Deck 15: Additional Methods in Qualitative Inquiry

Question 1

The qualitative researcher in the role of participant-as-observer participates fully with the group under study but does not disclose his or her role as researcher.

Answer 1

False

Question 2

An advantage of qualitative research is that

A) it enables the researcher to draw conclusions about the population.
B) the researcher can control the variables under study.
C) phenomena can be studied in a natural setting.
D) hypotheses can be rigorously tested.

Answer 2

C

Question 3

Professor Smith was interested in reporting the reality of the experiences of teenage runaways living on the streets in their own terms.Smith is probably most interested in:

A) being a complete participant
B) quantitative research.
C) ethnography.
D) hermeneutics.
E) none of the above.

Answer 3

C

Question 4

Field notes should record what you "know happened," NOT what you "think" has happened.

Question 5

Qualitative researchers should NEVER participate as an actor in the events under study.

Question 6

An example of the participant-as-observer includes

A) joining a sorority or fraternity to study initiation rituals without revealing your identity as a researcher.
B) telling people you're a spy to find out how they react.
C) telling a motorcycle gang that you are a researcher and would like to ride with them for a year to understand their interaction patterns.
D) being a newspaper reporter who interviews union workers to learn about recent strike efforts.

Question 7

Prolonged engagement is used to reduce the impact of reactivity and respondent bias.

Question 8

In comparison to surveys,qualitative research is

A) more subjective and more generalizable.
B) less subjective and more generalizable.
C) more subjective and less generalizable.
D) less subjective and less generalizable.

Question 9

The qualitative researcher

A) seldom approaches the task with precisely defined hypotheses to be tested.
B) attempts to make sense out of an ongoing process that cannot always be predicted in advance.
C) alternates between induction and deduction.
D) makes initial observations, develops tentative conclusions that suggest further observation, and revises the conclusions.
E) all of these.

Question 10

Which of the following contemporary positivist strategies is recommended for enhancing the rigor of qualitative studies?

A) Prolonged engagement
B) Triangulation.
C) Negative case analysis.
D) Leaving a paper trail for auditing.
E) All of these.

Question 11

Which of the following statements is true about focus groups?

A) The larger the number of participants, the better.
B) The group dynamics may bring out information that may not have emerged in individual interviews..
C) Representativeness is a common strength of this method.
D) The data that emerge are likely to be less voluminous and more systematic than structured survey data.

Question 12

A study that begins with observations and then looks for patterns,themes,or common categories is using what method?

A) being a complete participant
B) participatory action research.
C) grounded theory.
D) client logs.

Question 13

Which of the following is a social constructivist standard for appraising the trustworthiness of qualitative research?

A) Member checking
B) Evoke action for the distribution of power
C) Prolonged engagement
D) Negative case analysis

Question 14

Which of the following statements is true about the emic and etic perspectives in qualitative research?

A) Although the two perspectives seem contradictory, the participant observer should try to blend them.
B) They both pertain primarily to ethics.
C) They are more relevant to the complete observer than to the participant-as-observer.
D) Neither allows researchers to question the views of the people being observed.

Question 15

The complete participant role prevents researchers from having an effect on what they are observing.

Question 16

Qualitative research is especially effective for

A) descriptive research.
B) providing a comprehensive perspective to the researcher.
C) meeting the scientific norm of generalizability.
D) meeting the scientific norm of precision.

Question 17

Which of the following is POOR advice about recording observations in the field?

A) Don't trust your memory any more than you have to.
B) Always constantly take notes while you are observing.
C) Make at least two copies of your notes.
D) Advance preparation on recording anticipated observations better enables you to record unanticipated observations.

Question 18

Among the advantages of qualitative research is that it

A) yields precise descriptive statements about a large population.
B) involves the uniform application of precise operational definitions.
C) allows for the modification of research design,
D) produces definitive conclusions.
E) is an extremely reliable technique.

Question 19

An informant is one of your colleagues who attempts to gain
membership into the group being studied.

Question 20

Which of the following statements is true about participatory action research?

A) It is distinguished by its social action aims.
B) The researcher serves as a resource to those being studied.
C) It often involves poor people.
D) All of these.

Question 21

Describe how grounded theory can be used in conjunction with ethnography.

Question 22

Ethnography focuses on providing detailed,accurate descriptions of the way people in a particular culture live and the way they interpret the meanings of things.

Question 23

Describe three key threats to the trustworthiness of qualitative research and six positivist strategies commonly used to minimize the distorting influence of those threats.

Question 24

Discuss the differences between positivist,social constructivist and empowerment standards for evaluating qualitative studies.

Question 25

Grounded theory emphasizes inductive processes,but can incorporate deductive processes.

Question 26

Feminist studies aim to generate findings that can be used to improve the well being of women in an historically male dominated society.

Question 27

Select a research topic.Describe how a complete participant,a participant-as-observer,an observer-as-participant,and a complete observer might study that subject.

Question 28

Explain why blending the emic and etic perspectives is a challenging paradox.

Question 29

Describe how grounded theory uses constant comparisons.

Question 30

Using the life-history method,researchers ask open-ended questions to discover how participants in a study understand the significant events and meanings in their own lives.

Question 31

In comparison to quantitative research methods,what are the major strengths and weaknesses of qualitative research methods?

Question 32

The standards for appraising the trustworthiness of qualitative research are the same regardless of one's epistemological paradigm.

Question 33

Due to their similarity,it is relatively easy,and not paradoxical,to blend the emic and etic perspectives in qualitative observation.

Question 34

Qualitative researchers should wait to record observations until enough time has passed to put the events in a proper perspective.