Question 1

Emily plans a study of Internet trolling.She takes an interpretivist approach,so she asks:

Accepted Answer

Emily's interpretivist approach focuses on understanding people's thoughts and perspectives towards Internet trolling, which is why she would ask about how people explain why they engage in trolling. B is more aligned with a positivist approach, which seeks to identify objective policies and processes that can be implemented to reduce trolling. C and D are more historical and causal research questions that do not align with an interpretivist approach.

Question 2

How do qualitative researchers establish causality?

Accepted Answer

Qualitative researchers can establish causality through logical approaches, including methods like qualitative comparative analysis, which allows for the identification of patterns and causal relationships within qualitative data.

Question 3

Why is saturation considered a very difficult goal for qualitative researchers?

Accepted Answer

Saturation is considered a difficult goal for qualitative researchers because it requires a sufficient amount of data to be collected to allow for no new insights to be gained. However, researchers are often limited by time and funding, which can make it difficult to continue collecting data until saturation is reached.

Question 4

Which goal is MOST strongly associated with quantitative research?

Accepted Answer

Quantitative research is focused on discovering and understanding the effects of causes. It involves the use of numerical data, statistical analysis, and clear definitions of variables to uncover patterns and relationships between variables. Quantitative research is often used in experimental and causal research designs where the goal is to test hypotheses and determine cause-and-effect relationships between variables.

Question 5

An iterative approach to qualitative data analysis means that the researcher

Accepted Answer

An iterative approach means that the researcher moves back and forth between the steps of the analysis process, revisiting and refining their interpretations as they go along. This allows for a more nuanced and thorough analysis of the data. Supplementing with quantitative analysis (choice B) or talking with other researchers (choice C) can also be valuable, but they are not specifically indicative of an iterative approach. Assembling a team of researchers (choice D) may be done for some research projects, but it is not a defining characteristic of an iterative approach to qualitative data analysis.

Question 6

Brian collects data about how people care for their pets during work hours.He decides to build generalizations from the data itself,which is a(n)________ approach.

Accepted Answer

Inductive approach involves collecting specific observations and then making generalizations or hypotheses based on those observations. In this scenario, Brian collects data about how people care for their pets during work hours and then creates generalizations from that data, which is an inductive approach. Abductive approach is used when considering multiple possible explanations for observations, deductive approach starts with a general theory and tests specific hypotheses derived from it, and etic approach refers to an outsider's perspective on a culture.

Question 7

A researcher would reduce his or her data to

Accepted Answer

Reducing data by eliminating information that will not be useful to the analysis is a common step in the data reduction process. This helps focus on relevant information and streamline the analysis. While financial and time constraints may influence the scope of the research, they are not directly related to data reduction. De-identification of data is a separate issue related to privacy concerns. Making data fit within a computerized analysis program may require some data manipulation, but this is not the primary goal of data reduction.

Question 8

Latisha plans a study of why people snack.She assumes that,although people will offer opinions about why they snack,a more objective approach is needed to truly understand why people do what they do.Latisha is taking a(n)________ approach.

Accepted Answer

Latisha's approach is objective and based on empirical evidence, which aligns with the positivist approach that emphasizes the use of scientific methods to study phenomena.

Question 9

As a general rule,a truth table sorts cases by

Accepted Answer

A truth table sorts cases by the presence or absence of particular variables. It is a method used in logic and mathematics to determine the truth value of a logical expression for each possible combination of truth values of its atomic components. Therefore, choice C correctly describes the sorting method used by a truth table.

Question 10

What would happen if a social scientist took an emic approach to a study about how life in refugee camps affects children's education? The scientist would

Accepted Answer

Taking an emic approach entails exploring the viewpoint of the group being studied from within their own cultural framework. So, moving into the refugee camp to experience life as refugees do is the best approach to collecting data that closely aligns with the refugees' perspectives.

Question 11

Michael Burawoy advocated the extended case study approach,which encourages ethnographers to

Accepted Answer

The extended case study approach encourages ethnographers to use their field site to improve or modify an existing theory. This involves going beyond simply describing a particular case and instead using that case to challenge or expand upon broader theoretical frameworks. Burawoy himself used this approach in his study of the American factory, arguing that the particularities of the workplace challenged existing Marxist theories of class struggle.

