Question 1

Which master role generally presents the most serious ethical problems?

Accepted Answer

The complete participant role involves fully engaging in the activities of the group being studied without revealing the researcher's identity, which can lead to ethical issues such as deception and lack of informed consent.

Question 2

Laud Humphreys gained access to men engaged in sexual encounters in public restrooms by posing as a voyeur and lookout. By performing these activities, Humphreys assumed a(n) __________ membership role in the setting that he studied.

Accepted Answer

Humphreys assumed an active membership role because he participated in the activities of the group he was studying by acting as a voyeur and lookout, rather than just observing from the sidelines.

Question 3

Which membership role in participant-observer studies is most likely to create a conflict between the observer and participant roles?

Accepted Answer

Complete membership involves fully participating in the group, which can blur the lines between being an observer and a participant, leading to potential conflicts.

Question 4

__________ members adopt a functional role in the setting but do not commit themselves completely to the group; __________ are least likely to develop trust and rapport with the group.

Accepted Answer

The answer of __________ members adopt a functional role in...

Question 5

Which of the following is true of the roles played by the researchers in the Austin Homeless Study?

Accepted Answer

Anderson adopted the role of "buddy-researcher" by blending the roles of researcher and friend, which is a method used to gain trust and gather more in-depth data from participants.

Question 6

The best approach to gathering information in the field is

Accepted Answer

Making quick field jottings is the best approach to gathering information in the field because it allows the researcher to quickly capture key points without getting bogged down in details. This can be especially helpful in situations where time is limited or where the researcher is trying to gather information from a large number of sources.

Question 7

Brief written recordings of observations made while researchers are in the field are called

Accepted Answer

The answer of Brief written recordings of observations made while...

Question 8

When are field notes recorded in field research?

Accepted Answer

The answer of When are field notes recorded in field...

Question 9

Ideally, field notes should do all but which one of the following?

Accepted Answer

Field notes should include all observations, even those that seem trivial or mundane, as they may provide important context or insights later.

Question 10

To develop ideas from their field notes, field researchers

Accepted Answer

Field researchers ask questions about the data to develop ideas, as this helps them identify patterns, themes, and insights that emerge from their observations.

Question 11

How did Snow and Anderson organize their data in the homeless study?

Accepted Answer

Snow and Anderson organized their data using three major coding categories: settings, domains, and homeless individuals, which allowed them to systematically analyze the experiences and contexts of homelessness.

Question 12

Which of the following sequences best describes the process of recording and analyzing data in field research?

Accepted Answer

The correct sequence in field research is to first make field jottings, then record detailed field notes, followed by developing and coding the data, and finally writing memos to reflect on the findings.

Question 13

Which of the following is not a strength of field research?

Accepted Answer

Field research often lacks generalizability because it focuses on specific contexts and small sample sizes, making it difficult to apply findings broadly.

Question 14

Compared with other research approaches, field research generally

Accepted Answer

Field research is more dependent on the observational and interpretive skills of the researcher because it involves direct interaction with the subject in their natural environment, requiring the researcher to accurately observe and interpret behaviors and contexts.

Question 15

By virtue of its strengths, field research would work best for addressing which one of the following research questions?

Accepted Answer

Field research is ideal for exploring complex social processes and behaviors in natural settings, such as how teenage mothers manage childcare.

Question 16

Which of the following is false regarding the "attitudinal fallacy"? (Box 11.2)

Accepted Answer

The attitudinal fallacy is more likely to be a problem in survey research than in field research because surveys often rely on self-reported attitudes, which may not accurately reflect actual behaviors.

Question 17

Field researchers generally enter the field with a clear-cut research design that is rarely subject to change.

Accepted Answer

Field researchers often adapt their research design as they gather data and encounter new insights, making it flexible and subject to change.

Question 18

The research question in field research may change once a researcher begins collecting and analyzing data.

Accepted Answer

In field research, the research question can evolve as new insights and patterns emerge during data collection and analysis, allowing the researcher to refine or adjust the focus of the study.

Question 19

Once in the field, sampling in field research usually involves the random selection of participants and events.

Accepted Answer

Sampling in field research often involves non-random methods, such as purposive or convenience sampling, to select participants and events that are most relevant to the research objectives.

Question 20

Theoretical sampling refers to theory-based probability sampling.

Accepted Answer

Theoretical sampling is a qualitative research method used in grounded theory to collect data based on emerging concepts, not a probability sampling method.

Quiz 11: Field Research