Deck 9: Qualitative Methods: Observing, Participating, Listening

Question 1

Qualitative research methods are particularly strong in studying the meanings that participants attach to events.

Answer 1

True

Question 2

Ethnomethodology is the study and systematic recording of human cultures.

Answer 2

False

Question 3

Which of the following is true regarding field notes?

A) They should be written with 24 hours of leaving the field.
B) They should include details of the researcher's interpretation of events.
C) They should contain methodological information.
D) They should distinguish between direct quotations and paraphrases.
E) All of the above

Answer 3

E

Question 4

A reactive effect occurs when an observer alters conditions in the field simply because of his or presence.

Question 5

A researcher is interested in public displays of affection, so she visits three research sites and observes couples, taking note of any sign of affection but not asking them any questions. What role has she taken in the field?

A) Complete observer
B) Participant observer
C) Complete participant
D) Covert participant
E) Investigative observer

Question 6

Netnographies are different from traditional ethnographies in that they can focus on communities whose members are physically distant and dispersed.

Question 7

Because it is usually inductive, qualitative research cannot use theoretical sampling.

Question 8

Use the following to answer questions 16-18:
In each set, match a concept from Group A to a definition or example from Group B.
Qualitative methods
Group A
1. Participant observation
2. Field research
3. Intensive interviewing
4. Focus groups

Group B
a. A type of qualitative research distinguished by the researcher making observations in a natural setting (that is, within social context)
b. A type of qualitative research distinguished by discussions among subjects guided by a researcher
c. A type of qualitative research distinguished by the researcher's partial involvement in social behavior under study
d. A type of qualitative research distinguished by self-administered questionnaires
e. A type of qualitative research distinguished by in-depth, structured conversations between the researcher and key informants

Question 9

Covert participation is a form of complete observation.

Question 10

Another name for a key informant is a gatekeeper.

Question 11

Netnographies have no similarities to traditional ethnographies.

Question 12

Focus groups with very different subjects (i.e., heterogeneous focus groups) are usually more willing to talk and share feelings than are homogenous focus groups.

Question 13

Qualitative analysis can only follow an inductive approach: moving from data to a more general theory.

Question 14

Field notes are records written while in the actual field.

Question 15

In participant observation, researchers do not reveal their true identities to their subjects until after the research is complete.

Question 16

Use the following to answer questions 16-18:
In each set, match a concept from Group A to a definition or example from Group B.
Qualitative Sampling
Group A
1. critical cases
2. typical cases
3. deviant cases
4. theoretical sampling

Group B
a. A sampling technique in which cases are selected based on their contrast with "normal" cases
b. A sampling technique in which cases are selected to allow comparisons with previously selected cases
c. A sampling technique in which cases are selected based on the presence of unusually rich and pertinent information to the research question
d. A sampling technique in which cases are selected based on random selection from a sampling frame constructed of known groups
e. A sampling technique in which cases are selected based on the assumption that they are very similar to most other cases

Question 17

In field research, public figures are often best approached using direct methods, such as writing a letter introducing yourself and your research agenda.

Question 18

Intensive interviewing with key informants should continue until new interviews yield little new information.

Question 19

Tape recorders alter the willingness of key informants to be truthful so much that they are rarely used in intensive interviewing.

Question 20

Use the following to answer questions 16-18:
In each set, match a concept from Group A to a definition or example from Group B.
Roles in Field Research
Group A
1. Complete observer
2. Covert participant
3. Participant observer
4. Gatekeeper
5. Key informant

Group B
a. A research subject who can determine access to the field
b. A researcher who engages in activities under study and informs some members of his/her role as researcher
c. A research subject who knows about the activities under study and is willing to share his or her insights
d. A researcher who does not actively engage in activities under study
e. A research subject who has no knowledge of the role of the researcher
f. A researcher who does not reveal his or her true identity to subjects

Question 21

Field research is often used interchangeably with the term:

A) Participant observation
B) Field experiment
C) Ethnography
D) Covert participation
E) Internship

Question 22

Focus groups are useful for all of the following except:

A) Developing hypotheses
B) Assessing the range of opinions about an issue
C) Investigating the meaning of survey results
D) Generalizing findings
E) Developing survey questions

Question 23

According to Chambliss's "Nine Steps to Successful Field Research," a researcher should do all of the following except:

A) Be yourself.
B) Don't interfere.
C) Protect your sources, more than is necessary.
D) Show up only when you have made arrangements with subjects.
E) Write everything down, that day.

