Qualitative Research Methods and Ethics
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Questions and Answers

What is the primary goal of theories in research?

  • To instigate change (correct)
  • To justify existing beliefs
  • To entertain different perspectives
  • To establish absolute truths

Which aspect is critical to avoid in research according to the theories presented?

  • Participation of stakeholders
  • Innovative thinking
  • Exploitation and distortion (correct)
  • Subjectivity in findings

What does the concept of realism emphasize in research?

  • Historical perspective on theories
  • The variability of social phenomena
  • The existence of one true reality (correct)
  • Subjective interpretations

Which statement best reflects the relationship between reality and objectivity in research?

<p>Objectivity promotes an unbiased understanding of reality. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a characteristic of critical realism?

<p>It acknowledges reality exists but is complex. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How does quantitative research connect to realism?

<p>It seeks to link measured observations with reality. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Why is reflexivity important in research according to the theories discussed?

<p>It encourages the elimination of bias. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a potential limitation of adopting a purely realist perspective in research?

<p>It could lead to oversimplification of complex issues. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a primary advantage of using focus groups over one-on-one interviews?

<p>They facilitate co-construction of new understandings. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which sampling method is recommended for forming focus groups?

<p>Purposive sampling. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is considered crucial for a successful focus group process?

<p>A clear agenda and ground rules. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What kind of dynamics are vital within focus groups?

<p>Participants should interact with each other. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the goal in terms of data collected from focus groups?

<p>To gather a wide range of views and responses. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Why is it important to avoid social desirability in focus group settings?

<p>To ensure participants provide answers based on what they think is expected. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What role does the note-taker have in a focus group?

<p>To observe and document the discussions. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary aim of descriptive phenomenological research?

<p>To reveal the essence of an experience (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What activity might be included to maximize interaction in focus groups?

<p>Ice breaker activities or card-sorting. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which method is employed in hermeneutic phenomenology to understand participants' experiences?

<p>The hermeneutic circle (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What characterizes Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA)?

<p>Detailed examination of individual lived experiences (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does the concept of 'bracketing' aim to achieve in phenomenological research?

<p>Mitigating the effects of preconceptions (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How does hermeneutic phenomenology differ from descriptive phenomenology?

<p>It emphasizes the co-construction of findings (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

In Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis, what is fundamental to the research process?

<p>Hermeneutic interpretation of lived experience (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes a key feature of the reflexive nature of hermeneutic phenomenology?

<p>Interpretation is influenced by researchers' biases (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What type of lens may lived experiences be refracted through in a hermeneutic approach?

<p>Philosophical, literary, or reflexive lenses (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of family codes in thematic mapping?

<p>To link little codes together. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does the iterative process in thematic development involve?

<p>Repeatedly reviewing and refining themes based on new insights. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which statement best describes the role of negative case analysis?

<p>It helps to identify contradictions that enhance the robustness of themes. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a key feature of the Framework Method?

<p>It utilizes a matrix-based format for data organization. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a method of presenting themes?

<p>Individual interviews without structure (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the significance of reflexivity in the Framework Method?

<p>It accounts for the researcher's influence on the research process. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How does thematic mapping assist in qualitative analysis?

<p>By graphically representing relationships between themes and sub-themes. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Why is it important to check for contradictions when refining themes?

<p>To strengthen the validity and reliability of the themes developed. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the nature of the ongoing process described in the content?

<p>The act of asking questions to make sense of the world (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which theories are highlighted for their critical engagement with social inequalities?

<p>Feminist and Queer theories (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What do hermeneutic methods in this context focus on?

<p>Interpretation of social contexts (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of the 'social, cultural, and contextual influences' in research?

<p>To guide the understanding and interpretation of research findings (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What aspect of social justice theory can be derived from the highlighted content?

<p>It seeks to address power imbalances within society. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the main idea behind the contextualist perspective of knowledge?

<p>Knowledge is constructed from contexts. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

According to the relativist view, what is truth primarily seen as?

<p>A construct shaped by individual experiences. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following methods is NOT typically associated with ethnography?

