Defining my approach to research

The first part of my goals today were accomplished!

Below is a rough draft of my methods section for my dissertation. I am working on explaining the why question of my project. I always welcome feedback!!

Methods: 

First, it is necessary to clarify the research perspective. The researcher is conducting the study from a feminist paradigm in an attempt to interpret the experiences overweight women have with athletic clothing.  In order to “elicit authentic accounts of subjective experience” an emotionalism method will be used to conduct semi-structured in-depth interviews (Silverman, 2001). A feminist approach to social research contains several characteristics. Women, who use multiple research techniques in an attempt to give a voice to women, are often considered conducting feminist research. “Feminist research assumes that the subjective experiences of women differs from that of men” (Nueman, 2009). The characteristics of feminist research align with the purpose of the study as well as the researchers personal feelings. The study recognizes the emotional and mutual-dependence proportions of human experience. This study is action oriented and seeks to facilitate personal and societal change.  The study also strives to create empathetic connections between the researcher and the participants in the study. This lead to an emotionalism method for conducting the interviews that aligns with a feminist approach.

            An emotionalism method for conducting interviews follows certain beliefs. The main concern when using an emotionalism method is with the lived experience of the participant. The emotions of the participant are treated as central to such experience. This technique encourages interviewers to become emotionally involved with the participants and to convey their own feelings to both participants and readers (Gubrium & Holstein, 1997).  “If interviewees are to be viewed as subjects who actively construct the features of their cognitive world, then one should try to obtain inter-subjective depth between both sides so that a deep mutual understanding can be achieved” (Silverman, 2004). This method utilizes a semi-structured or unstructured interview style. The main reasons for this preference are 1) It allows respondents to use their ‘unique way of describing the world’, 2) It assumes that no fixed arrangement of questions is suitable to all respondents, 3) it allows respondent to ‘raise important issues not contained in the schedule’. (Silverman, 2004). Using a feminist approach with an emotionalism method will allow the researcher flexibility in choosing research techniques.

            Now that the perspective is defined, a triangulation method will be used to clarify the research question. The question, how do overweight women experience athletic apparel? Is clothing a source of social physique anxiety?

The next section of the study goes on to the triangulation method (meaning I am using 3 methods to collect data- interview, survey and journaling) then I get into the exact protocol or process of the study. Hope you are too bored..... :)