Research Method and Design Appropriateness

Qualitative design is the most appropriate to describe the criteria that African American Literature professors use in defining what is African American Literature. Creswell (2007) states that qualitative research is used when “we need a complex detailed understanding of the issue. This detail can only be established by talking directly with people, going to their homes or places of work, and allowing them to tell their stories unencumbered by what we expect to find or what we read in the literature” (p. 40).

In addition, Creswell (2007) presents characteristics that are common to qualitative research. I will identify how six of those relate to my study. First, qualitative research takes place in a natural setting (Creswell, 2007). In other words, researchers do not usually bring the

participant to a lab or send out instruments (Creswell, 2007). This method gathers data “talking directly with people and seeing them behave and act within their own context” (Creswell, 2007, p. 37). This study will attempt to interview all individuals in person at their work settings.

Second, the researcher is the key instrument (Creswell, 2007). Creswell (2007) explains, “The qualitative researchers collect data themselves through examining documents, observing

behavior, and interviewing participants…[R]esearchers are the ones who actually gather the information. They do not tend to use or rely on questionnaires or instruments developed by others researchers” (p. 38). I will be interviewing African American Literature professors. Every effort will made to interview them in person, and their curricula vitae will be used to enrich data. I have developed opened-ended questions for the study. This concept will be further discussed in Data Collection.

Third, qualitative research focuses on the participant’s perspective of the issue (Creswell, 2007). Creswell (2007) asserts the researcher “keep[s] a focus on learning the meaning that the participants hold about the problem or issue, not the meaning that the researchers bring to the research or writers from the literature” (p. 39). This study seeks to find how the participants

define African American Literature. Open-ended questions will allow for a focus on the participants’ meanings as opposed to the researcher.

Fourth, qualitative research often uses emergent design. Creswell (2007) explains, “the initial plan for research cannot be tightly prescribed, and that all phases of the process may change or shift after the researchers enter the field and begin to collect data” (p. 39). In this case, qualitative research allows for flexibility needed in data collection such as interviewing. This study will use Rubin and Rubin’s (2005) model of responsive interviewing, which views

“qualitative interviewing [as] a dynamic and iterative process and, not a set of tools to be applied mechanically” (p. 15). Every interview is different and should allow for adjustments and follow up questions that help in collecting rich and thick descriptions. This concept will be further discussed in Data Collection.

Next, qualitative researcher often uses a theoretical lens (Creswell, 2007). As discussed in Chapter One, this study used Karenga’s (1968/1997) black arts framework requiring that all

black art be functional, collective, and committed. This influenced data collection, data analysis, and discussion.

Finally, qualitative researchers try to develop a complex picture—or holistic account—of the issue (Creswell, 2007). Creswell (2007) explains, “This [research] involves reporting

multiple perspectives, identifying the many factors involved in a situation, and generally

sketching the larger picture that emerges. Researchers are …identifying the complex interaction of factors in any situation” (p. 39). As shown in the literature review, writers and critics have multiple perspectives of African American Literature. Qualitative research embraces multiple perspectives and data analysis in qualitative research is flexible enough to account for rich and varied factors as well as the larger picture.

In addition to these characteristics, Creswell (2007) also explains that qualitative research is often informed by the researcher’s philosophical assumption and worldview. Philosophical assumptions “reflect a particular stance that researchers make when they choose qualitative research” (Creswell, 2007, p. 19). My stance of a rhetorical assumption is addressed in the Assumptions sections in Chapter One.

Creswell cites Guba’s (1990) definition of worldview, which is “a basic set of beliefs that guide action” (as cited in Creswell, 2007, p. 19). Furthermore, multiple paradigms may be used in a study if they are compatible (Creswell, 2007). In this case, elements of social constructivism and pragmatism are influential in this study. The relevant elements of social constructivism are:

 [Researchers] seek [an] understanding of the world in which they live and work. They develop subjective meanings of their experiences—meanings directed toward certain objects or things. These meanings are varied and multiple, leading

the researcher to look at the complexity of the views rather than narrow the meanings into a few categories or ideas.

 The goal of research…is to rely as much as possible on the participants’ view of the situation. Often these subjective meanings are negotiated socially and historically. In other words, they are not simply imprinted on individuals but are formed through interaction with others (hence social constructivism) and through historical and cultural norms that operate in individuals’ lives. (Creswell, 2007, p. 20-21)

Relevant elements of pragmatism are:

 Pragmatism is not committed to any one system of philosophy and reality.  Truth is what works at the time; it is not based in a dualism between reality

independent of the mind or within the mind.

 Pragmatists agree that research always occurs in social, historical, political and other contexts. (Creswell, 2007, p. 20-21)

After considering the characteristics as well as the philosophical assumption and worldview, I decided that an exploratory qualitative study would be appropriate for the study. The study described and interpreted viewpoints of scholars to create a rich description of the elements commonly viewed by scholars as essential elements of African American Literature.