CH 5 Qualitative Research

What is qualitative research?

A methodology focusing on obtaining in-depth accounts of participants' perspectives and experiences.

What is quantitative research?

Methods that objectively examine associations between variables, predict outcomes, and make comparisons.

What is mixed methods research?

A blend of qualitative and quantitative methods to examine a research question from multiple perspectives.

What is reflexivity in qualitative research?

The practice of the researcher monitoring and recording their role in data collection throughout the study.

What is member-checking?

Recontacting participants to verify their responses for accuracy.

What is a bottom-up approach in qualitative research?

An inductive approach where the researcher develops a theory based on participants' direct experiences.

What is a top-down approach in qualitative research?

A deductive approach where the researcher tests preexisting theories with collected data.

What is situated analysis?

An approach examining a topic within its naturally occurring context.

What is holistic analysis?

An approach examining how various properties contribute to patterns within a complex system.

What is self-report in data collection?

Techniques like interviews and focus groups where participants provide their own accounts.

What is observational data collection?

Techniques such as action research and ethnography that involve observing participants in their natural settings.

What is archival data?

Data that has already been collected in a naturally occurring setting, such as newspapers or health records.

What is a structured interview?

An interview style with specific questions prepared in advance, asked in a fixed order.

What is an unstructured interview?

An interview style where the researcher allows for a conversational flow without preplanned questions.

What is a semi-structured interview?

An interview combining structured and unstructured approaches, allowing flexibility for probing.

What is interviewer bias?

Any way the interviewer influences the participant's response through their characteristics or appearance.

What are qualities of a good interviewer?

Knowledgeable, attentive, sensitive, organized, and able to segue between topics.

What is an interview schedule?

A protocol that includes the questions to ask and the anticipated order for the interview.

What are leading questions?

Questions that influence the nature of the response due to their wording.

What is conversation analysis?

An examination of natural dialogue patterns focusing on features like turn-taking and speech sequencing.

What is content analysis?

A systematic examination of communication to summarize its substance.

What is grounded theory technique?

An approach where the researcher generates categories and builds a theory from participant information.

What is the significance of fantasy thoughts in qualitative research?

They can reveal underlying motivations and beliefs of participants, as seen in case studies like Reid Hickernell.

What is triangulation in qualitative research?

Using multiple techniques or samples to assess the same information for a comprehensive examination.

What is the goal of qualitative research?

To develop a deeper understanding of participants' experiences and perspectives.

What is the importance of ordering questions in an interview?

The order can influence responses; starting with warm-up questions can help ease participants into sensitive topics.