Health Professions Division Dissertation Guide

34 Public Policy Philosophical Underpinnings The basic assumptions of any given paradigm involve the following: ontology (the nature of reality), epistemology (the relationship between the inquirer and the known), and the methods (the methods of gaining the knowledge of the world). Positivism and post-positivism are the basis for quantitative research; constructivism, interpretation, and critical theory constitute the philosophical underpinnings of qualitative research. In general, all qualitative paradigms assume the relativist ontology (there are multiple realities that are socially and individually constructed) and transactional epistemology (the knower and the known are inextricably entwined) as well as dialogic/interpretive methodology. Research Tradition Whereas quantitative studies have a theoretical framework, the qualitative approach is founded on a research tradition. There is a wide variety of approaches, but the more commonly used include (a) ethnography wherein the domain is culture; (b) phenomenology and interpretive phenomenology (hermeneutics) wherein the domain is the lived experience (Giorgi, 1985; Moustakas, 1994; Smith, Flowers, & Larkin, 2009); (c) grounded theory leading to the development of theory (Charmaz, 2014; Corbin & Strauss, 2014; Glaser & Strauss, 1999); and (d) historical research wherein the domain is past behavior, events, and conditions. Other types of qualitative research include case studies and narrative analysis. Information for this section comes from a resource that probably was written by the theorist. Give the historical development of the tradition, including the discipline from which it was derived and the domain which it addresses. Thoroughly describe the tradition and explain its application to the present study. Definition of Terms In this section, provide conceptual definitions or a concept analysis for key phenomena addressed in the study but indicate that the intent of the study will be (or was) to have the meaning of the concepts defined by those being studied. Do not include information that defines the population of interest as that will be included in Chapter 3. Paragraphs in a series can be used for definitions of terms. 1. Term one. Use paragraphs in a series to display information vertically. 2. Term two. Explanation and citations if appropriate. 3. Notice the format. This format is used for paragraphs in a series. Chapter Summary The chapter summary is brief. Succinctly review the chapter in no more than two paragraphs. Chapter 2: Review of the Literature Each chapter starts on a new page. In qualitative research, when the literature review is carried out, it is largely dependent on the research tradition chosen. This chapter has the