Study Design

Ethnographic research method will be employed in this proposed study. Essentially

defined as the study of culture (Creswell, 2003) , the aforementioned method will be used in
order for the researchers to understand the different contexts wounded soldiers are operating in,
including the dynamics and processes happening when they interact with their social
environment. Furthermore, in order to have an objective glimpse of the different roles played by
the soldiers in diverse settings, the researchers will take the role of complete observers, where
“personal involvement in the community is minimised and the researcher remains detached.
(Howitt, 2010)”. However, there is no doubt as to the observer’s role. In the context of the
present study, the researchers will conduct interviews with selected community members but due
to the nature of the selected community, may not totally immerse in the culture of the soldiers in
the Heroes’ Ward.

Setting

The proposed research will be conducted at the Heroes’ Ward of a health care facility
complex located at Quezon City that provide medical care to military and civilian personnel of
the Armed Forces of the Philippine.

Key Informant and Community Selection

(insert name of the key informant), (insert position at the heroes’ ward) will serve as the
research’s key informant. The decision to place (insert last name of key informant) in the said
role is based on two factors. First, (his/her) has great knowledge in the activities of the group
under study. Second, (his/her) shares a special rapport with both researchers and community
members which may facilitation the smoothing out the research process and may act as a source
of social support at difficult times (Merriam, 1998).

The chosen community of the proposed study are soldiers in the Heroes’ Ward. Five
members of the group will be purposely chosen for interview and will be the subject of
observation. These military personnel incurred injuries while serving in the conflict between the
Maute Group and the AFP from (insert date of deployment and pull-out). They have been in the
facility since (date of admittance) for recuperation and rehabilitation.
Instruments

To gather a comprehensive database regarding the culture of the selected community, the
researchers will utilize two tools. A semi-structured interview guide will be employed in order to
cognize how the wounded soldiers perceive the contents and context of their culture inside the
ward as well how stress management is being influenced by factors in their social environment.
Field notes will be accomplished to record the researchers’ observations in the field setting.
Furthermore, recordings will be done to help the researchers familiarize themselves with the
social context of the setting, including the people within that setting and the interrelations
between the two (Howitt, 2010).

Data Collection

After gaining permission to conduct the proposed study from the institution, the researchers with
the assistance of the key informant will gather available community members to establish rapport
and select representatives from the group. Representatives will briefed regarding the purpose of
the research and will asked to accomplish informed consent forms. Each researcher will
interview a representative regarding how they perceive their recovery and stress management in
the context of the institution. Furthermore, observations will be done regarding the dynamics of
interaction between members of the community as they deal with each other. Narratives from the
representatives and the field notes accomplished by the researchers will be transcribed and
coded. The researchers will return to the institution after transcription and coding are done to
verify the data with the community and the key informant. Lastly, the community will be
debriefed.

Data Analysis
The current study will use inductive method of collecting information. Observations of
interactions and interview with hospital staff, wounded soldiers, and their family members were
the primary source of data. Data will be processed using thematic analysis. This process included
understanding the data and developing an initial coding system where preliminary themes
emerged. Thereafter, were revisited and developed to establish the final thematic construct
(Howitt, 2010).
References
Creswell, J. (2003). Research Design: Qualitative, Quantitative, and Mixed Methods Approaches. New
York: Sage Publications.

Howitt, D. (2010). Introduction to Qualitative Methods in Psychology. Essex: Pearson Education Limited.

Merriam, S. B. (1998). Qualitative Research and Case Study Applications in Education. Revised and
Expanded from Case Study Research in Education. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.

Sanders, J. (2009). Qualitative or quantitative differences between Asperger's disorder and autism?
Historical considerations. Journal of Autism & Developmental Disorders 39, 1560-1567.