6 Qual Data 3

Question 1

Q: What are the criteria for evaluating positivist-empiricist, hypothetico-deductive, quantitative psychological research?

Answer 1

A: Reliability, internal validity, and external validity.

Question 2

Q: What is the primary goal of all research?

Answer 2

A: Utility.

Question 3

Q: What assumption do the criteria for quantitative research rely on?

Answer 3

A: The assumption of objectivity.

Question 4

Q: Why might understanding individual views be more important than objectivity in some research?

Answer 4

A: Because sometimes understanding phenomena in context is more important than general laws.

Question 5

Q: What is the constructionist view on bias in research?

Answer 5

A: Bias is always present.

Question 6

Q: What is the criteriology debate in qualitative research?

Answer 6

A: It is the debate over the appropriate criteria for evaluating qualitative research due to the diversity of philosophical positions, methods of data collection, and types of qualitative analysis.

Question 7

Q: Why is there no consensus on qualitative criteria?

Answer 7

A: Because qualitative research encompasses many different approaches, making it difficult to apply a single set of criteria.

Question 8

Q: What does Yardley (2000) propose for evaluating the quality of qualitative research?

Answer 8

A: A set of flexible principles: sensitivity to context, commitment and rigour, transparency and coherence, and impact and importance.

Question 9

Q: What does “sensitivity to context” involve in qualitative research?

Answer 9

A: Awareness of the broader context in which the research is conducted, including relevant literature, ‘common sense’ concepts and assumptions, and the socio-cultural setting.

Question 10

Q: What does “commitment and rigour” refer to in qualitative research?

Answer 10

A: The completeness of data collection, aiming for data saturation, and prolonged engagement with the data.

Question 11

Q: What is data saturation in qualitative research?

Answer 11

A: The point at which no new ideas are drawn from the data.

Question 12

Q: What are common problems in qualitative research themes?

Answer 12

A: Themes paraphrase data without providing an analytic narrative, are summaries of interview questions or accounts from single persons, are unrelated or overlap, are vague, and are not consistent with data examples.

Question 13

Q: What is triangulation in qualitative research?

Answer 13

A: Combining methods of data collection and analysis to gain a multi-layered understanding.

Question 14

Q: What are two types of validation to increase the credibility of qualitative findings?

Answer 14

A: Peer verification and respondent verification.

Question 15

Q: What is peer verification?

Answer 15

A: Analysts work together to check that interpretations are plausible, consistent, and communicated clearly.

Question 16

Q: What is respondent verification?

Answer 16

A: Study participants review the analysis findings to comment on the fit between the analyst’s interpretation and their experiences.

Question 17

Q: What does auditability involve in qualitative research?

Answer 17

A: It involves detailing every aspect of the data collection process, the rules used to code data, and how the stages of analysis progressed.

Question 18

Q: What should findings in qualitative research present?

Answer 18

A: Findings should present a coherent narrative that is consistent with quotations presented in themes, allowing readers to discern the patterns identified by analysis.

Question 19

Q: How is reflexivity manifested in qualitative research?

Answer 19

A: It involves a discussion of the appearances/motivations that led the researcher to undertake the investigation, often included in papers as a reflexive statement.

Question 20

Q: How should the discussion section in qualitative research relate to existing knowledge?

Answer 20

A: It should link findings to existing knowledge.

Question 21

Q: What should be ensured regarding the fit between research questions and the philosophical perspective adopted in qualitative research?

Answer 21

A: There should be a good fit between the research question and the philosophical perspective adopted, as well as the method of investigation and analysis undertaken.

Question 22

Q: What does the theoretical impact of qualitative research refer to?

Answer 22

A: It refers to how theories should be updated based on the research findings.

Question 23

Q: What does the practical impact of qualitative research involve?

Answer 23

A: It involves considering how services or policies should be updated based on the research findings.

Question 24

Q: What does the socio-cultural impact of qualitative research entail?

Answer 24

A: It involves indicating what the findings indicate about how we think about social problems.

Question 25

Q: What is transferability in qualitative research?

Answer 25

A: It refers to the degree to which the results of qualitative research can be transferred to other contexts/settings with other respondents.

Question 26

Q: How can transferability be facilitated in qualitative research?

Answer 26

A: By providing thick description, which helps potential users judge the transferability of the findings to their research problem.

Question 27

Q: Who ultimately decides whether the findings of qualitative research are transferrable to their research problem?

Answer 27

A: The user of the research.

Question 28

Q: What is mixed method research?

Answer 28

A: Mixed method research is a systematic approach to data collection and analysis that integrates different sources of data and qualitative and quantitative procedures with the intention to engage multiple perspectives to understand complex social phenomena.

Question 29

Q: What are the two different analytical logics embraced by mixed method research?

Answer 29

A: Exploratory/H generating one and Confirmatory/H confirmation one.

Question 30

Q: What is one of the primary purposes of mixed method research?

Answer 30

A: One of the primary purposes is triangulation, which involves using different methods to examine the same phenomenon to increase confidence in the conclusions reached.

Question 31

Q: How does mixed method research handle the order and dominance of qualitative and quantitative methods?

Answer 31

A: It considers the order and dominance of qualitative and quantitative methods in the design, often using a decision matrix to systematically evaluate options based on predetermined criteria.

Question 32

Q: What is the design criteria often used in mixed method research?

Answer 32

A: The design criteria are led by the research question and current knowledge on the research topic. Commonly, quantitative methods are used for validating existing knowledge, while qualitative methods are used for exploratory insights.

Question 33

Q: What are the purposes of mixed method research other than triangulation?

Answer 33

A: Other purposes include complementarity, development, initiation, and expansion.

Question 34

Q: How prevalent is mixed method research in different fields?

Answer 34

A: From 1992 to 2016, the percentage of empirical mixed methods publications in all fields was more than 18%. However, it was lower in psychology research, with only 7% in top-tier APA journals and 13.7% in psychology journals with an applied focus.

Question 35

Q: What does the purpose of “Development” entail in mixed method research?

Answer 35

A: It involves using results from one method to inform the development of another method.

Question 36

Q: What is the purpose of “Initiation” in mixed method research?

Answer 36

A: It involves using different methods to investigate different aspects of the same phenomenon.

Question 37

Q: What does the purpose of “Expansion” involve in mixed method research?

Answer 37

A: It entails using different methods to assess different phenomena in order to expand the range of the study.