Question 1

Which of the following best exemplifies the practice of epistemic prioritization?
A)Krithiga found her qualitative interview data coincided perfectly with her focus group data and so decided to report only on the qualitative interview data to avoid redundancy
B)Percy found his qualitative interview data conflicted with his quantitative content analysis data and so reported on the ways method influences results instead of reporting his findings
C)David found his telephone survey data conflicted with his focus group data and so decided to report only those findings that were based on the telephone survey data
D)Karen found her qualitative interview data shared few themes with her archival data and so reported on the disjunction between historical and contemporary discourses
E)Annette found her structured interview data conflicted with her fieldwork observations and so conducted a second set of structured interviews with a revised list of questions

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which of the following best exemplifies the...

Question 2

What is one of the major disadvantages of using experimental research compared to other quantitative forms of data collection?
A)It is not suitable for researching sensitive issues.
B)It relies on latent coding which is susceptible to interpretation issues.
C)The moderator may affect experiment outcomes.
D)Many of the questions social scientists are interested in cannot be tested.
E)It is possible to explore "meaning" of events,experiences,etc.,in much detail.

Accepted Answer

The answer of What is one of the major disadvantages...

Question 3

What is one of the major advantages of using qualitative interviews compared to other qualitative forms of data collection?
A)They make studying hidden or deviant groups possible.
B)They are inexpensive.
C)They are nonreactive.
D)Participants tend to feel empowered.
E)They allow for unexpected answers.

Accepted Answer

Qualitative interviews allow for unexpected answers because they are open-ended and the interviewer can follow up with additional questions to explore further. This flexibility allows for a more in-depth exploration of the topic being studied compared to other forms of qualitative data collection such as surveys or focus groups. While A, B, C, and D may also be advantages of qualitative interviews, they are not specific to this form of data collection and can be present in other qualitative methods as well.

Question 4

What is considered to be the principal advantage of using qualitative methods as an approach to doing social research?
A)Qualitative methods give "voice" to research participants.
B)Qualitative methods are relatively inexpensive.
C)Qualitative methods allow for causality to be established.
D)Qualitative methods involve the collection of data from large samples.
E)Qualitative methods require the researcher to spend a lot of time getting to know the research participants in a study.

Accepted Answer

Qualitative methods give "voice" to research participants, allowing for a deeper understanding of their experiences and perspectives than quantitative methods typically allow. This can lead to rich and nuanced data, as well as greater social and cultural sensitivity.

Question 5

Which of the following is not one of the weaknesses of mixed methods research?
A)It is very labour intensive.
B)It can be very expensive.
C)Conflicting results can be difficult to resolve.
D)Generalizability of findings decreases.
E)Some "purists" argue mixing methods violates the philosophical underpinnings of these approaches.

Accepted Answer

Generalizability of findings actually increases in mixed methods research due to the ability to triangulate findings from multiple sources. Thus, D is not one of the weaknesses of mixed methods research.

Question 6

Despite a general agreement among social scientists that mixed methods research is an ideal way to approach research questions,very few researchers engage in this type of research.Why is this the case?
A)It is very time consuming and labour intensive.
B)It is often the case that social scientists consider themselves predominantly "quantitative" or "qualitative" and that to undertake mixed methods requires them to step outside of their comfort zones and,perhaps,master a new technique.
C)The results of the research are often difficult to publish due to the increased likelihood of obtaining contradictory findings.
D)A and B
E)A and C

Accepted Answer

Option A is correct because mixed methods research involves collecting and analyzing both qualitative and quantitative data. This process can be time-consuming and labor-intensive, requiring more resources and research personnel.

Option B is correct because researchers who specialize in quantitative or qualitative research methods may feel uncomfortable with undertaking mixed-method research. It requires learning new techniques and overseeing a broader range of data sets, which could be outside their expertise.

Option C is partly correct. Mixed-method research presents the risk of gathering contradictory results when using both qualitative and quantitative techniques. However, mixed-method research also offers a range of opportunities to uncover nuances in the research area and provides a comprehensive understanding of the phenomenon under study.

Therefore, Option D - A and B, is the best choice as it covers the primary reasons why social scientists may not engage in mixed-method research.

Question 7

Which of the following is considered a strength of mixed methods research?
A)Generalizability of findings may increase.
B)Conflicting results from quantitative and qualitative components can easily be resolved by resorting to epistemic prioritization.
C)It often takes less time to do mixed methods research than other kinds of social research.
D)It allows for very narrow research questions to be answered.
E)From a philosophical perspective,both qualitative and quantitative approaches are easily combined.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which of the following is considered a...

