Deck 4: Methods of Community Research

Question 1

Methods that emphasize careful listening and detailed description of participants' experiences,and often involve later checking of interpretations of these with participants.

A)qualitative methods.
B)quantitative methods.
C)experimental methods.
D)longitudinal methods.

Answer 1

qualitative methods.

Question 2

Which of Stein and Mankowski's 'acts' or stages of qualitative research is involved when researchers listen to participants carefully and with empathy?

A)asking
B)witnessing
C)interpreting
D)knowing

Answer 2

witnessing

Question 3

Which of Stein and Mankowski's 'acts' or stages of qualitative research concerns the products of the research?

A)asking
B)witnessing
C)interpreting
D)knowing

Answer 3

knowing

Question 4

Which of Stein and Mankowski's 'acts' or stages of qualitative research is involved when researchers analyze what they have learned,forming a 'researcher's story'?

A)asking
B)witnessing
C)interpreting
D)knowing

Question 5

The overall themes of Chapter 4 include:

A)qualitative and quantitative methods are useful
B)qualitative methods are better for community research
C)quantitative methods are better for community research
D)multiple methods weaken the focus of a specific study

Question 6

Qualitative methods seek ____ ,and usually collect data in the form of ____ .

A)contextual meaning;numbers
B)contextual meaning;words
C)standardization;numbers
D)standardization;words

Question 7

A limitation of participant observation is:

A)limited generalizability to other settings.
B)selectivity of researcher notes and observations.
C)conflict in roles of participant and observer.
D)all of the above

Question 8

Qualitative interviewing allows thick description and development of understanding within a relationship between a researcher and participant,yet also emphasizes:

A)collecting data other researchers can analyze directly.
B)measurement and experimental control.
C)active participant observation.
D)both 'b' and 'c'

Question 9

The overall themes of Chapter 4 include:

A)a longitudinal perspective often strengthens community research
B)the best method for a specific study depends on its purposes
C)qualitative methods are better for community research
D)both 'a' and 'b'

Question 10

Which of Stein and Mankowski's 'acts' or stages of qualitative research is involved when researchers identify their values and who they wish to study?

A)asking
B)witnessing
C)interpreting
D)knowing

Question 11

Kroeker's (1995)study of consciousness-raising in agricultural cooperatives in Nicaragua was an example of:

A)a focus group study.
B)quantitative interviewing.
C)participant observation.
D)time-series methods.

Question 12

Data analysis in a qualitative study often involves:

A)interpreting themes in participants' words
B)using multiple readers to see if they interpret themes in the same ways
C)checking of interpretations with participants
D)all of the above

Question 13

Using a small sample,seeking understanding of their experiences and perspective,with less concern for whether findings can be generalized to others,is characteristic of:

A)qualitative methods.
B)quantitative methods.
C)experimental methods.
D)longitudinal methods.

Question 14

Qualitative methods usually emphasize the ____ more than quantitative methods.

A)measurement of variables
B)generalization of findings to other groups
C)relationship of researcher and participant
D)validity of findings

Question 15

The Stein and Wemmerus study of families with a schizophrenic member is an example of what research method?

A)participant observation
B)focus groups
C)qualitative interviewing
D)case studies

Question 16

The research method in which the researcher becomes personally involved in community life,while keeping careful,systematic notes and seeking to form conceptual understanding of community phenomena.

A)focus groups
B)qualitative interviewing
C)participant observation
D)experimental social innovation

Question 17

Intensive contact with a small sample,thick description of their experiences,and coding of themes or patterns in their words,are characteristic of

A)qualitative methods.
B)quantitative methods.
C)experimental methods.
D)longitudinal methods.

Question 18

Quantitative methods seek ____ ,and usually collect data in the form of ____ .

A)contextual meaning;numbers
B)contextual meaning;words
C)standardization;numbers
D)standardization;words

Question 19

Measurement,seeking understanding of cause and effect,and control of extraneous variables,are characteristic of:

A)quantitative methods.
B)qualitative methods.
C)focus group methods.
D)longitudinal methods.

Question 20

A focus group study is most like a(n):

A)case study with a group.
B)qualitative interview with a group of unrelated people.
C)representative sample of a population.
D)field experiment.

Question 21

Researchers interviewed groups of Mexican American working parents about how they taught their children to deal with prejudice.What methodology did their study use?

A)case study
B)individual qualitative interviews
C)focus groups
D)quantitative group observation

Question 22

When researchers state explicitly their values,assumptions,and personal status or social position,and examine how these may influence the research,what principle are they applying?

A)generalizability
B)reflexivity
C)verisimilitude
D)triangulation

Question 23

Behavioral observation of a setting,community surveys,and use of epidemiological data,are usually considered:

A)qualitative interviewing.
B)experimental social innovation.
C)quantitative description.
D)multiple baseline studies.

Question 24

Limitations of case studies include

A)generalizability to other settings.
B)uncertainties in interpreting archival records.
C)lack of a longitudinal perspective.
D)both "a" and "b"

Question 25

In epidemiology,the number of new cases of an illness within a population,within a certain period (e.g. ,year).

