Deck 9: Qualitative Methods: Observing, Participating, and Listening

Question 1

Qualitative methods differ from quantitative methods from the outset due to quantitative methods focus on preformulated hypotheses. What is this research strategy called?

A) subjectivity
B) objectivity
C) inductive reasoning
D) deductive reasoning

Answer 1

D

Question 2

A researcher is interested in why youth commit crime. This researcher is not interested in the sequence of events that might lead up to why a young person would engage in crime. This is because there is a difference in qualitative and quantitative research methods focus on ______.

A) causal explanations
B) transparency
C) subjectivity
D) reflexivity

Answer 2

A

Question 3

Having an interpretive process for data analysis allows for an emergence of a written account that represents what has been done and how the data have been interpreted. This process is associated with the notion of ______ typically found in qualitative research methods.

A) context
B) transparency
C) subjectivity
D) reflexivity

Answer 3

D

Question 4

Imagine you are a researcher that wanted to see if teen's encounters with school teachers, principals, coaches, peers, for example, shaped the meanings teens created about this themselves. In other words, your area of concern would be the school attended by the teen participants in your study. Since you would be focused on ______, you would most likely design a qualitative research project.

A) reflexivity
B) social context
C) induction
D) meanings

Question 5

Dr. Addall wanted to focus his research on categories predetermined by the researcher, whereas Dr. Reidel wanted to focus his research on observations of natural phenonmena. Dr. Addall would therefore have different priorities than Dr. Reidel. Which of the following would NOT be a priority of Dr. Addall?

A) causal explanations
B) deductive reasoning
C) discrete features
D) subjectivity

Question 6

Which of the following is related to qualitative researcher's committment to inductive reasoning?

A) the focus on exploratory research questions
B) the focus on explanatory research questions
C) they begin their study with preformulated hypotheses
D) create principles prior to collecting or analyzing data

Question 7

Qualitative methods have their greatest appeal when we need to explore new issues, investigate hard-to-study groups, or determine the meaning people give to their lives and actions. According to your text, this appeal is why qualitative methods focus on ______ processes.

A) unique
B) complex
C) unstudied
D) objective

Question 8

Dr. Williams conducted a qualitative study that would allow him to observe his participants in their own social world. His interest in observing them in their worlds is related to qualitative researchers' orientation to ______.

A) discrete features
B) social context
C) static environment
D) meanings

Question 9

Focusing on life stories, people accounting for their lives, the way people interpret and evaluate their life experiences is related to the qualitative focus on ______.

A) subjectivity
B) objectivitiy
C) positivism
D) postpostivism

Question 10

Which of the following is a qualitative research method that studies a culture or cultures that some group of people shares, using participant observation over an extended period?

A) participatory action research
B) ethnography
C) netnography
D) focus groups

Question 11

One of the main differences between ethnography and netnography is that netnography is focused on ______.

A) reflexivity
B) physical locations
C) online communities
D) making meaning

Question 12

What is the main discipline traditionally associated with ethnographic research methods?

A) psychology
B) criminology
C) anthropology
D) sociology

Question 13

Ethnography is concerned with all of the following EXCEPT ______.

A) reflexivity
B) preconceived notions
C) naturalistic settings
D) making meaning

Question 14

Once data collection is complete, a netnographer has an ability that traditional ethnographers do not have. What is it?

A) refer to observational notes
B) refer to reflective field notes
C) return to review original data
D) develop a theory

Question 15

Unlike experimental methods, participant observation researchers are focused on studying phenomenon that occurs naturally in the field and therefore are trying to uphold the principle of ______.

A) artificiality
B) authenticity
C) transparency
D) preconceived notions

Question 16

A qualitative researcher was particularly interested in how gender affected the attitudes and behavior of community-police liaisons or neighborhood police officers and wanted to see the influence of gender as it happened, without disrupting the participants. As such, this research announced that she was a researcher to her participants and took the participant observation role of ______.

A) complete observation
B) participation and observation
C) covert observation

Question 17

The first concern of all participant observers is to decide what balance to strike between observing and participating and whether to reveal their role as researchers. According to your book, one way that complete observation versus participation and observation differs is that the latter involves ______.

A) active participation in the setting
B) systematic observation
C) a long period of study
D) observing social settings

Question 18

A researcher spent a large part of nearly four years trying to be accepted by a community and seen as a good fellow. In order to do so, he participated enough in activities that so he could develop trust and ______.

A) security
B) transparency
C) rapport
D) support

Question 19

The background work necessary for participant observers as they begin their study is related to ensuring a good impression when ______.

A) entering the field
B) debriefing participants
C) collecting data
D) maintaining a relationship

Question 20

According to your text, a researcher recruited participants in a study from a youth leadership organization and community center in Oakland. This researcher needed to make sure he had the trust and rapport of his participants and therefore was concerned with the difficult component in participant observation research of ______.

