Generalising from qualitative research

At the 2007 AVETRA conference, Falk and Guenther presented a case to support the idea of generalisation from qualitative research. They conclude that

Much of the writing surveyed in this literature review is in agreement that quakitative studies may form a basis for understanding situations other than those under investigation. The strength of this basis depends again on rigour - that of a study's design and methods for gathering and analysing information-rich data (Yin 2003a, b); its attention to validity, reliability, and triangulation (Patton 2002); and a well-developed theory emerging from the findings (Johnson and Christensen 2004) (Falk and Guenther, 2007, p.5)

That generalisability is possible:

1. from qualitative and mixed research methods, possible partly because of the replicability of the finding across several populations.
2. on the basis of theory building through the inductive approach.
3. because of the receiving audiences perceptions
4. through a combination of any or all of the above.

Go to http://www.avetra.org.au/publications/10-Guenther.pdf

Link to RMIT Ethics Proposal Template

The ethics proposal template can be found at Ethics Proposal Template

Meeting dates of the committee can be found at DSC Ethics Commmittee

Link to Research Proposal Template

The research proposal template can be found at RMIT Research Proposal

Just to let you know I did the reserach methods unit in 2005 and then was overseas last year. The proposal was around my work at Wodonga TAFE. Now that i no longer work there, it has become impossible to do. So I am looking for another concept around which to draft a proposal for completing in Semester 2, 2007.

I am strongly toying with the idea of a simple history of Australian policy on Offshore delivery of tertiary education programs. The data would be documents in the public domain and the method would be a simple document analysis.I have a strong interest in the area of off-shore delivery having spent nearly two years in off-shore TAFE programs.

I will spend this semester thinking through it and developing a written proposal

Action Research Reference

If you are interested in action research you might like to have a look at

McNiff, Jean and Whitehead, Jack (2006). All you need to know about action research. London, Sage Publications.

Bibliography

Anderson, J. (2001). Assignment and thesis writing (4th ed.). Milton, Qld: John Wiley & Sons.
Bouma, G. (2004). The research process (5th ed.). South Melbourne: Oxford University Press.
Crotty, M. (1998). The foundations of social research. Meaning and perspective in the research process. St Leonards: Allen & Unwin Pty Ltd.
Denholm, C., & Evans, T. (Eds.). (2006). Doctorates downunder. Keys to successful doctoral study in Australia and New Zealand. Camberwell: ACER Press.
Denzin, N., & Lincoln, Y. (Eds.). (2000). Handbook of qualitative research (2nd ed.). Thousand Oaks, California: Sage.
Green, P. (Ed.). (2002). Slices of life. Qualitative research snapshots. Melbourne: RMIT University Publishing.
Merriam, S. (1998). Qualitative research and case study applications in education. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass Inc.
Merriam, S. (Ed.). (2002). Qualitative research in practice. Examples for discussion and analysis (1st ed.). San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.
Yates, L. (2004). What does good educational research look like? Situating a field and its practices. Open University Press: Maidenhead.

Action Research Website

Bob Dick from Southern Cross University has published a terrific set of guides on action research.

Go to: http://www.scu.edu.au/schools/gcm/ar/arp/ppar.html