A researcher includes a statement of purpose that indicates that the goal of the study is to understand the lived experiences of family members caring for a terminally ill child with cancer. What type of research design would most likely be used? A. Ethnography B. Phenomenology C. Quasi-experimental D. Grounded theory

 B. Phenomenology

The goal of understanding the lived experiences of individuals makes phenomenology the most likely research design to be used in this context. Phenomenology is a qualitative research design that seeks to understand and describe how people experience a certain phenomenon. In the case presented, the phenomenon is the experience of family members caring for a terminally ill child with cancer. Phenomenology allows the researcher to explore and depict the essence and meanings of these experiences from the perspectives of the participants.

Extra: In qualitative research, there are several design approaches that can be used depending on the nature of the research question:

1. Ethnography: This design is typically used when researchers want to study cultures, communities, or groups by immersing themselves in that context to observe and interact with participants. Ethnographers aim to understand the social meanings and activities of people within that culture or context.

2. Phenomenology: This approach focuses on the lived experiences of individuals regarding a particular phenomenon and seeks to describe the commonalities of experiences across individuals. Phenomenologists aim to deeply explore the meaning of these experiences and reach the essence of what it is like for someone to experience that phenomenon.

3. Quasi-experimental: Quasi-experimental designs involve studies that may have an intervention and comparison but lack the random assignment of participants to groups that is characteristic of true experimental designs. This form of research is common in situations where controlled experiments are not feasible or ethical.

4. Grounded theory: Grounded theory is used when a researcher is trying to develop a theory that explains a process, action, or interaction grounded in empirical data. Rather than starting with a hypothesis, in grounded theory, the theory emerges from the data collected during the research.

Given the information provided in the question, phenomenology is the research design that aligns best with the goal of understanding the subjective experiences of family members caring for a terminally ill child with cancer.