Question 1

A risk when conducting observational studies includes the Hawthorne effect, which occurs when subjects change their behavior because they know they are being observed.

Accepted Answer

The Hawthorne effect refers to the alteration of behavior by the subjects of a study due to their awareness of being observed, which is a recognized risk in observational studies.

Question 2

Peer debriefing is very valuable in qualitative inquiry because it provides a means by which areas of disagreement and controversy are highlighted, leading to additional data collection as the need to clarify conflicting data as conflicting views becomes apparent.

Accepted Answer

Peer debriefing in qualitative research serves as a method to enhance credibility by discussing the research process, findings, and insights with peers. This process helps in identifying biases, improving the research questions, and highlighting areas of disagreement or controversy. These discussions can reveal gaps in data or understanding, prompting further data collection to resolve these conflicts and refine the research outcomes.

Question 3

Transparency refers to a deliberate and systematic process of self-examination where an investigator addresses an individual's thoughts, feelings, and reactions to people and events in light of the course of data collection.

Accepted Answer

Transparency in research refers to the openness and clarity with which researchers share their methods, data, and findings, allowing others to understand, evaluate, and replicate their work. The description given relates more closely to reflexivity in qualitative research.

Question 4

In preparing for data collection, the researcher (interviewer) should be trained on technical skills in interviewing, appropriate behaviors to gain access to a population, as well as interpersonal skills and behaviors.

Accepted Answer

Effective data collection, especially through interviews, requires the researcher to be skilled not only in technical aspects of conducting interviews but also in interpersonal skills and behaviors to effectively engage with participants and gain access to target populations.

Question 5

Content analysis is the process of reviewing raw materials, including any form of communication or text, although written forms are most common.

Accepted Answer

Content analysis is a research method used to identify patterns, themes, or biases within qualitative data, including but not limited to written text, speeches, media content, and other forms of communication.

Question 6

There are many activities that a qualitative researcher employs while using participation as a method to gather information. Which of the following would not be something a researcher does through participation?
A) Collects data from journals and field notes of reflections and observations
B) Becomes involved firsthand with the social world chosen for study
C) Strives to experience firsthand reality without preconceptions
D) Actively assimilates into the group to address the underlying research problem

Accepted Answer

The answer of There are many activities that a qualitative...

Question 7

Which of the following would be something a researcher would do when using observation to collect qualitative data?
A) Attempt to become an active part of the group being studied
B) Utilize careful watching, listening, and recording of events, behaviors, and objects
C) Record the observations noted by an independent panel of experts
D) Apply existing theoretical models to explain behavioral patterns

Accepted Answer

Observation involves careful watching, listening, and recording of events, behaviors, and objects.

Question 8

Which of the following would not be something a researcher does when collecting data through an in-depth interview?
A) To probe ideas of the interviewees and obtain the most detailed information available regarding a particular event, issue, or context
B) Negotiating and establishing a social identity in the setting
C) Note-taking comprehensively while astutely questioning and listening
D) Writing up summaries and notes about what the interviewee said as well as reflective personal observations

Accepted Answer

Negotiating and establishing a social identity in the setting is not typically a goal or action taken by a researcher during an in-depth interview. The focus is on gathering detailed information from the interviewee, not on the researcher's social identity within the setting.

Question 9

There are many different formats that may be employed when conducting an in-depth interview. Which of the following is not considered a typical method for collecting data?
A) Semistructured interview
B) Unstructured interview
C) Structured interview
D) Focused interview

Accepted Answer

Focused interviews are considered a method for collecting data in qualitative research, but they are not typically categorized separately from structured, semi-structured, or unstructured interviews. Instead, focused interviews are a technique that can be applied within these broader categories, particularly in semi-structured and unstructured formats, to concentrate on specific topics or experiences.

Question 10

There are several types of biases that can negatively impact qualitative studies. Which of the following would not be considered a bias relevant to qualitative data collection?
A) Overreliance on accessible research participants or favoring of more dramatic events and statements involving research participants and the context of study
B) Biasing effects produced by the presence of the investigator in the research site
C) Biases stemming from the influence of the participants and the research site on the investigator
D) Biases related to having limited (or no) randomization with the selection of participants

Accepted Answer

Biases related to having limited (or no) randomization with the selection of participants are more relevant to quantitative studies where randomization is a key factor in ensuring the generalizability of results. Qualitative studies often use purposive sampling techniques based on the relevance to the research question rather than randomization.

Question 11

An audit trail is a systematically maintained set of documentation. Which of the following would not be included in a qualitative study's audit trail?
A) Personal notes and reflections
B) Details regarding the blinding of participants/investigators
C) Explanations of procedures used in data collection and analysis
D) All data generated in the study

Accepted Answer

In a qualitative study, blinding of participants or investigators is more characteristic of quantitative research methodologies, where controlling for bias is often achieved through blinding. Qualitative research focuses on understanding human experiences and may not involve or require blinding as part of its methodology.

Question 12

During qualitative data collection, the point of saturation occurs when:
A) The researcher's questions are all answered.
B) The researcher has validated all the research aims.
C) The researcher is gaining little or no new information.
D) The researcher has exhausted available subjects to observe or interview.

Accepted Answer

The point of saturation in qualitative research is reached when additional data collection is yielding little or no new information relevant to the research question, indicating that the data set is sufficiently comprehensive to understand the phenomenon under study.

Question 13

The process whereby investigators check out their assumptions and emerging interpretations of the data with the original stakeholders who provided the information is defined as:
A) Double-checking
B) Triangulation
C) Verification
D) Member checks

Accepted Answer

Member checks involve investigators checking their assumptions, interpretations, and conclusions with the participants from whom the data was originally collected, ensuring accuracy and credibility in qualitative research.

Quiz 17: Collecting Qualitative Data

A risk when conducting observational studies includes the Hawthorne effect, which occurs when subjects change their behavior because they know they are being observed.

Peer debriefing is very valuable in qualitative inquiry because it provides a means by which areas of disagreement and controversy are highlighted, leading to additional data collection as the need to clarify conflicting data as conflicting views becomes apparent.

Transparency refers to a deliberate and systematic process of self-examination where an investigator addresses an individual's thoughts, feelings, and reactions to people and events in light of the course of data collection.

In preparing for data collection, the researcher (interviewer) should be trained on technical skills in interviewing, appropriate behaviors to gain access to a population, as well as interpersonal skills and behaviors.

Content analysis is the process of reviewing raw materials, including any form of communication or text, although written forms are most common.

There are many activities that a qualitative researcher employs while using participation as a method to gather information. Which of the following would not be something a researcher does through participation?

Which of the following would be something a researcher would do when using observation to collect qualitative data?

Which of the following would not be something a researcher does when collecting data through an in-depth interview?

There are many different formats that may be employed when conducting an in-depth interview. Which of the following is not considered a typical method for collecting data?

There are several types of biases that can negatively impact qualitative studies. Which of the following would not be considered a bias relevant to qualitative data collection?

An audit trail is a systematically maintained set of documentation. Which of the following would not be included in a qualitative study's audit trail?

During qualitative data collection, the point of saturation occurs when:

The process whereby investigators check out their assumptions and emerging interpretations of the data with the original stakeholders who provided the information is defined as: