the ethnographer has resulted in interaction and a matter of trust that she has experienced with the students. Lisa Russell adapted the role transaction of moving into to the lowest degree adult role in a different way (p.193).As she recaptures her secondary years were not far behind her current phase of life, Lisa was not frightened with certain things she perceived as she was able to relate to her own schooling familiarity during those secondary years when she describe my novice naivety acted as a benefit when trying to manage impulsive and sometimes shocking behaviour of students (Russell, p.182). Age also contributed to the way students react to the ethnographer along with what he or she is and is not allowed to do (Hammersley and Atkinson, 1983). This character istic has worked in Lisa favor, as the students tangle unthreatened and in that respectfore more open to express themselves. Also because shadowing and observation is more reliable and in effect(p) if a researcher is unnoticeable and does not affect the doings of the focus group.Whereas in this study, Lisas age is at advantage to observe the researched group and expeditiously gather data collection, as a young ethnographer she will face the difficulties of being Lisa being inexperienced, since acrucial characteristic of ethnography is the characteristic of holistic which means interpreting the data as a whole in order to get a basis for explanation round the gathered information. anticipate that this is her first research as an ethnographer carrying out a field study, subjectivity is a limitation of ethnography. The way ethnographers interpret the field study experience will vary a lot. There is not a set list of answers to choose from but rather the use of notes made by the i nvestigator and later on interpreted and categorized by the investigator.The limitation of ethnographic research with reliability is caused by the fact that ethnographic research occurs in natural setting and focuses on processes (Wiersma 1986 and Burns 1994). The accurate replication is very difficult to achieve because an so fart in natural setting cannot be reproduced. While reflecting to Wiersma (1986) and Burns (1994) slightly the difficulties of accurate replication of findings, Lisas age could be a drawback, because she is a novice ethnographer with limited experience and her abilities to process and evaluate her findings and evidence (interviews, field notes and recordings) could be indispensable and a challenging job for a novice.1.2 WHEN IS A RESEARCHER NO LONGER A NOVICE? WOULD HER RESEARCH HAVE BEEN BETTER DONE BY SOMEONE WITH MORE EXPERIENCE?A novice ethnographer is a beginner researcher who just started in the field of ethnography. Like in any another(prenominal) career function, practice is required to become an expert in the field of choice. To make errors and mistakes will contribute to further understanding and deeper knowledge. To my understanding, a researcher is no longer a novice when the ethnographer is able to observe and participate objectively and subjectively in a field research. Additionally the ethnographer should be able to go bad and interpret the gathered data effectively.It is difficult to conclude whether an ethnographer with more experience would give way done the research better. When considering the fact that Lisa took the role as a participant as beholder (Gold, 1958), she had an advantage of her characteristics my quiet, reserved disposition and smallness in height and build defined the way students and teachersrelated to me. I faded into the background. Students would often swallow up my presence sometimes teachers and other students mistook me for a student. (Russell, p.195). This shows that despite that at th e time of research, Lisa was a novice researcher she was able to transform herself into the participant as observer role, which gave her access to more insights and reliable information. The researched group and the ethnographer established a matter of trust and even build intense relationships (Russell, p.196). Hence, Lisa was able to collect observation and romance of the researched group.Being a qualitative researcher, one should note the important linkages between theories and methods, reviews key qualitative methodologies, and highlights challenges and the opportunities (Gephart, 2004). Referring to Gephart (2004), one might argue that the research data military rating would have been analyzed and linked better by an ethnographer with more experience. Though in my opinion, a more experienced ethnographer might not have been able to collect as much insight as Lisa, because the researched group might have behave differently, so if a more experienced researcher would conduct the field work, I suggest it would be best to do it covertly.1.3 IN THIS RESEARCH PAPER WHAT DO YOU LEARN ABOUT A) THE RESEARCH SUBJECTS AND B) THE RESEARCHER?By critically analyzing the research paper, it informs us that the research subjects were studying at three different sites, namely two in Birmingham and one in Sydney. As the research topic was to investigate the complex and sometimes contradictory culture(s) of student resistance to schooling (p. 181), students aged between 14-16 were selected carefully chosen by the schools.What is significant about the researched group is that they were skeptical in the beginning when Lisa arrived it had to be made clear that Lisa would not telltale, nor report their behavior to teachers. Names like the follower and treat suggest that during the initial stages the students did not accept Russell as she shadowed them all around. But gradually shemanaged to gain one of the most vital aspects of the study trust.The researched group proved trust in Lisa because she witnessed inappropriate and illegal activities, much(prenominal) as damage of school property, theft and taking drugs. The fact that students did change their behavior means also that Lisa became invisible to the researched group.What we have learned about the novice researcher is that Lisa used an adaptive approach towards the research and considered how unhomogeneous aspects of her personal disposition affected her entire study. searchers reflections on their actions and observations in the field, their impressions, irritations, knowings and so on, become data in their own right, forming part of the interpretation, (Flick, 20056) The researchers ability to build relationships and word rapport with subjects is crucial. (Thorpe & Holt, 2008151)In her article, Lisa repeatedly puts an emphasis on her age and naivety, this shows that these facets of her personal characteristics contributed her to engage in discussions and activities with the students, which if she was older wouldnt have been able to do. Her proximity to their age made it easier for both herself and the students to be able to relate and confide to each other. At the same time it was challenging for Lisa to establish the same bond with the teachers and she felt exceptionally uncomfortable in staffroom conversations. In my opinion, she put a lot of dedication and time into cognizing the narratives and behaviors of the students and failed to do the same with the teachers. Neverthe slight when she progressed to the third school her heightened assumption and greater experience (Russell, 2005188) made it easier for her to relate to and interact with the teachers.2. KAMENOU, N. (2008) RECONSIDERING WORK-LIFE BALANCE DEBATES . BRITISH JOURNAL OF MANAGEMENT, 19 S99-S109.2.1 THE AUTHOR APPEARS TO HAVE HAD DIFFICULTIES RECRUITING INTERVIEWEES (SEE ESPECIALLY P.S102). WHY, FOR EXAMPLE, MIGHT AN ORGANIZATION impound FROM THE STUDY CLAIMING RESTRUCTURING WAS IN PROGRESS? (P.102).Qual itative research interview seeks to cover both a factual and a meaning level, though it is usually more difficult to interview on a meaning level (Kvale 1996, p.32). Work-life balance means that individuals have successfully segmented or integrated life and work so as to achieve a satisfying quality of life, overall satisfaction and less strain or stress around juggling strange role demands. (Blyton et al., 20062). The work-life balance equation (Kamenou, 2008S99) is finding harmony between of a number of aspects ranging from career, obligations, family, pleasure and culture.In this article, the researcher argues about the topic on cultural minority womens experiences of managing their work and personal lives. (Kamenou, 2008S99). Nicolina Kamenou, gathered data via semi structured, in depth interviews primarily with ethnic minority females. Information of ethnic minority men, white women and white men was also collected as comparability.The researcher faced challenging difficulti es in obtaining interviewees only three out of the twenty make-ups that were invited responded positively to the invitation (Kamenou, 2008S102). Ensuing, one of the three organizations disengaged from the research claiming restructuring was in progress. A research by Spencer (1982) suggests that organizations may restrict access to the organization because they perceive it as a risk, which might endanger their reputation. A possible reason of withdrawal of the company is that the research topic is delicate and related to companys policies and perspectives concerning ethnicity, culture, religion and class. By granting insights to these sensitive matters, organizations endanger themselves to harmful publicity to the organizations reputation. A noticeable fact is that the organization that withdrew from the research published and considered themselves attractions in variety (Kamenou, p.102).Hence, this research subject should be of high interest to the organization. Also cooperation to the research could have been positive publicity assuming that the company indeed was a leader in diversity. Hence, disengagement of the organization could be a result of hidden narratives of the company, which are not supposed to be revealed. Forexample, Kamenous article reveals legerdemains opinions (black Caribbean, Application Manager, Heath Trust, age 34) he did not dress in more traditional clothes because he is afraid that his colleagues might be threatened or have issues (Kamenou, p.106).This statement made by John could be interpreted as racism within the company, which consequently could lead to a huge scandal or even a lawsuit. Thorpe & Holt (2008) argue about the importance of informed consent. Participants in a study should be informed about the research objective, participants rights to confidentiality and anonymity and what will happen to the data and what parties will have access to it. I believe that when people or organizations are informed about their rights o f informed consent, the number of participants in a study will increase significantly. The large finance company that withdrew from the research might have participated in the research if they could get anonymity and total secureness that the companies name would not be published.2.2 WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE PEOPLE IN ORGANIZATIONS WHERE FORMAL