Chapter 10: Nonexperimental Research: Qualitative
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Questions and Answers

What is the main focus of qualitative research in social or behavioral sciences?

  • To test hypotheses using controlled experiments
  • To identify why people exhibit certain behaviors (correct)
  • To generalize findings to a large population
  • To find correlations between variables

    • Which of the following is an example of a physical artifact in qualitative research?

  • A budget report
  • A survey questionnaire
  • A participant's interview response
  • A dark, gloomy office space (correct)

    • What is a limitation of participant observation in qualitative research?

  • It is only used to study humans
  • It is too time-consuming
  • It requires specialized equipment
  • It is difficult to maintain objectivity (correct)

    • What is the purpose of direct observation in qualitative research?

    <p>To understand the interactions and setting without influencing them</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What type of information can archival records provide in qualitative research?

    <p>Detailed information about an organization's structure and changes over time</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the benefit of using documentation in qualitative research?

    <p>It confirms or challenges other information gathered</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a challenge of conducting participant observation in qualitative research?

    <p>Being accepted by the group being studied</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following is NOT a method used in qualitative research?

    <p>Experiments</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary goal of a moderator in a focus group?

    <p>To encourage open communication among participants</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the main advantage of using a case study method?

    <p>It enables researchers to collect detailed and rich information</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a limitation of case studies?

    <p>They are limited in their ability to establish cause-and-effect relationships</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary goal of an ethnographic study?

    <p>To understand a culture or group's behavior</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a characteristic of an ethnographic study?

    <p>It involves a holistic perspective</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a difference between a case study and an ethnographic study?

    <p>Case studies are used to study a phenomenon, while ethnographic studies are used to study a culture</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is an example of a research method used in ethnographic studies?

    <p>Interviews and documents</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Why are case studies not suitable for establishing cause-and-effect relationships?

    <p>They do not provide enough data to draw causal links</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a benefit of using a focus group?

    <p>It encourages open communication and discussion among participants</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a characteristic of a case study?

    <p>It focuses on a specific phenomenon or individual</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a characteristic of ethnographers when they approach a culture?

    <p>They use prior information to understand the culture enough to function within it.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the main difference between historical research and experimental research?

    <p>The type of data used</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Why is understanding the historical context of a phenomenon important?

    <p>It helps to evaluate the significance of the phenomenon</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the first step in conducting historical research?

    <p>Define a topic or problem</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the purpose of the fifth step in historical research?

    <p>To combine the data to create a clear and complete set of information</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What are primary sources of historical data?

    <p>Original materials from the time being studied</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Why is historical research often included in both the social sciences and the humanities?

    <p>Because it is often debated whether it belongs in the social sciences or the humanities</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the main difference between historical research and ethnographic research?

    <p>The focus of the research</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the purpose of evaluating evidence in historical research?

    <p>To check the authenticity and accuracy of the evidence</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the goal of the sixth step in historical research?

    <p>To interpret the results based on the original question</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a characteristic of true experimental designs?

    <p>Random assignment of treatments and control group</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the purpose of the control group in a true experimental design?

    <p>To ensure the groups are equivalent at the start of the experiment</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is an example of a threat to internal validity?

    <p>History</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the meaning of external validity?

    <p>Generalizability of the results</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is an example of maturation?

    <p>Changes in the participants' characteristics over time</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the purpose of the pretest-posttest control group design?

    <p>To ensure the groups are equivalent at the start of the experiment</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a primary source of historical data?

    <p>A firsthand account of an event</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the effect of regression?

    <p>Extreme scores tend to move towards the average</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the effect of mortality in research?

    <p>Participants drop out of the study</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Why is it important to evaluate the authenticity of historical data?

    <p>To prevent the spread of misinformation</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary concern when using secondary sources?

    <p>The trustworthiness of the original source</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the purpose of random assignment of participants to groups?

    <p>To ensure the groups are equivalent at the start of the experiment</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the benefit of using a control group in a true experimental design?

    <p>To account for all other possible explanations for the results</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the goal of external criticism in historical research?

    <p>To determine the trustworthiness of the data</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is an example of internal criticism in historical research?

    <p>Evaluating the accuracy of numbers from an 1890 survey</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a limitation of historical research compared to other research methods?

    <p>The availability of data is often limited</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What should historians do when primary sources are not available?

    <p>Make the best use of what is available</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the result of failing to evaluate the authenticity and accuracy of historical data?

    <p>The spread of misinformation</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Why is it important for historians to be critical and careful about the information they gather?

    <p>To prevent the spread of misinformation</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the purpose of examining the age and quality of inks in historical research?

    <p>To date a document and determine its authenticity</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary goal of scientists when using experimental research methods?

    <p>To identify the cause and effect of a phenomenon.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the main difference between true experimental and quasi-experimental research designs?

    <p>The level of control over the variables being studied.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the purpose of randomly selecting subjects from a population in experimental research?

