Qualitative and Quantitative Research Methods Quiz

Qualitative research

Interpretive research that involves extracting information from non-numerical data.

Quantitative research

A focus on testing groups of individuals with a primary goal of generalizing findings.

Report writing in quantitative studies

Focus on statistical results.

Report writing in qualitative studies

Focus on descriptive narratives.

Qualitative research methods

Used to provide a better understanding of the phenomenon being investigated.

Qualitative research description

It is interpretive, involves multiple methods, and focuses on people in their natural environment.

Method for reducing researcher bias

Reflexivity.

Negative-case sampling

A method to avoid researcher bias in qualitative research.

Researcher bias reduction method

Reactivity is NOT a method for reducing researcher bias.

Descriptive validity

Providing an accurate description of a particular phenomenon, situation, or group.

Descriptive validity establishment

Jim is trying to establish descriptive validity through the method of investigator triangulation.

Interpretive validity

The ability of researchers to accurately portray the viewpoints of their participants.

Participant feedback

Checking with participants to see if they agree with the researcher's statements, interpretations, and conclusions.

Low-inference descriptors

Using participants' own words as much as possible.

Methods to enhance theoretical validity

Include extended fieldwork, theory triangulation, and peer review.

Data collection in qualitative research

Sometimes called fieldwork.

Notes taken by the researcher

Called fieldnotes.

Complex hypothesis testing

Constructing and testing a complex hypothesis to boost a qualitative study's theoretical validity.

Methods triangulation

Using multiple methods to enhance the validity of qualitative research.

Confirmation seeking

A method that is NOT effective for reducing researcher bias.

Theoretical validity

The accuracy of the theoretical framework used in research.

External audit

A method for establishing descriptive validity.

Extended fieldwork

A method to enhance theoretical validity.

pattern matching

To boast a qualitative study's theoretical validity, a researcher may construct and test a complex hypothesis.

peer review

Discussing the findings and interpretations of your research with other researchers is important in establishing theoretical validity.

ideographic causation

An action by a particular person in a local situation with an observable result.

nomological causation

The standard view of causation in science.

internal validity

Focuses on understanding how variables are causally related in a particular context.

researcher as detective

The method of establishing internal validity that focuses on the researcher carefully thinking about the cause and effect before drawing a conclusion.

external validity

Is less important than in quantitative research because researchers generally are not interested in generalizing their findings.

naturalistic generalization

When qualitative researchers focus on external validity they are likely to focus on this.

face-to-face interviews

Phenomenologists hoping to gain an understanding of the experiences of people that have been abducted by terrorists would rely primarily on this method.

phenomenological method

If a researcher were interested in a person's conscious experience resulting from the end of a marriage, this would be the method of choice.

life world

In phenomenology research, a research participant's inner world is referred to as this.

in-depth interviews

This method of data collection would be most likely to be used by a phenomenological researcher.

phenomenological report

It is important to write a detailed narrative with a description of the essential characteristics of the experience.

ethnographic study

The best approach for Dr. Drinkwater to describe what it is like to be Amish in the 21st century.

Edmund Husserl

The philosopher considered the founder of phenomenology.

feelings after divorce

A phenomenologist who is interested in the effects of separation is most likely to ask a person this question.

goal of phenomenology

To gain access to an individual's inner world and understand their own unique life experience.

Cultures

use(s) shared values along with beliefs, language, and norms to interpret and understand their world.

Norms

are written and unwritten rules specifying how people in a group are supposed to think and act.

Gatekeepers

are group members who control a researcher's access to the rest of the group members.

Participant-observer method

a method where a researcher joins a group to see how members are recruited and why affiliation is strong.

Reactive effect

a significant risk inherent in participant observation.

Data collected by participant observers

are most likely to be affected by the 'reactive effect.'

Emic perspective

the insider perspective in ethnographic research.

Etic perspective

the outsider perspective in ethnographic research.

Going native

when a researcher becomes overly involved in a group to the point where they are no longer objective.

Ethnocentrism

judging others on the basis of your own cultural standards.

Holistic report

the narrative report for an ethnography should be a holistic report of the culture.

Instrumental case study

a study that aims to show that prevailing wisdom is not completely correct.

Intrinsic case study

a study focusing on a person with an unusually excellent memory to understand this interesting case.

Single-case research designs

focus on investigating the effect of a treatment.

Phineas Gage

the case study that provided insight into the role of the brain in behavior after a severe accident.

Collective case study

is different from other case studies in that more than one individual is studied.

Extrinsic case study

Not a recognized type of case study.

Grounded theory

A research method that uses empirical data to develop theory.

Key characteristic of grounded theory

Development of a theory based on empirical data.

Four key characteristics of grounded theory

The newly constructed grounded theory should fit the data, contribute to control of the phenomenon, and provide understanding of the phenomenon.

Open coding

The initial stage of data analysis in grounded theory.

Selective coding

The aspect of data analysis in grounded theory that involves developing the main idea.

Mixed methods research

A research approach that utilizes both quantitative and qualitative methods.

Axial coding

The second stage of data analysis in grounded theory where the focus is on making concepts more abstract.

Theoretical saturation

Occurs when no new information relevant to the grounded theory is emerging from the data.

Compatibility thesis

The position that quantitative and qualitative research methods and philosophies can be combined.

Pragmatism

The philosophy focusing on what works as the criterion of what should be viewed as tentatively true and useful in research and practice.

Weakness of mixed methods approach

Because expertise is needed in two areas, it can be difficult to find people qualified to perform both types of research.

Inside-outside validity

A type of validity important in mixed method research present when the researcher provides both the insider and objective outsider perspectives.

Sample integration validity

A type of validity in mixed method research stating that researchers must not treat the quantitative and qualitative samples the same.

Mixed methods design scheme dimensions

Based on time order (concurrent and sequential) and paradigm emphasis (equal status and dominant status).

Strength of qualitative research

It can provide an in-depth understanding of an individual or situation.

Triangulation in qualitative research

May include the use of multiple data sources, methods, and theories to interpret data.