Chapter 15: Qualitative Data Analysis

Which of the following is the term for the huge volume of data collected during qualitative research? a. Essential data b. Fat data c. Interview data d. Observational data

ANS B: Feedback A Essential data are embedded in the volumes of data; this is not the correct term for the hug volume of data collected during qualitative research B The term fat data is used to describe all the raw data collected during qualitative research C Interview data is a term for a distinct type of qualitative data, which may or may not be part of the raw data for a particular qualitative study D Observation data is a term for a distinct type of qualitative data, which may or may not be part of the raw data for a particular qualitative study DIF: Cognition level: Knowledge

Which of the following is a common feature of different approaches to qualitative data analysis? a. Researchers sort through the data to identify similar phrases, patterns, themes, sequences. b. Researchers avoid making generalizations from the data. c. Researchers apply constant comparison analysis to develop concepts and theories. d. Researchers analyze field note data to describe the phenomenon of focus

ANS: A Feedback A Miles and Huberman (1994) listed sifting through and sorting the data as a common feature of most qualitative data analysis, regardless of the applied design. B Miles and Huberman (1994) included a gradual elaboration of a small set of generalizations that present consistencies in the data on their list of features of qualitative analysis. C Constant comparison is used to analyze data in grounded theory studies. D Field notes are not common across the qualitative design; for instance, they are not used in phenomenological data collection or analysis. DIF: Cognitive Level: Analysis

A student is critiquing a research report of a phenomenological research study that examines the lived experience of domestic violence. Which of the following answers is consistent with elements of a qualitative research report for a phenomenological research study? a. Data from participants are presented in the form of narrative text. b. The researcher details the natural setting in which field work was conducted. c. The data analysis section discusses use of a statistical software package. d. The sampling section indicates that all participants must currently be in an unstable domestic relationship.

ANS: A Feedback A Phenomenological studies present data in the form of narrative text. B Field work is more commonly associated with ethnographic research. C Statistical analysis is conducted in quantitative research. D Participants are not required to be in a violent domestic relationship at the time of the research. Phenomenologists believe that past experiences can be shared in the present moment. DIF: Cognitive Level: Application

Why do all qualitative researchers "immerse" themselves in the data? a. To fully understand the meaning of the data b. To discover the essence of the data c. To gain a statistical sense of the data d. To substantiate existing knowledge about the topic of focu

ANS: A Feedback A Researchers read data repeatedly over an extended period of time to fully grasp the meaning of the data. B Researcher only attempt to discover the essence of the data when researchers are engaged in phenomenological data analysis. C Qualitative researchers are not interested in the statistical meaning of data. D Researchers bracket and reflect on their own knowledge to clearly distinguish between what is revealed in the data and their preconceived notions about the topic of focus. DIF: Cognitive Level: Analysis

Which of the following sets of stages was included in the model for data analysis introduced by Miles and Huberman? a. Data reduction, data display, conclusion drawing, and verification b. Writing memos, keeping reflective journals, creating analytical files, quoting participants c. Skimming data, analyzing themes, creating demographic charts d. Coding data by marking, sorting, and redefining

ANS: A Feedback A The three stages of data reduction, data display, and conclusion drawing and verification were introduced by Miles and Huberman in 1994. B These stages were suggested by Glesne in 2006. C These are not the stages presented by Miles and Huberman although they could be used in qualitative data analysis. D Coding of data was introduced by other theorists, such as Glesne and Denzin and Lincoln, and is a viable part of qualitative data analysis. DIF: Cognitive Level: Knowledge

The most common source of data collected in qualitative research studies is a. interviews. b. narrative. c. focus groups. d. observations

ANS: A Feedback A An interview is the most common source and is a usually a primary source of data. B Narratives are often used to supplement interviews. C Focus groups are used occasionally but not most common. D Observations are also used in addition to interviews DIF: Cognitive Level: Knowledge

Which of the following criteria of scientific rigour for qualitative research is met when the research report leads the reader from the research question and raw data through the steps of analysis and interpretation of the data? a. Trustworthiness b. Auditability c. Fittingness d. Credibility

