Situational Questions (Chapter 9-11)

C

In qualitative research, “researcher as key instrument” primarily means:

A. The researcher designs all instruments alone
B. The researcher is the main tool for gathering & interpreting data
C. The researcher reduces bias using statistics
D. The researcher must avoid talking to participants

B

Which best explains why emergent design strengthens qualitative research?

A. It eliminates the need to revise protocols
B. It allows data collection to change as insights arise
C. It increases sample representativeness
D. It makes findings more generalizable

B

A researcher modifies their interview questions after early sessions. This reflects:

A. Researcher effects
B. Reflexivity
C. Reliability checking
D. Member checking

A

Which method is least appropriate for studying hidden cultural practices?

A. Phenomenology
B. Ethnography
C. Case Study
D. Document Analysis

B

In a fully structured interview, probing is:

A. Encouraged to add depth
B. Not allowed because it changes the structure
C. Allowed only after all questions
D. Required in all cases

B

A key threat when participants who strongly disagree with the topic stop attending interviews:

A. Researcher effect
B. Differential drop-out
C. Non-verbal leakage
D. Construct invalidity

B

In focus groups, “range” refers to:

A. Variety of participants
B. Movement across discussion areas
C. Intensity of emotional reactions
D. Length of each session

B

Which is NOT true about transcription in FGDs?

A. Should capture everything
B. Selective editing is acceptable if quotes are strong
C. Must include interactional flow
D. Requires informed consent

C

Which is a reliability procedure in coding qualitative data?

A. Member checking
B. Negative case analysis
C. Checking coder drift
D. Thick description

C

Web or email interviewing is used when:

A. Building rapport is the top priority
B. Nonverbal communication is essential
C. Participants are geographically dispersed
D. The research requires deep emotional disclosure

D

• Emergent design allows researchers to adjust their methods while collecting data.

• This improves the alignment between the questions asked and the meaning participants want to express.

A – Statement 1 true, Statement 2 false
B – Statement 1 false, Statement 2 true
C – Both true, but not related
D – Both true AND Statement 2 explains Statement 1

A

• Differential drop-out threatens validity.

• It occurs when all participants complete the study with no losses.

A – Statement 1 true, Statement 2 false
B – Statement 1 false, Statement 2 true
C – Both true, but not related
D – Both true AND Statement 2 explains Statement 1

C

• Essentialist FGDs focus on content.

• Constructionist FGDs focus on interactional processes.

A – Statement 1 true, Statement 2 false
B – Statement 1 false, Statement 2 true
C – Both true, but not related
D – Both true AND Statement 2 explains Statement 1

A

• In interviews, nonverbal cues can modify the meaning of responses.

• Therefore, phone interviews provide the richest form of data.

A – Statement 1 true, Statement 2 false
B – Statement 1 false, Statement 2 true
C – Both true, but not related
D – Both true AND Statement 2 explains Statement 1

B

• Transcription should be selective to highlight only the best participant quotations.

• Full transcription is needed to preserve the interactional character of FGDs.

A – Statement 1 true, Statement 2 false
B – Statement 1 false, Statement 2 true
C – Both true, but not related
D – Both true AND Statement 2 explains Statement 1

Phenomenology

You are studying the experiences of parents caring for children with rare disorders. You want a method that explores shared lived experience. Which method fits best and why?

Differential drop-out

You interview 10 students, but you notice only academically strong students remain until the final session. What validity threat is this?

Researcher/facilitator effects

A researcher facilitates an FGD but keeps answering participants’ questions and dominating the discussion. What is the main risk?

Triangulation

A study uses interviews, observations, and documents. Which validity strategy does this represent

developing or testing constructs

You want to develop a psychological scale for test anxiety. You start by gathering students to discuss feelings, behaviors, and experiences. Why is an FGD appropriate?

C

Which characteristic of qualitative research emphasizes that the study evolves as insights are discovered?

A. Reflexivity
B. Holistic account
C. Emergent design
D. Inductive analysis

B

When a researcher purposefully selects participants who best help understand the phenomenon, this is called:

A. Random sampling
B. Purposive sampling
C. Systematic selection
D. Snowball reduction

B

The approach that builds theories grounded in the data itself:

A. Phenomenology
B. Grounded theory
C. Case study
D. Narrative research

B

A qualitative researcher explains their cultural background and biases before interpreting findings. This refers to:

A. Member checking
B. Reflexivity
C. Triangulation
D. Peer debriefing

A

Which design is best for capturing a detailed story of one person’s life?