Question 8

What is one of the major disadvantages of using quantitative content analysis over other quantitative forms of data collection?
A)They make studying hidden or deviant groups possible.
B)The range of research questions that can be addressed is fairly limited.
C)It is nonreactive.
D)Coding techniques are subject to interpretation.
E)It is unlikely that all the concepts the researcher is interested in will be included in the data.

Accepted Answer

While quantitative content analysis is useful for analyzing the content of communication, its range of research questions that can be answered is limited compared to other quantitative data collection methods such as surveys or experiments.

Question 9

In social scientific research,__________ design is the opposite of mixed methods design.
A)priority
B)concurrent
C)sequential
D)univariate
E)monostrand

Accepted Answer

The answer of In social scientific research,__________ design is the...

Question 10

What is one of the major disadvantages of using focus groups compared to other qualitative forms of data collection?
A)There is always the problem of the "interviewer effect."
B)There is always the problem of the "polarization effect."
C)Accessing some individuals or groups may prove to very difficult.
D)The sources may be biased.
E)A fairly limited range of research questions can be addressed with this technique.

Accepted Answer

The answer of What is one of the major disadvantages...

Question 11

Professor Bertha Bettina conducted a research project exploring adolescent girl peer group pressure.She used closed-ended questionnaires and focus groups.Of the 221 girls that fit the criteria for inclusion,90 girls agreed to complete the self-administered questionnaire; of those,50 girls agreed to participate in focus groups.During analysis,descriptive statistics about behaviours reported by the girls were joined with major themes that came out of the focus group interviews. Which one of the following types of sampling designs did Professor Bettina use?
A)Simple random sampling
B)Nonprobability purposive sampling
C)Cluster sampling
D)Simple random sampling and cluster sampling
E)Multi-method sampling

Accepted Answer

Professor Bettina used nonprobability purposive sampling, as she specifically targeted adolescent girls and selected those who fit certain inclusion criteria, as well as those who agreed to complete the questionnaire and participate in focus groups.

Question 12

What are the two main properties of a mixed methods research (quantitative and qualitative)?
A)Determining the research question and the priority of approaches
B)Determining the priority and sequencing of approaches
C)Determining the research question and the sampling techniques
D)Determining the sampling techniques and the sequencing of approaches
E)Determining the sequencing of approaches and the data collection

Accepted Answer

The two main properties of mixed methods research are determining the priority and sequencing of approaches. This means deciding which approach (quantitative or qualitative) takes priority in the research design and planning the sequence in which data will be collected and analyzed. Other considerations, such as research question and sampling techniques, are important to mixed methods research but are not the main properties.

Question 13

Professors Bertha Bettina conducted a research project exploring adolescent girl peer group pressure.She used closed-ended questionnaires and focus groups.Of the 221 girls that fit the criteria for inclusion,90 girls agreed to complete the self-administered questionnaire; of those,50 girls agreed to participate in focus groups.During analysis,descriptive statistics about behaviours reported by the girls were joined with major themes that came out of the focus group interviews. Which one of the following types of data analysis did Bettina use?
A)Sequential data analysis
B)Monostrand data analysis
C)Multi-method data analysis
D)Triangulation
E)Concurrent data analysis

Accepted Answer

The answer of Professors Bertha Bettina conducted a research project...

Question 14

Professor Klaus von Stoppen obtained conflicting results in the qualitative and quantitative parts of his mixed methods study on illicit drug use among high school students in Saskatoon.What approach should he take to resolve this contradiction?
A)He should get another researcher to re-do the study.
B)He should re-do the study.
C)He does not need to resolve the contradiction.
D)He should make the decision to prioritize one approach over the other.
E)He should reanalyze the data to examine the reasons behind the contradictions.

Accepted Answer

Reanalyzing the data to examine the reasons behind the contradictions would be the best approach. This will allow Professor von Stoppen to investigate why the results were conflicting and determine if there were any limitations or methodological issues in the study that may have caused the contradictions. By doing this, he can address any issues and potentially refine his study design for future research. Choosing another approach would not necessarily resolve the contradictions and re-doing the study may not be practical. Prioritizing one approach over the other could result in overlooking potentially valuable insights that are only available through a mixed methods approach.

Question 15

What is one of the major disadvantages of using qualitative interviews compared to other qualitative forms of data collection?
A)There is always the problem of the "interviewer effect."
B)There is always the problem of the "polarization effect."
C)Accessing some individuals or groups may prove to very difficult.
D)The sources may be biased.
E)A fairly limited range of research questions can be addressed with this technique.

