study design
A phenomenological approach facilitates exploration of the essence of an experience by studying the lived experiences, perceptions, and personal meanings of individuals in the specific study context (Cresswell, 2013).
methods
purpose
Our purpose is to capture the complexity of the meaning-making of the student experience and the role HGSE as an institution plays in shaping those experiences
data collection
Data is collected through affinity-based focus group discussions (FGDs) and individual in-depth interviews (IDIs) with HGSE students
methodology
Among common methodologies commonly employed in PAR research: photovoice, walking, and mapping, we chose FGD and IDIs
PHENOMENOLOGICAL
APPROACH
A phenomenological approach was selected because the research seeks to understand whether the virtual HGSE experience is meeting the needs of underrepresented students by analyzing the experience of several individuals to search for commonality of experiences among underrepresented students.
QUALITATIVE APPROACH
This study utilizes the critical participatory action research approach with a phenomenological, qualitative research design.
A qualitative approach was selected as a method best suited to capture meaning-making and descriptions of experiences.
recruitment
For recruitment, a mix of stratified and snowballing strategies was utilized. Students had the choice to select whether to participate in an affinity-based focus group they identify with or an individual interview. The research team selected groups of underrepresented students that belong to the demographics of “underrepresented students” for focus groups, in addition to white students, domestic students, and full-time students to compare the experiences of underrepresented students with the dominant group of well-represented students. For in-depth interviews, students were selected using both convenience sampling through mass recruitment on social media platforms and the snowball method, based on the identification of information-rich candidates. The final study sample for IDIs was determined after focus groups to identify any gaps in sampling strategy and whether any student demographic group should be further explored.