COMM 2300 Exam 3

A writing strategy, or style, used on qualitative research reports is:

-thematic -chronological -separated text -puzzle explication = ALL OF THE ABOVE

Despite the variety in how researchers might write their qualitative research reports, the one thing that must be included is:

-when the fieldwork was conducted. -the extent of the researcher's involvement in the field. -steps used to analyze the data. -to what extent data were triangulated or checked. = ALL OF THE ABOVE

The model for qualitative research demonstrates:

-why the qualitative research process cannot be planned in its entirety at the beginning of the project. -the role of member validation = C and D

Match the components of the model for qualitative research with the descriptions: 1. Research methods 2. Research purpose 3. Conceptual context 4. Credibility 5. Research questions

2. Identifies the goal of the research project and the concerns of the communicators. 3. Addresses the theories, previous findings, and conceptual framework related to the phenomenon the researcher wants to study. 5. Helps researcher uncover what is unknown. 1. Based upon the skills the research possesses or can learn. 4. Addresses the extent to which interpretations of the data are true, correct, and dependable.

Match the following terms and descriptions of non-researcher roles in qualitative methodologies 1 Someone within the group who can validate and legitimize your presence. 2 Person who has the authority to allow your access. 3 The person who seems to be more central to the interaction than others.

3. Key informant 2. Gatekeeper 1. Sponsor

Match the following terms and their descriptions: 1. Researcher construction 2. Microlevel evidence 3. Subjective valuing 4. Contingent accuracy 5. Macrolevel evidence

4. This interpretation of meaning relies on tangible artifacts and is the most objective. 5. So broad that many similar data can belong to the same classification. 2. Data can be identified at such a specific level that it stands on its own. 1. Researcher develops an interpretation of qualitative data from his or her personal, subjunctive perspective. 3. This interpretation of meaning relies on a mix of both objective and subjective elements.

A researcher can enhance his or her credibility by:

ALL OF THE ABOVE

Gaining access is a critical step in qualitative research.

Observing some interaction events may not be practical, or is difficult--even defined.

Gaining access is a critical step in qualitative research

Observing some interaction events may not be practical, or is difficult--even denied.

Which of the following statements is not true?

Qualitative research is not empirically based.

---The quantity of data collected in a qualitative research project makes it difficult to find a coherent and meaningful representation.

True

--It is likely that a researcher will collect more field notes than can be used.

True

Focus group participants can be solicited or selected through a sampling technique.

True

Thematic analysis is based on participants' conceptions of their communication. Themes are designated by the criteria of:

recurrence, repetition, and forcefulness.

The method section in a qualitative research report:

should include information about the research methods and procedures used in the study.

Inductive analysis is:

the discovery and development of theory as they emerge from qualitative data.

In the qualitative research report:

the researcher must keep his or her agreement about confidentiality and anonymity with participants.

Field notes:

- are a continuous or sequential record of what was observed. - are created while the interaction occurs. - can be added to once you have read through and reflected on them. - are identified by the data, time, place, and people observed. = ALL OF THE ABOVE

-- In qualitative research, snowball and network sampling are similar in that.

- both are nonprobability sampling strategies. - participants are actively sought. = B and D

In qualitative research, the researcher:

- is the primary data collector. - is likely to be in the research context for extended periods of time. - observes the communication firsthand. - takes on some form of participant observation. = ALL OF THE ABOVE

The focus group moderator

- should be seen as credible by participants. - should share important demographic characteristics with participants. - should be skilled in guiding a group in discussion. - should avoid the spoke-and-wheel pattern of questions and answers. = ALL OF THE ABOVE

In qualitative research, research questions:

-are quite similar to research questions for quantitative research. -usually ask "how or "what". -provide the researcher with a focus. -give the researcher considerable latitude =ALL BUT A

Analysis:

-is the process of the labeling and breaking down raw data. -brings order and structure to the data. -is messy, ambiguous, and time consuming. -reflexive = ALL OF THE ABOVE

Match the following terms and their descriptions: 1. Investigator triangulation 2. Data triangulation 3. Interdisciplinary triangulation

2. Using a variety of data sources in one study. 3. Using researchers from a variety of disciplines to collect and interpret data in the same study. 1. Using several different researchers or evaluators in one study.

A researcher using qualitative methods should rely on his or her first impressions of the interaction.

False

Analytical memos are written to share with research participants.

False

Because the focus of the qualitative research report is on the substance of what the researcher found, there is no need to report how the data were collected.

False

Computer programs can easily replace the researcher in analyzing qualitative data.

False

Counting the number of times a theme appears in your field notes is a good way to analyze field notes.

False

Data produced by focus groups do not need to be analyzed if the moderator followed the focus group outline.

False

Electronic interviewing is an effective substitute for face-to-face interviewing.

False

Focus group moderators should plan for the group discussion to last at least 90 minutes.

False

Grounded theory to demonstrate the relationship between researcher and participants.

False

In field interviewing, closed questions are better for initiating dialogue and obtaining full descriptions.

