L17: INTRO TO QUALITATIVE RESEARCH Flashcards
(93 cards)
1
Q
What is “Big Q” qualitative research?
A
A broad research paradigm focused on understanding phenomena from participants’ perspectives.
2
Q
What is “Small q” qualitative research?
A
Refers to mixed methods or quantitative research involving numerical data collection and analysis.
3
Q
Who introduced the terms “Big Q” and “Small q”?
A
Kidder & Fine, 1987.
4
Q
What is the first strand of qualitative methods?
A
Reliability & Validity – based on empiricism, focuses on discovering valid patterns or themes in data.
5
Q
What methods are used in the Reliability & Validity strand?
A
Content Analysis and Protocol Analysis
6
Q
What is the second strand of qualitative methods?
A
Generativity & Grounding – based on contextualism, it constructs inter-subjective meaning through social interactions.
7
Q
What methods are used in the Generativity & Grounding strand?
A
Grounded Theory and Ethogenics.
8
Q
What is the third strand of qualitative methods?
A
Discursive & Reflexive – based on constructivism, it explores themes interpretatively and deeply.
9
Q
What methods are used in the Discursive & Reflexive strand?
A
Discourse Analysis, Narrative Analysis, and Thematic Analysis
10
Q
What type of approach do qualitative research designs use?
A
Participant-led (bottom-up).
11
Q
How are qualitative research designs described in terms of structure?
A
Open-ended and flexible.
12
Q
What does an accommodating design in qualitative research mean?
A
The design allows adjustments based on the evolving needs of the study.
13
Q
What kind of data is used in qualitative research?
A
Naturally occurring and original data.
14
Q
How should data be handled during qualitative data collection?
A
It must not be coded, summarised, or categorised during data collection
15
Q
Where does the research direction come from in qualitative studies?
A
It emerges from the experiences and perspectives of the participants
16
Q
What are key design features of qualitative research?
A
Participant-led (bottom-up), open-ended, flexible, and accommodating
17
Q
What does an accommodating design mean?
A
The design adjusts as the study evolves.
18
Q
What type of data is used in qualitative research?
A
Naturally occurring and original data
19
Q
What is validity in research?
A
It assesses if the research accurately measures what it intends and if conclusions are meaningful.
20
Q
What is personal reflexivity?
A
Awareness of how the researcher’s own beliefs and experiences influence the research.
21
Q
What is epistemological reflexivity?
A
Critically examining the assumptions and frameworks guiding the research.
reflecting on how your way of thinking and your assumptions shape your research.
22
Q
What is critical language awareness?
A
Understanding that language is shaped by power and social structures, not neutral.
23
Q
What is reliability in research?
A
Getting the same answers on two different occasions (stability).
24
Q
Getting the same answers on two different occasions (stability).
A
No, qualitative research is less concerned with this type of reliability.
25
What is inter-rater reliability?
The consistency between two or more independent raters evaluating the same thing.
26
What is intra-rater reliability?
The consistency of one rater over multiple observations.
27
What statistical measures assess inter-rater reliability?
Cohen’s kappa and Intraclass Correlation Coefficient (ICC)
28
How do sample sizes affect reliability measures?
Small samples can affect reliability estimates.
29
Can the role of the researcher and participant overlap in qualitative research?
Yes, researchers may become part of the group they're studying, blurring the line between observer and participant.
30
What is the role of participants in discursive psychology?
Participants are typically not involved beyond the initial data collection
31
How was data collected in the Stanford Prison Experiment?
Using video/audio recordings, observational notes, interviews, questionnaires, and systematic observation to study power dynamics in a simulated prison.
32
Whats systematic observation?
laboratory experiment method to
investigate the psychological effects of perceived power and
authority within a simulated prison environment
33
What determines the method of data collection in qualitative research?
It depends on the research question. The chosen method must allow for appropriate data collection and analysis and should be planned from the start.
34
What are four common methods of qualitative data collection?
Semi-structured interviews
Observations
Diaries
Focus groups
35
What is a Semi-Structured Interview (SSI)?
Common qualitative method
Guided by research questions
Interviewer speaks little; participant leads
36
What should researchers consider in Semi-Structured Interviews?
Researcher's social identity (e.g., gender, age)
Formal setting may affect participants
Words may mean different things to different people
37
What is the purpose of an Interview Agenda in SSI?
