Analyzing and Evaluating Data-Based Research Articles

Select one qualitative and one quantitative article from your search for your Unit 5 assignment. For your post, find and copy each article's purpose statement. Then describe the sampling strategy and the data collection process for each study. Compare and contrast the differences in each approach and how each is aligned with the purpose statement.

Practicing Literature Searches and Topic Development

Impact of Online Learning on Work-Life Balance

Work-life balance is the division of one's time between work and family or leisure engagements. A person with a good work-life balance has equally balanced the time spent working or learning and with family or in leisure activities. The importance of work-life balance cannot be understated; it helps one manage work-related stress and prevent burnouts (Bucea-Manea-oni et al., 2020). Online learning is defined as carrying out learning activities utilizing digital learning environments. Therefore, one can do all the learning activities remotely, such as at home. Currently, education is experiencing a transformation that would see significant learning activities carried out online. Technology has impacted online learning and work-life balance since people can now study and work at home. However, this has proved to have adverse effects on the health and, specifically, mental wellbeing of individuals. Berry and Hughes (2019) argue that the boundaries between work and family time were strictly defined before the technological advancements which have seen people working at home. People extend the time spent studying and working instead of having some family time or engaging in leisure activities for relaxation.

Additionally, the physical and temporal boundary between work and life is removed by communication technology, enabling boundary-crossing (Berry & Hughes, 2019). Long periods of extended study or work without breaks lead to burnout and chronic stress; therefore, people should seek a work-life balance by sticking to the boundaries that divide work and family or leisure time. Technology has brought significant changes to the work and learning environment, work and learning culture (Bucea-Manea-oni et al., 2020). The current generation of workers and learners are adapting to the new ways of learning and working enhanced by technological advancements. For example, class meetings can be held using digital platforms; hence there is no need for physical locations. Online learning enhances flexibility which can help bring work-life balance. However, people are at times spending more time working or studying when they are in the comfort of their homes. Therefore, it is important to determine the impact of online learning on work-life balance.

Evaluation of the search strategy

The keywords used in the search include online learning, work-life balance, and technology. Also, a combination of the keywords online learning and work-life balance was used in the search. The most productive keywords that produced the most relevant search results include the keywords online learning and work-life balance and technology and online learning and work-life balance. These keywords gave the most relevant articles that addressed the topic of research being investigated. However, there were non-productive keywords that produced results that were too general hence not relevant to the impact of technology in online learning and work-life balance. Therefore, the best keywords producing the most relevant results were those where keywords were input and then and followed by another keyword. Such a combination promotes the location of the most relevant articles.

Literature review outline

A majority of the studies on work-life balance look at work and home separately. They are considered as having boundaries that a person crosses either physically or psychologically as they work. However, it is noted that there is a shift in culture towards digital learning and work environments. The boundaries that are used to separate work from home have been breached by the advancement in communication technologies (Berry and Hughes, 2020). Moreover, people work during the time that was considered family time and at times rest during the time that people would rest. Work-life balance can be achieved with the use of digital technologies since one can work in the comfort of their homes. However, this has drawbacks; when boundaries are not created, people may spend more time working although they are at home.

The border and boundary theory holds that there are boundaries dividing times, places, and people that are involved in work versus family roles. People cross these borders every time to are working or learning, whether physically or psychologically, as they switch from work and family or leisure time (Johari et al., 2017). Additionally, people have separated their lives in terms of work environment and home or leisure time. Similarly, the spillover theory focuses on when there is a spillover between work and family, creating either negative or positive relationships. Where there is no flexibility between work and family time, there is bound to be a negative spillover. On the other hand, where there is flexibility, there is a positive spill. This means that people with flexible schedules find it easy to create time for family or leisure. At the same time, those without flexibility have difficulty creating time for family or leisure time hence no work-life balance.

Most studies on work-life balance utilized qualitative methodology. This allows the researchers to gain an in-depth understanding of an issue (Berry and Hughes, 2020). Moreover, the data is accurate since the respondents can give their experiences, feelings, and thoughts without any constraint. The researchers can also follow up on the respondents' answers in real-time; hence, the qualitative analysis offers a dynamic approach to research. The respondents in quantitative research can also elaborate their answers whenever necessary, enabling the researcher to gain more insight into the topic.

Future research on the topic should adopt a quantitative methodology to give a further exploration of the issue. A larger sample should be used for the research to increase the generalizability of the findings. Moreover, future researchers should look into the impacts of digital working spaces on employees' work-life balance and performance working at home. Currently, most of the studies explored (Berry & Hughes, 2020; Bucea-Manea-oni et al., 2020; Bauwens et al., 2020) looked into the impacts of technology on online learning work-life balance. Still, no significant studies have fully addressed the impact on performance.

