Question 1

Luke is conducting an interview study with parents regarding separation anxiety in preschool children. He first starts by asking the parent if his or her child experiences separation anxiety. This first question on Luke's interview protocol is considered a(n)

Accepted Answer

The question is closed because it only allows for a yes or no answer, and does not allow the parent to provide further explanation or elaboration.

Question 2

Cynthia is a qualitative researcher who has enrolled in the class as a student to experience a new treatment-knitting as a means to increase fine motor skills in occupational therapy. Cynthia could best enhance trustworthiness in her study by

Accepted Answer

Increasing the number of data sources, such as conducting interviews with participants or observing them in different settings, can increase the credibility of Cynthia's findings and enhance trustworthiness in her study. This will allow for triangulation of data and provide a more comprehensive understanding of the phenomenon under study. Spending less time in the field or modifying the type of observations may compromise the depth and richness of the data. Including her reflections in her field notes is also important as it allows for reflexivity and transparency in the research process.

Question 3

Interviews generally used to gather basic information at the start of a study are referred to as

Accepted Answer

Structured interviews are designed to gather specific information using standardized questions and response options. They are commonly used at the start of a study to gather basic information from participants in a systematic and consistent manner. Informal, unstructured, and spontaneous interviews may also be used, but they are less structured and less reliable in terms of collecting consistent data.

Question 4

While collecting data through observation at a hockey game, Bruce, is astonished by what he feels is violently aggressive behavior. How should Bruce address this astonishment in his notes?

Accepted Answer

It is important for researchers to separate their personal reactions and emotions from the objective data collected. However, including a reflective section in the field notes allows for the researcher to process their emotional reactions and potential biases, which can be useful in the analysis and interpretation stages of research. Recording personal reactions in a separate journal can also be helpful for personal processing, but it is not necessary for the research data. Therefore, the best choice is to include the reaction in the reflective section of the field notes.

Question 5

Of the following, the best way qualitative researchers can increase confirmability is to

Accepted Answer

Triangulating data sources can increase confirmability by using multiple sources to confirm or contradict findings. This helps to reduce researcher bias and increases the credibility of the study. The other options do not necessarily increase confirmability. Covert observation may raise ethical concerns and interviews can also be a valid form of data collection. Decreasing the amount of time spent in the field may actually decrease confirmability by not allowing for a thorough exploration of the topic.

Question 6

Jeb studies the motivation of young environmentalists. He wants to understand more about the ways in which these children think about environmental issues and how their ideas have developed. He identifies participants through a local 'green kids' group and goes to their next meeting. He selects several of the children through convenience, and asks them open-ended questions that he has written down in advance. He records their responses as they answer the questions. Jeb is best displaying which of the following types of interviews?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Jeb studies the motivation of young environmentalists....

Question 7

Which of the following data collection techniques is most appropriate in order to address a practicing nurse's experiences while in a continuing education session?

Accepted Answer

To address a practicing nurse's experiences while in a continuing education session, the most appropriate data collection technique is an interview. This will allow for in-depth exploration of the nurse's thoughts, feelings, and experiences during the session, providing richer and more detailed data than could be obtained through other methods like observation, document analysis, or a survey.

Question 8

Gretchen is studying the experiences of foster children in new school settings. As a social worker and a qualitative researcher, she would like to conduct observations to collect her data. If observes the children as a by stander while they are in school. Gretchen's data collection strategy can be classified as

Accepted Answer

Gretchen's data collection strategy can be classified as nonparticipant observation because she is observing the children as a bystander, without actively participating in their activities.

Question 9

As part of his research on young elite athletes, Chris was conducting a nonparticipant observation of a national youth track meet. Audrey started to ask him questions about his session before he had a chance to finish recording his field notes. He told her that he did not want to discuss his session until after he had recorded his notes. Relying on your text content, which of the following is accurate regarding discussion of field notes?

Accepted Answer

Based on the text content, Chris is conducting nonparticipant observation and it is important for him to stay objective and avoid any potential biases, including discussion with others which might alter his perceptions. Therefore, he is right in telling Audrey that he did not want to discuss his session until after he had recorded his notes.

Question 10

Consistent with guidelines in your text for field notes, researchers should

Accepted Answer

According to research guidelines, field notes should include both descriptive and reflective information, but these types of information should be recorded separately to maintain clarity and organization. Descriptive information captures the factual, observable elements of the research setting, while reflective information includes the researcher's personal reactions, thoughts, and interpretations. Separating these helps in maintaining objectivity and facilitates easier analysis.

Question 11

Which of the following is NOT considered a qualitative research data source?

Accepted Answer

Survey instruments are typically considered a quantitative research data source as they involve the collection of numerical data. Photographs, journals, and informal conversations are all examples of qualitative data sources as they involve non-numerical data that can be analyzed through interpretation and subjective analysis.

Question 12

Of the following, the data collection method of choice in interview studies is

Accepted Answer

Recording the interview is the best choice for data collection in interview studies as it allows for an accurate and complete recording of the participant's responses. Writing notes during the interview can miss important details and having the participant write their responses may not be feasible in all cases. Writing notes after the interview may result in forgetfulness or bias in recalling the responses. Therefore, recording the interview is the most effective method for data collection.

Question 13

Of the following, which is a suggestion to researchers regarding field notes?

Accepted Answer

It is important to document essential information like date, site, topic and time on field notes to maintain accuracy and organization.

Answer: A and D 
 It is important to engage deeply with the participants as soon as possible to collect authentic information. It is also important to observe and document one's own reactions and feelings in the field to enhance reflexivity and credibility.

Question 14

Finn is a qualitative researcher setting out to conduct his first interview of his study. He is not sure if he should record the interview. Given recommendations regarding data collection methods, please advise Finn.

Accepted Answer

Qualitative researchers recommend recording the interview to ensure accuracy and to have a complete record of the data for analysis. Recording also allows the researcher to focus on the interviewee and not worry about taking extensive notes during the interview.

Question 15

Of the following, the best way qualitative researchers can increase credibility is to

Accepted Answer

Spending more time in the field allows the researcher to gain a deeper understanding of the context and participants, which can increase credibility in qualitative research. Other strategies, such as increasing observational training or relying only on nonparticipant observation, may be helpful, but spending more time in the field is the best option for increasing credibility. Using observations instead of interviews may limit the depth of understanding and insights gained from participants, so it is not the best choice for increasing credibility.

Question 16

One strategy that researchers can use to ease into the field is to

Accepted Answer

Being passive and asking nonspecific questions can help increase the participant's comfort level and ease into the study. It can also prevent the participant from feeling like they are being interrogated or that there is a right or wrong answer. This approach can help establish rapport and ultimately lead to more fruitful interactions. Option A may come across as overly formal, and option B can be perceived as intrusive, while option C may create a sense of anxiety and uncertainty for the participant.

Question 17

Debbie was observing classes in a small rural school as part of her study on opportunities in the arts in diverse school districts. She heard several teachers make reference to the upcoming 'play day' within the context of their lessons. Not knowing what the 'play day' was, Debbie pulled the principal aside and asked her to explain. In this example, Debbie is best illustrating a(n)

Accepted Answer

Debbie did not plan a formal or structured interview with the principal, but rather asked for clarification informally in the moment.

Question 18

Elaine is interpreting her data and realizes that the amount of time she spent at one of the schools is substantially smaller and that she has very little data from that site. She believes it is because she did not 'click' with the principal of one of the five schools she is studying and therefore that school is not well represented in her data. The school is important for Elaine's study. Of the following, which is the most appropriate way to remedy Elaine's problem?

Accepted Answer

The most appropriate solution would be to extend the data collection and have another researcher collect data from the school. This would eliminate the influence of Elaine's personal bias and provide more representative data for the study. Confronting the principal would be unprofessional and may cause further problems, while eliminating the school from the study or changing the research questions would reduce the completeness and accuracy of the study.

Question 19

Keb is convinced that teachers provide more praise to their students while he is observing in their classrooms than they do otherwise. Of the following the most appropriate way to decrease Keb's concerns and increase validity of his data is

Accepted Answer

Increasing the amount of time spent in the classrooms would provide a more comprehensive understanding of the behavior being studied and provide more data points to increase the validity of the observations. Choice A would not be effective as teachers may modify their behavior if they knew the true purpose of the observation. Choice B may result in a biased sample of teachers. Choice D would not be ethically appropriate as it involves covert observation without obtaining consent from the teachers.

Question 20

Susan is conducting interviews with successful technology entrepreneurs. She needs to pilot her interview protocol. Of the following, who would constitute the most appropriate pilot group?

Accepted Answer

Other technology entrepreneurs would be the most appropriate pilot group as they have firsthand experience in the industry and can provide feedback on the relevance and clarity of the interview questions. Entrepreneurs in other fields, investors, and employees may not have the same level of understanding or expertise in the technology industry.

Quiz 19: Qualitative Data Collection