School of Education
12th Annual Midwest Qualitative Research Conference
Qualitative Case Research:
Traditions and Trends in Critical Analysis
University of St. Thomas
Minneapolis, Minnesota
April 19 -21, 2006
The Midwest Qualitative Research Conference is a lively gathering of people who use a variety of qualitative research methods to understand the worlds in which they work and live.
We invite you to join our conference plenary keynote speaker, Dr. Catherine Marshall of the
-
International Issues and Policy
-
K-12 and Higher Education
-
Public Policy
-
Business, Law and Engineering
-
Health Care
-
Social, Spiritual and Ethnic Issues
This conference attracts practitioner-scholars and students from the
Past Concurrent Sessions
Concurrent sessions feature individual paper, panel, symposium and works-in-progress presentations by graduate students, faculty members and professionals from diverse disciplinary backgrounds. Experienced and novice researchers discuss struggles, epiphanies, methods, theories and applications of their qualitative projects. Presenters use a variety of research methods, including ethnographic case studies, narrative, life history and historical studies.
Concurrent sessions are held in classrooms and seminar spaces in Opus Hall. Each session features two or three presentations, plus Q&A.
Session 1A: Thursday, April 20, 10:30-11:45 a.m., Opus Hall "Case Studies in Diffuse Identity "
Godparents Today: A Tenacious, Ambiguous, and Significant Social Practice
-Lisa Kimball
Godparents Today: A Tenacious, Ambiguous, and Significant Social Practice
-Lisa Kimball
Godparents Today: A Tenacious, Ambiguous, and Significant Social Practice
-Lisa Kimball
Godparents Today: A Tenacious, Ambiguous, and Significant Social Practice
-Lisa Kimball
Being a godparent is a distinct honor, but what does it mean? Why does a tradition with so much uncertainty persist and show up across religious and secular contexts? By interviewing active godparents and examining the historical record, in what I term a “hermeneutic repair,” I have found themes that provide compelling support for reinvigorating the importance of choosing godparents wisely and nurturing them for a life-long, intentional ministry.
‘Men are Starting to Notice My Ten-Year Old Daughter—What Do I Say to Her?’: Discussions of Sexuality, Womanhood and Risk Among African American Mothers and Daughters
-Michele Tracy Berger
-Michele Tracy Berger
According to current Center for Disease Control estimates, new cases of HIV infection are occurring disproportionately among women of color in the southern United States. Researchers, however, know little about mother and daughter communication and its role in preventing (or contributing to) HIV/AIDS and STDs. This presentation discusses themes from recently conducted focus groups with African American mothers and daughters (ages 12-17) in North Carolina about communication regarding health, sexuality, and transitions to ‘womanhood.’ Discussed will be preliminary findings, including an exploration of the challenges and possibilities of collaborative health research.
Session 1B: Thursday, April 20, 10:30-11:45 a.m., Opus Hall
"Narrative in K-12"
Dialogic Format in a Narrative Analysis. Providing a Meeting Place for a Conversation between Narrator/Researcher and Participants
-Gary Babiuk
This presentation will outline a research project that used a narrative analysis to craft the eight-year story of the holistic changes made to the organization and structure of a middle school. The dialogic format provides an alternative form of knowledge representation, a form of conversation, where the researcher heard the voice of the participants.
Multiple Case Studies of Developing School Technology Leaders
-Joan Hughes, Amy Garrett Dikkers
This presentation focuses on qualitative research activities that examine the development of school technology leaders. The research examined knowledge of technology leadership participants developed and technology leadership actions participants engaged in within their organizations. This study elaborates technology standards through empirical research and provides case studies that depict the development of technology leaders.
Session 1C: Thursday, April 20, 10:30-11:45 a.m., Opus Hall
"Emic Research on Identity"
Leadership and the Other "L" Word: Lesbians in the Academy
-Christine M. Imbra
The primary goal of this presentation is to share the life-stories of four lesbians in leadership positions in higher education, thus assisting in creating a greater understanding of the experiences of this invisible group in the academy as they ascended into and held leadership positions.