ANS: B Feedback A Confirmability does not refer to the sequence of the audit trail. B Auditability refers to the adequacy of information that leads a reader through the steps of data analysis to interpretation. C Fittingness does not refer to the sequence of the audit trail. D Credibility does not refer to the sequence of the audit trail. DIF: Cognitive Level: Comprehension

What is the contribution of qualitative computer software to the research process? a. Interpretation of data b. Management of data c. Credibility of data d. Analysis of data

ANS: B Feedback A Interpretation of data must be done by researchers. B Computer management of qualitative data allows for easier coding of data and assists with the grouping or organizing of data. C Credibility of data is established by researchers. D Analysis of the meaning of data is done by researchers. DIF: Cognitive Level: Comprehension

Which of the following is an important feature of most qualitative analysis methods? a. Primary and secondary documents serving as main data sources b. Data collection and analysis occurring in a cyclic, interrelated manner c. Observation being the key method of data collection d. The researcher's avoidance of personal beliefs and feelings about the topic of focus

ANS: B Feedback A Primary and secondary documents serve as main data sources in historical studies only. B Simultaneous data collection and analysis occur commonly in all qualitative research studies, from case studies to grounded theory. C Observation is an important method of data collection but is not usually used in phenomenological or historical data collection. D The personal beliefs and feelings of the researcher are recorded and reflected upon; however, the personal beliefs and feelings of the participants often form the key area of focus during qualitative data analysis. DIF: Cognitive Level: Analysis

Which of the following computer programs can be used to help researchers in qualitative data management? a. SPSS b. QSR NVivo c. Minitab d. EPI DATA

ANS: B Feedback A SPSS helps researchers to statistically analyze quantitative data. B QSR NVivo helps researchers manage qualitative audio and video data. C Minitab helps researchers statistically analyze quantitative data. D EPI DATA helps statistically analyze quantitative epidemiology-related data. DIF: Cognitive Level: Knowledge

What is the main purpose of using vignettes in qualitative data analysis? a. Vignettes are pertinent quotes from the literature that researchers add to data analysis. b. Vignettes are narratives that help researchers present textual data as a story. c. Vignettes are video clips that illustrate the context and themes of qualitative data. d. Vignettes are anecdotal and reflective notes written by researchers during data collection

ANS: B Feedback A Vignettes arise from data, not from the literature. B Vignettes are narrative forms of data display that present qualitative data in story form to facilitate understanding of the data. C Vignettes are textual "stories" derived from qualitative data. D Vignettes are written from the actual data collected, not the researcher's memos or bracketed notes. DIF: Cognitive Level: Analysis

When does abstraction occur in ethnography? a. During data collection b. During member checking c. Prior knowledge of site and situation, during the field research d. When codes are assigned

ANS: C Feedback A Abstraction occurs during data collection for grounded theory and phenomenology. B Member checking is part of rigour. C Prior knowledge of site and situation; understanding develops during field research. D Codes are assigned during analysis. DIF: Cognitive Level: Knowledge

When a reader critiques a phenomenological study for appropriateness, the reader will examine the study to see if the researcher a. questioned the participants of the study to confirm identified themes. b. documented the bracketing process used to maintain the proper perspective. c. presented the narrative in a way that captured the everyday reality of participants. d. discussed in detail the process by which identified themes emerged

ANS: C Feedback A Checking with participants of the study helps maintain the credibility of the study, not its appropriateness. B Bracketing helps maintain the credibility of the study, not its appropriateness. C The narrative method helps keep the research faithful to the experiences of the participants. D Detailing the process through which themes emerge is referred to as auditability. DIF: Cognitive Level: Analysis

Why do qualitative researchers include "member checking" in data analysis? a. To ensure that all participants intend to remain in the study over time b. To ensure that all participants have experience with the topic of focus c. To have the participants validate interpretations of the data d. To ensure that all participants feel comfortable about their participation in the study