<p>Case studies. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How does the contextualist approach affect the perception of research results?

<p>Results are influenced by specific situations and contexts. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

In phenomenological research, which method is primarily used for data collection?

<p>Interviews. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is an example of a method of data collection in ethnographic research?

<p>Participant observation. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements best describes the relationship between ontological and epistemological approaches in qualitative research?

<p>They should have coherence in critiques. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does the term 'methodology' refer to in research?

<p>The type of study conducted. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Flashcards

Contextualist Knowledge

Knowledge is influenced by the circumstances where it is created. Results are incomplete and change based on surroundings.

Relativist Knowledge

No single truth exists; truths are relative to the perspective of the person or group holding them.

Methodology

The overall approach in research about a specific topic.

Method (research)

The tools and techniques used to gather data for research.

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Ethnography

A research method focusing on social interaction and behaviour within groups.

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Phenomenology

Research method concerned with understanding personal experience and the way people view situations.

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Participant observation

A research method where a researcher studies a group by actively participating in its activities.

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Interviews

A research method used to gather data involving conversation between participants and researchers.

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Naturalistic Methods

Research approaches that investigate phenomena in their natural settings, emphasizing the role of social, cultural, and individual influences on understanding the world.

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Hermeneutic Circle

An ongoing process of asking questions and interpreting meaning, where each question and answer shapes the next until a deeper understanding emerges.

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Context of Research

The specific circumstances, social factors, and cultural influences surrounding a research project, influencing how the research is conducted and interpreted.

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Collaborative Research

A research approach where researchers work together with participants or communities to co-create knowledge and address social issues.

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Critical Theories

Frameworks that challenge dominant social structures and inequalities, often focusing on issues like race, gender, and class.

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Interpretivism

A research approach that focuses on understanding the meanings and interpretations people give to their experiences.

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Positivism

A research approach that believes objective truths exist and can be discovered through scientific methods.

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Reflexivity

Being aware of how your own values and experiences influence your research and interpretations.

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Objectivity

The goal of research to remain unbiased and avoid personal opinions influencing results.

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Neutral/Remove Bias

A key principle in objective research, aiming to minimize personal opinions and assumptions.

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Social Issue & Marginalized Groups

Focus of Interpretivism, studying the experiences and perspectives of groups facing inequalities or discrimination.

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Realism

A philosophical perspective that assumes a real world exists, separate from our perceptions, and can be studied objectively.

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Descriptive Phenomenology

A type of phenomenology focused on revealing the essence of an experience. It uses a strict method and describes the phenomenon in a normative, scientific way. Emphasis is on the data, and no external theory is used.

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Bracketing

A technique in descriptive phenomenology where researchers try to set aside their preconceptions and biases to understand the experience objectively. It aims to minimize influence from prior knowledge.

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Hermenutic Phenomenology

A type of phenomenology focused on understanding lived experience from the participant's perspective. It uses the hermeneutic circle, involves co-construction of findings, and refracts lived experiences through different lenses: philosophical, literary, reflexive, or theoretical.

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IPA (Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis)

A type of phenomenology that focuses on understanding personal lived experiences in detail. It examines individual experiences in specific contexts, aiming to understand a single case before making comparisons.

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Co-constructed Findings

In hermeneutic phenomenology, findings are not solely determined by the researcher but are shaped through interaction and dialogue between the researcher and the participant.

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Lived Experience

The subjective and personal understanding of an event or situation, as experienced by an individual. It's at the heart of phenomenological research.

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Focus Group

A group interview method used for collecting data through interactive discussions among participants, aiming to explore and clarify their views and co-construct new understandings.

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Thematic Mapping

A visual representation of themes and sub-themes identified in qualitative data analysis, typically using a large sheet of paper to visually connect and group related codes.

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Purposive Sampling

A sampling technique for selecting participants based on specific characteristics relevant to the research topic, ensuring a shared experience or common traits within the group.

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Group Codes

A collection of related codes or categories that represent a common concept or idea emerging from the analysis of qualitative data.

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Moderator/Facilitator

The person guiding the focus group discussion by setting the agenda, asking questions, and ensuring everyone participates actively.