A. Narrative
B. Ethnography
C. Case study
D. IPA

C

Which is NOT a typical qualitative data source?

A. Interview transcripts
B. Observations
C. Psychological test scores
D. Field notes

B

Which is the researcher’s main instrument in qualitative studies?

A. Interview protocol
B. The researcher
C. Audio recorder
D. Observation checklist

B

Data saturation mainly determines:

A. When to begin sampling
B. The number of participants needed
C. What kind of coding to apply
D. How to formulate hypotheses

B

A researcher revises questions halfway into the study. Which characteristic is this?

A. Deductive reasoning
B. Emergent design
C. Holistic data representation
D. Reflexive synthesis

D

The method that requires immersion into a culture over time:

A. Grounded Theory
B. Phenomenology
C. Case Study
D. Ethnography

B

Which is the MOST essential step before actual interview data collection?

A. Member checking
B. Piloting
C. Thematic analysis
D. External audit

B

The “interviewer effect” refers to:

A. Participant reactions to the topic
B. Influence caused by interviewer’s characteristics
C. Camera malfunction
D. Changing interview questions

C

Which interview type enables real-time observation of non-verbal cues?

A. Telephone interview
B. Email interview
C. Face-to-face interview
D. Web survey

C

Which BEST prevents research hypocrisy in interviewing?

A. Using long questions
B. Not changing questions
C. Taking pilot findings seriously
D. Avoiding rapport

C

The facilitator skill that ensures depth of personal responses is:

A. Range
B. Silence use
C. Specificity
D. Transition management

B

Social constructionist focus groups primarily analyze:

A. Individual thoughts
B. Social interaction processes
C. Test scores
D. Case patterns over time

C

Audio recording FGDs requires:

A. Secret taping
B. Selective quotation
C. Informed consent
D. Transcribing only best quotes

B

Which method is MOST appropriate to validate a conceptual model?

A. Interview
B. Focus group
C. Phenomenology
D. Narrative

B

Which is a common validity strategy in qualitative research?

A. Factor analysis
B. Triangulation
C. Z-scoring
D. Meta-regression

B

Which is a reliability procedure?

A. Prolonged engagement
B. Checking coder drift
C. Thick description
D. Member checking

B

Which refers to analyzing interview data by reducing it into manageable categories?

A. Regression
B. Content analysis
C. Inter-observer drift
D. Experimental coding

C

A researcher takes descriptions back to participants to confirm accuracy. This is:

A. Peer auditing
B. Reflexivity
C. Member checking
D. Saturation

B

Which type of interview is most vulnerable to misinterpreting tone and emotion?

A. Face-to-face
B. Phone
C. FGD
D. In-person email

C

Focus groups are best for:

A. Private trauma cases
B. Sensitive topics needing anonymity
C. Generating group-based insights
D. Complex statistical modeling

A

Which is LEAST appropriate to analyze FGD data?

A. IPA
B. Thematic analysis
C. Discourse analysis
D. Conversation analysis

B

In interviewing, probing is used to:

A. Change the topic
B. Deepen responses
C. Avoid bias
D. Reduce interview time

D

• Triangulation strengthens credibility.

• It does this by comparing multiple sources of data.

A – 1st True, 2nd False
B – 1st False, 2nd True
C – Both True but NOT related
D – Both True AND Statement 2 explains 1

A

• Focus groups can reveal group norms.

• They are ineffective for exploring how conversations unfold.

A – 1st True, 2nd False
B – 1st False, 2nd True
C – Both True but NOT related
D – Both True AND Statement 2 explains 1

D

• Thick description enhances transferability.

• It gives rich contextual detail that helps readers compare settings.

A – 1st True, 2nd False
B – 1st False, 2nd True
C – Both True but NOT related
D – Both True AND Statement 2 explains 1

A

• Reflexivity reduces researcher biases.

• It does so by removing the researcher entirely from the process.

A – 1st True, 2nd False
B – 1st False, 2nd True
C – Both True but NOT related
D – Both True AND Statement 2 explains 1