ANS: C Feedback A Member checking ensures validation of data, not continued participation. B Ensuring participant experience with the topic of focus is an initial step of the sampling stage of the study, not the analysis stage. C Member checking involves having the participants validate the researcher's interpretations of data and may lead to subsequent revisions, as necessary. D Making sure that all participants feel comfortable about their participation is common courtesy but is not related to member checking. DIF: Cognitive Level: Comprehension

Which of the following is the kind of data analysis that leads to the development of a cultural inventory? a. Phenomenological b. Grounded theory c. Ethnographic d. Historical

ANS: C Feedback A Phenomenological analysis results in a thematic narrative focused on some aspect of the participants' lived experience. B Grounded theory results in the development of a conceptual framework and the beginning of theory development. C Ethnographic analysis results in the development of a cultural inventory. D Historical analysis results in a literary narrative focused on a selected historical period and context. DIF: Cognitive Level: Knowledge

Which of the following is a possible ethical issue that must be considered when evaluating qualitative research? a. Researchers focus on the emic view of participant experiences. b. Researchers may want to speak to participants on more than one occasion. c. Researchers serve as instruments for data interpretation. d. Researchers may assign codes with personal meaning to sort data for interpretation.

ANS: C Feedback A Researchers prefer to describe participant experiences from the emic perspective. B It is not unusual for participants to be interviewed more than once in qualitative studies. C When researchers serve as instruments for data interpretation, personal viewpoints can blur proper interpretation of participant accounts. D Researchers use codes (often those that have a personal meaning to them) to sort data for interpretation. DIF: Cognitive Level: Application

What is the term used to describe the central meaning of the thematic conclusions drawn in phenomenological analysis? a. Vignettes b. Narrative c. Essence d. Phenomenon

ANS: C Feedback A Vignettes may be used in phenomenological conclusions, but they do not describe the central meaning of the analysis. B The narrative technique is used in phenomenological thematic analysis to provide a discussion of the conclusions. C The essence of the phenomenon being studied is the central meaning that arises from analyzed data. D The term phenomenon refers to the focus of the study but is not used for the actual central meaning that emerges from data. DIF: Cognitive Level: Comprehension

What processes do researchers use to study their own personal beliefs and knowledge in their attempt to ensure that their analysis reflects the participants' beliefs, not their own? a. Clustering and making metaphors b. Auditability and fittingness c. Constant comparison analysis and matrices d. Reflexivity and bracketing

ANS: D Feedback A Clustering and making metaphors are methods used to derive the meaning of data. B Auditability and fittingness are characteristics of rigour, which is exhibited when a researcher provides a clear picture of how and in what context data collection and analysis were done. C Constant comparison analysis is used to analyze data in grounded theory studies; matrices are examples of visual data display configurations. D Researchers use both reflexivity and bracketing to record and reflect on their own thoughts, values, beliefs, and understanding of the phenomenon being studied, to avoid biased interpretations of the data gathered from the participants. DIF: Cognitive Level: Analysis

What is the purpose of data display in qualitative analysis? a. To describe relationships among emerging themes in qualitative data b. To organize qualitative data into meaningful clusters c. To record observational data for analysis d. To organize data to facilitate conclusion drawing

ANS: D Feedback A The purpose of conclusion drawing is to describe the relationships among themes. B Data are clustered meaningfully during the data reduction stage of analysis. C Observational data are recorded before analysis begins. D Data display is the stage of analysis where visual and textual matrices, graphs, and charts are created to organize and make sense of the qualitative data. DIF: Cognitive Level: Knowledge

When collecting data many researchers record the interview. This is a common practice because a. participants wish to ensure their stories are documented correctly. b. participants are made to feel that their story is important if it is recorded. c. the researcher wished to accurately summarize or paraphrase the interview. d. researchers prefer to have the interview transcribed verbatim into written text

ANS: D Feedback A It may be true that participants wish to ensure their stories are documented correctly, but it is not the primary reason. B It may be true that narratives are often used to supplement interviews although it is not the primary reason. C It is not a common practice for the researcher to summarize or paraphrase the interview. D Verbatim text can help ensure authenticity of the data. DIF: Cognitive Level: Comprehension