A) sampling people and events
B) entering the field
C) developing and maintaining relationships
D) examining the larger community context

Question 21

One step in carrying out a field research project is to sample people and events. Dr. Smith carried out a study in which he used purposive sampling and asked those respondents to recommend others. This sampling technique is called ______.

A) theoretical sampling
B) snowball sampling
C) random sampling
D) stratified sampling

Question 22

One set of researchers studying gang behavior with participant observation methods found out that they were lacking individuals or settings to examine a particular process of gang initation. When they realized they needed specific individuals in their study that could help them understand gang intitation more thoroughly, they decided to select new settings and individuals who they considered to be influential based on their earlier observations. These researchers engaged in ______.

A) theoretical sampling
B) snowball sampling
C) informed sampling
D) experience sampling

Question 23

With a technique used to draw a representative sample of everyday activities, thoughts, and experiences, participants carry a pager and are beeped at random times over several days or weeks; upon hearing the beep, participants complete a report designed by the researcher is called ______.

A) theoretical sampling
B) snowball sampling
C) informed sampling
D) experience sampling

Question 24

With ______ sampling, field researchers learn from participants about who represents different subgroups in a setting and ______ sampling can be employed to ensure the representation of particular categories of participants.

A) snowball; quota
B) quota; snowball
C) intentional; probability
D) experience; theoretical

Question 25

"Once the sergeant arrived, we walked around in groups for high visibility in the 1900 block, 'the hole' (worst apartment houses: absent landlords, repairs unattended, no background check for tenants). Planned to search some of the basements for drugs. Several officers commented that 'Linc' was seen hanging around the hole more frequently than usual-could indicate increased drug activity." This was taken from a study on community policing and is an example of what?

A) observations
B) field notes
C) transparency
D) personal bias

Question 26

As a researcher engaging in participant observation, field notes should not include just what was observed or heard. Other necessary notes should also include how a researcher felt in a certain situation. For instance, imagine you are observing police officers while they are on duty and there is an incident in which you became scared. Jotting down that you felt frightened is important because it may help provide a foundation to understand or explain the likelihood of ______ to some salient features of the situation.

A) bias
B) confusion
C) concern
D) reliability

Question 27

Perhaps a useful tool of writing down your own feelings while doing observations is related to which of the following guidelines when doing a field research project?

A) Take the time to consider how you want to relate to your potential subjects as people.
B) Speculate about what personal problems might arise and how you will respond to them.
C) Keep in touch with other researchers and personal friends outside the research setting.
D) Maintain standards of conduct that make you comfortable as a person and that respect the integrity of your subjects.

Question 28

What is part of almost ALL qualitative research designs?

A) observation
B) activism
C) participation
D) asking questions

Question 29

Intensive interviewing is often unstructured and researchers do not presume to know the range of answers that respondents might give. Instead, they tend to rely on ______ questions.

A) fixed-choice
B) open-ended
C) personal
D) fixed order

Question 30

Your book describes that intensive interviewing differs from more structured forms of questioning. Which of the following is NOT listed as a way that these two types of interviewing differ?

A) thoroughness
B) consistency
C) sampling procedures
D) length of questioning

Question 31

Many times constant note taking during an intensive interview is not a good idea. Because of this, sometimes a tape recorder is necessary. However, sometimes a tape recorder could also impede respondents from answering honestly. Which of the following is most likely a situation where taping an interview would not be a good idea?

A) interviews on college drinking
B) interviews with parents on their parenting practices
C) interviews with public officials concerned about their public image

Question 32

Which of the following is an example of a focus group?

A) an interviewer interviews one person on their perceptions of crime
B) a researcher participates in ride-alongs with police officers to observe how they answer calls
C) a researcher lived with a community for three months to study their cultural rituals
D) a researcher leads group discussions of a topic

Question 33

One way that focus groups differ from traditional interviews is that they can allow for ______.

A) spontaneous exchange that characterize social life
B) an in-depth understanding of a topic
C) nuanced information to emerge
D) probing of additional topics to consider

Question 34

In which discipline did focus groups originate?

A) sociology
B) anthropology
C) finance
D) marketing

Question 35

According to your textbook, which of the following is NOT a way that focus groups are used?

A) testing hypotheses
B) investigating the meaning of survey results
C) identifying the range of opinion about an issue
D) developing survey questions

Question 36

Which of the following situations would be most appropriate to use a follow-up question during an interview?

A) A respondent indicated that he did not want to answer a question on a particular topic, and the researcher wanted to know why.
B) A respondent answered a question matter-of-factly and it was clear he did not want to answer the question.
C) A respondent showed a certain facial expression when answering a question and this sparked the researcher's curiosity.

Question 37

The ethical issue of qualitative research methods concerned with identifiable information is ______.

A) confidentiality
B) appropriate boundaries
C) researcher safety
D) subject well-being

Question 38

Which of the following is related to the ethical issue in qualitative research methods of appropriate boundaries?

