Part 1:
Using the book chapter below, please ‘build a case’ as to why men should be included in any future research on work-life balance (approx. 1,200 words). 1. Read the book chapter and highlight bits of information that the author(s) think are relevant for explaining why men’s work-life balance needs to be researched by academics.
2. Plan how you will organise this data in your literature analysis. Mindmapping/brainstorming can help here. Or you could write up the main points on separate post-it notes then think about how you will present this.
3. Use your plan to start drafting the literature review. Have in mind that you are presenting an argument as to why men should be considered in any future research project – so use the evidence to build a case around this. You may wish to think about the structure of how you will present this – start off with the ‘big themes’ and work your way down to the more nuanced. See tips below to avoid being ‘descriptive’.
Tasks to complete for this part
Write a structured literature review around the specified research gap. It should also include an academic definition of work-life balance (referenced). This should reiterate the main argument to this essay (men and WLB…) and signpost the areas of knowledge you chose to use to argue for this gap.
Part 2:
Identify a relevant qualitative methodology for researching the work-life balance of men. Further details on what to include are set out below (approx. 300 words).
1. Identify a qualitative methodology for researching men’s work-life balance. You may wish to define what a qualitative research methodology is, and the philosophical reasons why this approach is useful to study men’s work-life balance.
2. You could then set out the specific qualitative research techniques (semi structured interviewing, unstructured interviewing, focus groups, diary studies etc.) you would use for this study and why.
3. Considerations of the target population and sampling (who would be included in your sample and why?), access and ethics should also be covered. You should make an effort to fully justify each aspect of your approach. References to the research methods sections of the recommended books is helpful (Bryman and Bell, Saunders textbooks and others).