Guides the flow of conversation
Helps gather rich, relevant data
Uses structured yet flexible question types
38
What are Spradley’s (1979) question types in SSI?
Descriptive: General accounts of experience
Structural: Organize topics into categories
Contrasting: Compare events or perspectives
Evaluative: Personal feelings and judgments
39
Why are recordings important in qualitative transcription?
They allow verbatim transcription of speech and capture non-verbal cues like pauses, intonation, and overlaps
40
What is Gail Jefferson’s (1984) contribution to transcription?
She created a detailed notation system for conversation analysis, focusing on pauses, timing, emphasis, and turn-taking.
41
What are key conversational features in transcription analysis?
Latency (pauses/gaps)
Turn-taking - who speaks next and turns is managed
Conversational coherence - how responses maintain logical flow
Interactional meaning (e.g., hesitation as a social signal)
42
What is the difference between transcription and translation?
Transcription: Documents exact speech/interactions
Translation: Converts speech into another language, may lose nuance
43
What does CAPITALIZATION in transcription indicate?
Words in ALL CAPS show that the word or phrase is spoken louder than the surrounding words.
🔊 Example: I SAID NO.
44
What does underlining a word mean in transcription?
Underlining represents emphasis or stress on a word.
🔤 Example: I really want to go.
45
What does an aster*isk in a word indicate?
An asterisk within or before a word shows a change in voice quality, typically that the speaker’s voice becomes squeaky, high-pitched, or strained.
🌟 Example: I don't knooow.
46
What does (2) or other numbers in brackets mean?
Numbers in parentheses indicate a measured pause in seconds.
🕒 Example: (2) = 2 second pause.
47
What does a dot in brackets (.) represent?
A micropause, a very short, almost imperceptible pause — usually less than half a second.
⏸ Example: “So(.)I think we should go.”
48
What do square brackets [ ] indicate in transcription?
They mark overlapping or simultaneous speech between two or more speakers.
🗣️ Example:
A: I was just [about to leave]
B: [Oh really?]
49
What does >that’s all I’m saying< mean in transcription?
Angle brackets > < show that the speech between them is spoken quickly or speeded up.
⚡ Example: >I don't know what happened<
50
What does transcription notation help researchers analyze?
Speech flow and rhythm
Turn-taking and interruptions
Emotion and emphasis
Power dynamics and social cues
51
When is Participant Observation typically used?
When little is known about the group
Studying isolated or hard-to-access groups
When behaviour is not usually visible to the public
52
What are Flick’s (1998) Five Features of Participant Observation?
natural Setting – Observation happens in the group’s real-life environment
Extended Engagement – Researcher spends prolonged time with the group
Implicit Understanding – Builds insider knowledge of meanings and practices
Reflexivity – Researcher reflects on their role and influence on the group
Description & Interpretation – Combines detailed description with analysis
53
What is Participant Observation?
A qualitative method where the researcher immerses themselves in a group to observe behaviours, interactions, and context from within the setting.
54
What are the 3 forms of data collection & analysis in qualitative research?
One-off – Data is collected all at once, then fully analysed afterward.
Phased – Data collection occurs in stages, with analysis between phases to guide the next step.
Combined – Collection and analysis occur simultaneously; ongoing analysis shapes further data collection.
55
What is a shared requirement across all forms of data collection & analysis?
All require focused and intensive observation of the phenomenon being studied.
56
What formats can diaries take in research?
Audio, video, or written formats to allow wider participation.
57
What is important when giving instructions for diary studies?
Instructions should be clear, structured yet flexible.
58
What are two main advantages of using diaries in research?
Chronological order reduces memory bias and they capture sensitive material well.
59
What is a key disadvantage of diary methods?
They require long-term commitment, leading to a high dropout rate
60
What ethical concerns might arise with diary studies?
Issues of privacy and emotional burden on participants.
61
What is the main role of the researcher in a focus group?
Moderator
62
Why are focus groups useful?
Group interaction leads to richer discussion.
63
What is a major drawback of focus groups?
: Dominant participants can limit others’ input
64
What are the main types of focus groups based on participant similarity?
Homogeneous (similar features) and heterogeneous (mixed features)
65
What are the main qualitative methodologies and their purposes?
