Qualitative research methods

Question 1

Qualitative research methods

Answer 1

Produce descriptive data that is used to grain an understanding of underlying reasons, opinions and motivations for an individual or group’s behaviour

Question 2

Method triangulation

Answer 2

Combining different research methods in a study in order to collect richer data

Question 3

Deductive approach

Answer 3

When a hypothesis, a claim often derived from a theory, is tested against empirical evidence so that it can be either accepted or rejected

Question 4

Inductive approach

Answer 4

how a psychologist processes information and draws conclusions based on the given information (don’t normally define variables in advance)

Question 5

Goal of qualitative research

Answer 5

To describe the meanings attributed to events by the research participants themselves

Question 6

Interview schedule

Answer 6

Plan for conducting the interview

Question 7

Structured interview

Answer 7

Interview schedule states exactly what questions should be asked as well as the order of the questions (highly controlled, easily to analyse, artificial)

Question 8

Unstructured interviews

Answer 8

Interview process only specifies the topic and the available time (open to interests and motivation of the interviewee, more difficult to analyse)

Question 9

Semi-structured interviews

Answer 9

Looks like an informal conversation, still has a schedule. Involves a set of open ended questions that permit the respondent to answer more freely.

Question 10

Focus groups

Answer 10

Group interviews (group convo more natural, listening to others helps spark ideas and encourage conversation, saves time, strong voice -> less contribution etc)

Question 11

Conformity effects

Answer 11

When people simply agree with the ideas of a member of the group

Question 12

Naturalistic observations

Answer 12

Observations that take place in a natural setting

Question 13

Researcher bias

Answer 13

Observation affected by what the researcher expects to find

Question 14

Researcher triangulation

Answer 14

When several researchers observe the same behaviour and compare the results of their observations

Question 15

Participant observation

Answer 15

When the researcher is part of the group that is being observed

Question 16

Non-participant observation

Answer 16

When the researcher is not part of the group

Question 17

Response bias

Answer 17

Adjusting responses to give the ‘right’ answer to the researchers

Question 18

Holistic

Answer 18

Encompassing the whole person, not just a part

Question 19

Method triangulation

Answer 19

Using multiple methods of investigation to explore the same phenomenon

Question 20

Research question

Answer 20

Open ended and invites detailed descriptions and if possible, explanations

Question 21

Representational generalisability

Answer 21

the extent to which findings from a study can be applied to a broader population or context beyond the specific sample studied

Question 22

Inferential generalisability (transferability)

Answer 22

The findings of the study can be applied to settings outside the setting of the study

Question 23

Theoretical generalisability

Answer 23

Theoretical concepts derived from the study can be used to develop further theory

Question 24

Data triangulation

Answer 24

Researcher collects data from different sources

Question 25

Researcher triangulation

Answer 25

Involves the use of several observers, interviewers, or researchers to compare and check data collection and interpretation

Question 26

Theory triangulation

Answer 26

Used to explain behaviour – is when different approaches work together to explain behaviour to take for a more holistic approach to the problem (biological, cognitive, sociocultural)

Question 27

Laboratory observations

Answer 27

Takes place in a lab

Question 28

Participant observations

Answer 28

Researcher is part of the group

Question 29

Non-participant observations

Answer 29

Researcher is not part of the group

Question 30

Covert observations

Answer 30

Where researchers observe a group of individuals without their knowledge, often by becoming a member of the group or observing from a distance

Question 31

Overt observations

Answer 31

When participants are aware they are being observed and researchers are open about their research intentions

Question 32

Surveys

Answer 32

A way of collecting information from a large and dispersed group of people. (uses both quantitative and qualitative data, uses questionnaire with closed questions, face-tp-face approach allows for clarification)

Question 33

Case studies

Answer 33

Grounded in real life and generally produces rich data that can provide insight into an individual’s behaviour. (NOT a research method but an approach to study something – holistic data, limited focuses etc)

Question 34

Data collection methods in case studies

Answer 34

- Semi structured interviews - Participant observations - Personal effects - Official documents - Method triangulation

Question 35

Pros of case studies

Answer 35

- Highlights extraordinary behaviour - Stimulates new research - Can contradict existing beliefs

Question 36

Cons of case studies

Answer 36

- Not possible to replicate - Cant generalise results - At best one case can corroborate another