To prepare:
Review the following Learning Resources:
Walden Mixed Methods Dissertation Checklist. Pay particular attention to the comments about “Threats to Validity” and “Issues of Trustworthiness” as described in Chapters 3 (planning) and 4 (reporting what happened). The examples and definitions in the Checklist will help you identify possible processes to use in your study.
Table 7.2 in the textbook (“Examples of Quality Standards Applied to Mixed Methods Research Practice”).
The practice IRB pieces file in the Course Toolbox and the IRB ethics website.
Think about how the capstones you read in Discussion 2 did and did not meet quality standards and expectations for Walden research. How might your learning in this activity inform your own work?
Review the Checklist regarding the treatment of human participants, such as:
Institutional permissions, including IRB approvals that are needed,
Ethical concerns related to recruitment materials and processes and a plan to address them,
Ethical concerns related to data collection and/or intervention activities (These could include participants refusing participation, or early withdrawal from the study and response to any predicable adverse events and a plan to address them).
Describe treatment of data, (including archival data), including issues of:
Whether data are anonymous or confidential and any concerns related to each.
Protections for confidential data (data storage procedures, data dissemination, who will have access to the data, and when data will be destroyed).
Other ethical issues that apply (these issues could include doing a study within one’s own work environment, conflict of interest or power differentials, and justification for use of incentives).
By Day 7 of Week 7
In a 3- to 5-page paper, draft the narrative for the sections labeled “Threats to Validity” and “Issues of Trustworthiness,” including “ethical procedures” in the Walden Mixed Methods Dissertation Checklist. Remember to add specific information about how you plan to handle and process your data to stay organized and to keep the data safe.
