Reply must be 250 words and include citations from at least 1 scholarly sources. Each thread and reply must follow current APA format.

Glesne, C. (2016) Becoming qualitative researchers: An introduction (5th ed.). New York, NY: Pearson.

**Toni**

Articulate the importance and usefulness of focus groups

For the researcher, focus groups provide the opportunity to interview several people at once regarding a topic (Glesne, 2016).  The researcher poses a question or questions to the group allowing for the group to express differing or similar viewpoints and opinions on the topic (Glesne, 2016).  The ability to speak and listen to several people within the group in a series of focus groups saves time and possible travel (Glesne, 2016).  A skilled group facilitator, asking appropriate questions to elicit responses and information from the group, provides a secure interaction between the group members, which is as important as the information offered (Glesne, 2016).  If several focus groups are held, the group is more relaxed and comfortable in speaking about possible uncomfortable topics.  Per Glesne (2016), the group interaction provides reflection, knowledge, and potential growth for the group members, ideally creating a closeness that allows for quieter members to also discuss the topic.  Focus groups are particularly useful in action and evaluation research in which participants may know to each other or the facilitator, such as conducting a group in the workplace (Glesne, 2016).  

Compare and contrast the role of ethnographies and case studies in data collection

The data collection timeframe for ethnographic studies tends to be lengthy, undertaken in a groups natural setting in which the researcher immerses self in the culture, possibly living within the setting, to determine what information is necessary for data reporting (Qualitative Data Collection, n.d.).  Ethnographies utilize the most frequent types of data collecting methods, interviewing, and observing (Glesne, 2016).   Data is collected via probing questions and interviewing and allows the researcher to be guided by the participant in helping to understand the social world of the participant in his word (Qualitative Data Collection, n.d.).  With the help of the participants, the researcher gains an understanding of the culture studied, and through data collection can potentially generate a completely new hypothesis (Qualitative Data Collection, n.d.).  

            Case studies also require a long-term commitment to gather data and focus on the setting of a situation to explore processes and outcomes (O’Leary, 2005, p. 150).  Before data collection, the researcher must decide on the context within the case study as either intrinsic, instrumental, or collective (Qualitative Data Collection, n.d.).  An intrinsic case study is to understand the “intriguing nature” of a study, and an instrumental case study emphasizes broader issues that stem from the case, and collective case studies utilize several cases (Qualitative Data Collection, n.d.).  Since the case study is incredibly in-depth, as in ethnography, the research potentially creates a new hypothesis about a specific phenomenon (Qualitative Data Collection, n.d.).  Furthermore, case studies are unique to ethnographies in that the data collection applies to an event, a singular case, episode, setting, or group (O’Leary, 2005). Case study data collection can be individualized, such as gender, an institution such as a school, a cultural group such as Italians, or an event such as 9/11.  The goal of the researcher is to choose a case or cases based on interests (O’Leary, 2005).

            All types of data collection are geared towards potentially helping the world understand a culture or situation.  The Bible also seeks to provide knowledge to those who listen and read the word of God, and he has filled him with the Spirit of God, with wisdom, with understanding, with knowledge and with all kinds of skills (Exodus 35:31, New International Version).  

References

Glesne, C.  (2016).  Becoming Qualitative Researchers:  An Introduction.  Boston:  Pearson.  

OLeary, Z.  (2005).  Researching Real-World Problems:  A Guide to Methods of Inquiry.  Thousand Oaks:  Sage Publications. 

Qualitative Data Collection. (n.d.).  Presentation, Online.  

Reply must be 250 words and include citations from at least 1 scholarly sources. Each thread and reply must follow current APA format.

Glesne, C. (2016) Becoming qualitative researchers: An introduction (5th ed.). New York, NY: Pearson.

**Geoffrey***

Researchers pick out an issue and try to learn as much as they possibly can about it. From quantitative studies to qualitatively examining an issue, researchers do everything they can to find out the root issue of a problem and then try to solve it. Sometimes, even embedding themselves into a study. Focus groups, ethnographic studies, and case studies are all tools researchers use to evaluate a particular issue. 

