Deck 11: Basic Data Analysis for Qualitative Research

Question 1

_____ involves identifying patterns in a data set to reach conclusions and build theories.

A) Deductive reasoning
B) Triangulation
C) Data coding
D) Hypothetical reasoning
E) Inductive reasoning

Answer 1

E

Question 2

Heidi is using computer software to analyze the large amount of data that can be gathered from social networking sites on the Internet. She is attempting to reach conclusions and build theories regarding how consumers are influenced by online reviews. Which of the following is Heidi using to reach conclusions and build theories?

A) Inductive reasoning
B) Web trawling
C) Triangulation
D) Deductive reasoning
E) Data reductive reasoning

Answer 2

A

Question 3

Theory built through inductive reasoning is called _____.

A) inductive theory
B) deductive theory
C) grounded theory
D) phenomenological theory
E) hermeneutic theory

Answer 3

C

Question 4

Most quantitative research is based on theoretically-based hypotheses before any data collection is performed. On which type of reasoning is this type of research based?

A) inductive reasoning
B) deductive reasoning
C) grounded reasoning
D) hermeneutic reasoning
E) hypothetical reasoning

Question 5

_____ is an approach that starts with theory and hypotheses before collection or analysis of data.

A) Deductive reasoning
B) Triangulation
C) Data coding
D) Hypothetical reasoning
E) Inductive reasoning

Question 6

All of the following are situations in which qualitative research is the preferred method of research EXCEPT _____.

A) when little is known about a research problem or opportunity
B) where previous research only partially or incompletely explains the research question
C) when solid theoretical basis exists and several studies exist providing empirical support
D) when current knowledge involves subconscious, psychological, or cultural material that is not accessible using surveys and experiments
E) if the primary purpose of the research is to propose new ideas and hypotheses that can eventually be tested with quantitative research

Question 7

All of the following are approaches to qualitative research EXCEPT _____.

A) positivism
B) postpositivism
C) regression
D) interpretivism
E) critical approaches

Question 8

_____ is a research philosophy that views reality as something that can be objectively ascertained and described through research.

A) Objectivism
B) Interpretivism
C) Phenomenology
D) Critical analysis
E) Positivism

Question 9

Which qualitative research approach posits that, while there is an objective reality, it is difficult to describe or analyze that reality without sociocultural and psychological lenses filtering interpretation?

A) Positivism
B) Postpositivism
C) Interpretivism
D) Mediation
E) Phenomenology

Question 10

How does postpositivism differ from positivism?

A) Positivism views reality as something that can be objectively ascertained and described through research but postpositivism asserts that all access to reality is socially constructed.
B) Positivism views reality as something that can be objectively ascertained and described through research but postpositivism asserts that human behavior cannot be objectively explained.
C) Positivism views reality as something that can be objectively ascertained and described through research but postpositivism posits that, while there is an objective reality, it is difficult to describe or analyze that reality without sociocultural and psychological lenses filtering interpretation.
D) Postpositivism views reality as something that can be objectively ascertained and described through research but positivism posits that, while there is an objective reality, it is difficult to describe or analyze that reality without sociocultural and psychological lenses filtering interpretation.
E) There is no difference-the two terms are interchangeable.

Question 11

Which qualitative research approach asserts that all access to reality is socially constructed, causing researchers to attempt to understand phenomena through meanings assigned to them by individuals rather than seeking an objective, bias-free reality?

A) positivism
B) postpositivism
C) interpretivism
D) critical approaches
E) subjectivism

Question 12

John believes strongly that the only way to understand phenomena is to examine the meanings assigned to them by individuals. He doesn't think it is possible to seek an objective, bias-free reality. Therefore, John's approach to qualitative research is likely to be _____.

A) positivism
B) postpositivism
C) subjectivism
D) interpretivism
E) critical analysis

Question 13

Which qualitative research approach studies human experiences and consciousness and examines conscious experience from the first-person (interviewer or observer) point of view?