Accepted Answer

The answer of What is one of the major disadvantages...

Question 16

A central concern of ________ is the question of how texts function in particular institutional settings to produce ruling relations that shape the experiences of individuals.
A)multi-method research
B)mixed methods research
C)institutional ethnography research
D)qualitative content analysis
E)quantitative content analysis

Accepted Answer

The central concern described in the question aligns with the focus of institutional ethnography research, which aims to understand the ways in which institutions and systems operate to shape individual experiences and actions. Multi-method research, mixed methods research, qualitative content analysis, and quantitative content analysis are not explicitly concerned with the production of ruling relations in institutional settings.

Question 17

Professor Xavier Zaniff wants to conduct research on the experiences of newly arriving immigrants in Toronto,Montreal,and Vancouver from 2012-2017.His research design includes two data collection techniques: focus groups and in-depth interviews.Which research design is he using?
A)Monostrand design
B)Quantitative research design
C)Historical research
D)Multi-method research
E)Mixed methods

Accepted Answer

Professor Xavier Zaniff is using a multi-method research design as he is using both focus groups and in-depth interviews to collect data on the experiences of newly arriving immigrants in Toronto, Montreal, and Vancouver from 2012-2017.

Question 18

In mixed methods research,__________ data collection refers to when data for different parts of a mixed methods project are collected in stages,while __________ data collection refers to when qualitative and quantitative data are collected at the same time.
A)concurrent; sequential
B)sequential; concurrent
C)monostrand; multi-method
D)multi-method; monostrand
E)systematic; simple

Accepted Answer

The answer of In mixed methods research,__________ data collection refers...

Question 19

What is one of the major advantages of using qualitative historical research methods compared to other qualitative forms of data collection?
A)It is nonreactive.
B)Data collection allows the researcher to formulate a deep understanding of a group and its members.
C)It is limited by the availability and quality of documents and data.
D)Using existing sources frees up the immense amount of time that the data collection procedure can take.
E)It does not involve a sampling phase.

Accepted Answer

The answer of What is one of the major advantages...

Question 20

What two methodological approaches were used in Kidd's (2004,2006)sequential study of suicide among street youth in Canada?
A)Qualitative interviews and survey research
B)Focus groups and survey research
C)Content analysis and field research
D)Discourse analysis and survey research
E)Survey research and field research

Accepted Answer

Kidd's study utilized both qualitative interviews and survey research methods to gather data on the topic of suicide among street youth in Canada. The qualitative interviews allowed for a deeper understanding of the experiences and perspectives of the participants, while the survey research provided quantitative data on the prevalence and patterns of suicide among the population.

Quiz 16: Combining Methods in Social Science Research

Which of the following best exemplifies the practice of epistemic prioritization?

What is one of the major disadvantages of using experimental research compared to other quantitative forms of data collection?

What is one of the major advantages of using qualitative interviews compared to other qualitative forms of data collection?

What is considered to be the principal advantage of using qualitative methods as an approach to doing social research?

Which of the following is not one of the weaknesses of mixed methods research?

Despite a general agreement among social scientists that mixed methods research is an ideal way to approach research questions,very few researchers engage in this type of research.Why is this the case?

Which of the following is considered a strength of mixed methods research?

What is one of the major disadvantages of using quantitative content analysis over other quantitative forms of data collection?

In social scientific research,__________ design is the opposite of mixed methods design.

What is one of the major disadvantages of using focus groups compared to other qualitative forms of data collection?

What are the two main properties of a mixed methods research (quantitative and qualitative) ?

Professor Klaus von Stoppen obtained conflicting results in the qualitative and quantitative parts of his mixed methods study on illicit drug use among high school students in Saskatoon.What approach should he take to resolve this contradiction?

What is one of the major disadvantages of using qualitative interviews compared to other qualitative forms of data collection?

A central concern of ________ is the question of how texts function in particular institutional settings to produce ruling relations that shape the experiences of individuals.

Professor Xavier Zaniff wants to conduct research on the experiences of newly arriving immigrants in Toronto,Montreal,and Vancouver from 2012-2017.His research design includes two data collection techniques: focus groups and in-depth interviews.Which research design is he using?

In mixed methods research, data collection refers to when data for different parts of a mixed methods project are collected in stages,while data collection refers to when qualitative and quantitative data are collected at the same time.

What is one of the major advantages of using qualitative historical research methods compared to other qualitative forms of data collection?

What two methodological approaches were used in Kidd's (2004,2006) sequential study of suicide among street youth in Canada?