A) a researcher who revealed the identity of her respondents
B) A researcher's safety was compromised.
C) A researcher refused to stop an interview even after her respondent started crying.
D) a researcher who began an intimate relationship with some of his participants

Question 39

A researcher would only have to break ______ if her respondent indicated that he intended to harm himself or others in the future.

A) subject well-being
B) confidentiality
C) researcher safety
D) appropriate boundaries

Question 40

When Jody Miller needed to back away from her study on gangs because her efforts to recruit new participants ended up in her respondents recruiting more people into their gang, her reasoning of ending the study was related to the ethical concern of ______.

A) subject well-being
B) confidentiality
C) researcher safety
D) appropriate boundaries

Question 41

Qualitative research typically focuses on events leading up to a particular event or outcome instead of general causal explanations.

Question 42

Focus groups are unstructured group interviews in which the focus group leader actively encourages discussion among participants on the topics of interest.

Question 43

Intensive interviewing is a type of field research in which a researcher develops a sustained and intensive relationship with people while they go about their normal activities.

Question 44

A researcher was interested in conducting a study on how individual's make meaning of their lived experiences. As such, this researcher would most likely engage in qualitative research methods.

Question 45

A netnographer, unlike a traditional ethnographer, can usually return to review original data.

Question 46

Ethnographers are focused on causal explanations.

Question 47

Participant observation is actually called fieldwork in anthropology.

Question 48

The participant observer role that is immersed in complete participation in the field of study is also known as covert participation.

Question 49

Experience sampling method (ESM) can be used when field studies do not require ongoing, intensive involvement by researchers in the setting.

Question 50

Jottings serve as memory joggers when taking notes in the field.

Question 51

Imagine you are a researcher who is concerned with whether or not asking questions at the beginning of an interview could change participants' responses later on in the survey. As such, you would make the decision not to put your questions in a fixed order.

Question 52

Saturation point is referring to setting a number of interviews you must do and deciding to end data collection once you have reached that number.

Question 53

Intensive interviewers must plan their main questions around an outline of the interview topic.

Question 54

Most interviewees ignore the fact that they are being tape-recorded.

Question 55

Focus groups do not provide generalizable results.

Question 56

Most focus groups involve only four or five people.

Question 57

The issue of voluntary participation is particularly a concern in observation studies.

Question 58

Many times the ethical issues of voluntary participation can be addressed if each person is carefully instructed that they can refuse or quit an interview at any time.

Question 59

Identity disclosure is the same ethical issue as confidentiality.

Question 60

Dr. Miller used made-up names when writing up her findings from the study. This was an effort to ensure confidentiality.

Question 61

Describe three main differences between qualitative and quantitative research methods and one similarity between them.

Question 62

Explain what it means for qualitative methods to be utilize a reflexive research design and be sensitive to the subjective role of the researcher. How is this different from quantitative methods?

Question 63

Identify at least three circumstances that make qualitative methods most useful.

Question 64

Define traditional ethnography and netnography. Then, list two main differences between these methods.

Question 65

Imagine you work at a state hospital to study the treatment of psychiatric patients and they do not know that you are studying them. Name two examples of specific problems that could arise because you are using covert participation.

Question 66

List two stages to a field research project. Then describe the major challenges of these stages.

Question 67

List three ways that the procedure of intensive interviewing differs from more standardized interviewing procedures.

Question 68

Your book discusses that sometimes participant observation and intensive interviewing can be used in combination with one another. First describe one benefit of using mixed methods. Second, using the example of police-community relations, describe at least two ways that using observations and intensive interviewers together could be useful to uncover detailed information about police-community relations.

Question 69

Imagine you are interested in the level of alcohol use among college students on a particular campus. You have decided that you are going to conduct focus groups instead of individual interviews. First, describe what a focus group is and then describe two ways a focus group would be beneficial to study the level of alcohol use among college students on campus.

Question 70

Describe the six major ethical issues in qualitative research.

Question 71

Describe the three types of participant observer role. Then provide one advantage and disadvantage of using each type of role.

Question 72

Describe what field notes are and what jottings are. Then explain why jottings may be used instead of field notes during an observation. How soon after should jottings be transformed into extensive notes? Do you see any potential challenges with using the jotting technique?

Question 73

Explain the concept of transparency. In a field research project, what types of information should the researchers provide to be transparent? Then indicate at least two reasons why a researcher's participant observer reports should be transparent. Finally, indicate one way in which field notes are important to researchers writing their final reports.

Question 74

Imagine you wanted to develop a focus group on college students' perception of crime on campus. Answer these questions: How would you recruit students for the group? What types of students would you try to include? How would you introduce the topic and the method to the group? What questions would you ask? What would you do if a person in your focus group monopolized the conversation?

Question 75

Choose a research question. Then propose to answer this question with a qualitative research method discussed in this chapter. Why would you choose this particular method rather than the other methods? Then discuss some concerns you may have in carrying out your research project. Are there any ethical concerns you would have to keep in mind? Is there any way you could potentially avoid these ethical concerns?