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What is Framework Method?

A systematic and structured analytical approach for managing and interpreting qualitative data, especially beneficial for non-specialist researchers.

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Ice Breaker

A light, engaging activity used to start a focus group, helping participants feel comfortable and setting the tone for open communication.

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Open-Ended Questions

Questions designed to encourage detailed and diverse responses, allowing participants to freely express their ideas and opinions.

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Framework Method Matrix

A key component of the Framework Method, a table used to organize qualitative data, with rows representing cases (interviews/participants) and columns representing codes, allowing structured summarization of data.

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Developing Themes (Inductive)

The process of identifying and refining themes based on patterns observed in qualitative data, working from specific details to broader concepts.

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Data Management

The organizational processes for managing and analyzing data collected from focus groups, including recording, transcribing, and interpreting the information.

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Negative Case Analysis

A step in qualitative analysis where researchers actively look for data that contradicts or challenges the emerging themes, ensuring a more comprehensive and robust interpretation.

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Unit of Analysis

The specific element of data being examined or analyzed, for example, individual responses or the collective group dynamics.

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Rigour in Qualitative Research

The trustworthiness and reliability of qualitative findings, demonstrated through processes like negative case analysis, reflexivity, and clear documentation of methods.

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Ecological Validity

The degree to which findings from a research study reflect real-life situations and behaviors, ensuring relevance and applicability to the real world.

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Presenting Themes

Various methods used to communicate and visualize the identified themes in a qualitative study, including text, charts, networks, models, and pictures.

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Study Notes

Research Methods

  • Qualitative research methods are used to explore complex social issues, understand meaning and experience.
  • Methods often involve collection of data from multiple people, at same time, and interaction between participants.
  • Methods include: Ethnography, Phenomenology, Grounded theory, Narrative, Action research, Interviews, Focus groups, Participant observation.
  • Data collection methods are selected according to research questions and approaches.
  • Qualitative researchers often consider multiple sources of data, such as transcripts, photos, recordings and cultural artefacts.
  • Researchers consider context, group dynamics, and the impact their involvement may have.

Ethical Considerations

  • Ethical issues are significant in qualitative research.
  • Informed consent and the protection of participants are paramount
  • Avoiding exploitation of participants and ensuring the right to withdraw before or during the study is essential.
  • Ethical considerations must be documented as part of research proposals, often within a Power and Influence Statement, and must be in adherence to ethical codes of conduct and guidelines.

Data Analysis

  • Qualitative data is often summarised into themes
  • Researchers often employ inductive and deductive techniques within their analysis, sometimes using frameworks or theoretical approaches
  • Thematic analysis is a common method in qualitative research to identify themes, patterns and meanings in data

Types of Research Questions

  • Qualitative research questions vary depending on the methodology in use.
  • Contextual, diagnostic, evaluative and strategic questions.
  • Questions that focus on "how" and "why" processes occur and experiences unfold
  • Questions relating to sensitive topics and personal experiences
  • Questions that explore individuals' lived experiences.

Sampling

  • Purposive sampling targets specific characteristics for participation.
  • Convenience sampling selects readily available participants.
  • Theoretical sampling involves selecting participants based on emerging concepts and themes in analysis
  • The sample size will depend on the research question, approach and resources
  • Ethical considerations guide the selection to avoid harming participants and ensure safety and inclusivity.

Theoretical Frameworks

  • Qualitative research draws on various theoretical perspectives, each influencing the research approach method and analysis.
  • Positivism
  • Postpositivism
  • Constructivism
  • Contextualism
  • Interpretivism
  • Research aims and objective must be in alignment with these frameworks
  • Researcher background also plays a role in how they approach research concepts.

Qualitative Method Subtopics

  • Interviewing and questioning
  • Focus groups
  • Participant observation
  • Narrative methods; and
  • Fieldwork aspects

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Research Methods PDF

Description

Explore the essential qualitative research methods and the ethical considerations involved in conducting such research. This quiz covers various data collection techniques, including interviews and focus groups, and emphasizes the importance of informed consent and participant protection.

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