Question 1

Reflexivity in qualitative research refers to:
A) Using multiple sources of data
B) Reflection after data collection about hypotheses
C) Self-reflection by the researcher on his or her biases and predispositions
D) Only self-reflection by the researcher about what literature to include in the literature review

Accepted Answer

Reflexivity in qualitative research involves the researcher engaging in self-reflection to recognize and account for their own biases, beliefs, and influence on the research process.

Question 2

Multiple theoretical perspectives refer to:
A) Using multiple investigators to determine the accuracy of a researcher's account of an event
B) Using multiple data sources to confirm a theory
C) Using multiple theories or perspectives to interpret and explain the data
D) Using extended fieldwork to test whether one theory fits the data

Accepted Answer

Using multiple theoretical perspectives involves applying different theories or viewpoints to interpret and explain the data, allowing for a more comprehensive understanding of the research findings.

Question 3

Anna is writing up her qualitative research study. She took in depth notes on what took place with the participants as well as what she saw and heard when working with the participants. She did this to improve the study's:
A) Interpretive validity
B) Participant validity
C) Theoretical validity
D) Descriptive validity

Accepted Answer

Descriptive validity refers to the accuracy and completeness of the data collected, including the factual reporting of events, behaviors, and settings. Anna's detailed notes on what she saw and heard aim to ensure this accuracy.

Question 4

One way that a qualitative researcher can help reduce researcher bias is to use:
A) Negative case sampling
B) Random assignment to groups
C) Statistical regression
D) Snowball sampling

Accepted Answer

Negative case sampling involves looking for cases that contradict the researcher's expectations or hypotheses, which helps in reducing bias by challenging assumptions and ensuring a more comprehensive understanding of the data.

Question 5

Roger is concerned with generalizing the results of his study to and across different groups of people, settings, times, and treatments. His concerns revolve around:
A) Internal validity
B) External validity
C) Causation
D) Temporal precedence

Accepted Answer

External validity refers to the generalizability of the results of a study to other populations, settings, times, and treatments.

Question 6

To most accurately measure a construct, it is recommended that:
A) Researchers use only one measure
B) Researchers use effective items to measure the construct
C) Researchers not study constructs over time
D) Researchers avoid multiple operationalism

Accepted Answer

Using effective items to measure the construct ensures that the measurement is valid and reliable, capturing the essence of the construct accurately.

Question 7

A major problem for research validity in qualitative research is:
A) The researcher does not include quantitative measures
B) There is no way to test the internal and external validity of qualitative studies
C) There is no way to validate descriptions of settings
D) Researcher bias can go unrecognized and can invalidate conclusions

Accepted Answer

Researcher bias can influence the data collection and interpretation process, potentially leading to invalid conclusions in qualitative research.

Question 8

Theoretical validity refers to:
A) Accuracy and defensibility of the theoretical explanations given
B) Accuracy of the descriptions of the data
C) Accuracy of the researcher's description of the meanings ascribed to participants
D) Accuracy of the low inference descriptors used

Accepted Answer

Theoretical validity concerns the accuracy and defensibility of the theoretical explanations provided in a study, ensuring they are well-supported by the data and logically sound.

Question 9

In qualitative research, descriptive validity refers to:
A) The mean, standard deviation, and the range
B) The validity of theory that the researcher uses
C) The validity of tests used in the study
D) Factual accuracy of accounts reported by researcher

Accepted Answer

Descriptive validity refers to the factual accuracy of the accounts reported by the researcher, ensuring that the descriptions of events, settings, and people are accurate and truthful.

Question 10

One common way to ensure descriptive validity in qualitative research is to:
A) Use multiple theoretical perspectives
B) Compute means and standard deviations
C) Use multiple investigators
D) Using pattern matching

Accepted Answer

Using multiple investigators helps ensure descriptive validity by allowing for cross-verification of data and interpretations, reducing individual bias.

Question 11

One way to promote theoretical validity in qualitative research is to:
A) Use low inference descriptors
B) Avoid participant observation
C) Use extended fieldwork
D) Use data from interviews only

Accepted Answer

Extended fieldwork allows researchers to gather in-depth data over time, enhancing the credibility and validity of their theoretical insights.

Question 12

Interpretive validity relates to:
A) Accuracy of researcher in portraying the research participants' thoughts and meanings
B) Factual accuracy of the account reported by a researcher
C) Validity of the theory applied to the data
D) Degree to which the results can be generalized to other populations

Accepted Answer

Interpretive validity refers to the accuracy with which researchers capture and represent the participants' perspectives, thoughts, and meanings in qualitative research.