Achtung!: (Re)construction of Germans’ Memories of World War II
-Kenneth James Fasching-Varner
Much research, qualitative and otherwise, has focused on Jewish, Nazi, and American perspectives either silencing German narrative or essentialising all Germans to a master shared narrative. The researcher presents findings of a study conducted with Germans over 70 years old, using ethnographic methods including participant observation and oral history narrative interviews, as a means of capturing the highly nuanced German emic voices about the war. Simultaneously presented are insights and implications for future research. The presentation will discuss what fully paradigmatic qualitative research could look like for educators and those in other fields as well.
Catholic Women Negotiate the Intersecting Spheres of Modern Societal Norms and the Traditions of Their Church
-Laura McKillop
This presentation explores the social relations in the organization of the Catholic Church, how they shape Catholic women’s religious experience, and how women negotiate a religious tradition that is male dominated. The researcher will discuss how women make sense of an environment that dictates conservative values and excludes women from leadership roles and decision-making within the Catholic Church.
Session 1D: Thursday, April 20, 10:30-11:45 a.m., Opus Hall
"Panel Presentation"
"Panel Presentation"
"Ready, Set...What?": A Phenomenological Study of the Meaning of Personal Tragedy in the Lives of College Freshman: A Retrospective View
-Clare S. Lawlor, Nicholas Macak, Michelle Machacek
This retrospective, phenomenological, qualitative research describes the meaning of tragedy that occurred in the lives of five college students as they entered the transition from high school to college. Data from semi-structured, open-ended, transcribed interviews revealed the essential and invariant meanings of deep shock, the need to be “strong”, the importance of family connections, the intense experiences of acceptance and the persistent search for meaning. These topics permeated the conversations and analysis of the co-researchers and interviewers. The need for a supportive college community surfaced as an area of future qualitative inquiry.
Session 2A: Thursday, April 20, 1-2:15 p.m., Opus Hall
"Highlighting Otherness"
Education of Roma and Sinti Children in Germany: Multiple Case Studies of Alternative Programs
-Amy Garrett Dikkers
This study examined four educational programs designed for a population often underserved in German public schools. The researcher compared the programs on dimensions identified by Rogers’ (1995) model of characteristics affecting the diffusion of innovation: relative advantage, compatibility, complexity, trialability, and observability. Data included interviews, observations, and documents related to the creation of the programs. Indicated in the results is that programs that most completely address the needs of the population are not necessarily ones that would be easily adopted.
Crafting Selves in Multiple Worlds: A Hermeneutic Phenomenological Study on Being "Foreign(er)"
-Maki Kawase
Based on a hermeneutic phenomenological study focusing on four foreign-born young people’s lived-experiences of everyday life in a Midwestern, U.S. metropolitan area, this study’s purpose is to describe and understand their experiences and the meanings they give to being “foreign(ers).” “Foreignness” is spatial—socially, culturally, economically, politically, and personally. “Foreignness” is intersubjective (Ricoeur, 1992; Vessey, 2002)—interactive, contextual, and situational—as is the self (Goffman, 1959; Montoya, 1994).
Session 2B: Thursday, April 20, 1-2:15 p.m., Opus Hall
"Multicultural Aspects of Healthcare"
The Practice of Medical Pluralism in a Biomedicine-dominated Hospital in Taiwan: An Ethnographic Study
-Ling-hui Chang
Medical pluralism characterizes Taiwanese persons’ health practice; however biomedicine dominates the ideology of government-regulated medical institutions. This presentation is based on a four-month ethnography in a rehabilitation unit in Taiwan and focuses on how the patients and caregivers managed to covertly maintain their pluralistic illness explanations and healing practices, despite some censured by their medical staff, while simultaneously overtly complied with the biomedical ideology upheld by the institution.
Living with Diabetes: Perceptions of Hispanic Migrant Farmworkers
-Loretta Jean Heuer, Cheryl Lausch
This presentation focuses on Hispanic migrant farmworkers and their perceptions of living with diabetes. The study utilized a phenomenological design with a sample of thirteen participants recruited from two local migrant health centers. The researchers explored data in regards to etiology, onset of symptoms, pathophysiology, course of illness, and treatment. Based on the analysis of the interviews, compiled were the individuals’ explanations of this chronic disease within their own perceptions and cultural beliefs.
