Research Article
Artemiy Leonov, Justin Paul Laplante
AM J QUALITATIVE RES, Volume 8, Issue 3, pp. 1-22
ABSTRACT
Activities that bring short-term pleasure, such as video gaming, have an ambiguous effect on long-term goal attainment. From one perspective, they are a source of positive affect, which helps people to overcome procrastination and finally initiate the planned task. However, these short-term pleasure activities may become the source of procrastination themselves, tempting people to engage in them beyond the intended timeframe. The present study attempts to resolve this conflict. It implies a novel “qualitative experiment” methodology in order to test a behavioral strategy; taking 10-minute breaks after each game round, which is aimed to help gamers control their desire to play beyond the self-imposed limit. Over the course of two weeks, participants who used this strategy (Strategy group) reported a similar decrease in procrastination tendencies compared to participants who totally abstained from video gaming (Abstinence group) and a larger decrease in procrastination compared to participants who played in their regular routine (Control group). In addition, the Strategy group reported a higher sense of emotional well-being than both the Abstinence and the Control ones. These results corroborate the effectiveness of the self-control model, oriented on the productive coexistence of hedonic pleasures and long-term goals.
Keywords: emotion regulation, self-control, video-games, hedonic motives, qualitative experiment
Research Article
Sean N. Halpin
AM J QUALITATIVE RES, Volume 8, Issue 3, pp. 23-43
ABSTRACT
The historically quantitative-dominated field of health sciences has increasingly embraced qualitative methods. However, calls for quantitative measures of rigor, such as Inter-coder Agreement (ICA), remain. The aim of this manuscript is to demystify ICA and provide practical guidance. I begin by describing considerations while planning for ICA, including differences between various ICA tests (i.e., percent agreement, Holsti Method, Cohen’s kappa, Krippendorf’s alpha, and Gwet’s AC1 and AC2), setting the threshold of acceptability for your chosen test, deciding whether to use qualitative data analysis software, choosing the number of coders, selecting what data will be coded by more than one coder, developing a deductive codebook, creating a process for resolving coding disagreements, and establishing an audit trail for codebook changes. Next, I provide step-by-step guidance on an iterative process used for enacting ICA. Finally, I discuss the importance of reporting, emphasizing clarity, conciseness, completeness, and accuracy.
Keywords: Trustworthiness, rigor, inter-rater reliability, qualitative coding
Research Article
Barbo Geneveave
AM J QUALITATIVE RES, Volume 8, Issue 3, pp. 44-59
ABSTRACT
In recent years, numerous published calls to action from nurses and nursing scholars requested greater involvement and response to the health needs of refugees and asylum seekers. Youth refugees and asylum seekers have been particularly vulnerable to mental health difficulties and have experienced major barriers to mental health access. Grounded theory may be suitable to expand our understanding of this field, which could assist decision-makers, managers, healthcare providers, and researchers in developing policies and programs to address this wicked problem. This paper, therefore, reviews and examines grounded theory’s core components, history, types, ontology, epistemology, methodology, methods, strengths, limitations, utility to nursing inquiry, and potential in supporting mental health service research for youth refugees and asylum seekers.
Keywords: Asylum seekers, grounded theory, mental health care, nursing, refugees
Research Article
Stacie Finley, Amber Howard
AM J QUALITATIVE RES, Volume 8, Issue 3, pp. 60-75
ABSTRACT
The purpose of this paper is to examine the practical use of the social constructivist grounded theory methodology in graduate studies and provide clarity on how this methodology can be used within graduate studies in a way that does not distort or change the social constructivist grounded theory assumptions and 21st century grounded theory principles. The framework for social constructivist grounded theory provided by Charmaz (2014) outlines a thorough research process graduate students can use with fidelity if given the opportunity. However, using social constructivist grounded theory is considered “the road less traveled” by most graduate students and their advisors. Professors can support students when using constructivist grounded theory in a way that does not distort the methodology if they are well versed in it. While this research process takes a different approach than most traditional thesis and dissertation studies, it can still be a meaningful and rich experience for graduate students.
Keywords: Graduate students, grounded theory, higher education, qualitative research
Research Article
Juana M. Lang, Maureen Marzano, Joshua Valk, Anthony Fitzpatrick, Michael Twigg
AM J QUALITATIVE RES, Volume 8, Issue 3, pp. 76-94
ABSTRACT
The implications of teacher absenteeism are incommensurable. While absenteeism is a longstanding issue in education, there is a gap in the current literature addressing teachers’ mental health and absenteeism after schools reopened following the first wave of the COVID-19 virus. This qualitative descriptive study is anchored on the Job Demands-Job Resources (JD-R) model of organizational stress and well-being. The purpose of the study was twofold: a) to describe teacher absenteeism related to teachers’ mental health stemming from the pandemic’s stressful job demands after schools reopened in the school year 2021-2022 in two Eastern regions of the U.S., and b) to describe the availability of job resources such as administrative mental health support after schools reopened in the school year 2021-2022 in two Eastern regions of the U.S. The study sample consisted of 12 educators: Four teachers and eight administrators were selected using a purposive sample strategy. Semi-structured interviews were carefully designed to extract relevant data in alignment with the research questions. Thematic data analysis was conducted based on the study’s method and design. The study results revealed four themes: New and strenuous job demands, teachers’ mental health decline, mental health absenteeism, and availability of mental health administrative support to mitigate mental health absenteeism.