Question 13

Richard has made predictions about the data he will collect for his research study. After his data are collected he compares them to his predictions. He does this to assess which type of validity?
A) External validity
B) Internal validity
C) Population validity
D) Theoretical validity

Accepted Answer

Theoretical validity refers to the extent to which the data supports the theoretical predictions or hypotheses. Richard is comparing his collected data to his predictions, which aligns with assessing theoretical validity.

Question 14

Sarah is conducting an ethnographic study of fifth grade classes using an interdisciplinary curriculum. After she collects her data, she goes back and asks each teacher to help her out by checking the accuracy of the descriptions she has written of the classrooms. This technique is called:
A) Participant observation
B) Participant feedback
C) Participant validity
D) Theoretical validity

Accepted Answer

This technique is called participant feedback, where participants are asked to review and verify the accuracy of the researcher's descriptions or interpretations.

Question 15

In his study, Patrick obtained feedback from his participants and used many of their descriptive words in writing up the study for publication. These strategies provide evidence of:
A) Interpretive validity
B) Descriptive validity
C) Reflexive validity
D) Theoretical validity

Accepted Answer

Patrick's strategies provide evidence of interpretive validity because he used the participants' own words to describe their experiences, which helps to ensure that the study's findings are accurate and meaningful.

Question 16

An alteration of performance that occurs when an individual is aware that he or she is participating in a study is called:
A) Multiple treatment interference
B) Reactivity
C) Camera effect
D) Experimenter effects

Accepted Answer

Reactivity is the alteration of performance that occurs when an individual is aware that he or she is participating in a study.

Question 17

A researcher places a video camera in a classroom to tape lessons that are part of one of the treatment conditions. The video camera is likely to increase the probability of:
A) Multiple treatment interference
B) Selection effects
C) Reactivity
D) Maturation

Accepted Answer

The presence of a video camera can cause reactivity, where participants alter their behavior because they are aware they are being observed.

Question 18

Pattern matching refers to:
A) Looking at the match between the actual data and a theoretically predicted set of results
B) Looking at the match between the descriptions of researchers and the descriptions of participants in a qualitative study
C) The researcher matching what participants do by imitating it
D) The researcher finding the match for his or her results in another study

Accepted Answer

Pattern matching involves comparing the actual data with a theoretically predicted set of results to see if they align, which is a common method in research to validate theories.

Question 19

The extent to which a study can be generalized across time is called:
A) Incremental validity
B) Ecological validity
C) Population validity
D) Temporal validity

Accepted Answer

Temporal validity refers to the extent to which the findings of a study can be generalized across different times or time periods.

Question 20

To increase the theoretical validity of his study, a qualitative researcher should use:
A) Low inference descriptors
B) Peer review
C) Data from observations only
D) Data from interviews only

Accepted Answer

Peer review is a process of having other researchers review a study to ensure that it is valid and reliable. This can help to increase the theoretical validity of a study by ensuring that the researcher has considered all of the relevant literature and that the study is designed in a way that will produce valid results.

Quiz 11: Validity of Research Results in Quantitative, Qualitative, and Mixed Research

Reflexivity in qualitative research refers to:

Multiple theoretical perspectives refer to:

Anna is writing up her qualitative research study. She took in depth notes on what took place with the participants as well as what she saw and heard when working with the participants. She did this to improve the study's:

One way that a qualitative researcher can help reduce researcher bias is to use:

Roger is concerned with generalizing the results of his study to and across different groups of people, settings, times, and treatments. His concerns revolve around:

To most accurately measure a construct, it is recommended that:

A major problem for research validity in qualitative research is:

Theoretical validity refers to:

In qualitative research, descriptive validity refers to:

One common way to ensure descriptive validity in qualitative research is to:

One way to promote theoretical validity in qualitative research is to:

Interpretive validity relates to:

Richard has made predictions about the data he will collect for his research study. After his data are collected he compares them to his predictions. He does this to assess which type of validity?

Sarah is conducting an ethnographic study of fifth grade classes using an interdisciplinary curriculum. After she collects her data, she goes back and asks each teacher to help her out by checking the accuracy of the descriptions she has written of the classrooms. This technique is called:

In his study, Patrick obtained feedback from his participants and used many of their descriptive words in writing up the study for publication. These strategies provide evidence of:

An alteration of performance that occurs when an individual is aware that he or she is participating in a study is called:

A researcher places a video camera in a classroom to tape lessons that are part of one of the treatment conditions. The video camera is likely to increase the probability of:

Pattern matching refers to:

The extent to which a study can be generalized across time is called:

To increase the theoretical validity of his study, a qualitative researcher should use: