Question 1

Saturation point is reached when the researcher, though continuing to explore the phenomenon with participants in the research, no longer hears any new thoughts, feelings, attitudes, emotions, intentions, etc. This is saturation point, the researcher is 'saturated' with knowledge on the topic and continuing to engage participants would not be useful, necessary, or ethically sound, as engaging further participants in the research will not add in any way to the knowledge generated.

Accepted Answer

Saturation point is reached when the researcher no longer hears any new thoughts, feelings, attitudes, emotions, intentions, etc. Continuing to engage participants would not be useful, necessary, or ethically sound, as it will not add to the knowledge generated.

Question 2

The researcher designing the research project decides on and defines the parameters of the population of the study.

Accepted Answer

The researcher has control over defining the population that will be studied. This is done during the initial stages of the research project design.

Question 3

Participant observation is the same as observation, with one major difference, the researcher is a participant in the action s/he is observing.

Accepted Answer

In participant observation, the researcher is not just an observer, but also actively participates in the situation being studied. This method allows for a more immersive and in-depth understanding of the behavior and culture of the group being observed.

Question 4

Ethnography is a data gathering method.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Ethnography is a data gathering method....

Question 5

It is often the case that the entire population of the research is too big, and as a result beyond the scope of the researcher. In such situations, the researcher clearly defines the population of the research, and then selects from that population a sample to study.

Accepted Answer

This statement is true. It is common for studies to focus on a subset or sample of a larger population that is more feasible and practical to study. This allows researchers to draw conclusions about the population as a whole based on the characteristics and behaviors of the sample they study.

Question 6

Participant observation is a data gathering method.

Accepted Answer

Participant observation involves the researcher actively participating in the social setting being studied, observing and interacting with participants, and collecting data through observation, note-taking, and interviews. Therefore, it is a data gathering method.

Question 7

There are two kinds of sampling, probability and non probability sampling.

Accepted Answer

This statement is true. Probability sampling refers to sampling techniques that involve random selection, while non probability sampling involves non-random selection.

Question 8

Projective techniques are a data gathering method.

Accepted Answer

Projective techniques are a commonly used data gathering method in market research, psychology, and other fields. They most frequently involve presenting a stimulus to a participant and asking them to respond with their thoughts, feelings, or associations in order to understand their underlying attitudes, perceptions, or motivations. Examples include inkblot tests, word association tests, and thematic apperception tests.

Question 9

Some research is carried out using entire populations and some is carried out using sample populations or samples of populations.

Accepted Answer

Research can be conducted on entire populations when feasible, but often due to constraints like cost and time, samples of populations are used to infer conclusions about the whole.

Question 10

The emphasis in non-probability sampling is on the capacity of a relatively small number of cases to clearly and comprehensively illustrate the phenomenon under investigation.

Accepted Answer

Non-probability sampling is often used in qualitative research where the goal is not to generalize findings, but rather to gain a deep understanding of a specific phenomenon. This is achieved by selecting cases that are most likely to provide rich and detailed information about the topic of interest.

Question 11

Field diaries are a means of gathering data.

Accepted Answer

Field diaries are commonly used in qualitative research to collect data through written observations and reflections made by the researcher while they are in the field.

Question 12

The sample is a small sub-set of the population.

Accepted Answer

A sample is a small group of individuals or entities selected from a larger population to provide information about the population. Therefore, by definition, a sample is a small sub-set of the population.

Question 13

The key issue in sampling is that of representation. The concept of representation relates to the degree to which a sample drawn from a population can be said to be representative of the population.

Accepted Answer

This is an accurate statement about the key issue in sampling. The goal of sampling is to draw a sample that accurately represents the population of interest. However, there can be challenges in achieving representation due to factors such as sampling bias or inadequate sample size.

Question 14

If the sampling method used is appropriate, the response rate is irrelevant.

Accepted Answer

The response rate can provide valuable information about the representativeness of the sample and potential nonresponse bias. A low response rate can lead to concerns about the generalizability of the findings. Therefore, the response rate should be taken into consideration when evaluating the quality of the sample.

Question 15

The researcher might be working with a population with cultural issues, language issues, or with literacy issues. Any or all of these will have an impact of the design of data gathering technique.

Accepted Answer

If the population the researcher is working with has cultural issues, language barriers or literacy challenges, it will certainly have an impact on the design of the data gathering techniques. For instance, language difficulties may require the questionnaire or survey to be translated into the target language. If the respondents are illiterate, interviews may need to be conducted orally. Similarly, cultural considerations may affect the choice of interviewer and the mode of data collection. It is important to consider these factors to ensure that the data collected is accurate and meaningful.

Question 16

Researchers are very pragmatic when it comes to research methods. They use whatever method of data collection is most appropriate, whatever data collection method will work best.

Accepted Answer

Researchers are focused on obtaining accurate and reliable data, so they will select the most appropriate research method based on the research question and the available resources. They are not restricted to using only one particular method and will use whatever method works best for their specific research.

Question 17

When using a sample of a population in a research project, the researcher must clearly describe the sample. Then s/he must explain why that sample was selected and clearly describe the sampling method, the means by which that sample was selected.

Accepted Answer

It is essential for a researcher to clearly describe the sample, explain why it was selected, and describe the sampling method. This is to ensure transparency, replicability, and validity of the research findings.

Question 18

The term 'research methods' means data collection methods or data gathering techniques; data collection methods are the means by which researchers gather the data required for the research project.

Accepted Answer

Research methods refer to the techniques and tools used to collect data for a research project. They are crucial for generating accurate and reliable results.

Question 19

Decisions with regard to whether to work with an entire population or a sample of the population are made based on the size of the population, the time available for the research, and the requirements of the research.

Accepted Answer

Decisions to work with an entire population or a sample of the population are based on these factors.

Question 20

The researcher must know what kinds of data are needed and where the data are to be found, before decisions can be made about how to gather that data.

Accepted Answer

It is important for a researcher to have a clear idea of the type of data needed and the sources from where it can be collected. Only then can the researcher formulate a strategy to gather that data efficiently and effectively.

Quiz 8: Understanding Research Methods, Populations and Sampling