Are you ready for qualitative data gathering?

Study Notes

Qualitative data collection requires forethought, planning, and mindful attention to ethical considerations and cultural respect.
Anonymity, confidentiality, and ability to remove or withdraw data are important limitations to consider.
Researchers should approach participants with respect and prepare with competence, while also demonstrating humility and asking directly what is acceptable in respect to data collection.
Researchers need to consider whose interests are represented and the reciprocity in the researcher-participant relationship.
Qualitative data gathering requires a significant investment of time and potentially other resources.
Researchers need to consider their influence on the data gathering process and capture their personal reactions through reflexive journaling.
Each source of data (interviews, focus groups, observations, other artifacts) requires separate planning.
Researchers need to be upfront and genuine with participants about why the topic is important and what they hope to achieve through the research.
Participants own the data they choose to share, and researchers need to consider what this research might represent to them.
Qualitative research can be a powerful tool, but researchers need to be thoughtful about how it will be used to avoid it becoming a tool of oppression.
Qualitative research involves collecting and analyzing data simultaneously.
Saturation is the point where no new ideas or concepts are presented.
Quality of data is important, not just quantity.
Interviews are a common form of qualitative data gathering.
Interviews can be conducted in person, via phone, or video.
Recording interviews can be a barrier for participants, so taking field notes is an alternative.
Expanded field notes provide more detail and context to the data.
The interview guide outlines the questions and instructions for the interview.
Researchers should be well-prepared and considerate of the participant's time and privacy.
Personal connection with the interviewee can help them engage more easily in the interview process.
Interview guides can be structured, semi-structured, or unstructured.
Emergent design is a flexible approach to interview guides that allows for new questions to be added as new ideas emerge.
Interview questions should be approachable, relatable, and individually distinct but collectively comprehensive.
Pilot testing questions with peers, colleagues, or friends can help refine interview questions.
Interviewing for research purposes differs from practice-related interviews in that the interview is the means and the end.
Interview skills such as attending to verbal and non-verbal communication, active listening, and clarification are important for both practice-related and research interviews.
Probes are brief follow-up questions that help explore a topic a bit further.
Structured interview guides are more focused, while unstructured guides are more broad and flexible.
It is important to provide clarity around the purpose of the research interview, which is to answer the research question.
Interview questions should avoid jargon or technical terms and be culturally sensitive.
Qualitative research interviews have a limited direct benefit to the participant.
Researchers should not confuse their role with that of a counselor or therapist.
Researchers have an ethical obligation to facilitate appropriate support services for participants who are negatively affected by their participation.
Focus groups offer the opportunity to gather data from multiple participants at once.
Focus groups require a considerable amount of planning and skill to execute well.
Focus groups shouldn't exceed 10-12 participants.
Group composition should strike a balance between heterogeneity and homogeneity.
The setting for the focus group should be neutral, accessible, convenient, and offer privacy.
Ideally, focus groups should be conducted with a co-researcher.
Preparation for a focus group includes developing a focus group guide and questions that are appropriate for the educational level of the participants.

Description

Are you interested in conducting qualitative research? Do you want to learn more about the planning, execution, and ethical considerations involved in collecting qualitative data? Take this quiz to test your knowledge on topics such as interview and focus group planning, ethical considerations, and data analysis. With questions ranging from the basics to more complex concepts, this quiz will help you assess your understanding of qualitative data collection and improve your research skills.