A)prevalence
B)incidence
C)impact
D)epidemic

Question 26

Biglan et al.(1996)studied whether store clerks in eight Oregon towns were willing to sell tobacco products to minors.They measured clerk behavior repeatedly over time,implemented a positive reinforcement intervention at different times in different towns,and usually found a drop in willingness to sell after implementing this intervention.What research methodology did they use?

A)multiple baseline design.
B)interrupted time-series design.
C)nonequivalent comparison group design.
D)both "a" and "b"

Question 27

Ethan compiled geographic information systems data and created a map showing that in low-income areas of a city,stores selling healthy food were scarce,while in higher-income areas,they were common.This is an example of what method?

A)qualitative interviewing.
B)experimental social innovation.
C)quantitative description.
D)multiple baseline studies.

Question 28

When the words of participants in a qualitative study lead listeners or readers to have feelings similar to those experienced by the original participants,what goal of qualitative research has occurred?

A)triangulation
B)reflexivity
C)verisimilitude
D)all of the above

Question 29

Randomized assignment to conditions in experiments greatly strengthens the:

A)control of extraneous or confounding variables.
B)likelihood that different outcomes are due to the intervention or innovation.
C)ability to determine cause and effect.
D)all of the above

Question 30

Use of archival sources such as memorandums,meeting minutes and newspaper stories is most characteristic of

A)case studies
B)individual qualitative interviews
C)focus group studies
D)field experiments

Question 31

Weinstein's study of instructional methods in a high school compared student performance in one year with the performance of similar students in the prior two years.This illustrates what quantitative method?

A)randomized field experiment
B)quantitative observation
C)epidemiology
D)nonequivalent comparison group design

Question 32

Nonequivalent comparison group designs differ from randomized field experiments because they do not use:

A)random assignment to conditions.
B)quantitative observation.
C)standardized measurement.
D)longitudinal design.

Question 33

Brodsky studied the Revolutionary Association of the Women of Afghanistan by studying organizational documents,interviewing individuals and groups,and participant observation.Her study used what methodologies?

A)qualitative interviewing
B)case study
C)both 'a' and 'b'
D)multiple baseline design

Question 34

Advantages of these research methods include the following: generalizability based on large samples and standardized measurement,and statistical analysis of variables that cannot be manipulated.

A)quantitative description
B)randomized field experiments
C)nonequivalent comparison group designs
D)experimental social innovation

Question 35

A limitation of the interrupted time-series design is that changes in the dependent variable may be due not to the intervention,but to:

A)a confounding external event.
B)"seasonal" changes in the dependent variable.
C)lack of a randomly assigned control group.
D)both 'a' and 'b'

Question 36

An advantage of focus groups over individual interviews is that they

A)reveal shared knowledge and social interaction.
B)collect a representative sample of the population.
C)more easily allow quantitative data collection.
D)all of the above

Question 37

When researchers use participant observation as well as interviews,or multiple interviewers,or both qualitative and quantitative methods,to study citizen participation in neighborhood associations,what principle are they applying?

A)triangulation
B)reflexivity
C)verisimilitude
D)all of the above

Question 38

Repeated,standardized measurement of a single setting over time,when an intervention is implemented during the measurement,is:

A)a nonequivalent comparison group design.
B)an interrupted time-series design.
C)quantitative description.
D)a randomized field experiment.

Question 39

Using a questionnaire,Luisa statistically compared the perceptions of peer support on campus among different groups of students: e.g. ,women and men,commuter and resident students.This is an example of what method?

A)qualitative interviewing
B)experimental social innovation
C)quantitative description
D)multiple baseline studies

Question 40

Repeated,standardized measurement of several settings over time,when an intervention is implemented at different times in different settings during the measurement,is:

A)a multiple baseline design.
B)an interrupted time-series design.
C)a focus group design.
D)both 'a' and 'b'

Question 41

Choose one of the quantitative research methods discussed in Chapter 4.Describe its purposes,procedures,strengths and limitations.Suggest a community research topic of your own for which this method would be appropriate.

Question 42

Choose one of the qualitative research methods discussed in Chapter 4.Describe its purposes,procedures,strengths and limitations.Suggest a community research topic of your own for which this method would be appropriate.

Question 43

Describe how qualitative methods address issues of reliability,validity,and generalizability.Include the concepts of triangulation,verisimilitude,and reflexivity.

Question 44

Choose a community research topic and propose a study using one of the methodologies in Chapter 4.Be specific about questions or hypotheses you wish to study,sample,and procedure.

Question 45

Chirowodza and colleagues' study of the effectiveness of HIV prevention strategies in Zimbabwe;Ellis,Marsh,and Craven's study of peer support programs in Australia;and Janzen and colleagues' study of mental health consumer-run organizations in Ontario,Canada all illustrated:

A)nonequivalent comparison group designs
B)randomized field experiments
C)case studies using qualitative and quantitative methods
D)use of geographic information systems

Question 46

Compare the purposes,strengths,and limitations of qualitative and quantitative methods for community research.For each,suggest a question for community research for which those methods would be appropriate.