Qualitative

Question 1

What distinguishes big Q from little q qualitative research?

a) Use of stats and experimental design
b) Use of non-numerical data in experimental frameworks
c) Emphasis on open-ended, participant-led inquiry
d) Reliance on numerical coding of interviews

Answer 1

C

Question 2

In realism, the researcher is metaphorically described as a:

a) Counselor
b) Architect
c) Engineer
d) Detective

Answer 2

D

Question 3

Which of the following is an assumption of social constructionism?

a) All experiences are subjective and personal
b) Knowledge exists independently of researchers
c) Consciousness is always intentional
d) Knowledge is produced through social interaction and language

Answer 3

D

Question 4

What is the main goal of phenomenological research?

a) To develop statistical models
b) To uncover hidden social structures
c) To capture participants subjective experiences
d) TO test hypotheses through experiments

Answer 4

C

Question 5

Which qualitative data collection methos is described as a conversation with a purpose?

a) Diary
b) Interview
c) Focus groups
d) Archival data

Answer 5

B

Question 6

What is a disadvantage of using diaries for qualitative research?

a) Difficult transcription
b) Lack of personal reflection
c) High dropout and inconsistent data
d) No ethical concerns

Answer 6

C

Question 7

In epistemology, what is a key concern?

a) How to run experiments
b) The biological basis of knowledge
c) What we can know and how we can know it
d) How to interpret quantitative data

Answer 7

C

Question 8

Which data type is likely to involve analyzing online comments or blog-posts?

a) Web-based data
b) Phenomenological data
c) Focus group transcripts
d) Experimental logs

Answer 8

A

Question 9

What is hypothetico-deductive?

Answer 9

The basis of mainstream experimental psychology, deriving hypotheses and testing them

Question 10

What is little q?

Answer 10

Incorporation of non-numerical data collection techniques into hypothetico-deductive research designs

Question 11

What is Big Q?

Answer 11

Open ended, ppnt led, bottom up research methodologies concerned with theory generation and the exploration of meanings

Question 12

What is epistemology?

Answer 12

Branch of philosophy concerned with the theory of knowledge- how and what can we know

Question 13

What is the realism type of knowledge?

Answer 13

Reflects truthfully what is happening in real world.

Question 14

What is the phenomenology type of knowledge?

Answer 14

Researcher as a counsellor. Aim to produce knowledge about subjective experience of ppnts

Question 15

What is the social constructionist type of knowledge?

Answer 15

Researcher as an architect- How people talk about world and construct versions of reality

Question 16

What are Braun and Clarkes (2006) 6 phases of Thematic Analysis

Answer 16

• Familiarisation
• Coding
• Generating initial themes
• Developing and Reviewing themes
• Defining/ Naming themes
• Writing up to report findings

Question 17

What type of transcription includes details like pauses and intonation?

a) Orthographic
b) Thematic
c) Grounded
D) Jeffersonian

Answer 17

D

Question 18

Which best describes reflexivity in qualitative research?

a) Recognising how the researchers position affects interpretation
b) Using a fixed framework for all studies
c) Interpreting statistical output objectively
d) Removing personal bias to maintain neutrality

Answer 18

A

Question 19

In grounded theory, what does saturation refer to?

a) High participant dropout
b) Reviewing transcripts
c) Completion of thematic coding
d) No new insights emerging from the data

Answer 19

D

Question 20

What is a core feature of reflexive thematic analysis?

a) Theoretical flexibility
b) Statistical validation of codes
c) Coding based on pre-existing theory
d) Use of software to eliminate bias

Answer 20

A

Question 21

What is a code in thematic analysis?

a) A summary of data without interpretation
b) A label capturing a key feature of the data
c) A statistical label
d) A broader conceptual pattern

Answer 21

B

Question 22

Which of the following is true about Grounded Theory?

a) It begins with a set hypothesis
b) It builds theory directly from the data
c) It relies on quantitative data
d) It excludes researcher interpretation

Answer 22

B

Question 23

What is client deference in Grounded Theory?

a) A common coding error
b) A type of interview bias
c) A major theoretical category
d) A limitation in quantitative methods

Answer 23

C

Question 24

What is Grounded Theory?

Answer 24

Bottom up approach to understanding a social process- Inductive- aims to obtain a theory from the data

Question 25

What are the 4 processes of Grounded theory?

Answer 25

- Data collection - Coding - Theoretical sampling - Theory

Question 26

What is the primary aim of Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA)? a) Identifying patterns in group data b) Exploring how individuals make sense of their lived experiences c) Conducting language-based experiments d) Testing psychological interventions

Answer 26

B

Question 27

Which of the following best describes an idiographic approach in IPA? a) Generalising from large samples b) Analysing statistical trends c) Conducting detailed, individual case studies d) Coding large volumes of survey data

Answer 27

C

Question 28

What method of data collection is most aligned with IPA? a) Online surveys b) Focus groups c) Observational protocols d) Semi-structured interviews

Answer 28

D

Question 29

What role does the researcher play in IPA? a) Active interpreter engaging in a double hermeneutic b) Detached observer c) Objective data analyst d) Language transcriptionist

Answer 29

A

Question 30

What is the main focus of Discourse Analysis (DA)? a) Identifying emotional responses b) Understanding how language creates social meaning c) Exploring memory through narratives d) Generalising from participant data

Answer 30

B

Question 31

Which epistemological stance underpins DA? a) Positivism b) Realism c) Empiricism d) Social constructionism

Answer 31

D

Question 32

What kind of question is best suited for IPA? a) How do people experience identity change during migration? b) How often do people talk about identity? c) What vocab do migrants use in interviews? d) What are the statistical predictors of identity loss?