A) grounded theory
B) ethnography
C) phenomenology
D) case studies
E) postpositivism

Question 14

Amy is studying the meanings people have for life experiences, such as graduation or getting married. She is studying how experiences such as these affect people's thoughts, desires, memories, emotions, and imagination to bodily awareness and social interactions. Which qualitative research approach is Amy using?

A) phenomenology
B) grounded theory
C) case study
D) conjoint analysis
E) emersion analysis

Question 15

A specialized field of phenomenology which attempts to understand and explain human behavior based on an analysis of stories people tell about themselves is known as _____.

A) grounded theory
B) ethnography
C) hermeneutics
D) triangulation
E) adaptation

Question 16

Which approach to qualitative research actively seeks to change social and economic circumstances by undertaking research that is "emancipatory"?

A) phenomenology
B) hermeneutics
C) critical approaches
D) grounded theory
E) emersion analysis

Question 17

Which of the following typically come from interviews or focus groups in the field and consists of words and phrases in textual format?

A) found data
B) secondary data
C) field-generated data
D) researcher generated data
E) quantitative data

Question 18

Which type of qualitative data comes from existing sources like online social networks, newspaper articles, speeches, diaries, advertisements, and audio and video recordings?

A) found data
B) stored data
C) primary data
D) linear data
E) field-generated data

Question 19

Allison is content analyzing magazine advertisements to research how the portrayal of women has changed over the past 100 years. What type of data is Allison using?

A) field-generated data
B) found data
C) primary data
D) linear data
E) nonlinear data

Question 20

_____is the process of assigning meaningful numerical values or names that reduce data from a large amount of undifferentiated text to a much smaller number of relevant and representative chunks.

A) Data reduction
B) Coding
C) Data display
D) Data verification
E) Configuration

Question 21

Edgar and Holly are two graduate students and have been assigned to read transcripts from focus group interviews of employees regarding a company's promotion policy and assign numerical values to various phrases. For example, they are to put a "1" for all statements that are positive and a "2" for all that are negative regarding the policy. What task are they performing?

A) Data reduction
B) Verification
C) Data display
D) Data verification
E) Coding

Question 22

Barry is counting the number of words a respondent uses to answer a research question. What do words represent in this case?

A) coding units
B) statistics
C) statistical units
D) confirmations
E) case units

Question 23

Which step of qualitative data analysis involves selecting, simplifying, and transforming the data to make it more manageable and understandable?

A) data display
B) data reduction
C) drawing conclusions
D) verifying conclusions
E) reliability assessment

Question 24

Which step of qualitative data analysis organizes information in a way that facilitates drawing conclusions?

A) factor analysis
B) cluster analysis
C) perceptual mapping
D) data display
E) conclusion verification

Question 25

Alvin has organized data obtained through a qualitative research approach to show the five themes that emerged from the data. He used a graphic representation to show how the themes were related to customer preferences. Which step of qualitative data analysis has Alvin performed?

A) data reduction
B) data reliability analysis
C) data display
D) grounded theory
E) correlation analysis

Question 26

Which step of qualitative data analysis involves deciding what the identified themes and patterns mean and how they help to answer the research questions?

A) drawing conclusions
B) clustering
C) correlation
D) conjoint analysis
E) verification

Question 27

What is the process in which qualitative researchers write their initial conclusions and observations, sometimes after every focus group, interview, or observational event?

A) memoing
B) transcribing
C) verification
D) validation
E) justification

Question 28

_____ involves checking and rechecking qualitative data to ensure the initial conclusions are realistic, supportable, and valid.

A) Data reduction
B) Data redundancy
C) Verification
D) Data display
E) Regression analysis

Question 29

Which term is used in qualitative research that is analogous to the quantitative researcher's concept of validity?

A) reliability
B) dependability
C) verification
D) credibility
E) triangulation

Question 30

In qualitative research, _____ is the degree of consistency in assignment of similar words, phrases or other kinds of data to the same pattern or theme by different researchers.

A) construct validity
B) face validity
C) validation
D) verification
E) reliability

Question 31

Which of the following is helpful in establishing credibility in qualitative research?