Question 24

Which of the following is false regarding the use of tape recorders during focus groups or intensive interview?

A) Tape recorders are routinely ignored by subjects.
B) An informant who is misleading because of the presence of tape recorder is likely to give better information when the recorder is off.
C) Tape recorders allow the researcher to remain engaged in the discussion or conversation.
D) Subjects are not usually inhibited by the presence of a recording device.
E) The visible act of turning off the recorder may free a respondent to tell that "one great secret" that he or she has been keeping.

Question 25

Field research relies heavily on which two types of research subjects?

A) Covert participants and gatekeepers
B) Gatekeepers and key informants
C) Key informants and experts
D) Experts and stakeholders
E) Stakeholders and covert participants

Question 26

Julie studies an Overeaters Anonymous group for several years. In her book on the subject, she mentions the location of the meetings. This violates which one of the main ethical issues in field research:

A) Subjects' confidentiality
B) Voluntary participation of subjects
C) Subjects' well-being
D) Disclosure of researcher's identity
E) Informed consent of participants

Question 27

If a field researcher changes the behavior of subjects in the field, there is said to be a:

A) Hawthorne effect
B) Context effect
C) History effect
D) Reactive effect
E) Causal effect

Question 28

What type of research method uses field notes and transcribed interviews as the primary source of data?

A) Qualitative
B) Survey
C) Experimental
D) Content analysis
E) Unobtrusive measures

Question 29

Identity disclosure is of greatest ethical concern for which type of qualitative researcher?

A) Participant observers
B) Gatekeepers
C) Key informants
D) Covert participants
E) Complete observers

Question 30

Intensive interviewing and focus groups should be conducted until:

A) A saturation point is reached
B) All relevant informants have consented to participate
C) Field observation has been completed
D) The researcher obtains relevant tacit knowledge from respondents
E) The researcher must disclose his or her identity to respondents

Question 31

A focus group usually involves how many subjects:

A) 1 or 2
B) 3 to 6
C) 7 to 10
D) 11 to 20
E) More than 20

Question 32

Which role makes it difficult for researchers to get information because they cannot ask questions that will around suspicion about themselves:

A) Complete observer
B) Participant observer
C) Covert participant
D) Intensive interview
E) Focus group leader

Question 33

Writing field notes:

A) Occurs while actively observing in the field
B) Usually takes at least three times as long as observation
C) Involves separating the researchers' impressions and feelings from what was actually observed
D) Can occur anytime within a month of the observation period
E) Is the same thing as writing jottings

Question 34

In qualitative data analysis, deductive approaches involve:

A) Conducting field research and then comparing it to patterns in the existing literature
B) Conducting field research, posing hypotheses based on this research, and then conducting more field research to test those hypotheses
C) Identifying hypotheses from existing literature and testing them against data collected in the field
D) Identifying patterns of behavior in field research in one setting and comparing those findings to a new field setting
E) All of the above are examples of the deductive approach to qualitative data analysis

Question 35

When conducting a study of grassroots movements that organized to keep big box stores out of their neighborhood, Wendy agreed to serve as the secretary for that group. What role did she take in the field?

A) Complete observer
B) Participant observer
C) Complete participant
D) Covert participant
E) Investigative observer

Question 36

To be ethical in qualitative research, attend to all of the following except:

A) Protect the reputation of informants
B) Researcher must disclose identity in all contexts
C) Expunge any identifying information from final reports
D) Debrief subjects as needed
E) Have concern for the informants' feelings

Question 37

While in the field and actively observing, a participant observer should do which of the following:

A) Write down everything seen or heard
B) Write down jottings
C) Write complete field notes
D) Write down researcher's own impressions
E) Write nothing down

Question 38

In intensive interviewing, active listening involves all of the following except:

A) Just being quiet
B) Asking for explanations
C) Showing a genuine curiosity
D) Suspending judgment on what respondent is saying
E) Probing for in-depth responses

Question 39

In a study of gang behavior, Jankowski (1991) included several different ethnic gangs, as well as large and small gangs, and gangs from different cities and regions of the country. This process of selecting different types of gangs represents what kind of sampling procedure?

