Measurements/Assessments Paper -- Research Methodology

Measurements/Assessments Paper Instrument, Data Analysis, and Reporting Plan In phenomenological research, the researcher is the instrument, but the data collected through interviews, participant observations, questionnaires, case studies, or focus groups is the actual data source from which the researcher retrieves her information (Patton, 2002). The phenomenological researcher believes that language is the principal avenue through which understanding is formed and communicated, and therefore the meanings of individual experiences can be captured through communication (Patton, 2002; Schram, 2006). Upon investigation of all the methods available for data collection, this researcher selected face-to-face interviews using specific questions retrieved from a pre-existing peer-reviewed questionnaire modified to address the focus of the proposed study. The purpose of these interviews will be to convey the essence or fundamental meaning (Moustakas, 1994) of speech-language pathologists’ experiences and perceptions regarding their academic and clinical pre paration for assessment and treatment of stuttering. A licensed and clinically certified speech-language pathologist will conduct all interviews, and each interview session will be audio taped and transcribed verbatim. The speech-language pathologists participating in the study will be asked to provide detailed descriptions of their lived experiences with academic course work preparation and clinical opportunities for the assessment and treatment of stuttering and these descriptions will be used as raw data for analysis. The responses of the speech-language pathologists will be prompted by the researcher’s questions. The face-to-face interview process will allow the speech-la... ...s, CA: Sage. Moustakas, C. (1994). Phenomenological research methods. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage. Onwuebuzie, A. J., & Leech, N. L. (2007, Feb). A call for qualitative power analysis. Quality & Quantity: International Journal of Methodology ,41(1) 105-121, Retrieved January 15, 2010, from PsycINFO database. doi: 10.1007/s11135-005-1098- Patton, M. Q. (2002). Qualitative research & evaluation methods. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications. Schram, T. H. (2006). Conceptualizing and proposing qualitative research. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey: Pearson Merrill Prentice Hall. Shank, G. D. (2006). Qualitative research: A personal skills approach. NJ: Pearson Merrill Prentice Hall. Writing @ CSU. (2010). Introduction to content analysis. Retrieved July 24, 2010, from Writing @ CSU: http://writing.colostate.edu/guides/research/content/pop2a.cfm