Lived Experience of Mexican Men in Promoting Their Health
-LuAnn Reif
Developing cultural competence has been an identified goal for professional nursing practice. In order to provide nursing care based on cultural values, providers must have knowledge about the beliefs and practices of the diverse population. Little information is available about the subgroupings of Mexican men. This presentation will share preliminary information collected about cultural practices identified by Mexican men in promoting their health.
Session 2C: Thursday, April 20, 1-2:15 p.m., Opus Hall
"Educators – Looking Back, Looking Forward"
Engaging Communities in Preparing Urban Teachers: A Shared Leadership Process
-Rose W. Chu, Michael Kuhne
Partners in a fledgling urban-focused teacher preparation program will discuss their efforts to integrate community representation and shared leadership participation, especially from historically underserved urban communities. The researchers will present initial data analysis and results from a shared leadership focus group process and seek audience comments to improve the ongoing process. Also shared are the next steps in actualizing this community engagement effort.
Session 2D: Thursday, April 20, 1-2:15 p.m., Opus Hall Panel "Panel Presentation"
What Children’s Work Reveals: A Meaningful Path for Assessment, Curriculum and Potential
-Karla J. Smart, Susan Dopp, Susan Ellingson, Sara Triggs, Karen Danbom
This presentation will explain the unique use of the Descriptive Review Processes with a collection of 50 Namibian drawings. The researchers focused on what a student’s works reveal about his or her uniqueness, individual understandings, ways of knowing, and potential as a learner. Work of this kind, requiring collaboration and observation, moves teachers from the particular student work to broader curriculum and assessment providing for a child-centered learning environment.
Session 3A: Thursday, April 20, 2:30-3:45 p.m., Opus Hall
"K-12 Critiques"
Giving Voice to Children’s Learning: A Critical Examination of Silencing in America’s Public Schools and Programs
-Melissa Shamblott
This presentation focuses on the critical problem of silencing experienced by culturally and linguistically diverse children in America’s public schools and programs. The researcher developed the Critical Theory of Giving Voice to Children’s Learning and will provide information about the underpinnings, impact, and experience of the problem, along with a description of the critical science methodology used.
Session 3B: Thursday, April 20, 2:30-3:45 p.m., Opus Hall
"Student Service: Comparative Cases"
Do You See What I See?: A Comparative Case Study Exploring the Perception of Student Advisory Committee (SAC) Influence in the University Faculty Retention, Promotion, and Tenure Process
-April Heiselt
The University of Utah’s Retention, Promotion, and Tenure (RPT) policy requires a Student Advisory Committee (SAC) recommendation (separate from a student evaluation) at each level of a faculty member’s tenure-track review. This presentation describes how a comparative case study research design explored how department chairs, faculty members, and SAC representatives perceive the influence of the SAC in the RPT process.
Session 3C: Thursday, April 20, 2:30-3:45 p.m., Opus Hall
"Rural Values and Research Ethics"
Encountering the Angels on the Head of a Pin: The Methodological Metaphysics of Conducting a Heavily Biographical Dissertation
-Jill M. Lyons-Johnson
This presentation explores the strange, humorous and insightful underpinnings experienced in an attempt to complete an (auto)biographical dissertation on four people retained who eventually became educators. The process of obtaining participants became a bizarre mix of coincidence and serendipitous/metaphysical experiences, mixed up with the loss of a job, the loss of the first participant, and the Goffmanesque identity of the researcher.
Leaving a Legacy: Narrative Interviews with South Dakota Farm Women in the 21st Century
-George E. Nielson
As part of a qualitative investigation into contemporary changes in Midwest rural life, the researcher conducted taped narrative interviews with women who have grown up and live on farms in eastern South Dakota. In exploring the unique character and insights of farmwomen, the researcher found a commonality in their sense of identity and their strong loyalty to their own families as well as to the values and lifestyle of the family farm.
