FPX 7868 Assessment 1 Developing a Research Topic for Qualitative Studies Name Capella university RSCH-FPX7868 Qualitative Design and Analysis

  Employee Rights

Introduction This assessment will explore the development of a qualitative research study on Employee Rights. Employee rights cover a broad spectrum of issues and opportunities, including workplace safety and health protection, working hours, wages, and various other rights. This assessment specifically focuses 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 performed, regardless of the worker’s gender. The mandate states that the jobs do not need to be identical but must be substantially equal. Research by Barroso and Brown (2021) indicates that women have made significant strides in attaining higher-paying jobs historically dominated by men in professional and managerial fields. However, Barroso and Brown (2021) also note that while progress has been made, pay disparities still exist. Equitable Pay Rationale Why is Pay Equity Necessary for Employers? Equitable pay is crucial for employers as it ensures that employees are treated fairly and justly regarding wages, without regard to gender. According to Nagele-Piazza (2020), offering equitable wages can increase workers’ efficiency, quality, and productivity while reducing turnover. When employers provide fair and honest wages to all employees, the legal risk of a pay disparity lawsuit decreases. Hentze and Tyus (2021) found that many states have established laws specifically targeting the elimination of pay differences based on gender. Research Questions Qualitative research questions should include single-sentence questions that clearly 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 women face in positions 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 an approach used to generate an in-depth, multi-faceted 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 women face in positions 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 women face in positions compared to their male counterparts. What happens when the topic of gender pay disparity is raised in your workplace?” Phenomenology Methodological Approach In qualitative research, phenomenology 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 women face in positions 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 to understand how an individual places 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 women face in positions compared to their male counterparts.” Methodological Alignment Research Question Ethnography Methodological Alignment “Describe what a typical workday is for you” is aligned with the ethnography methodology because the researcher can better understand what a typical workday looks like for male and female research participants. Case Study Methodological Alignment “Describe the disparity in pay based on gender that you have experienced” is aligned with the case study methodology because the researcher seeks in-depth knowledge about pay disparities in the workplace of the research participant. Grounded Theory Methodological Alignment “What happens when the topic of gender pay disparity is raised in your workplace?” is aligned with grounded theory because the researcher is trying to generate concepts surrounding pay disparity by gender in the workplace. Chun Tie et al. (2010) define grounded theory as the researcher generating concepts around the research topic to explain how people resolve their central concerns. Phenomenology Methodological Alignment “How would you