RSCH FPX 7868 Assessment 1 Developing a Research Topic for Qualitative Studies

Name

Capella university

RSCH-FPX 7868 Qualitative Design and Analysis

Prof. Name

Date

Employee Rights

Introduction

This assessment will explore developing a qualitative research study on employee rights. Employee rights encompass a broad range of issues and opportunities, including workplace safety and health protection, working hours, wages, and many other rights. This assessment will specifically focus on developing a qualitative research study on equal pay for men and women with similar duties in the workplace.

Background on Equitable Pay

Equitable Pay Rights

The Equal Pay Act of 1963 (2022) mandated equal wages for similar work regardless of the worker’s gender. The mandate states that the jobs do not need to be identical but must be equal. Research by Barroso and Brown (2021) indicates that women have made strides in attaining higher-paying jobs historically dominated by men in professional and managerial fields. Barroso and Brown (2021) discuss that, while pay disparities have stabilized in recent years, they still exist.

Equitable Pay Rationale

Why is Pay Equity Necessary to Employers? Equitable pay is crucial for employers as it ensures fair and just wages without regard to gender. Nagele-Piazza (2020) suggests that offering equitable wages can increase worker efficiency, quality, and productivity while reducing turnover. Providing fair wages also decreases the legal risk of pay disparity lawsuits. Hentze and Tyus (2021) found that many states have established laws specifically addressing the elimination of gender-based pay differences.

Research Questions

Qualitative research questions should include single-sentence questions that state the purpose of the research study.

Five Methodological Approaches

Ethnography Methodological

Approach Ethnography research questions are descriptive and structured. An example of an ethnography research question is: This qualitative research study aims to explore pay equity disparities faced by women compared to their male counterparts. Describe what a typical workday is for you.

Case Study Methodological Approach

Crow et al. (2011) define a methodological case study as a tool to generate an in-depth, multifaceted understanding of complex issues in a real-life context. An example of a case study methodological approach is: This qualitative research study aims to explore pay equity disparities faced by women compared to their male counterparts. Describe the disparity in pay based on gender that you have experienced.

Grounded Theory Methodological Approach

Grounded theory research questions primarily focus on social processes or actions. An example of a grounded theory question for this qualitative research study is: This qualitative research study aims to explore pay equity disparities faced by women compared to their male counterparts. What happens when the topic of gender pay disparity is raised in your workplace?

Phenomenology Methodological Approach

Phenomenology research focuses on an individual’s personal experience. An example of a phenomenology question for this qualitative research study is: This qualitative research study aims to explore pay equity disparities faced by women compared to their male counterparts. How would you describe your personal experience with gender pay disparity?

Generic Qualitative Inquiry Methodological Approach

Kahlke (2014) defines generic qualitative inquiry as research aimed at understanding how an individual assigns meaning to a phenomenon or situation. An example of a generic qualitative inquiry question for this qualitative research study is: This research study aims to explore pay equity disparities faced by women compared to their male counterparts.

Methodological Alignment Research Question

Ethnography Methodological Alignment “Describe what a typical workday is for you” aligns with the ethnography methodology because it allows the researcher to better understand what the typical workday looks like for male and female participants.

Case Study Methodological Alignment “Describe the disparity in pay based on gender that you have experienced” aligns with the case study methodology because it seeks in-depth knowledge about pay disparities in the workplace.

Grounded Theory Methodological Alignment “What happens when the topic of gender pay disparity is raised in your workplace?” aligns with grounded theory as it aims to generate concepts surrounding gender-based pay disparity. Chun Tie et al. (2010) define grounded research theory as an effort to generate concepts to explain how people resolve their central concerns.

Phenomenology Methodological Alignment “How would you describe your personal experience with gender pay disparity?” aligns with the phenomenology approach because it helps the researcher understand the unique experiences of the participants regarding gender pay disparity.

Generic Qualitative Inquiry Methodological Alignment “This research study aims to explore pay equity disparities faced by women compared to their male counterparts” aligns with generic qualitative inquiry because it seeks to uncover gender-based pay disparities from the participants’ perspectives.

References

Barroso, A., & Brown, A. (2021, May 25). Gender pay gap in U.S. held steady in 2020. Pew Research Center. Retrieved March 23, 2022, from https://www.pewresearch.org/facttank/2021/05/25/gender-pay-gap-facts/

Crowe, S., Cresswell, K., Robertson, A., Huby, G., Avery, A., & Sheikh, A. (2011). The case study approach. BMC Medical Research Methodology, 11(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2288-11-100

Equal Pay/Compensation Discrimination | U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. (n.d.). Www.Eeoc.Gov. Retrieved March 24, 2022, from https://www.eeoc.gov/equalpaycompensation-discrimination#:%7E:text=The%20Equal%20Pay%20Act%20requires,whether%20jobs%20are%20substantially%20equal.

RSCH FPX 7868 Assessment 1 Developing a Research Topic for Qualitative Studies

Hentze, I., & Tyus, R. (2021, August 10). Protections in the Workplace: Equal Pay and Age Discrimination. Ncsl.Org. Retrieved March 21, 2022, from https://www.ncsl.org/research/labor-and-employment/equal-pay.aspx

Kahlke, R. M. (2014). Generic Qualitative Approaches: Pitfalls and Benefits of Methodological Mixology. International Journal of Qualitative Methods, 13(1), 37–52. https://doi.org/10.1177/160940691401300119

Nagele-Piazza, J. L. D. (2020, February 27). The Importance of Pay Equity. SHRM. Retrieved March 23, 2022, from https://www.shrm.org/hr-today/news/hrmagazine/spring2020/pages/importance-of-pay-equity.aspx#:%7E:text=Why%20should%20pay%20equity%20matter,with%20Fisher%20Phillips%20in%20Boston.