Keywords: absenteeism, job demands, job resources, mental health
Research Article
Michael R. Langlais, Cameron Boudreau, Leena Asad
AM J QUALITATIVE RES, Volume 8, Issue 3, pp. 95-112
ABSTRACT
Although research has identified how and why individuals use TikTok, it’s unclear how these behaviors and motivations impact close relationships. Using tenets from the uses and gratifications theory and media multiplexity theory, the goal of this study is to describe how emerging adults use TikTok in the context of romantic relationships. This qualitative study employed a descriptive design, where undergraduate college students completed an individual interview via Zoom (N = 64) describing how TikTok was used during relationship development and maintenance. Four research assistants and two principal investigators analyzed the data using reflexive thematic analyses applying Braun and Clarke’s (2022) six-step approach. The resulting themes regarding how emerging adults used TikTok in relationships were: (1) relationship initiation, (2) viewing relationship content, (3) sharing content in relationship, and (4) posting relationship content. Participants also described their use of TikTok in relationships as a potential source of conflict. Implications for TikTok use in relationships, including comparisons to other social media platforms, are discussed.
Keywords: TikTok, romantic relationships, relationship maintenance, emerging adults, qualitative descriptive
Research Article
Hannah H. Kim
AM J QUALITATIVE RES, Volume 8, Issue 3, pp. 113-138
ABSTRACT
Narrative identity has proven valuable in understanding identity development. However, its application to emerging adults in college settings has been limited. This qualitative research explored the narrative identity of Christian college students in Western New York through a life story analysis. Ten in-depth interviews with students were recorded and transcribed, resulting in 173 pages of transcripts that were analyzed using seven coding categories. The study revealed that the participants’ identities were shaped by a complex interplay of factors, including their Christian faith, interpersonal connections with family and peers, academic and professional aspirations, and challenges related to physical and mental well-being. The findings highlight the dynamic nature of identity, constantly evolving as individuals interact with their surroundings. The participants’ rich life stories painted a vivid picture of who they were, and their identity evolved as their stories unfolded. These findings can illuminate future research on the identities of Christian college students and guide them in navigating their journey of self-understanding and positive identity development. This research can also inform the development of programs and support services that address the specific needs and challenges faced by Christian college students as they navigate their identities. Understanding the sources of social support these students value can be crucial in creating a more supportive campus environment.
Keywords: Narrative identity, identity development, emerging adults, qualitative research, life story analysis
Research Article
Amir Akiva Segal
AM J QUALITATIVE RES, Volume 8, Issue 3, pp. 139-152
ABSTRACT
This paper discusses interviewing migrants via online platforms and phone, claiming that remote interviews using these tools can be equivalent to and possibly even more effective than face-to-face interviews. It is based on 83 interviews conducted in person, by Zoom, and by phone with Jewish migrants to Israel from North America. Some interviews were conducted via Zoom and phone due to the concurrent COVID-19 restrictions. Previous papers have demonstrated that interviewing online or by phone can complement face-to-face interviews or be equivalent. This paper claims that in the case of interviewing migrants, remote interviews are, at least in some cases, more effective than in-person interviews for several reasons: This type of interview reduces the power relations characteristic of interviews, eliminates physical bodies, and also moves interviews to an online space that is transnational in nature (principally if interviewee and interviewer are not in the same country). Thus, the interview takes place both in the transnational online space and in each participant’s space. Logistically, it also makes the interview much more convenient.
Keywords: Interviews, migrants, online interviewing, remote interviewing, transmigrants
Research Article
Brittany Severino
AM J QUALITATIVE RES, Volume 8, Issue 3, pp. 153-166
ABSTRACT
The population of certified special education teachers working and remaining in secondary emotional support classrooms continues to dwindle across the nation. This causes more and more students with Emotional Disturbance to work with a frequent turnover of educators or emergency-certified educators with possibly no prior experience. High school students who receive emotional support services are a vulnerable population that requires a supportive and well-trained special education teacher to help them make academic, emotional, and behavioral progress in the school setting and in achieving their post-secondary goals. This qualitative study explored five veteran schoolteachers’ experiences to identify the factors that have helped them remain in their careers and which ones discourage them from staying. The individual and focus group interviews identified several job-related factors that are consistent with previous literature (diverse student needs), evolution in some (administrator and colleague support), and different or newly identified factors (willingness to take risks, advocating for secondary student’s needs, educator’s personality) that require additional exploration.