A) Simple random sampling
B) Quota sampling
C) Stratified sampling
D) Theoretical sampling
E) Snowball sampling

Question 40

Unlike participant observation, intensive interviewing does not require:

A) Rapport between researcher and respondent
B) The researcher to enter the field
C) The researcher to keep the respondent's identity confidential
D) Any sort of planning in advance
E) Knowledge of qualitative methods

Question 41

If you are concerned with how people construct reality more than describing that reality, which form of qualitative analysis would be most appropriate?

A) Ethnomethodology
B) Case oriented analysis
C) Ethnography
D) Narrative analysis
E) Grounded theory

Question 42

To what extent do the personal dimensions of participant observation undermine or enhance its validity? Illustrate your answer with examples from the text.

Question 43

Taking and analyzing field research notes is a time-consuming and interactive process, in which the field researcher develops ideas from analyzing notes that then guide the next round of note-taking. Describe this approach and discuss its advantages and disadvantages.

Question 44

In order to develop and maintain relationships in the field, Chambliss suggests all of the following except:

A) Be especially mindful of interaction early in research
B) Be somewhat laid back
C) Be prepared to fake a social similarity with subjects
D) Don't fully immerse yourself in the field
E) Develop a plausible and honest explanation for yourself and your study

Question 45

What are the roles available to a field researcher?

Question 46

In field research, which of the following best represents ethical concerns with "going native"?

A) The researcher goes along with unethical activities in the course of research.
B) The researcher develops personal relationships with subjects.
C) The researcher gets emotionally involved with subjects.
D) The researcher may cause unintended consequences for subjects.
E) The researcher may cause subjects to have decreased level of trust for other social scientists.

Question 47

To study natural social processes, a research should choose which form of qualitative analysis?

A) Ethnomethodology
B) Field research
C) Ethnography
D) Narrative analysis
E) Grounded theory

Question 48

Elijah Anderson's Code of the Street (1999) is an example of what type of qualitative analysis?

A) Qualitative comparative analysis
B) Narrative analysis
C) Content analysis
D) Ethnomethodology
E) Ethnography

Question 49

How is field research different from laboratory research? What are the strengths of field research compared to laboratory research, and what are its relative weaknesses?

Question 50

How ethical is complete participation? Explain when, if ever, you think complete participation might be ethical.

Question 51

If you are concerned with online communities, which form of qualitative analysis would be most appropriate?

A) Ethnomethodology
B) Case oriented analysis
C) Ethnography
D) Netnography
E) Grounded theory

Question 52

Describe how qualitative analysis can proceed both inductively and deductively. Use examples from the text to describe each.

Question 53

Outline how a researcher might conduct complete observation, complete participation, and participant observation in studying how unions recruit in new settings. What are the advantages and disadvantages to each approach? What are the ethical considerations that need to be addressed for each?

Question 54

How is an intensive interview different from a survey?

Question 55

Observations can take the form of quantitative design due to:

A) Participant observation
B) Field experiment
C) Ethnography
D) Covert participation
E) Systematic observation

Question 56

Write a brief plan for conduct a series of focus groups designed to find out what kind of work students do while they're completing their college degree. What are the primary validity problems associated with this method of gathering data? How would you increase the validity of focus group research?
Answer Key

Question 57

Qualitative methods refer to the following distinctive research designs:

A) Field experiments, intensive interviewing, and survey research
B) Participant observation, intensive interviewing, and focus groups
C) Participant observation, intensive interviewing, and survey research
D) Participant observation, focus groups, and field experiments
E) Focus groups, field experiments, and survey research

Question 58

How is netnography similar to a traditional ethnography? How is it different?