Research Methods in Politics
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Research Methods in Politics

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Questions and Answers

What is the primary concern of "dependability" in qualitative research?

  • Determining the trustworthiness of the data collection methods.
  • Assessing the generalizability of the findings to other contexts.
  • Verifying the data's validity by cross-referencing it with other sources.
  • Ensuring data is interpreted consistently and accurately. (correct)

    • How is "credibility" achieved in qualitative research?

  • By applying clear interpretation rules that allow for verification. (correct)
  • By ensuring that the data is collected from a representative sample.
  • By employing multiple researchers to analyze the data.
  • By using a standardized data collection protocol.

    • Which aspect of qualitative research is most directly related to the concept of "transferability"?

  • The objectivity of the researchers.
  • The quality of the data collection methods.
  • The applicability of the findings to other settings. (correct)
  • The consistency of the data interpretation.

    • How can multiple researchers contribute to establishing "transferability" in qualitative research?

    <p>By independently analyzing the data and comparing their interpretations.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the significance of acknowledging limitations in qualitative research?

    <p>It highlights potential areas for future research and development.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following is NOT a key component of a holistic research process, according to the text?

    <p>Developing a comprehensive theory based on the research findings.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary purpose of having sound knowledge of different research methodologies?

    <p>To select the most appropriate methodology for the research question.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following best describes the concept of "critical examination" of research findings?

    <p>Scrutinizing the research design, methods, and conclusions for potential flaws.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary goal of a literature review?

    <p>To answer a research question</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the main reason for clearly documenting the selection process of studies and literature in a literature review?

    <p>To enable the reader to assess the quality of the reviewed studies</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the common characteristic of quantitative data collection methods?

    <p>They lead to number-based data</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a common advantage of written surveys in quantitative research?

    <p>The researcher has no individual influence on the results</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is an example of a content analysis in quantitative data collection?

    <p>Counting certain words or word groups from a text</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the focus of data analysis in quantitative research?

    <p>Processing the collected, number-based data</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the purpose of a table in a literature review?

    <p>To provide an overview of the selected literature</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a characteristic of standardized questionnaires in quantitative research?

    <p>They allow participants to choose from multiple choice answers</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is an example of an observation in quantitative data collection?

    <p>Counting certain behavior patterns</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a common advantage of content analyses and written surveys in quantitative data collection?

    <p>They can process very large amounts of data</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following is a key difference between qualitative and quantitative research in terms of category development?

    <p>Quantitative research categories are defined in advance, while qualitative research categories are developed throughout the study.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of quantitative research?

    <p>It focuses on identifying preferences, motives, and attitudes.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following is a common criticism of qualitative research?

    <p>It lacks scientific merit.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the main purpose of qualitative research in terms of theory development?

    <p>To develop new theories.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary advantage of using a mix of methods (triangulation) in research?

    <p>It combines the strengths of both qualitative and quantitative methods.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How does quantitative research contribute to the overall understanding in a mixed-methods study?

    <p>It offers generalizable preferences of the study participants.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary function of qualitative research in a mixed-methods study?

    <p>To offer in-depth insights and perspectives that may not be captured in quantitative data.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following is an example of triangulation in research?

    <p>Using a standardized questionnaire followed by an open-ended text box for participants' opinions.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does the term 'quality criteria' refer to in the context of research?

    <p>The standards used to evaluate the rigor and reliability of the research methods.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Why is it important to critically reflect on the quality of research?

    <p>To ensure that the research findings are accurate and reliable.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is methodological triangulation primarily used to achieve in research?

    <p>To balance the strengths and weaknesses of different methodologies</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does data collection in research aim to achieve?

    <p>To generate necessary data for analysis</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following methods does a literature review NOT utilize?

    <p>Surveying the population</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Why is critical reflection on research approaches important?

    <p>It is a prerequisite for producing good empirical research</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which kind of research method was conducted in the opinion poll mentioned?

    <p>Quantitative research using representative sampling</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a common issue when conducting phone surveys mentioned?

    <p>Interviewers can influence responses</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the main purpose of a literature review?

    <p>To present and assess existing knowledge on a topic</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary concern Simon raises about the survey results?

    <p>The participants may not represent the electorate accurately.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which method does Simon suggest could enhance the survey's effectiveness?

    <p>Including open questions alongside quantitative ones.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a key quality criterion in empirical research?

    <p>The precision of data interpretation</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following accurately describes descriptive statistics?

    <p>It provides a summary of data without making conclusions.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What aspect of the sample does Simon inquire about?

    <p>The demographic ratios within the sample.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which population characteristic might influence the results of phone surveys?

    <p>The time of the survey call</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is one characteristic of quantitative methods highlighted in this unit?

    <p>They focus on numerical data and statistical analysis.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a key difference between data collection and data analysis?

    <p>Data collection involves gathering information, while data analysis involves interpreting it.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which potential issue does Simon refer to when discussing hypothetical questions in surveys?