The border and boundary theory outlines that there are boundaries between work and life. Various studies support the fact that there are physical and temporal boundaries in online learning and work-life balance (Berry & Hughes, 2020. However, these boundaries exist psychologically when people are learning online. Additionally, it is easy for people to have a balance of work and life while learning online since they work in the comfort of their homes. However, it may lead to burnout and stress when the boundaries are not adhered to (Bauwens et al., 2020). It is a widespread belief that working at home exposes people to unlimited schedules with no time frames hence a possibility of working longer than required to complete tasks hence work-life balance is compromised. There has been a change in understanding since the various literature used in the study suggest that people can achieve a work-life balance while learning online.

The processes and procedures of the literature search start with a clear definition of the search topic. A topic is defined by asking the questions that need to be answered. For this case, it was whether online learning had any impact on work-life balance. A topic ensures that the research maintains focus on a specific issue throughout the whole research process. A search strategy ensures that relevant information for the study can be obtained. The search study used for this literature search entailed a Preliminary Search using keywords in the Capella University Library databases. The keywords that were successful in locating the relevant articles were a combination of online learning and work-life balance. The information obtained was evaluated to ensure that it was credible. This involved considering the currency, authority, and relevance to the topic.

Theory in research has proved important as it enhances its meaningfulness and provides a connection between issues in real life and literature. It establishes meaningful relationships among variables that would otherwise not be considered. Moreover, theories provide the researcher with the guidelines to use as they look for information pointing out the areas that are likely to be successful. It also helps to narrow down the range of facts the research is supposed to study hence helping maintain focus on key issues. Similarly, seminal works present ideas of great importance to a certain field. They helped this study to understand how people can strike a balance between work and life by utilizing online learning as it offers more room for flexibility; hence one can participate in leisure or family activities. The analysis of data-based research helps understand the importance of the use of information in research.

My acknowledgments go to colleagues who gave me unlimited assistance in specific areas of the assignment whenever I faced challenges. Without their effort, I would likely have spent more time figuring out things on my own. Moreover, their support helped maintain focus on key issues that needed to be addressed in the assignment. Therefore, this work is dedicated to their relentless efforts.

Practicing Literature Searches and Topic Development

Impact of Online Learning on Work-Life Balance

Work-life balance is the division of one's time between work and family or leisure engagements. A person with a good work-life balance has equally balanced the time spent working or learning and with family or in leisure activities. The importance of work-life balance cannot be understated; it helps one manage work-related stress and prevent burnouts (Bucea-Manea-oni et al., 2020). Online learning is defined as carrying out learning activities utilizing digital learning environments. Therefore, one can do all the learning activities remotely, such as at home. Currently, education is experiencing a transformation that would see significant learning activities carried out online. Technology has impacted online learning and work-life balance since people can now study and work at home. However, this has proved to have adverse effects on the health and, specifically, mental wellbeing of individuals. Berry and Hughes (2019) argue that the boundaries between work and family time were strictly defined before the technological advancements which have seen people working at home. People extend the time spent studying and working instead of having some family time or engaging in leisure activities for relaxation.

Additionally, the physical and temporal boundary between work and life is removed by communication technology, enabling boundary-crossing (Berry & Hughes, 2019). Long periods of extended study or work without breaks lead to burnout and chronic stress; therefore, people should seek a work-life balance by sticking to the boundaries that divide work and family or leisure time. Technology has brought significant changes to the work and learning environment, work and learning culture (Bucea-Manea-oni et al., 2020). The current generation of workers and learners are adapting to the new ways of learning and working enhanced by technological advancements. For example, class meetings can be held using digital platforms; hence there is no need for physical locations. Online learning enhances flexibility which can help bring work-life balance. However, people are at times spending more time working or studying when they are in the comfort of their homes. Therefore, it is important to determine the impact of online learning on work-life balance.

Evaluation of the search strategy

The keywords used in the search include online learning, work-life balance, and technology. Also, a combination of the keywords online learning and work-life balance was used in the search. The most productive keywords that produced the most relevant search results include the keywords online learning and work-life balance and technology and online learning and work-life balance. These keywords gave the most relevant articles that addressed the topic of research being investigated. However, there were non-productive keywords that produced results that were too general hence not relevant to the impact of technology in online learning and work-life balance. Therefore, the best keywords producing the most relevant results were those where keywords were input and then and followed by another keyword. Such a combination promotes the location of the most relevant articles.