rile HAD BEEN GRANTED AND THE INDEPENDENT GROUP?Kamenou (2008) invited 20 organizations, of which 2 organizations accepted to participate. Additionally she invited independent groups from personal networks so that involvement of subjects from different sectors, qualifications and occupations could enrich the data. Each group would have their own various inputs to the research, and data could be more valid. Personal networking is seen as one of the best ways to get granted access to an organization Carr and Worth (2001). The main obstacle about formal access to an organization is that there might be a matter where companies ask th e employees not to discover certain information about the company or the narratives in the organization. Subsequently there is a high possibility of fear, where the employees do not want to break dance information that could threaten their jobs.However, if the case were that the employee was an acquaintance of the researcher, there would have been confidentiality between the researcher and the interviewee, which would make the interviewee more open and honest during the inquiries. According to Spradley (1979), people who feel comfortable, safe, and valued are more forthcoming thanthose who are only considered as sources of information. There is definitely a difference between the interviewed groups, in particular the data richness and disclosure of information between the people in organization where formal access had been granted and the independent groupidentified through personal networking (Kamenou, 2008, p.s102).Qualitative research interviews partly consist of open-ended que stions, this allows the interviewer to question and inquire further on the answers and likewise, interviewee can share thoughts and experiences. Kamenou (2008, p.s103) argues that the semi structured, in depth temperament of interview conducted with all participants allowed them the time and space to reflect and discuss their experiences in their own words (Harvey, 1990 ODwyer, 2005) and helped to reduce possible biases in the research process.2.3 WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT THE AUTHOR? HOW MIGHT THE IDENTITY OF THE AUTHOR HAVE MADE A DIFFERENCE TO THE RESEARCH?In the article the author doesnt describe herself, neither does she mention on how she could have influenced the research. The article is different from Russells ethnography paper, which accentuates strongly on personal observation and self-reflexivity but less on the statistical information. Analyzing her own processes during the fieldwork, Lisa claimed the researcher should employ a reflexive attitude to understand how the inter action between the researcher and the researched, and the researchers autobiography, influence the data collected (Russell, p. 197). The identity and background of the author does have an effect on the research outcome, involving in what is called observers bias. Observers bias is referred to as the aspect to where the researchers know the objectives or the hypotheses and consequently their knowledge affects the observations and gathered data.Based on the understanding of the researcher about the issue, they will absorb the observations and interviews in which they are interested. It is also likely that researchers accidentally adjust what they observe from the participants, and mold it to their own perspectives. Therefore, the potential risk is the possibility of misunderstanding or failure to present the accurate perceptions and opinion of participants about the research subject. A way to decrease observers bias and to overcome the risk ofrevealing misinterpreted data is to use a dditional observation methods such as blind experiments, attach records, and multi-observers. Using these extra tools during the field study could be used as evidence of validity or reused as secondary data for another study. closingAfter critically analyzing both articles of Russel (2005) and Kamenou (2008), I have learned that qualitative research adopts different and various knowledge claims, research strategies, and methods of data collection and analysis. If the research processes are handled carefully it could provide a deeper understanding of the research topics. Qualitative analysis compiles the study of perception, meanings, emotions and behavior, which aim to present original, truthful insights about various humane and cultural phenomena. By studying the papers and participating in the seminars, I gained insight and knowledge about the difficulties and challenges faced when carrying out a field study. The various external and internal influences have a crucial impact on qualitative studies and should not be underestimated.The article by Russel (2005) shows us a research conducted by a novice ethnographer, with emphasize on the uncertainties and challenges of her research. Contrast to Russells article, Kamenous article provides readers with her observations, interviewees view and personal life experience, the various responses and the causes of such behavior. I can conclude that both articles are both very interesting and significant. Despite the fact that there were some errors made during both studies, there is no fixed guideline of how to conduct a successful qualitative study. In a way we will always try to understand the unknown, even though it is obvious that every individual has its own unique behavior and perspectives.BIBLIOGRAPHYBlyton, P., Blundson, B., Reed, K., & Dastmalchian, A. 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