Answer 32

A

Question 33

Which of the following best fits DA? a) What are the neural responses to speech? b) How is speech affected by stress? c) How do politicians construct national identity in their speeches? d) What emotions are commonly expressed in language?

Answer 33

C

Question 34

What is the Nomothetic approach in IPA?

Answer 34

Attempts to generalise people and uses objective knowledge based on numerical data

Question 35

What makes ethics important in qualitative research? a) Researchers use lab-based experimental methods b) Methods often involve personal accounts and non-anonymous data c) Ppnts randomly assigned to groups d) Ethics is less relevant compared to quantitative work

Answer 35

B

Question 35

What is phenomenology in relation to IPA?

Answer 35

- Concerned with how things appear to us in experience- how do we perceive and talk about objects and events

Question 36

Which principle is NOT part of the BPS Human Research Ethics framework? a) Respect for autonomy and privacy b) Social responsibility c) Maximising research publication rate d) Scientific integrity

Answer 36

C

Question 37

What is the main concern of the "Sensitivity to context" principle in Yardleys framework? a) Reporting only the final results b) Adhering strictly to a codebook c) Attending to power dynamics, social context and reflexivity d) Maximising participant numbers

Answer 37

C

Question 38

What does the principle of "Commitment and Rigour" emphasise in qualitative research? a) Producing statistically significant results b) Avoiding researcher bias entirely c) Limiting the use of interpretation d) Depth of analysis and methodological care

Answer 38

D

Question 39

Which principle refers to the consistency between research question, method and analysis? a) Coherence and transparency b) Commitment and rigour c) Impact and importance d) Reflexive congruence

Answer 39

A

Question 40

What determines the impact and importance of a study according to Yardley 2008? a) Relevance to broader society and how it advances knowledges b) Size of the participant sample c) Alignment with previous research d) Speed of publication

Answer 40

A

Question 41

What is an audit trail in qualitative research? a) Transparent record of decisions and methods used during the research b) Summary of participant demographics c) Statistical report for peer reviewers d) Tool to blind researchers to their own biases

Answer 41

A

Question 42

What are the 4 BPS ethical principles?

Answer 42

Respect, Competence, Responsibility and Integrity

Question 43

What is reflexivity in qualitative research concerned with (Mainly)? a) Applying statistical models b) Ongoing reflection on the researchers role, values and impact c) Reducing participant bias d) Replicating quantitative findings

Answer 43

B

Question 44

Why does the researchers identity matter in qualitative work? a) Ensures large sample sizes b) Improves statistical reliability c) Can influence how methods are chosen and results interpreted d) Eliminates the need for ethics approval

Answer 44

C

Question 45

What is the River of Life described as? a) Participatory visual method to reflect on life transitions b) Metaphor used in discourse analysis c) Clinical tool to measure resilience d) Survey technique used in large groups

Answer 45

A

Question 46

What is a common critique of the power dynamics in qualitative research? a) Researchers often hold significant control over process and interpretation b) Participants dominate data analysis c) Ethics review boards are too flexible d) Funding agencies ignore reflexivity

Answer 46

A

Question 47

What distinguishes Big Q qualitative methods? a) Use large sample sizes b) Generate rich, participant led data c) Primarily statistical d) Solely rely on survey methods

Answer 47

B

Question 48

Which of following best describes Small q qualitative methods? a) Data incorporated into predefined categories, supporting statistical analysis b) Exploratory interviews with open-ended questions c) Methods used in ethnography d) Reflexive diary-keeping

Answer 48

A

Question 49

Why is reflexivity important in qualitative research design? a) Reduces time spent on analysis b) Makes study more objective c) Acknowledges and examines researchers role and influence d) Eliminates the need for ethical approval

Answer 49

C

Question 50

What type of data collection is best when participants have insider knowledge or personal experience? a) Quantitative surveys b) Focus groups c) Content Analysis d) Interviews

Answer 50

D

Question 51

What is one benefit of open science practices in qualitative research? a) Promotes transparency and prevents overburdening vulnerable groups b) Requires no consent or anonymisation c) Guarantees complete objectivity d) Eliminates the need for ethics review

Answer 51

A

Question 52

Which of the following best describes a semantic theme in TA? a) Interpretative analysis based on underlying assumptions b) Symbolic theme driven by theory c) Explicit theme based closely on participant statements d) Hidden meaning identified from ppnt behaviour

Answer 52

C

Question 53

What is a key feature of a high quality narrative in TA? a) Weaves together themes, quotes and the analysts interpretations b) Presents only quotes with minimal commentary c) Focuses purely on latent meaning d) Removes researcher influence

Answer 53

A

Question 54

What role does the analyst play in constructing the narrative? a) Interpreter who threads together themes and evidence b) Passive observer of the data c) Technical writer of the results d) Transcriber of interviews

Answer 54

A

Question 55

What is a latent theme in TA?

Answer 55

Interpretative to explore underlying meaning, language, ideas, assumptions that shape semantic content- induct learning and researcher driven

Question 56

What is a risk if analysis stays only at the semantic level without depth? a) Becomes too theoretical b) Results in mere summarizing or paraphrasing c) Overuses theory d) Neglects ppnt voices

Answer 56

B

Question 57

What data is available for constructing the narrative in TA?

Answer 57

- List of final themes - Participant quotes to support themes - Analysts narrative to enable 1 and 2 to be integrated in a good way