Session 3D: Thursday, April 20, 2:30-3:45 p.m., Opus Hall
"Currents in the Policy Stream"
Constructing Public Policies: The Case of Patuxent River, Maryland
-Morris Bidjerano
Employing an integrative approach that draws on Kingdon’s (2003) multiple streams framework, Rein and Schon’s (1996) frame-reflective method, and Weick’s (1995) concept of sensemaking, this presentation seeks to develop a new heuristic, 3D “Rubik’s Cube” model of public policy making. Based on a case study of the Patuxent River, the researcher examined a Maryland water quality improvement strategy that has received national recognition as a landmark case in collaborative environmental action (D’Elia 1992; Hodge 1987).
Session 4A: Friday, April 21, 9-10:15 a.m., Opus Hall
"Case Studies in Educational Leadership"
The Effect of Ethnomethodology, Phenomenology and Psychosocial Development on Intentionality: A Study of Ten Women Who Chose to Become Principals
-Debora L. Brooks-Golden
This presentation will share how using ethnomethodology; people make sense of their everyday activities in order to behave in socially accepted ways. The researcher analyzed stories of ten women of different ethnicities about their intentional choice to become principals. This research resulted in an understanding of the impact of role models, mentoring, intellectual challenge and spirituality.
Applying Survey Research: Case Study
-Jean-Pierre Bongila
The researcher presents a survey interview as applied to the study of seven private universities in the United States and two private universities in Africa. The presentation will focus on factors that have furthered the institutional advancement of successful private universities in the United States. The presentation discusses the research design, the population, the instrument used for data collection, and the procedures employed. The researcher also reflects on the strengths and limits of the method.
Session 4B: Friday, April 21, 9-10:15 a.m., Opus Hall
"Demonstration Schools: Grounding Theory to Practice"
"Demonstration Schools: Grounding Theory to Practice"
Winston Charter School: A Case Study of the Intersection of Standards and Service
-Rebecca Pitkin
This case study describes an urban charter school whose mission and vision include the integration of an intensive service learning component and rigorous standards to meet the needs of a socioeconomically, culturally and language diverse student population in grades 6-12. In addition it describes the intersection of external accountability mandates and the practices teachers engage in to align the school’s mission and mandates. Guiding the study is the autonomy/accountability component of choice theory. The results of this study will inform policy makers, charter school advocates, as well as other researchers in this area.
Session 4C: Friday, April 21, 9-10:15 a.m., Opus Hall
"Panel Presentation"
"Panel Presentation"
Telling New Stories: Teacher Identities and the Struggle for Equity
-Jean Ketter, Cori McKenzie, Julia Sundermann
Each presenter will explore one facet of teachers’ stories told in a teacher book group comprised of white females. The researchers focus on multicultural literature, illustrating how the stories not only reveal but also shape identities and determine pedagogy. The presentation investigates aspects of the participants’ stories, illustrating how the stories reinforce and re-create multiple selves who struggle to stabilize shifting beliefs about how one should teach, mother, and be a woman.
Session 4D: Friday, April 21, 9-10:15 a.m., Opus Hall
"Three Stages of Cultural Discourse: Oral, Visual and Virtual"
Images of Adult Education: Learning and Work
-Gerriann Brower
Still imagery, primarily photographs, show depictions of adult education and this study investigates how those images reflect society and culture. This historical study of American adult education focuses on education from 1920-1941 in contexts that reflect the workplace or vocational education. Images provide clues about education in America. The learners, instructors, settings, and objects in the pictures all tell stories.
Crossroads on the Dissertation Journey: Determining Methodological Choices for Qualitative Inquiry
-Jean E Davidson, Sharon K Gibson
Determining methodological choices in qualitative inquiry can be a challenging process. In this presentation, a doctoral candidate and her dissertation adviser will discuss the process used to address methodological decisions in the student’s qualitative dissertation proposal. The proposal incorporated narrative inquiry and arts-based inquiry to support a phenomenological research approach. The presenters will discuss their guiding philosophy and how the partnership process contributed to the development of a clear argument to support the student’s methodological approach.