    <p>To ensure that each subject has an equal chance of being selected.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a characteristic of historical research?

    <p>It uses less rigorous but more comprehensive criteria to evaluate measurement tools.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the function of N6 (formerly NUD*IST) software in qualitative research?

    <p>To manage and analyze large, complex data sets.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a limitation of pre-experimental research designs?

    <p>They do not involve random selection of participants.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the purpose of the control group in an experiment?

    <p>To compare with the experimental group to identify any differences.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a characteristic of quantitative research?

    <p>It involves the collection of numerical data.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the purpose of HyperRESEARCH software in qualitative research?

    <p>To support data coding, analysis, and organization.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a benefit of using NVivo software in qualitative research?

    <p>It enables researchers to import, create, and edit documents.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the downside of having too much control in an experiment?

    <p>Decreased external validity</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the purpose of matching in an experiment?

    <p>To control for extraneous variables</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the advantage of using a homogeneous population in an experiment?

    <p>It controls for extraneous variables</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the purpose of Analysis of Covariance (ANCOVA) in an experiment?

    <p>To control for extraneous variables</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the main difference between experimental and quasi-experimental designs?

    <p>One is used for establishing cause-and-effect relationships, the other for exploratory research</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the advantage of using a moderate level of control in an experiment?

    <p>It balances internal and external validity</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the purpose of using a control group in an experiment?

    <p>To control for extraneous variables</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the downside of using matching in an experiment?

    <p>It is time-consuming and expensive</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the purpose of randomization in an experiment?

    <p>To control for extraneous variables</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Why is it important to consider external validity in an experiment?

    <p>It ensures the results can be generalized to other settings</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary concern of internal validity in an experiment?

    <p>Whether the independent variable affects the dependent variable</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the term for the unintended influence of the pretest on the participants' performance on later tests?

    <p>Pretest sensitization</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary concern of external validity in an experiment?

    <p>Whether the results of the experiment can be generalized to other settings</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the term for the phenomenon where the participants' behavior changes due to their awareness of being studied?

    <p>Hawthorne effect</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the purpose of using a control group in an experiment?

    <p>To ensure that the experiment's design eliminates threats to internal validity</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the term for the influence of the experimenter's behavior on the outcome of the experiment?

    <p>Experimenter effects</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary threat to internal validity addressed by randomization?

    <p>Selection bias</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the term for the situation where the participants receive an unintended treatment along with the intended treatment?

    <p>Multiple treatment interference</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary advantage of using a control group and randomization in an experiment?

    <p>It increases the internal validity of the experiment</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the trade-off between internal and external validity?

    <p>An experiment can be both internally and externally valid, but it requires careful balance</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary difference between quasi-experimental and experimental methods?

    <p>The level of control over the independent variable</p> Signup and view all the answers

    When is the quasi-experimental method useful and preferred?

    <p>When exploring topics that cannot be investigated using true experimental methods due to ethical concerns</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a characteristic of quasi-experimental designs?

    <p>Pre-assignment of groups based on existing characteristics</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a benefit of quasi-experimental studies?

    <p>They allow researchers to examine the effects of variables after they have already occurred</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a limitation of quasi-experimental designs?

    <p>They lack control over the independent variable</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a characteristic of a good research design?

    <p>Random selection and assignment of subjects and the use of a control group</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a type of research that is suitable for studying the effects of malnutrition on infants?

    <p>Quasi-experimental design</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the term used to describe quasi-experimental research that examines the effects of variables after they have already occurred?

    <p>Post hoc</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a drawback of quasi-experimental designs compared to true experimental designs?

    <p>Less power in understanding the cause of any observed differences</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the purpose of quasi-experimental research in studying the differences in verbal ability between males and females?

    <p>To explore the effects of gender on verbal ability after they have already occurred</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the main limitation of quasi-experimental designs?

    <p>They are not truly experimental.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the main advantage of the longitudinal method?

    <p>It studies development over a long period.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a disadvantage of the longitudinal method?

    <p>It is expensive to conduct and has a high dropout rate.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the main difference between the longitudinal and cross-sectional methods?

    <p>One studies age changes, while the other studies age differences.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does age have in terms of value in studying development?

    <p>Descriptive value.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    According to Donald Baer, what drives the differences observed in development?

    <p>Experiences.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a disadvantage of the cross-sectional method?

    <p>Groups may not be comparable.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the main advantage of the cross-sectional method?

    <p>It is less expensive to conduct and has a low dropout rate.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Why is it important to study experiences in developmental research?

    <p>Because experiences drive the differences observed in development.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the main goal of developmental research?

