Deck 19: Qualitative Research: Specific Methods

Question 1

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

Answer 1

False

Question 2

In qualitative research the unstructured interview is used to​

A) ​minimize interviewer bias.
B) ​gain an in-depth understanding of respondents' views, attitudes, values, and beliefs.
C) ​obtain easily tabulated data.
D) obtain responses to closed-ended questions.​
E) ​control for factors that may affect the respondents' answers.

Answer 2

B

Question 3

Explain what is meant by reflexivity and why it is a key part of qualitative research.

Answer 3

will vary

Question 4

Which of the following statements is/are 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 5

A risk with the complete participant role risks is that the researchers might have an effect on what they are observing.

Question 6

Group conformity or groupthink is a potential disadvantage of focus groups.

Question 7

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

A) ​Don't trust your memory any more than you have to.
B) ​You must always constantly take notes while you are observing.
C) ​Make at least six copies of your notes.
D) ​Advance preparation on recording anticipated observations will hinder recording unanticipated observations.

Question 8

Although there are no clear guidelines to follow, what ethical considerations should a researcher consider when choosing which role to assume in the field?

Question 9

Establishing rapport in qualitative field research involves using active listening skills taught in some basic social work practice classes.

Question 10

Which of the following statements is true about the emic and etic perspectives?​

A) ​They both emphasize maintaining your objectivity.
B) ​They both deemphasize maintaining your objectivity
C) ​You must adopt one perspective or the other, rather than try to adopt both postures.
D) ​It is difficult, yet possible, to assume both the emic and the etic perspectives.

Question 11

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 12

Which of the following is the best probe in an informal conversational interview?​

A) ​"Is that job better or worse then your old job?"
B) ​"Is that a better job because of the hours?"
C) ​"Tell me more about why that's a better job."
D) ​"Are you sure that that's a better job?"

Question 13

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.

Question 14

It is possible to assume both the emic and etic perspectives in the same research study

Question 15

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 16

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

Question 17

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

Question 18

Which of the following statements is/are true about the interview guide approach?​

A) ​It uses an outline of interview topics and issues to cover.
B) ​It is the most highly structured approach to qualitative interviewing.
C) ​It is the least structured approach to qualitative interviewing.
D) ​It relieves interviewers of the need to be completely familiar with its contents before beginning any interviews.

Question 19

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 20

How does qualitative interviewing differ from quantitative survey interviewing?