    <p>They may not accurately predict actual voting behavior.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does Simon's skepticism towards the survey suggest about his understanding of research quality criteria?

    <p>He values transparency in sample selection and representation.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following statements about qualitative methods is correct?

    <p>They emphasize understanding context and meaning.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the main focus of univariate analysis?

    <p>Examining the behavior of one variable</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does bivariate analysis primarily investigate?

    <p>The relationship between two variables</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following is NOT a method for qualitative data collection?

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

    In qualitative research, why is the researcher's subjectivity considered significant?

    <p>It influences data interpretation.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a characteristic feature of qualitative data collection methods?

    <p>They involve open or semi-structured conversations.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the role of software in qualitative data analysis?

    <p>It streamlines the analysis of large text files.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Why is qualitative research often limited to smaller samples?

    <p>Analyzing large amounts of textual data can be overwhelming.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does multivariate analysis assess?

    <p>Multiple variables and their interactions</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is commonly analyzed through text analysis in qualitative research?

    <p>Documents and written narratives</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What can qualitative data analysis help to classify?

    <p>Interview statements into categories</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following is a key quality criterion in quantitative research, but not necessarily in qualitative research?

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

    What does it mean for a quantitative study to be 'valid'?

    <p>The study accurately measures the intended phenomenon or concept.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    In the context of qualitative research, what is 'saturation'?

    <p>The point where no new information is being gathered, even with additional data collection.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Why might a quantitative study not necessarily require a representative sample to be valuable?

    <p>Because the study's primary goal is to test a specific hypothesis, not to generalize to a larger population.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following scenarios exemplifies a potential threat to the objectivity of a quantitative study?

    <p>Using a questionnaire with leading questions.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Why is saturation important in qualitative research?

    <p>It helps researchers to identify all relevant themes and insights within the data.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does the concept of 'reliability' in quantitative research mean?

    <p>The ability to replicate the study's findings under similar conditions.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following is NOT a quality criterion discussed in the text for evaluating quantitative research?

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

    In the context of the text, what is the primary reason that different standards are applied to quantitative and qualitative research?

    <p>The different objectives pursued in each approach.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Study Notes

    Research Methods

    • Research objectives and methodology depend on research paradigm and research questions
    • Qualitative and quantitative methods have specific advantages and disadvantages
    • Methodological triangulation combines both methods to compensate for disadvantages and achieve more meaningful results

    Data Collection and Analysis

    • Data collection: generating necessary data
    • Data analysis: evaluating and interpreting available data
    • Quantitative data collection methods:
      • Experiments
      • Surveys
      • Observations
      • Content analyses
    • Qualitative data collection methods:
      • Interviews
      • Observations
      • Text analyses
    • Quantitative data analysis:
      • Univariate analysis (1 variable)
      • Bivariate analysis (2 variables)
      • Multivariate analysis (more than 2 variables)
    • Qualitative data analysis:
      • Interpretational processing of text-based data
      • Methods: Mayring (2000, 2022) and Kuckartz (2014)

    Quality Criteria and Critique

    • Research quality is assessed using scientific quality criteria
    • Quality criteria differ for qualitative and quantitative research methods
    • Critique of methodology is necessary for academic papers
    • Quality criteria for quantitative research:
      • Representativeness
      • Validity
      • Reliability
      • Objectivity
    • Quality criteria for qualitative research:
      • Saturation (no new findings despite new data)

    Literature Reviews

    • Literature reviews summarize relevant literature without conducting empirical research

    • Purpose: to present and assess existing knowledge on a specific topic

    • Literature review structure:

      • Introduction
      • Theoretical foundation
      • Method part
      • Results of literature search
      • Discussion
      • Conclusion

    • Importance of documenting selection process of studies and literature used### Research Quality Criteria

    • Validity ensures that research results reflect what was intended to be investigated, such as measuring voting intentions and actual election behavior.

    • Reliability refers to the consistency of results if the investigation were repeated under the same conditions.

    • Objectivity requires minimal researcher influence on data collection and analysis, which can be challenging in certain methods like phone interviews.

    Qualitative Research Quality Criteria

    • Representativeness is not a goal in qualitative research, and small samples are used instead.
    • Saturation is the aim, which is the point where no new findings emerge despite adding more data records.
    • Dependability refers to consistent, accurate, and contradiction-free data evaluation, ensured by clear interpretation rules.
    • Credibility is established through a guided interpretation process that allows results to be checked at any time.
    • Transferability can be achieved by having multiple researchers evaluate data and determine intersections and discrepancies.

    Academic Work Considerations

    • It is essential to describe which quality criteria can be achieved or ensured to what degree for method criticism and critical reflection.
    • Limitations should be pointed out, which can lead to further research paths in the future.
    • A critical examination of research findings is a core competence in research, requiring sound basic knowledge of quantitative, qualitative, and triangulated research methodologies.

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    Description

    Learn about research methods, including data collection and analysis, and qualitative and quantitative approaches, through a case study on parliamentary elections.

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