Qualitative Research: Methodological and Ethical Issues

A collection of 15 vocabulary flashcards covering methodological issues, ethical considerations, and qualitative research basics derived from lecture notes.

Micro and macro data integration

A key methodological issue involving the difficulty of integrating micro (experiences) and macro (policies) data.

Triangulation

A process that improves credibility by utilizing multiple data sources instead of relying on a single source.

Snowball sampling

A limitation that produces participants with similar characteristics, leading to a lack of diversity or sampling bias.

Treating all perspectives equally

A methodological problem that ignores power dynamics and structural inequalities.

Integration of findings

The connection of conclusions to the data, which is considered weak when they are not clearly connected.

Informed consent

The main ethical issue encountered when observing people in public or semi-public spaces.

Confidentiality

The practice of protecting participants’ identities and personal information.

Narrative and life stories

Research methods where participants may be identifiable, posing a risk to confidentiality.

Emotional harm

In research, the distress caused to participants by discussing sensitive topics, such as eviction.

Power imbalance

Unequal power between researcher and participants that potentially affects responses.

Credibility

A measure in qualitative research of how accurate and believable the findings are.

Member checking

One of several methods, including triangulation and strong evidence, that improves credibility.

Transferability

A concept in qualitative rigor concerning whether findings can apply to other contexts.

Thick description

Detailed context provided in a study to improve the transferability of the findings.

Reflexivity

The awareness of the researcher regarding their own influence on the study.