Influence of Social Class on Health: Research Question Analysis

This assignment explores the relationship between health and social class, analyzing how different research methodologies influence the formulation of research questions. The student examines four methodologies: grounded theory, phenomenology, ethnography, and action research. For each methodology, a corresponding research question is presented, such as how social class influences health accessibility, how social class inequality affects health experiences, how cultural values impact efforts to minimize the social class gap, and what efforts have been made to lower the social class inequality gap in health. The assignment reflects on how each methodology shapes the research questions, highlighting the data collection and analysis methods associated with each approach, including interviews, observations, and investigations into existing interventions. The assignment concludes by emphasizing the specific influence of each methodology on its respective research question.

HEALTH AND SOCIAL CLASS 1
HEALTH AND SOCIAL CLASS
Student Name
Institutional Affiliation
Facilitator
Course
Date

HEALTH AND SOCIAL CLASS 2
Health and Social Class
Research questions
Grounded theory research question: How has health accessibility been influenced by social
class?
Phenomenology research question: How has social class inequality influenced health?
Ethnography research question: How do cultural values and beliefs influence the actions taken to
minimize the social class gap?
Action research question: Which efforts have been made to lower the social class inequality gap
in health accessibility?
A reflection on the four methodologies’ influence on the formulated research questions
Each of the formulated research questions has been influenced by a specific research
methodology as discussed (Mewburn, 2013).
The grounded theory has influenced the formulation of the first research question. It is a method
used in research which involves theory generation based on data which has been collected and
analyzed systematically (Engward, 2013). The formulated research question seeks to address the
percentage of the population which faces health inequality due to social class. In answering this
question, data will have to be collected on the number of people affected by social class
inequality in accessing health. The data will then be analyzed in order to generate the theoretical
part in answering the question.

HEALTH AND SOCIAL CLASS 3
The phenomenological methodology has influenced the formulation of the second question. It
investigates a lived experience by a particular group. It focuses majorly on describing a
particular phenomenon goal (Tuohy et al, 2013). The formulated research question investigates
how social class inequality has influenced health. In answering the question, interviews will have
to be carried out on a particular sample group on how their experience with social class
inequality has influenced their health. Other investigative methods such as observation and
documentation can also be used to analyze experience with a certain phenomenon.
Ethnography methodology has influenced the formulation of the third question. It involves the
researchers immersing themselves to participants’ environment in order to have a better
understanding of their cultural values (Gobo and Marciniak, 2011). It does not rely on interviews
and surveys but experience and participation. The formulated question seeks to investigate how
cultural values and beliefs influence the remedies taken to minimize social class inequality. In
answering this question, the researcher will have to be involved in the participants’ environment
either through experience (living with the participants) or observation (observing the
participants’ cultural values and beliefs) to learn their culture and how the actions taken to
minimize the social inequality gap are influenced by the cultural values and beliefs.
Action research methodology has influenced the formulation of the fourth research question. It
involves the identification of problems faced by participants regarding the research topic and the
actions taken to solve the problems (McNiff, 2013). The research question seeks to investigate
the efforts made to lower the social class inequality gap in health accessibility. To answer this
question, the researcher must investigate the problems associated with social class inequality in
health accessibility and investigate efforts which have been made to address the problems.

HEALTH AND SOCIAL CLASS 4
From the reflections made about each methodology, it is clear that each formulated research
question has been influenced by a respective research methodology.

HEALTH AND SOCIAL CLASS 5
References
Engward, H., 2013. Understanding grounded theory. Nursing Standard, 28(7).
Gobo, G. and Marciniak, L.T., 2011. Ethnography. Qualitative research, 3(1), pp.15-36.
McNiff, J., 2013. Action research: Principles and practice. Routledge.
Mewburn, 2013. Using a spider diagram to make research questions. TW blackline masters.
Available at: https://sites.google.com/site/twblacklinemasters/using-a-spider-diagram-to-make-
research-questions [Accessed August 20, 2019].
Tuohy, D., Cooney, A., Dowling, M., Murphy, K. and Sixsmith, J., 2013. An overview of
interpretive phenomenology as a research methodology. Nurse researcher, 20(6).