False

In field interviewing, debriefing the respondent is not necessary because the data collected are qualitative in nature.

False

In preparing for observing in the field, a researcher using qualitative methods would restrict the literature review to only studies that also report qualitative methods.

False

In selecting respondents for field interviews, researchers use probability sampling techniques to identify respondents.

False

Qualitative methodologies are more subjective and initially less structured than quantitative methodologies. Thus, the researcher does not need to design the research process before collecting data.

False

Qualitative research relies on logic of formal and statistical arguments.

False

Researchers using qualitative methods refrain from using discourse or text to capture data.

False

Researchers using qualitative methods try to provide a degree of objectivity to their research report by minimizing the voice of participants.

False

The primary advantage of using qualitative methodologies is that it is easier to distance yourself from the interaction and the interactants enabling you to draw more objective conclusions.

False

The qualitative written report has the same sections as the quantitative written research report.

False

The qualitative written research report has the same sections as the quantitative written research report.

False

A good standard is to spend as much time analyzing qualitative data as was spent collecting it.

True

A researcher conducting a qualitative study must balance what is being observed with what he or she knows or can draw upon from scholarly literature.

True

A researcher using qualitative methodologies may find that their initial research observed (or not observed).

True

Anything that the researcher can observe or capture can count as data in a qualitative study.

True

Because of its focus on subjectivity, qualitative research uses credibility rather than reliability and validity to evaluate the quality of data interpretation.

True

Both quantitative and qualitative methods rely on empirical evidence.

True

Data are said to be theoretically saturated when new categories are not emerging from the researcher's analysis.

True

Hypotheses are seldom used in qualitative research.

True

In analyzing qualitative data, researchers must ask themselves many questions about the data and the interaction scene to develop a credible interpretation of the data.

True

In field interviewing, the interview should be careful not to introduce new language or terminology into the interview.

True

Most authors of qualitative research reports will find that they have too much data rather than not enough.

True

Qualitative methods are also referred to as naturalistic research, ethnography, field research, or participant observation.

True

Qualitative research is that in which data are analyzed for their qualities, not their quantities.

True

Regardless of which introductory technique is used, the objective of the author of a qualitative research report is to draw the reader into the experiences of the participants in the communication environment studied.

True

Stories or narratives can be a reliable guide to the storytellers' beliefs, attitudes, values, and actions.

True

The objective of the researcher reporting qualitative data is to increase the reader's understanding of how humans construct and share meaning.

True

The quantity of data collected in a qualitative research project makes it difficult to find a coherent and meaningful representation.

True

The reflexive nature of qualitative research is what distinguishes it from quantitative approaches.

True

Triangulation is used by researchers to overcome threats to external validity.

True

When using some form of participant observation, a researcher looks for interdependence among the people observed, the social situation, and the context in which the interaction occurs.

True

Choose the correct term that matches the description of the qualitative writing style below. Author makes himself or herself visible with liberal references to "I".

Writing style of the confessional

Choose the correct term that matches the description of the qualitative writing style below. Describes how the researcher's point of view develops and changes.

Writing style of the confessional

Choose the correct term that matches the description of the qualitative writing style below: Author uses metaphors, phrasings, and imagery to create striking stories.

Writing style of the impressionist

Choose the term that matches the description of the qualitative writing style below. Author creates dramatic tension during the telling of the story.

Writing style of the impressionist

Choose the correct term that matches the description of the qualitative writing style below. Focuses on the minute details of everyday life.

Writing style of the realist

The results and discussion section of a qualitative research report includes:

a balance between description and analysis.

Many qualitative research reports begin with:

an introductory premise to frame the descriptions and analyses.

Respondent validation occurs when the researcher:

asks participants to review the researcher's notes or interpretations.

Maximum variation sampling is:

based on informational redundancy; a researcher seeks participants until the data received are the same as previously collected data.

Reducing the data to a manageable size is accomplished with qualitative data by:

coding and categorizing data

In writing a qualitative research report, it is common for the researcher to:

continually revise the document to improve the claims and conclusions drawn.

Ideally, participants in a focus group should:

have homogeneous backgrounds, but discover attitudes and perspectives.

---Ethnography is best described as the

holistic description of interactants in their cultural or subcultural environment.

Participants' quotes should:

illuminate the researcher's analysis and interpretation.

Crystallization:

involves the combination of forms of analysis, presentation and representation of qualitative data in written research reports.

Writing an analytical memo:

is a good step for capturing first impressions about the data.

Analyzing qualitative data:

is accomplished by reading through the field notes several times.

A field interview:

is most effective when the interviewer can draw on terminology, issues, and themes introduced into the conversation by the respondent.

---Authorial voice:

is the decision about who will do the telling of the story in reporting qualitative data.

Open coding:

is unrestricted and is the first pass through coding

When data is theoretically saturated:

no new categories are emerging and the existing category structure appears stable.

In conducting field interviews, the researcher:

none of the above

Using a qualitative methodology and collecting data in the field, a researcher:

will not have control over what happens.