Hello everyone, I am a novice researcher and am currently planning my thesis. I have a question regarding my methodology. I am unsure which methodology my research question best fits into — for example, whether it aligns more with Grounded Theory, Phenomenology, or another approach. Is it acceptable to simply state that my study is qualitative, or do I need to specify a particular methodology? Additionally, I am uncertain about whether I should include a theoretical framework in my thesis. My background section in my thesis will include secondary research citations that discuss potential barriers to exercise prescription, such as beliefs, knowledge, and social norms, which align with the Theory of Planned Behavior. Should I explicitly reference this theory as my framework, or would it suffice to mention these factors in the background without formally linking it to a theory? I would greatly appreciate any feedback or advice on this! Thank you!
No, you do not necessarily need a specific framework such as Grounded Theory or Phenomenology. The most common "generic" approach to qualitative research is to use open-ended interviews followed by a search for interpretive themes.
The extent to which you require a theoretical framework depends on how much you rely on it to create your interview questions or to structure your analysis. If your research is truly exploratory, then you should minimize your use of prior theory. But if you want to understand the role of these prior concepts for your research, then you should create a design that allows you to assesss their relevance.
@david L Morgan, thanks for your help. I'm really confused and frustrated as I've spent the whole day trying to understand what methodologies, grounded theory or phenomenology etc , that my research aligns with. So are you saying that I don't need to state one? Im under the impression I need to have a methodology as stating it's a qualitative is to broad and not rigorous?
Some people have created labels such as "generic qualitative inquiry" or "generic qualitative research" for studies that simply combine open-ended interviews with theme-based analysis. Here are two articles on this topic, each of which has received over 2000 citations on google Scholar.
https://nsuworks.nova.edu/tqr/vol20/iss2/7/
Article Generic Qualitative Approaches: Pitfalls and Benefits of Met...
That's really helpful thanks I'll have a read. Yes I'm confused as I was told to have a specific methodology, but I just want to explore perceived barriers and facilitators via semi structured interviews with questions derived from the COM-B behavioral model and analysis via TA. Do you think I will be criticisesd if I opt for the generic methodology you've cited or should I try to adapt my question to fit? Any ideas on how I could do that? Again I really do appreciate some advice.
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