research methods + data analysis (w9)

Question 1

does qualitative approach use inductive or deductive reasoning, how/why

Answer 1

inductive (data –> theory) (specific –> general)
starts with specific examples, analyses to generate theory

Question 2

does quantitative approach use inductive or deductive reasoning, how/why

Answer 2

deductive (theory –> data) (general –> specific)
starts with a theory, tests via specific examples to prove or disprove theory

Question 3

what things constitute quality in qualitative research

Answer 3

validity, reliability, trustworthiness - dependability, confirmability, credibility, transferability

Question 4

what does dependability mean

Answer 4

showing that the findings are consistent and could be repeated

Question 5

what does confirmability mean

Answer 5

a degree of neutrality or the extent to which the findings of a study are shaped by the respondents and not researcher bias, motivation or interest

Question 6

what does credibility mean

Answer 6

confidence in the truth of the findings

Question 7

what does transferability mean

Answer 7

showing that the findings have applicability in other contexts

Question 8

types of qualitative research approaches

Answer 8

phenomenology, ethnography, grounded theory

Question 9

what is the research purpose for phenomenology and its disciplinary origin

Answer 9

describe one or more individuals’ experiences of a phenomenon, philosophy

Question 10

what is the research purpose for ethnography and its disciplinary origin

Answer 10

describe cultural characteristics of a group of people, anthropology

Question 11

what is the research purpose for grounded theory and its disciplinary origin

Answer 11

inductively generate a grounded theory describing and explaining a phenomenon, sociology

Question 12

what is the primary data collection method for phenomenology

Answer 12

in depth interviews

Question 13

what is the primary data collection method for ethnography

Answer 13

participant observation over an extended period of time, interviews with informants

Question 14

what is the primary data collection method for grounded theory

Answer 14

interviews, observations

Question 15

what is data analysis like for phenomenology

Answer 15

list significant statements, determine meaning of statements and identify essence of the phenomenon

Question 16

what is data analysis like for ethnography

Answer 16

holistic description and search for cultural themes in the data

Question 17

what is data analysis like for grounded theory

Answer 17

begin with open coding, then axial coding and end with selective coding

Question 18

what is the report like for phenomenology

Answer 18

rich description of the essential characteristics of the experience

Question 19

what is the report like for ethnography

Answer 19

rich description of context and cultural themes

Question 20

what is the report like for grounded theory

Answer 20

description of topic and people studied, presentation of the theory

Question 21

types of interview

Answer 21

individual, group, structured, semi structured, unstructured, open Qs, closed Qs, biographical, clinical, ethnographical, face to face, telephone, computer assisted

Question 22

strengths of interviewing

Answer 22

extensive personalisation/interaction, extensive opportunities to ask Qs, possible to ‘probe’, good ‘rate of return’, flexible

Question 23

limitations of interviewing

Answer 23

labour intensive, costly, not extensive, subjectivities in interpretation and analysis (?), limited reliability, memory decay (?)

Question 24

what to think about when designing interview guide

Answer 24

what are you asking people Qs, why are you asking these people, what do you want to ask (identify key Qs), how do you plan to ask them (open, closed, scales)

Question 25

questions to avoid in interviews

Answer 25

double Qs, long complex Qs, Qs involving technical terms, leading/biased Qs, ambiguous Qs, invasion of privacy

Question 26

what must a good interviewer do

Answer 26

have listening skills, make Qs straightforward, clear, non-threatening, non-verbal communication, eliminate cues that lead them to respond in a certain way, don’t look bored

Question 27

stages of qualitative analysis

Answer 27

data reduction: coding, discarding irrelevant data, on going throughout research
data display draw conclusions from mass of data
conclusion drawing/verifications validity examined through references to your existing field notes and critical discussions with tutors

Question 28

ways of analysing qualitative data

Answer 28

ethnographic analysis, structured analysis, content analysis, axial coding and constant comparison, inductive and deductive analytical procedures, post-structuralism approach, feminist approach

Question 29

what is data structure

Answer 29

words, phrases, paragraphs, connections, patterns, sequences

Question 30

what is coding for qualitative data

Answer 30

the organisation of raw data in conceptual categories, each code is effectively a category - first stage of providing some form of logical structure to data

Question 31

what are codes for qualitative data

Answer 31

tags or label for assigning units of meaning to descriptive information compiled during a study, codes are attached to chunks of words or phrases, sentences or whole paragraphs

Question 32

stages of data coding

Answer 32

statements relating to research Q identified and assigned a code - category
reread transcripts - search for statement that fit into categories
further codes might be developed - axial coding
more analytical - look for patterns and explanations

Question 33

questions to consider

Answer 33

to what extent does my sample allow generalisation, what did I do that produced these findings, what was left out, why, what/who doesn’t fit, what’s missing, what’s surprising

Question 34

what’s the hierarchy of themes

Answer 34

transcripts > raw data themes > lower order themes > main themes > dimensions

Question 35

aspects of data trustworthiness

Answer 35

confirmability (objectivity) : link with raw data themes-list of emerged themes
dependability (reliability) : triangulation of transcripts and themes
credibility (internal validity) : pilot study, member checking
transferability (external validity) : demographic characteristics, specific settings