Question 1

In general, the selected field site for an observational study should be a location where&#10;A) the appropriate people to study are likely to be available and accessible.&#10;B) the appropriate individuals are available to collect the data.&#10;C) a location that provides accommodations for data collectors, such as lodging and food.&#10;D) both a and b

Accepted Answer

The selected field site for an observational study should be a location where the appropriate people to study are likely to be available and accessible as well as a location where the appropriate individuals are available to collect the data. Accommodations for data collectors, such as lodging and food, may be a consideration but are not as essential as having access to the right people and being able to collect the data from them. Therefore, both options A and B are the best choices.

Question 2

Difficulty in gaining access to subjects in a qualitative research study includes&#10;A) differences between researcher and subjects, such as social class and gender.&#10;B) elite status of a population of interest.&#10;C) populations at the very bottom of the SES scale, such as homeless persons.&#10;D) all of these (a, b, c)

Accepted Answer

Difficulty in gaining access to subjects in a qualitative research study can arise from a variety of factors, including differences in social class, gender, or other characteristics between the researcher and subjects, the elite status of a population of interest, or the challenges of working with populations at the very bottom of the SES scale, such as homeless persons. Thus, all of these factors can contribute to difficulties in gaining access to subjects in a qualitative research study.

Question 3

Advantages of concealing identity as a researcher include&#10;A) access could be denied unless the researcher camouflages the role of researcher.&#10;B) subjects are not tempted to purposely project an image for the researcher.&#10;C) observers can guard against becoming emotionally entangled in a situation.&#10;D) only (a and b)

Accepted Answer

By concealing their identity, the researcher may be able to access otherwise restricted or sensitive situations (option A) and minimize the risk of subjects altering their behavior to conform to what they believe the researcher wants to see (option B). Option C is not necessarily related to concealing identity, but rather a broader concept of maintaining objectivity as an observer.

Question 4

In the study conducted with nursing home residents, which of the following can be seen as strength(s) of participant observation?&#10;A) Ability to document conditions more difficult to identify in surveys, such as abuse of residents.&#10;B) Ability both to observe and reason about how structural conditions likely influence nursing home environments&#10;C) Ability to observe how not-for-profit homes likely suffer from problems of poorly paid, overworked staff and the resulting low staff morale&#10;D) all of these (a, b, c)

Accepted Answer

Participant observation has the strength of being able to document conditions that may be difficult to identify through surveys, such as abuse of residents. It also allows for observation and reasoning about how structural conditions likely influence nursing home environments. Additionally, it can provide insights into issues that may be more prevalent in not-for-profit homes, such as poorly paid, overworked staff and low staff morale. Therefore, all of the choices (a, b, c) are strengths of participant observation in this study.

Question 5

In the study conducted with couples viewing the two movies, what is/are advantage(s) of nonparticipant observation?&#10;A) pre-test and post-test observations help rule out 'selection' effects as the reason for post-test differences between groups attending the two movies&#10;B) variables are those that can be observed without subjects' participation&#10;C) the 'natural setting' of the treatment&#10;D) all of these (a, b, c)

Accepted Answer

Nonparticipant observation allows researchers to observe variables without subjects' participation, which is beneficial for this study as it avoids potential biases introduced by subjects being aware of being observed. Additionally, pre-test and post-test observations help rule out selection effects as a reason for group differences, and the natural setting of the treatment adds ecological validity to the study. Therefore, all of these advantages (a, b, and c) apply to this study.

Deck 6: Ethnography and Observation