Student Research Projects 2025-2026

Research project guides for CSUB student researchers

View the Project on GitHub sunjinpak/SRSC2026

Qualitative Paper Writing Guide

For: Tina & Cyrina Project: Infertility Treatment and Workplace Support

This guide explains how to write a qualitative research paper based on Reddit data, using the structure from Grandey, Gabriel, & King (2020) “Tackling Taboo Topics” as a reference.

Paper Structure Overview

Your paper should have the following sections:

Section	Purpose
Title	Descriptive, includes key variables
Abstract	150-250 words summarizing the entire paper
Introduction	Why this topic matters, what gap you’re filling
Method	How you collected and analyzed data
Results/Themes	Your thematic findings with quotes
Discussion	What it means, implications, limitations
References	APA 7th edition format

1. Title

Create a descriptive title that captures your research focus.

Examples:

“Navigating Infertility Treatment While Working: A Qualitative Analysis of Reddit Posts”
“Workplace Challenges During IVF Treatment: Themes from Online Communities”
“Invisible Struggles: How Workers Manage Infertility Treatment and Employment”

2. Abstract

Write this LAST. Include:

Purpose of the study (1-2 sentences)
Method (data source, sample, analysis approach)
Key findings (main themes)
Implications (1-2 sentences)

Example structure:

This study examined workplace challenges faced by individuals undergoing infertility treatment. Using qualitative content analysis of [N] Reddit posts from r/IVF, we identified [X] major themes: [list themes]. Findings suggest that [key implication]. Practical recommendations for HR policies are discussed.

3. Introduction

Structure:

Hook (1 paragraph): Why should readers care about infertility treatment at work?
Background (2-3 paragraphs): What do we know about infertility and work?
Gap (1 paragraph): What’s missing from current research?
Purpose (1-2 sentences): What does this study aim to do?

Key Points to Address:

Prevalence of infertility (affects ~15% of couples)
IVF treatment demands (frequent appointments, physical/emotional toll)
Work-life conflict challenges
Lack of organizational support/policies
Stigma and disclosure concerns
Why Reddit data is valuable (anonymous, candid discussions)

Sample Opening:

Infertility affects approximately 15% of couples worldwide, yet workplace policies and practices rarely address the unique challenges faced by employees undergoing fertility treatments. Unlike other health conditions, infertility treatment requires frequent medical appointments, physical recovery time, and significant emotional labor, all while remaining largely invisible in organizational contexts.

4. Method

4.1 Data Source

Describe Reddit as your data source:

r/IVF subreddit
Why this source (anonymous, candid, rich qualitative data)
Time period of posts collected (2024-2025)

4.2 Sample

How many posts you analyzed
Inclusion criteria (posts discussing work/workplace)
Exclusion criteria (posts without work-related content)

4.3 Procedure

How you searched for posts (keywords: work, job, boss, HR, employer, etc.)
How you documented posts in Google Sheets
How you checked for duplicates

4.4 Analysis

Describe thematic analysis:

We employed thematic analysis following Braun and Clarke’s (2006) six-step approach: (1) familiarizing with the data, (2) generating initial codes, (3) searching for themes, (4) reviewing themes, (5) defining and naming themes, and (6) producing the report. Two researchers independently coded the data and met to discuss discrepancies until consensus was reached.

5. Results/Themes

This is the HEART of your paper. Present your themes with supporting quotes.

How to Structure Themes

Option A: Simple Theme Structure

Theme 1: [Theme Name]
  - Explanation
  - Quote 1
  - Quote 2
  - Summary

Theme 2: [Theme Name]
  ...

Option B: Table + Narrative (Recommended)

Create a summary table like the Grandey et al. paper, then provide detailed narrative.

Creating Your Thematic Table

Follow the format from Table 1 in the reference paper. Your table might include:

Theme	Description	Example Quote	Frequency
Time-related challenges	Difficulty scheduling appointments	“I had to lie about why I needed time off…”	45 posts
Disclosure dilemmas	Deciding whether to tell employer	“I don’t know if I should tell my boss…”	38 posts
Lack of support	Absence of workplace policies	“My company has no fertility benefits…”	32 posts
Emotional labor	Managing emotions at work	“I cried in the bathroom after…”	28 posts
Financial stress	Cost of treatment affecting work	“I can’t afford to quit but…”	25 posts

Writing Theme Narratives

For each theme:

Name the theme (use descriptive labels)
Define what it includes
Provide 2-3 representative quotes
Explain the significance

Example:

Theme 1: Time-Related Challenges

The most prevalent theme across posts (n = 45) concerned the difficulty of managing frequent medical appointments while maintaining work responsibilities. IVF treatment requires numerous monitoring appointments, often with little advance notice, creating significant scheduling conflicts.

One poster described the challenge:

“I have to go in for monitoring every morning at 7am for two weeks straight. My boss keeps asking why I’m late. I don’t know what to tell her.” (Post #24)

Another highlighted the unpredictability:

“They called at 2pm saying I need to come in for retrieval tomorrow morning. I had three meetings scheduled.” (Post #47)

These time-related challenges were often compounded by the need to maintain secrecy about the treatment, forcing employees to create elaborate excuses for their absences.

Quote Formatting

Use block quotes for longer quotes (40+ words)
Use quotation marks for shorter quotes
Include post number for reference (e.g., Post #24)
Remove any identifying information
Keep quotes verbatim (including typos/informal language)

6. Discussion

6.1 Summary of Findings

Briefly restate your main themes
Connect to existing literature

6.2 Theoretical Implications

How do your findings extend what we know?
What theories help explain your findings?
- Work-family conflict theory
- Stigma and disclosure theory
- Organizational support theory

6.3 Practical Implications / HR Recommendations

This section is CRITICAL for your paper.

Create a table of HR policy recommendations:

Challenge	HR Policy Recommendation
Time for appointments	Flexible scheduling policies, telehealth support
Disclosure concerns	Confidential leave policies, trained HR staff
Lack of benefits	Fertility treatment coverage, EAP programs
Emotional support	Manager training, peer support groups
Financial burden	Fertility benefits, FSA/HSA options

6.4 Limitations

Be honest about limitations:

Reddit sample may not be representative
Cannot verify information from anonymous posts
Cultural/geographic limitations
Self-selection bias (only those who post online)

6.5 Future Research

Suggest what studies should come next
Interview studies with employees
Organizational-level studies
Longitudinal studies tracking outcomes

7. References

Use APA 7th edition format. Key references to include:

Thematic Analysis Method:

Braun, V., & Clarke, V. (2006). Using thematic analysis in psychology. Qualitative Research in Psychology, 3(2), 77-101.

Reference Paper:

Grandey, A. A., Gabriel, A. S., & King, E. B. (2020). Tackling taboo topics: A review of the three Ms in working women’s lives. Journal of Management, 46(1), 7-35.

Work-Family/Infertility:

Benyamini, Y., Gozlan, M., & Kokia, E. (2005). Variability in the difficulties experienced by women undergoing infertility treatments. Fertility and Sterility, 83(2), 275-283.
Greil, A. L., Slauson-Blevins, K., & McQuillan, J. (2010). The experience of infertility: A review of recent literature. Sociology of Health & Illness, 32(1), 140-162.

Writing Tips

Do:

Use clear, descriptive theme names
Let quotes speak for themselves
Be systematic in your analysis
Acknowledge limitations honestly
Make practical recommendations specific

Don’t:

Over-interpret what posters meant
Cherry-pick only dramatic quotes
Make causal claims from qualitative data
Generalize to all workers/organizations
Include identifying information