The Importance and Usefulness of Focus Groups

The utility of focus groups cannot be understated. Focus groups were used in World War II to develop useful training material for the troops, and then they were used for marketing research up until the 1980s when they were used to develop a better means of education relating to aids prevention and sexual contraception (Glesne, 2016, p. 123). The ability of a group of people to share different views on a similar experience is useful for finding an underlying explanation as to why something happens. A researcher utilizes focus groups to get to the point of a problem. For instance, it is often discussed how a question should be asked to ascertain a more in-depth response. A focus group consisting of older patients and their families ascertained that open-ended questions and a patient-centered approach help to gain a better understanding of treating their various elderly ailments (Lafortune et al., 2017, pp. 215-224). By building off of what other people are saying, or the ability to put into words what everyone is feeling in a particular situation will help any researcher be able to pinpoint a qualitative point. The importance and usefulness of focus groups also depend on not using just one focus group, but the ability to use several focus groups to ascertain a particular answer. Most of the time, focus groups are made up of strangers, and depending on the topic, diversity is always a key to ascertaining an accurate answer. Three to five focus groups comprised of six to ten participants are ideal as well (Glesne, 2016, p. 124). Having a researcher that follows this prescription to delve into topics makes focus groups highly advantageous to qualitative work.

Another way the focus group is essential is the way an interview can be conducted to entice information out of people that generally would not indulge information. For example, structured and semi-structured interview groups almost stir group members to be held-in by questions by an unstructured interview allows the freedom for members to talk and express their innermost thoughts. Interview types are consequential because they lead the conversation to a particular topic, but the environment a focus group adheres to opens up interview types to an all-encompassing free-for-all that the interviewer avoids leading the conversation to take notes (OLeary, 2005, p. 116).    

Compare and contrast the role of ethnographies and case studies in data collection

Ethnographies are profound, multifaceted studies that can, at times, be a sensitive topic. Ethnographers attempt to understand the realities of a particular cultural group through deep, persistent and prolonged engagement within a natural setting (OLeary, 2005, p. 158). The essence of embedding oneself inside of another culture, building rapport with that culture, and being able to qualitatively expresses the opinions and needs of a specific group is vital in a geopolitical sense, especially in peace talks and trade. In the aftermath of the genocide of Rwanda, widows were brought together (with their former abusers) to training sessions, which lead them to realize they could go on with life (Eramian, 2017, pp. 52-66). The ability to sit-down with individuals living in conditions no Westerner can begin to fathom and then build enough rapport with those people to be able to bring them together with people that have killed their loved ones is the power of ethnographies!  

             Case studies, on the other hand, are similar to their ethnographic neighbors but builds off of outcome-based thinking. Case studies allow for in-depth exploration, focus on subtilties, make attempts to be holistic, explores processes as well as outcomes, and look into the context and setting of a situation (OLeary, 2005, p. 150). Ethnographies focus on an individual or group of individuals and try to make their lives better, but case-studies are complete, all-encompassing academic studies. 

Summary

Focus groups can be utilized to win wars, figure out what a populace is currently experiencing in political terms, and they can even be used to help companies make money through advertising. Ethnographic studies delve into a particular culture, and case studies try to figure out what is really going on in a particular study. 

References

Eramian, L. (2017). Testimony, Disbelief, and Opaque Peace Building in Post genocide Rwanda.

            Political and Legal Anthropology Review. 40(1). pp. 52-61. Retrieved from

            https://doi-org.ezproxy.liberty.edu/10.1111/plar.12201  

Glesne, C. (2016). Becoming qualitative researchers: An introduction (5th ed.). New York, NY: 

Pearson. ISBN: 9780133859393.

Lafortune, C. Elliott, J. Egan, M. Y. & Stolee, P. (2017). The rest of the story: A qualitative study 

of complementing standardized assessment data with informal interviews with older 

patients and families. The Patient. 10(2). pp. 215-224. Retrieved from 

doi:http://dx.doi.org.ezproxy.liberty.edu/10.1007/s40271-016-0193-9

OLeary, Z. (2005). Researching real-world problems. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage. ISBN: 

9781412901956.

TOPIC: Who were the  Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE)? What Happen to the LTTE? Did globalization play a role into what happen to the LTTE.

Research paper will be minimum 15 pages

at least a minimum 5 academic sources

minimum 5 page response paper on reading assignment.

reading assignment is attached

5-page paper will include a response, rejection or a question about the reading.

no references!!!! Paper is based off of the reading material. 

1) What are the arguments against imposing liability on corporations?

2) What are the arguments for and against the extensive use of the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO)?

5 sentences for each question.