LE 362: Research Methods II

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Questions and Answers

What is the primary focus of the course LE 362: Research Methods II?

Dissertation report writing

Data Analysis & Interpretation

Research Ethics

Data Collection-Qualitative (correct)

What is the purpose of obtaining permission in qualitative data collection?

To ensure participant confidentiality

To gain greater access to participants and sites (correct)

To design open-ended questions

To administer data collection with sensitivity

What is the role of a self-designed protocol in qualitative data collection?

To record data using audio or video recorders (correct)

To administer data collection with sensitivity

To design open-ended questions

To identify participants and sites

What is the difference between quantitative and qualitative data collection?

Quantitative data collection involves the collection of numerical data Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of random sampling in qualitative data collection?

To ensure that the sample is representative of the population Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of audio or video recorders in qualitative data collection?

To record data during self-designed protocol Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary purpose of snowball sampling?

To locate people or sites to study Signup and view all the answers

What type of data is collected through unstructured interviews, focus groups, and open-ended questionnaires?

Text data Signup and view all the answers

What is the goal of observing people's behaviour in a given setting?

To understand the setting within which observation occurs Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for taking advantage of whatever case unfolds?

Opportunistic Sampling Signup and view all the answers

What type of information is gathered through observation?

Qualitative data Signup and view all the answers

What is included in the process of observation?

Systematic viewing, recording, description, analysis, and interpretation Signup and view all the answers

What is an example of private records that can be used in research?

Journals Signup and view all the answers

What is an advantage of using observation in research?

It provides an opportunity to understand the setting within which it occurs Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary intent of maximal variation sampling?

To develop many perspectives Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of extreme case sampling?

To study an outlier or exceptional case Signup and view all the answers

Which sampling strategy is used to describe a subgroup with defined characteristics?

Homogeneous sampling Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary intent of critical sampling?

To illustrate a situation or exceptional case dramatically Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of theory or concept sampling?

To generate a theory or explore a concept Signup and view all the answers

Which sampling strategy is used to describe what is typical?

Typical sampling Signup and view all the answers

What might lead to challenges in conducting observational research?

Unaccustomed to formal research settings Signup and view all the answers

What is a potential limitation of observational research?

Deception by people being observed Signup and view all the answers

What type of questions are used in semi-structured interviews?

A mix of open-ended and closed-ended questions Signup and view all the answers

What is a characteristic of unstructured or informal interviews?

Respondents freely express their views Signup and view all the answers

What is an advantage of using unstructured or informal interviews?

It is more flexible and yields better understanding Signup and view all the answers

What is a key benefit of using interviews in research?

Ability to probe for better understanding and clarification Signup and view all the answers

What is a characteristic of one-to-one interviews?

Involves a single respondent Signup and view all the answers

What is a key difference between structured and unstructured interviews?

Structured interviews use a standardized process or order Signup and view all the answers

What is a major challenge associated with unstructured interviews?

They tend to confuse participants and are difficult to analyze. Signup and view all the answers

What is a characteristic of structured interviews?

They employ closed questions and are easy to quantify. Signup and view all the answers

What is a limitation of structured interviews?

They are inflexible and do not allow for probing. Signup and view all the answers

What is a benefit of using semi-structured interviews?

They are flexible and can generate in-depth data. Signup and view all the answers

What is a common criticism of unstructured interviews?

They are too flexible and do not allow for quantification. Signup and view all the answers

What is a characteristic of semi-structured interviews?

They combine both open-ended and closed questions. Signup and view all the answers

What is an advantage of using interviews in research?

They provide useful information when direct observation is not possible. Signup and view all the answers

What is a limitation of unstructured interviews?

They are time-consuming and difficult to analyze. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Data Collection in Research

Data collection is a crucial part of the research process and can be categorized into two types: quantitative and qualitative data collection.

Qualitative Data Collection

This type of data collection involves collecting non-numerical data, which is often descriptive and in-depth.
Steps involved in collecting qualitative data include:
- Identifying participants and sites
- Obtaining permission for greater access
- Designing few open-ended questions
- Administering data collection with sensitivity
- Using self-designed protocols, audio or video recorders

Sampling Strategies

Random sampling: selecting participants randomly
Purposeful sampling strategies:
- Maximal variation sampling: to develop many perspectives
- Extreme case sampling: studying outlier cases
- Typical sampling: describing typical cases
- Critical sampling: dramatically illustrating a situation
- Homogeneous sampling: describing a subgroup in depth
- Theory or concept sampling: generating a theory or exploring a concept
- Opportunistic sampling: taking advantage of whatever case unfolds
- Snowball sampling: locating people or sites to study
- Confirming/disconfirming sampling: exploring to confirm or disconfirm cases

Qualitative Data Types

Interviews
Observations
Documents
Audiovisual materials
Field notes and drawings

Observations

Systematic viewing, recording, description, analysis, and interpretation of people's behavior in a given setting
Aim: to understand the setting and individuals being observed
Requires good listening skills and careful attention to visual details
Challenges: potential deception, initial awkwardness, and management of these issues

Interviews

Means of securing oral responses from research participants
Types of interviews:
- One-to-one interviews
- Semi-structured interviews
- Focus group interviews
- Telephone interviews
- Unstructured interviews

Unstructured or Informal Interviews

Open-ended questions without an interview guide or predetermined set of questions
Respondents freely express their views
Interaction appears like a normal conversation
Advantages: flexible, yields better understanding, and allows for probing
Disadvantages: analysis of data is difficult, time-consuming, and may confuse participants

Structured Interviews

Use of a list of predetermined set of questions in a standardized format
Advantages: easy to quantify, test for reliability, and conduct interviews swiftly
Disadvantages: inflexible, cannot generate in-depth data, and may not allow for probing

Semi-structured Interviews

Combination of closed and open-ended questions
Questions are well-set out, but not followed in a strict order
Advantages: allows for probing, flexible, and generates deeper insight
Disadvantages: may not be as replicable as structured interviews

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Description

This quiz is based on the course outline for Research Methods II, covering topics such as data collection, analysis, and interpretation, as well as ethics and dissertation report writing. It is designed for students of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology in Ghana.

LE 362: Research Methods II - Data Collection