Questions and Answers
What is the purpose of a literature review in a research study?
Which of the following is a characteristic of a quantitative research theory?
What is the primary focus of a mixed methods research approach?
What is the purpose of abstracting studies in a literature review?
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Which of the following is a criterion for selecting a research approach?
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What is the primary purpose of a theoretical perspective in a research study?
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Which of the following is a step in conducting a literature review?
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What is the purpose of defining terms in a research study?
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What influences the choice of approach in a research study?
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What is the key distinction between a quantitative and a qualitative study?
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Which of the following is a characteristic of a qualitative study?
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What is the main idea of Cherryholmes's version of pragmatism?
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What is the focus of Crotty's framework for social research?
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What is the purpose of the writing exercise that asks you to identify a research question in a journal article?
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What is the main difference between a mixed methods study and a single-method study?
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What is the purpose of using the four combinations of worldviews, designs, and research methods in Figure 1.1?
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What is the primary focus of phenomenological research?
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Which research design primarily derives theory based on participant views?
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What is a key characteristic of an ethnographic study?
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What is a common method of data collection in case studies?
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Which philosophical background is primarily associated with grounded theory?
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In phenomenological research, what is the outcome of describing experiences?
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In which research design is narrative chronology often used?
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What methods are often used in ethnographic research?
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Which of the following best describes the relationship between research approaches, designs, and methods?
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What factors should inform the decision on which research approach to use?
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Which of the following statements about qualitative and quantitative approaches is correct?
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What is the initial focus when embarking on a research study?
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Which approach combines elements of both qualitative and quantitative methods?
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What is a key consideration when reviewing literature for a proposed study?
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When selecting a research approach, what aspect related to the research problem is important?
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In what way can qualitative and quantitative approaches influence research outcomes?
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What is the main reason why some researchers prefer quantitative research?
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What is an advantage of using qualitative research methods?
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What is a potential challenge for researchers using qualitative methods?
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What is a key characteristic of a mixed methods researcher?
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What is a key factor to consider when choosing a research approach?
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Which of the following is NOT a reason why a researcher might choose a mixed methods approach?
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What is the importance of considering the audience when planning a research project?
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What is the main takeaway regarding the choice of research approach?
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Study Notes
Research Approaches
- Research approaches are plans and procedures for research that span from broad assumptions to detailed methods of data collection, analysis, and interpretation.
- Three key terms in research: research approaches, research designs, and research methods.
The Three Approaches to Research
- Three research approaches: (a) qualitative, (b) quantitative, and (c) mixed methods.
- Qualitative and quantitative approaches are not discrete and should not be viewed as rigid, distinct categories, or dichotomies.
- Research approaches represent different ends on a continuum.
Research Designs
- Phenomenological research: describes lived experiences of individuals about a phenomenon as described by participants.
- Grounded theory: derives a general, abstract theory of a process, action, or interaction grounded in the views of participants.
- Ethnography: studies shared patterns of behaviors, language, and actions of an intact cultural group in a natural setting over a prolonged period.
- Case studies: develops an in-depth analysis of a case, often a program, event, activity, process, or one or more individuals.
Criteria for Selecting a Research Approach
- Research problem or issue being addressed
- Researchers' personal experiences
- Audience for the study
The Role of Theory in Research
- Quantitative theory use: testing causal claims, defining a theory, forms of theories, and writing a theoretical perspective.
- Qualitative theory use: variation in theory use, definition of a theory, and writing a theoretical perspective.
Review of the Literature
- The literature review: uses the literature to position the proposed study within the existing literature.
- Steps in conducting a literature review: searching computerized databases, prioritizing literature material, and abstracting studies.
Writing Exercises
- Identify a research question and discuss the best approach to study it and why.
- Take a topic and discuss a project that brings together a worldview, designs, and methods, identifying whether it is quantitative, qualitative, or mixed methods research.
Additional Readings
- Cherryholmes (1992): discusses pragmatism as a contrasting perspective from scientific realism.
- Crotty (1998): offers a useful framework for tying together epistemological issues, theoretical perspectives, methodology, and methods of social research.
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Description
This quiz covers different research approaches, including quantitative, qualitative, and mixed methods designs. It also touches on criteria for selecting a research approach and the importance of considering the research problem, personal experiences, and audience.