Additional Support with Assignment Reading Pack 2: Online gaming addiction B

Additional Support with Assignment Reading Pack 2: Online gaming addiction Both reading packs can be found in the reading list. You need to ensure that you have more than one person coding the data. That means you will need to work with 1-2 other students and code the same data extracts and then swap/compare notes on your coding. It is up to you whether to include all or just some of the coding from your partner for your final meta synthesis, but you should write your submission independently.  Guidelines You will be required to include the following headings/sections in the portfolio: Introduction (including literature review) leading to your overall research question. Research question Method: Sample (defining which studies were included and the inclusion/exclusion criteria). Method of coding (what approach and who conducted these) Results Overview of results from analysis Outline of key themes that emerged Discussion and Implications for future research References (in APA format) Dear students For this assignment, we are introducing you to a qualitative research methodology which will broaden and develop your understanding of qualitative research and equip you with skills in thematic analysis – a method which you may choose to use in your dissertation project.   What is the difference between qualitative and quantitative research?  If you are not familiar with these terms, there is a quick explainer online here.Links to an external site.   What is thematic analysis?  Thematic analysis is a method used to analyse qualitative data. It is a very frequently used method because it can be employed across different theoretical frameworks. What is a meta synthesis? Is it related to a meta-analysis?  Both meta synthesis and meta-analysis are methodologies for research which involve synthesising the findings of a set of research papers into a single piece of research (known broadly as systematic reviews). The idea is to find a bigger picture and generate new findings – not simply to summarise or collate. Both methodologies involve a prescribed series of steps culminating in a written report (detailed in your module materials). Meta analysis uses findings in the form of data (quantitative) and employs statistical analysis techniques to examine the findings together. Meta synthesis uses findings in the form of a narrative (qualitative) and uses an appropriate type of qualitative analysis to examine the findings together. For further reading, Erwin, Brotherson and Summers (2011) describe qualitative meta synthesis in the context of early childhood intervention research – this has now been added to the Reading List. You may find parts of this paper useful in understanding what qualitative meta synthesis is.   How do thematic analysis and meta synthesis relate to one another?  For this assignment, thematic analysis is the “appropriate type of qualitative analysis” which you will use for the meta synthesis. Do I have to do a complete meta synthesis?  No – the first steps have been done for you already. You have been given a reading pack, so you do not need to search for and select the literature.   What should I include in the write up?   The assignment brief sets out the headings you need to include.   The terms used for a literature review within the context of a meta-synthesis can be confusing. For the sample element, although you did not select the studies yourself, you need to demonstrate an understanding of how sampling works for a meta synthesis, that is, how these four papers were chosen. In this case, of course, you did not select the papers yourself so you need to briefly write about how you think the papers could have been selected for inclusion. . Tables may also be a useful way to present a summary of key themes.    Best Regards Ruth