A) triangulation
B) conjoint analysis
C) factor analysis
D) within-subjects designs
E) high confidence interval

Question 32

All of the following are types of triangulation in qualitative research EXCEPT _____.

A) researcher triangulation
B) data triangulation
C) method triangulation
D) theory triangulation
E) inter-rater triangulation

Question 33

Which type of triangulation involves the analysis and interpretation of multiple researchers on the same team, particularly if they come from different backgrounds?

A) participant feedback
B) theory triangulation
C) researcher triangulation
D) peer reviewed triangulation
E) verification triangulation

Question 34

James is comparing the methods, analysis, and interpretation of three researchers conducting qualitative research on the same topic. Which type of triangulation is this?

A) pattern triangulation
B) theory triangulation
C) redundant triangulation
D) researcher triangulation
E) human triangulation

Question 35

Which type of triangulation requires collecting data from several different sources or at different times and comparing it?

A) pattern triangulation
B) theory triangulation
C) redundant triangulation
D) researcher triangulation
E) data triangulation

Question 36

Jessica is collecting data from several different sources over a period of six months and comparing it in an attempt to establish credibility of qualitative data. Which triangulation method is she using?

A) pattern triangulation
B) theory triangulation
C) redundant triangulation
D) researcher triangulation
E) data triangulation

Question 37

Which type of triangulation involves conducting similar research using several different methods and comparing the findings?

A) pattern triangulation
B) theory triangulation
C) method triangulation
D) researcher triangulation
E) data triangulation

Question 38

Which type of triangulation uses multiple theories and perspectives to interpret and explain the data?

A) pattern triangulation
B) theory triangulation
C) method triangulation
D) researcher triangulation
E) data triangulation

Question 39

Laurie headed a research project that content-analyzed the prevalence of brands appearing in movies and television programming. To assist in demonstrating credibility of her data, she enlists the help of other researchers, some experts on this topic while others are not, and asks their interpretation of her data. Which approach is Laurie using to determine credibility of her qualitative data?

A) pattern triangulation
B) member checking
C) extended field work
D) case studies
E) external peer review

Question 40

Deductive reasoning is a type of thinking that involves identifying patterns in a data set to reach conclusions and build theories.

Question 41

Theory built through deductive reasoning is called grounded theory.

Question 42

Positivism is a research philosophy that views reality as something that can be objectively ascertained and described through research.

Question 43

Interpretivism asserts that all access to reality is socially constructed.

Question 44

Positivists may utilize a research approach called phenomenology to study human experiences and consciousness.

Question 45

Hermeneutics is a specialized analytical approach in phenomenology which explains human behavior based on an analysis of the stories people tell about themselves.

Question 46

Found data comes from existing sources such as social networks, newspaper articles, speeches, diaries, advertisements, audio and video records.

Question 47

Coding is the process of assigning meaningful numerical values or names that reduce data from a large amount of undifferentiated text to a much smaller number of relevant and representative chunks.

Question 48

Data reduction involves selecting, simplifying, and transforming quantitative data to make it more manageable and understandable.

Question 49

Data display organizes the information in a way that facilitates drawing conclusions.

Question 50

Memoing is how qualitative researchers write their initial conclusions and observations during the process of data collection sometimes after every interview, focus group or observational event.

Question 51

Verification involves checking and rechecking the data to ensure the initial conclusions are credible.

Question 52

Inter-rater reliability is the degree of consistency between researchers in the assignment of similar words, phrases or other kinds of data.

Question 53

Data triangulation requires collecting data from several different sources or at different times.

Question 54

Method triangulation involves the analysis and interpretation of the research by multiple people on the research team.

Question 55

Explain the differences between inductive and deductive reasoning.

Question 56

Name and describe the two main sources of qualitative data and discuss the challenges presented by managing qualitative data.

Question 57

Describe the steps in analyzing qualitative data.

Question 58

Explain how reliability and validity in qualitative research are similar to and different from reliability and validity in quantitative research.

Question 59

Name and describe the four most widely used approaches to qualitative research.

Question 60

Compare and contrast the four possible types of triangulation in qualitative research.