    <p>To understand changes that occur from conception to death.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Study Notes

    Nonexperimental Research: Qualitative

    • Qualitative research explores why people do what they do, using methods like interviews, surveys, case studies, and personal techniques.
    • Research sources include:
      • Documentation (shared within a group or publicly available)
      • Archival records (detailed information about an organization's structure)
      • Physical artifacts (objects that can be interpreted)
      • Direct observation (watching the environment without getting involved)
      • Participant observation (becoming part of the group being studied)

    Case Studies

    • Case studies involve in-depth examination of one person or situation in a unique context.
    • Advantages of case studies include:
      • Focus on a single case, allowing for detailed information collection
      • Use of multiple data collection methods
      • Rich understanding of the case
    • Disadvantages of case studies include:
      • Time-consuming
      • Limited generalizability
      • Difficulty establishing cause-and-effect relationships
      • Potential researcher bias

    Ethnographies

    • Ethnographies involve studying a culture in-depth, often through participant observation.
    • Characteristics of ethnographic studies include:
      • Holistic perspective (looking at the whole group or phenomenon)
      • Naturalistic orientation (living within the culture being studied)
      • Prolonged field activity (spending extensive time in the culture)
      • Preconceived ideas (initial ideas about the culture, but no research questions or hypotheses)

    Historical Research

    • Historical research involves studying past events or phenomena.
    • Conducting historical research involves:
      1. Defining a topic or problem
      2. Formulating a hypothesis
      3. Gathering data from various sources
      4. Evaluating evidence
      5. Synthesizing data
      6. Interpreting results
    • Sources of historical data include:
      1. Primary sources (original materials from the time being studied)
      2. Secondary sources (one step removed from the original events)
    • Criteria for evaluating historical data include:
      • Authenticity (external criticism)
      • Accuracy (internal criticism)

    Qualitative Research Tools

    • Software packages can help manage and analyze large, complex data sets, such as:
      • Scrapbook
      • N6 (formerly NUD*IST)
      • NVivo
      • HyperRESEARCH

    Understanding Why Things Happen (Experimental Research Methods)

    • Experimental methods test for cause-and-effect relationships.
    • Simple experimental design involves:
      • Two groups of people (experimental and control)
      • Random assignment of participants to groups
      • Testing of both groups at the end
    • Three categories of experimental research designs include:
      1. Pre-experimental
      2. True experimental
      3. Quasi-experimental (or causal-comparative) designs

    Pre-Experimental Designs

    • Pre-experimental designs lack random selection of participants from a population and a control group.
    • Without these elements, the ability to determine cause-and-effect relationships is limited.

    True Experimental Designs

    • True experimental designs involve:
      • Random selection of participants
      • Random assignment of treatments
      • Random assignment to groups
    • This design provides stronger evidence for cause-and-effect relationships.

    External and Internal Validity

    • External validity refers to generalizability.
    • Internal validity refers to control.
    • Threats to internal and external validity include:
      • History (other events happening outside the experiment)
      • Maturation (changes over time due to biological or psychological forces)### Threats to Internal Validity
    • Maturation: natural changes in subjects over time can affect the outcome of the experiment, e.g., children's strength increases as they grow older
    • Selection: non-random selection of subjects can lead to biased groups, threatening internal validity
    • Instrumentation: changes in the scoring procedure or instrument can affect the outcome, e.g., grader's criteria or fatigue
    • Regression: extreme scores tend to move toward the average on subsequent testing
    • Mortality: subjects dropping out of the study can change the nature of the group, affecting internal validity

    Threats to External Validity (Generalizability)

    • Multiple Treatment Interference: unintended treatments can affect the outcome, making it hard to apply results to other settings
    • Reactive Arrangements: subjects' knowledge of the study can affect their behavior, e.g., the Hawthorne effect
    • Experimenter Effects: researchers' behavior can affect the outcome, e.g., unintentional cues or biases
    • Pretest Sensitization: pretests can inform subjects about what's to come, affecting their later scores

    Increasing Internal and External Validity

    • Use random selection, random assignment, and a control group to maximize internal validity
    • Ensure external validity by controlling experimenter effects, using multiple experimenters, and considering the study's purpose
    • Balance internal and external validity by using a moderate level of control and considering external validity

    Controlling Extraneous Variables

    • Matching: matching subjects on specific attributes to ensure equivalent groups
    • Use of Homogeneous Groups: using a homogeneous population to control extraneous variables
    • Analysis of Covariance (ANCOVA): adjusting for initial differences between groups using a covariate

    Quasi-Experimental Research

    • A type of research that tries to establish cause-and-effect relationships, but is not as strong as the true experimental method
    • Groups are pre-assigned based on existing characteristics, e.g., gender, ethnicity, or age
    • Less powerful than true experimental methods, but useful for exploring topics that cannot be ethically investigated using true experiments

    Developmental Research

    • Studies changes that occur from conception to death
    • Two main methods: longitudinal and cross-sectional
    • Longitudinal method: studies changes in behavior over time in one group of subjects
    • Cross-sectional method: studies age differences at one point in time across multiple groups
    • Age has descriptive value rather than explanatory value in studying development

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    Description

    This quiz covers the basics of qualitative research, a type of study in social or behavioral sciences that explores human behavior through methods like interviews, surveys, and case studies. It also discusses sources of information for qualitative research.

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