Keywords: Emotional disturbance, emotional support, special education teachers, veteran teachers, retention
Research Article
Jimin Lee, Nancy Budwig
AM J QUALITATIVE RES, Volume 8, Issue 3, pp. 167-192
ABSTRACT
Mentorship in higher education is widely acknowledged for its positive impact on students. Many institutions have implemented one-on-one guidance systems, such as faculty advising programs and faculty/peer mentorship initiatives. Yet, there remains a gap in understanding how students perceive mentoring, particularly during the transitional period before and early in their time in college. In light of the increasing focus on emerging adulthood within the field of developmental psychology, understanding students’ academic development during their transitioning years, particularly the role of mentorship becomes increasingly essential. This qualitative study employs positioning analysis to explore students’ evolving sense-making of mentoring relationships during two distinct phases: the final year of high school and the first year of college. This research conducts a comparative analysis to investigate how two students’ perceptions of mentorship change during their transition into college and differ from one another. The study aims to illuminate students’ sense-making of mentors and mentorship experiences throughout their high school and college transition and explores the unique ways students discuss mentorship as they transition. The findings unveil the contrasting experiences and evolving roles of mentors of each participant through the lens of their lived experiences, providing an insight into students’ individual developing conceptions of mentors and mentorship experience. This study offers a nuanced understanding of first-year college students’ sense-making activities as they navigate the complexities and academic demands of college. The insights gained from this study not only illuminate how qualitative methods provide yet-to-be-understood processes but also can further contribute to designing mentorship programs in higher education settings tailored to meet students’ needs from the moment they step onto campus. As the research landscape continues to evolve, qualitative studies like this contribute to the ever-advancing knowledge and practice of mentorship in higher education, supporting the diverse developmental needs of today’s college students.
Keywords: Higher education, meaning-making, mentorship, positioning analysis, process
Research Article
Natalie Perez
AM J QUALITATIVE RES, Volume 8, Issue 3, pp. 193-207
ABSTRACT
Qualitative sampling in the age of Big Data requires tactful negotiation. Although qualitative research aims to explore the depth as opposed to breadth of experiences, opinions, or beliefs of individuals regarding a unique phenomenon, stakeholders or sponsors might not always be convinced that small sample sizes can yield big results. Intimate population awareness, identification of attributes of importance, selection of a purposeful numbers game, and strategic use of instruments can aid in appropriate sampling approaches for large, heterogeneous populations. This paper reviews the principles of nonprobability sampling, summarizes key qualitative sampling characteristics to consider, and provides a set of examples for negotiating sample sizes in the era of Big Data.
Keywords: Qualitative methods, nonprobability sampling, a priori, employee experience, sample size
Research Article
Fawziah Rabiah-Mohammed, Abe Oudshoorn, Maxwell Smith, Panagiota Tryphonopoulos, Carles Muntaner
AM J QUALITATIVE RES, Volume 8, Issue 3, pp. 208-228
ABSTRACT
This methodological reflection is developed from a nursing research study that compared health systems in Canada and Saudi Arabia, using both English and Arabic languages for data collection. Conducting research in a language not spoken by all the research team members is relatively common, yet addressing the nuanced details of implementing bilingual work has limited guidance within extant literature. This includes consideration of promising practices for concept development, translation, data analysis, and presenting the findings. This article discusses the strengths and limitations of bilingual research and recommendations regarding these issues from our own experiences. Ultimately, it is proposed that via bilingual research, the accumulation of knowledge pertaining to qualitative research concepts, translation, analysis, and dissemination of comprehensive frameworks can be enacted, ultimately enhancing the rigor of qualitative research and increasing confidence in applying knowledge created in the chosen language of participants.
Keywords: Methodology, language translation, cultural-bilingual study, qualitative study
Book Review
Muniza Javed
AM J QUALITATIVE RES, Volume 8, Issue 3, pp. 229-233
ABSTRACT
The book review provides a comprehensive analysis of Georg Simmel’s seminal work in sociology, focusing on his profound insights into foundational sociological concepts. Simmel’s exploration covers a wide array of sociological ideas, including societal forms, the methodological importance of sociology, and key themes like sociability, faithfulness, gratitude, secret societies, aristocracy, equality, social gatherings, custom, morality, freedom, isolation, authority, prestige, friendship, and love. The review highlights Simmel’s influential essay “The Stranger” and his significant impact on American sociology. It delves into Simmel’s examination of societal phenomena, group dynamics, domination, authority, leadership, secrecy, collective behavior, urban life, and the role of the stranger in social contexts. Overall, the book review offers valuable comprehension of the complexities of human interactions, social relationships, and contemporary societal issues, making it a crucial resource for those interested in the foundations of sociology.
Keywords: Georg Simmel, sociability, The Stranger, societal forms