Content Analysis: Finds and validates patterns/themes in data for reliability and validity.
Protocol Analysis: Studies verbal reports to understand cognitive processes during tasks.
Grounded Theory: Builds new theories by analyzing data inductively and comparing continuously.
Discourse Analysis: Explores how language shapes social meaning and power in communication.
66
Whats empirical epistemology?
Hybrid techniques
Can be used to convert qualitiavte data into quantitative data
67
What is empirical epistemology used for?
Exploratory research, theory development, hypothesis testing and applied research
68
What are the different designs used in Content Analysis?
Descriptive: Counts frequencies of content.
Cross-sectional: Compares content across different groups.
Longitudinal: Compares the same content over time.
Parallel analysis: Compares content from other longitudinal studies
69
What is Protocol Analysiss?
A hybrid method that converts qualitative data into quantitative data, used in exploratory research, theory development, hypothesis testing, and applied research
70
What is the main focus of Protocol Analysis in terms of research approach?
It is more Small-q focused, mainly validating existing theories rather than creating new frameworks.
71
What research designs are used in Protocol Analysis?
Descriptive (frequency counts), cross-sectional (group comparisons), longitudinal (tracking over time), and parallel analysis (comparing multiple studies).
72
What is the purpose of Grounded Theory?
To develop theories directly from empirical data without preconceived hypotheses, explaining phenomena based on real-world observations.
73
What are the key features of Grounded Theory?
Constant comparison, theoretical sampling, concept/category development, and an iterative process of simultaneous data collection and analysis.
74
What is the main outcome of Grounded Theory research?
A theoretical framework or model grounded in the patterns and relationships identified in the data.
75
Whats constant comparison?
Data is continuously compared to identify
emerging patterns and themes.
76
Whats theoretical sampling?
Data collection is guided by emerging findings,
refining the focus as the study progresses
77
Whats concept and category development
Researchers create concepts
and categories to explain observed patterns in the data
78
What’s iterative process?
Data collection and analysis occur simultaneously,
allowing for ongoing refinement of theories based on new insights
doing something again and again, with adjustments each time, to get closer to a better understanding, solution, or outcome.
79
Whats outcome?
The goal is to produce a theoretical framework or model
that explains the phenomenon under investigation, grounded in the
data’s identified patterns and relationships
80
What is the epistemological foundation of Discourse Analysis (DA)?
Rooted in Social Constructionism; DA examines how language shapes and reflects social realities across spoken, written, or visual forms.
81
What does DA focus on regarding language and discourse?
Language is both constructive and constructed, shaping our understanding of the world while being shaped by it
82
How does DA view discourse in terms of social action?
Discourse is an active force that influences social outcomes, often involving rhetorical organization with conflict and persuasion to achieve goals.
83
Whats rhetorical organisation?
Discourse often involves conflicts and
persuasion, structured to achieve specific rhetorical goals.
84
What is the first step in Discourse Analysis (DA) procedure?
Formulate the research question to define the analysis focus
85
What does selecting material involve in DA?
Choose relevant texts or spoken discourse and transcribe if needed.
86
What are the key steps after selecting material in DA?
Skeptically read and interrogate the text, code data for themes, check reliability, then analyze and interpret patterns and meanings.
87
What is the first consideration of reliability and validity in DA according to Potter (1996)?
Use anomaly or deviant cases to improve reliability in non-deviant cases
88
What is the second consideration for reliability in DA?
Compare researchers’ and participants’ understanding and responses.
89
What does the third consideration of reliability and validity involve
Assess how the study fits with previous work.
90
What is the fourth consideration for evaluating DA research?
How readers evaluate the work—whether the theory is exclusive and exhaustive or if alternatives exist
91
According to the design requirements of qualitative research, what should
be avoided in collecting data?
• a) Coding, summarising, and categorising data
• b) Collecting data from multiple sources
• c) Using a variety of data collection methods
• d) Engaging participants in data analysis
A
92
Which factor determines the selection of research methods?
a) Availability of participants
b) Time and budget constraints
c) The formulated research question
d) Personal preferences of the researcher
C
93
What does "Big Q" refer to in research methodology?
a) Quantitative research methods
b) Qualitative research methods
c) Both qualitative and quantitative research methods
d) None of the above
B
