Study Guide 6: Qualitative Research and Interviews Flashcards

Vocabulary flashcards covering key terms and definitions from Study Guide 6 on Qualitative Research and Interviews.

Qualitative Research

Research focused on words, depth, meaning, and participant perspectives.

Quantitative Research

Research focused on numbers, breadth, statistical sampling, generalizing from samples, and measuring relationships between variables.

Validity

Whether a study measures or captures what it intended to measure.

Reliability

Whether results would be consistent using the same methods.

Complete Observer

A researcher role where the researcher observes without participating.

Observer as Participant

A researcher role where the researcher mainly observes but may have limited interaction.

Participant as Observer

A researcher role where the researcher participates while also observing.

Complete Participant

A researcher role where the researcher fully participates in the group or setting being studied.

Interview

A series of questions designed to collect information from participants.

Semi-Structured Interview

An interview with prepared questions but flexibility for follow-up and conversation.

Unstructured Interview Structure

An interview structure characterized by broad, open-ended questions.

Fully Structured Interview Structure

An interview structure where the researcher determines the questions, format, and order.

Direct Questions

Interview questions that ask directly about a topic.

Indirect Questions

Interview questions that ask participants to talk about others or general views first.

Structuring Questions

Interview questions that help participants mentally prepare for a new topic.

Follow-Up Questions

Interview questions that ask participants to elaborate on an answer.

Probing Questions

Interview questions that ask for deeper explanation to explore reasons, meanings, and emotions.

Specifying Questions

Interview questions that ask for details about specific actions or events.

Interpreting Questions

Interview questions that check whether the researcher correctly understands the participant's meaning.

SSIG

Semi-Structured Interview Guide; the planned list of interview questions.

Respondent

A person who speaks for themselves in an interview.

Informant

A person who provides information about others or a group.

Focus Group

A group discussion led by a moderator, usually with 6–12 participants.

Ethnography

The study of human social behavior or culture.

Gatekeeper

A person who provides access to a community.

Key Informant

A person who helps introduce or explain a community to the researcher.

Netnography

Online ethnography adapted to computer-mediated social worlds.

Auto-Ethnography

Research using personal experience to understand cultural, political, or social meanings.

Descriptive Notes

Ethnographic notes that describe human interactions and language.

Method Notes

Ethnographic notes that record methods used to gather data.

Analytic Notes

Ethnographic notes that interpret or make sense of the raw data.

Unobtrusive Measures

Methods that document behavior without direct participant awareness.

Fixed Coding

Coding data into preassigned categories.

Flexible Coding

Coding that allows new categories to emerge from the data.

Grounded Theory

An approach where theory emerges from data analysis.

Thematic Analysis

Identifying, analyzing, and interpreting patterns or themes in qualitative data.

CAQDAS

Computer-assisted qualitative data analysis software used to help analyze qualitative data such as text, audio, graphics, video, and social media chat.