Question 12

As Dr.Stine analyzes data about nurses and burnout,she de-identifies the data in order to ensure

Accepted Answer

De-identifying the data means removing any identifying information about the respondents, such as their names or contact information, in order to protect their anonymity. This is important for ethical reasons and helps ensure that the nurses feel comfortable providing honest responses.

Question 13

Anthropologist Laurence Ralph published a section of fieldnotes in his ethnography Renegade Dreams,a choice that strengthened the ________ of his qualitative research by allowing readers to evaluate the way he linked data to conclusions.

Accepted Answer

By publishing a section of his fieldnotes, Laurence Ralph increased the transparency of his research process, allowing readers to evaluate the connections he made between his data and conclusions. This helps to strengthen the credibility and accountability of his qualitative research.

Question 14

Duwayne conducts a study of elderly people who attend exercise classes.He assembles a sample by asking elderly people whether they attend exercise classes,and selecting those who do.This approach is called ________ sampling.

Accepted Answer

In purposive sampling, the researcher selects participants based on specific criteria, in this case, attendance at exercise classes. This approach is commonly used in qualitative research where the focus is on understanding a specific group or phenomenon. Random sampling involves selecting participants at random from the population, while qualitative sampling refers to selecting participants based on their ability to provide rich and informative data. Saturation sampling involves continuing data collection until no new information or themes emerge.

Question 15

After showing a correlation between intimate friendship and happiness,Jona tries to explain how intimate friendship causes happiness.This exploration of how is the study of

Accepted Answer

The study of how intimate friendship causes happiness involves understanding the processes and mechanisms that contribute to this correlation. It requires exploring the psychological, social, and emotional mechanisms that underlie the relationship between friendship and happiness. Causation and cause and effect are related concepts but do not necessarily require an examination of mechanisms, while abductive research is a method for generating hypotheses rather than exploring specific mechanisms.

Question 16

Dr.Lancy develops a Marxian analysis of major social conflicts of the twenty-first century.Because he begins with an established theory that provides an interpretive frame,his study is

Accepted Answer

Dr. Lancy's study is deductive, as he starts with an established theory (Marxian analysis) and uses it as a framework to analyze the social conflicts of the twenty-first century. Deductive reasoning involves starting with a theory or general principle and then testing specific cases or examples to see if the theory applies.

Question 17

Sociologists Barney Glaser and Anselm Strauss promoted a systemic,inductive approach to qualitative research that advocates the extrapolation of conceptual relationships from data,rather than the formulation of hypotheses from existing theory.Their approach is called

Accepted Answer

Glaser and Strauss's approach is called grounded theory, which emphasizes building theory from data collected through systematic and rigorous data analysis. This approach involves collecting and analyzing data to identify concepts and themes that emerge from the data, which then form the basis for developing a new theory. This is in contrast to deductive approaches, where hypotheses are tested against data, and abductive approaches, where existing theories are modified to fit new data. Qualitative comparative analysis is a specific method for analyzing qualitative data, while purposive sampling is a method for selecting study participants based on certain criteria.

Question 18

Jack works for a women's shelter and conducts a study of men and violence.When respondents answer the question,"Have you ever been violent toward a loved one?" he wonders whether interviewer effects are at play.Respondents

Accepted Answer

Interviewer effects can influence respondents to answer in a way they think the interviewer wants to hear, especially on sensitive topics like violence. This can lead to social desirability bias, where respondents might deny violent behavior to present themselves in a better light.

Question 19

Sociologist Katherine Newman used both interpretive and positivist approaches in her research about school shootings.Which is a positivist question?

Accepted Answer

Positivism focuses on objective, measurable data and seeks to identify causes and effects. Therefore, the question about the cause of school shootings is the most positivist of the options given, as it seeks to identify a specific causal relationship.

Question 20

When researchers draw findings from qualitative data,such as text,audio,video,and photographs,they are conducting

Accepted Answer

When researchers draw findings from qualitative data, they are conducting qualitative data analysis. Qualitative data analysis involves the interpretation of non-numerical data such as text, audio, video, and photographs to identify patterns, themes, and insights. This type of research is typically associated with interpretivism, a philosophical approach that emphasizes subjective interpretation and understanding of the social world rather than objective facts and figures. Grounded theory is a specific method within qualitative data analysis that involves generating theories from the data itself, rather than testing pre-existing hypotheses.

Quiz 16: Analysis of Qualitative Data