Comparing the Roles of Theory Last week, you analyzed how theory relates to the qualitative approach. This week, you will continue to examine the various roles that theory plays in a research study. For this Discussion, you will explore the relationship between theory and methodology. To prepare for this Discussion: Review the readings for this week. Consider what you learned about the relationship and alignment between theory and qualitative approach last week. Review the articles you have selected for your literature review. This week, analyze them for the alignment between theory and methods used in the study. How do the authors align and justify the methods used for the study? What are the different roles of theory in the articles? Is theory used as a general guide for the study? Is theory applied in a specific fashion in the study as evidenced in the methodology? Or both? Based on what you have learned, what are the roles of theory in qualitative research, and how are they similar and different? With these thoughts in mind: QUESTION: Post a response of 2 to 3 paragraphs in which you compare and contrast the roles of theory in qualitative research. When appropriate, be sure to support your postings and responses with specific references to the reading(s) and/or video program(s), using APA format. ____________________________________________________________________________________ Aligning Theory With Qualitative Methods Introduction In qualitative research, theory guides each step of the process. Last week you read further to determine the approach that you would use to gather and analyze your qualitative data. This week you will continue to read theories in the textbooks and in the literature that you will use to gather research articles. Then, you will be able to explore the theories of qualitative methodologies and see how they are put into practice so that the literature will inform the methods you choose to analyze your data. Learning Outcomes By the end of this week, you will be able to: Compare and contrast the roles of theory for qualitative research Select and justify a theoretical or conceptual framework for a qualitative research plan Align and justify the alignment of theory, qualitative approach, and methodology for a qualitative study _____________________________________________________________________________________ Required Resources Course Text: Qualitative Research Design: An Interactive Approach o Chapter 3, "Conceptual Framework: What Do You Think Is Going On?" This week, you will review your Week 3 reading about concept mapping, experiential knowledge, prior theory and research, pilot and exploratory studies, and thought experiments. Course Text: Qualitative Inquiry & Research Design: Choosing Among Five Approaches o Chapter 2, "Philosophical, Paradigm, and Interpretive Frameworks" In this chapter, you will review several philosophical assumptions and interpretive communities. This reading is a review from Week 3. Course Text: Patton, M. Q. (2015). Qualitative research & evaluation methods (4th ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications. o Chapter 3, "Variety in Qualitative Inquiry: Theoretical Orientations," pp. 100-144 In this excerpt from Chapter 3, you will review theoretical theoretical traditions and orientations. This reading is a review from Week 3. Research Toolkit Handouts o Walden Dissertation Rubric Available from http://researchcenter.waldenu.edu/ The Dissertation Rubric is a Word document linked in the section for PhD Dissertation Process and Documents. o Walden Qualitative Dissertations This document directs you to dissertations in the Walden Library that use a variety of qualitative approaches and disciplines. Optional Resources Course Text: Qualitative Inquiry & Research Design: Choosing Among Five Approaches o Chapter 5, "Five Different Qualitative Studies" Chapter 5 presents five qualitative studies of different types: a narrative-biographical study, a phenomenological study, a grounded theory study, an ethnography, and a case study.

Comparing the Roles of Theory Last week, you analyzed how theory relates to the qualitative approach. This week, you will continue to examine the various roles that theory plays in a research study. For this Discussion, you will explore the relationship between theory and methodology. To prepare for this Discussion: Review the readings for this week. Consider what you learned about the relationship and alignment between theory and qualitative approach last week. Review the articles you have selected for your literature review. This week, analyze them for the alignment between theory and methods used in the study. How do the authors align and justify the methods used for the study? What are the different roles of theory in the articles? Is theory used as a general guide for the study? Is theory applied in a specific fashion in the study as evidenced in the methodology? Or both? Based on what you have learned, what are the roles of theory in qualitative research, and how are they similar and different? With these thoughts in mind: QUESTION: Post a response of 2 to 3 paragraphs in which you compare and contrast the roles of theory in qualitative research. When appropriate, be sure to support your postings and responses with specific references to the reading(s) and/or video program(s), using APA format. ____________________________________________________________________________________ Aligning Theory With Qualitative Methods Introduction In qualitative research, theory guides each step of the process. Last week you read further to determine the approach that you would use to gather and analyze your qualitative data. This week you will continue to read theories in the textbooks and in the literature that you will use to gather research articles. Then, you will be able to explore the theories of qualitative methodologies and see how they are put into practice so that the literature will inform the methods you choose to analyze your data. Learning Outcomes By the end of this week, you will be able to: Compare and contrast the roles of theory for qualitative research Select and justify a theoretical or conceptual framework for a qualitative research plan Align and justify the alignment of theory, qualitative approach, and methodology for a qualitative study _____________________________________________________________________________________ Required Resources Course Text: Qualitative Research Design: An Interactive Approach o Chapter 3, "Conceptual Framework: What Do You Think Is Going On?" This week, you will review your Week 3 reading about concept mapping, experiential knowledge, prior theory and research, pilot and exploratory studies, and thought experiments. Course Text: Qualitative Inquiry & Research Design: Choosing Among Five Approaches o Chapter 2, "Philosophical, Paradigm, and Interpretive Frameworks" In this chapter, you will review several philosophical assumptions and interpretive communities. This reading is a review from Week 3. Course Text: Patton, M. Q. (2015). Qualitative research & evaluation methods (4th ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications. o Chapter 3, "Variety in Qualitative Inquiry: Theoretical Orientations," pp. 100-144 In this excerpt from Chapter 3, you will review theoretical theoretical traditions and orientations. This reading is a review from Week 3. Research Toolkit Handouts o Walden Dissertation Rubric Available from http://researchcenter.waldenu.edu/ The Dissertation Rubric is a Word document linked in the section for PhD Dissertation Process and Documents. o Walden Qualitative Dissertations This document directs you to dissertations in the Walden Library that use a variety of qualitative approaches and disciplines. Optional Resources Course Text: Qualitative Inquiry & Research Design: Choosing Among Five Approaches o Chapter 5, "Five Different Qualitative Studies" Chapter 5 presents five qualitative studies of different types: a narrative-biographical study, a phenomenological study, a grounded theory study, an ethnography, and a case study.