Theory -- Approach Linkage as You Prepare

¶ … Theory -- Approach Linkage

As you prepare to complete your literature review, it is important to understand the relationship between theory and the qualitative approach. For this Discussion, you will analyze this relationship and how it is -- or is not -- reflected in the articles you have chosen.

To prepare for this Discussion:

Review the course text readings for this week and the media segment on theory.

Consider the role of theory in qualitative research.

Review the articles you have located for your literature review thus far. In each one, how clear is the alignment of theory with the choice of qualitative approach for the study? How well do the authors justify the alignment?

Which article stands out to you as the best example of alignment between theory and approach? Why?

Draw inferences from the qualitative articles in your literature review to answer the following question: "What is the relationship between theory and qualitative approach?"

With these thoughts in mind:

Write a 2- to 3-paragraph analysis of the relationship between theory and qualitative approach based on what you saw in the articles for your literature review. Select one article to highlight as the best example of theory-approach alignment and explain why you chose that article (include the APA reference for the article).

My Response:

The relationship between theory and the qualitative approach

In some qualitative studies, there is not a clear association between theory and approach given that the researcher's focus is on recording and reflecting upon experiences (his or her own as well as the subjects under study). But in the case of a study on trafficked Moldavian women, Abas (et al. 2013) uses an obviously 'grounded' theory approach in which data from questionnaires and interviews are used to construct a theory that trafficked women are more likely to have PTSD provided certain other factors such as previous abuse are present. Hepburn & Simon (2010) likewise use the U.S. As a broad 'case study' of how globalization has facilitated trafficking. And Duong (2012) deploys a feminist approach to understand factors that give rise to trafficking in Vietnam of women.