Question 1

Briefly describe the main features of "participatory action research" (PAR).What one major feature distinguishes this approach from all other quantitative and qualitative approaches?

Accepted Answer

-PAR is an approach to research that questions the authority and power of the researcher in relation to what he or she is studying and thus represents an orientation to research rather than a specific technique.
-PAR questions the assumption that the researcher is the sole "expert" on the topic.
-The objectives of the research are motivated by a desire for social change.
-The findings of PAR are specifically oriented to help facilitate social change.
-Unlike other approaches,in PAR the people who are being studied are included as active members (co-investigators)of the research process and are engaged in all aspects of research design,data collection,and interpretation of results.

Question 2

A cultural norm,such as knowing the appropriate distance at which to stand from others,is a specific example of
A) universal knowledge.
B) naturalism.
C) explicit knowledge.
D) observational knowledge.
E) tacit knowledge.

Accepted Answer

A cultural norm, such as knowing the appropriate distance at which to stand from others, is not universal knowledge because it is specific to a particular culture. It is also not naturalism because it is a learned behavior rather than something innate. It is not explicit knowledge because it is not formally taught or written down. While it may involve observation, it is not purely observational knowledge because it also involves understanding the societal and cultural context in which the observation takes place. Therefore, the best choice is E, tacit knowledge, which refers to knowledge that is not explicitly taught but is instead learned through immersion in a particular culture or environment.

Question 3

What are five things a field researcher does? Briefly describe each one.

Accepted Answer

-Observes ordinary events,everyday activities,and unusual occurrences as they happen in natural settings
-Becomes directly involved with the people being studied and personally experiences the process of daily social life in the field setting
-Acquires an insider's point of view while maintaining the analytic perspective or distance of an outsider
-Uses a variety of techniques and social skills in a flexible manner as the situation demands
-Produces data in the form of extensive written notes,as well as diagrams,maps,or pictures to provide very detailed descriptions
-Sees events holistically (i.e.,as a whole unit,not in pieces)and individually in their social context
-Understands and develops empathy for members in a field setting,and does not just record "cold," objective facts
-Notices both explicit and tacit aspects of culture
-Observes ongoing social processes without upsetting,disrupting,or imposing an outside point of view
-Copes with high levels of personal stress,uncertainty,ethical dilemmas,and ambiguity

Question 4

Describe the various types of field notes that researchers take.What function does each type serve?

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Question 5

Describe four ethical dilemmas that field researchers are most likely to confront during and after the course of their research.How should the field researcher deal with each dilemma?

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Question 6

Field researchers often use nonprobability samples,which means that they may take a smaller,selective set of observations from all possible observations.Identify and briefly describe four different types of units a field researcher might sample.

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Question 7

Naturalism and direct involvement mean that field research is ________ than quantitative research.
A) less structured
B) more structured
C) less meaningful
D) more rigid
E) less flexible

Accepted Answer

Naturalism and direct involvement in field research often require a more flexible and adaptable approach as the researcher is immersed in the natural setting and collecting data in real-time. Quantitative research, on the other hand, tends to be more structured and rigid in its methodology, relying on pre-determined measures and procedures. Therefore, A - less structured is the best choice.

Question 8

What are the three levels of involvement in field research? What are the advantages and disadvantages of each one?

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Question 9

Describe the criteria by which qualitative studies can be assessed that generally correspond to the quantitative concerns of validity,generalizability,reliability,and objectivity.How can the qualitative researcher be sure that each of these criteria is met in his or her research project?

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Question 10

Ethnography is often considered a ________ rather than a ________.
A) method; methodology
B) methodology; method
C) technique; method
D) general theoretical orientation; specific theoretical orientation
E) method; technique

Accepted Answer

Ethnography is a methodology rather than just a method because it involves a set of research practices, techniques, and theoretical frameworks that guide the researcher's approach to studying a specific culture or community. A method, on the other hand, refers to a specific technique or tool that the researcher uses to collect data.

Question 11

When it comes to adopting a role in the field research setting,what three questions should the researcher ask him or herself? Briefly describe each issue.

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Question 12

In the field,the researcher becomes an instrument that absorbs all sources of information.What sorts of things does a field researcher observe in order to collect good qualitative field data? Provide examples for each one.

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Question 13

Which of the following statements best describes the art and logic of field research?
A) It is easily replicated.
B) It is the most expensive data collection technique.
C) It produces generalizable laws about human behaviour.
D) It is usually conducted by a researcher alone or in a small team.
E) It involves looking at a setting from a single point of view or perspective.

Accepted Answer

Field research is typically conducted by a researcher alone or in a small team. It involves going into the field (i.e. natural environment or setting) to observe and collect data. It is often used in anthropology, sociology, and environmental science. It can be expensive, but not necessarily the most expensive data collection technique. The data collected is usually specific to the setting and not generalizable to other contexts. Field research does not involve looking at a setting from a single point of view or perspective; rather, it involves observing multiple aspects of the setting and collecting data from various sources.

Question 14

What type of study best typifies field research?
A) An examination of the similarities and differences in attitudes or behaviours between two groups of people
B) A study that requires the researcher to administer a survey to individuals in small group settings
C) Studying people in a specific location or a particular setting
D) Situations where the researcher is not able to directly interact with the participants
E) Any study that requires analysis of a sampled population

Accepted Answer

Field research involves observing and analyzing people and their behavior in a natural setting, such as a specific location or particular setting. This type of research typically requires the researcher to physically go out and study the phenomenon in its natural environment, rather than in a laboratory or controlled setting. Therefore, option C is the best choice. The other options are not specific to field research or may not require direct observation of the phenomenon in a natural setting.

Question 15

What is ethnography? Why is ethnography often considered a methodology rather than a method?

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Question 16

Describe the basic steps a researcher should follow when preparing a field research project.

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Question 17

What kinds of issues are field researchers confronted with when it comes to the problem of adopting social roles in the field research setting?

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Question 18

What three factors are relevant when choosing a field site? Which of these three factors are most applicable to the beginner field researcher? Why?

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Question 19

What are three important issues the field researcher should consider when devising a strategy for entering a field research site?

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Question 20

What are three types of maps and diagrams a field researcher would create? What is the purpose of maps and diagrams?

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Quiz 13: Field Research