Session 5A: Friday, April 21, 10:30-11:45 a.m., Opus Hall
"Outsiders Encounter Higher Ed"
Ethnic Identity Development of Latino Fraternity Members at a Hispanic Serving Institution
-Juan R. Guardia
Higher education scholars have examined Latino /a student experiences and ethnic identity, yet there is no research describing the ethnic identity development of members of a Latino fraternity at a Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI). This phenomenological study explores the phenomenon of Latino fraternity members’ ethnic identity development at a HSI.
A Qualitative Study of the Academic and Social Experiences of White Male Undergraduate Students at a Public Historically Black University
-R. Darrell Peterson
This study explores how white male undergraduate students attending a predominately black and historically black university might contribute their development of white racial consciousness through their academic and social experiences. Bronfenbrenner’s (2005) bioecological systems theory of human development was used as the guiding framework to explore how the participants make meaning of their experiences in an environment where they are the “temporary minority” (Hall & Closson, 2005).
Classroom Interaction: A Case Study on Register Switch used by Native and Non-native English Speaking Professors
-Lyudmila Klimanova, Jane Hanson
This presentation provides an in-depth ethnographic look at the relationship between language use and pedagogical intent across disciplines, with an eye to native and non-native language ability and cultural influence upon academic discourse. The qualitative study conducted in a college classroom examined interactions with students triggered by register switch. The presentation will include video sequences of classroom interaction, analysis of the follow-up interviews, and tentative conclusions on language use in instruction.
Session 5B: Friday, April 21, 10:30-11:45 a.m., Opus Hall
"Healthcare Networks: Digital and Community"
An Evaluation of Health Center Adoption of Online Health Information
-Meredith Martinez
In 2000, a community health information program, Partners for Health Information, provided ten community health centers in Washington, D.C., with computers, training, and consumer health resources. This presentation describes a qualitative evaluation of the program designed to measure frequency of patient referral by health center staff to online health information. It will describe providers’ perceptions of the importance of online health information and the perceived barriers and enablers to using online resources.
Doing It My Way
-Lisa Skemp Kelley, Michelle Umbarger
This ethnographic research set forth to describe how ethnic elders acquire the things they need to live in a rural community. This presentation is a description of a subset of rural elders who are living in a motel setting. Using ethnographic interviews, participant observation and inductive comparative case study analysis, the researchers provide a description of why the elders chose this type of living situation and how they develop and maintain their care networks.
Session 5C: Friday, April 21, 10:30-11:45 a.m., Opus Hall
"Adolescent Marginalization"
Brushes to Braids: Mothers of Biracial Children and Their Negotiation the "Mixed Child"
-Ronald Ferguson
This presentation discusses issues related to how mothers of “half black” and “half white” children negotiate issues in their biracial children’s lives. Specifically, many parents discussed the difficulties surrounding their children’s hair and dress and how these issues seemed to transcend fad and fashion into deeper social concerns. The researcher explains how these mothers negotiated the needs of their black and white biracial children.
Session 5D: Friday, April 21, 10:30-11:45 a.m., Opus Hall
"Blurred Identities: Case Studies in Ethnographic Altered States"
Why Opiate Sobriety Fails: Multiple and Simultaneous Recoveries as Cause and Solution to the Addiction
Recovery Conundrum
-Lee Garth Vigilant
This study examines narrative accounts on the meaning of recovery through interviews with 45 methadone patients. Results show that opiate addicts are dealing with multiple recoveries simultaneous to each other including addiction, a catalyzing event, drug induced disease (HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis C etc.), associational disruption, and the loss of self-actualization. The findings, anathema of conventional views on recovery, suggest that drug addicts need interventions that address their multiple recovery issues.
For more information contact:
(651) 962-4878
(800) 328-6819, Ext. 2-4878
Laurie Shurson
Please contact Mike Porter with questions about your proposal.
Catherine Marshall, Ph.D.
The opening plenary session will feature Catherine Marshall, Ph.D., Professor of Educational Leadership,
