All topics

Question 1

What is the difference between deductive and inductive approaches in qualitative research?

Answer 1

Deductive approach tests theory through hypotheses (top-down), while inductive approach builds theory from data (bottom-up).

Question 2

Define ‘reliability’ in the context of qualitative research.

Answer 2

Reliability refers to the consistency of results across time and place, and the degree to which different observers categorize instances similarly.

Question 3

What are the three main paradigms in qualitative research?

Answer 3

The three main paradigms are Positivism, Interpretivism, and Constructivism.

Question 4

How does the concept of ‘validity’ apply to qualitative research?

Answer 4

Validity in qualitative research concerns the accuracy or correctness of the study and whether the research represents the social phenomenon investigated.

Question 5

What are some ethical considerations in qualitative research?

Answer 5

Ethical considerations include honesty, transparency, data protection (GDPR compliance), avoiding plagiarism, and reflecting on the researcher’s role.

Question 6

Explain ‘credibility’ in the context of qualitative research.

Answer 6

Credibility is about trust in a study, including creating research results that are believable and whether the study’s claims are credible rather than just true.

Question 7

What is the role of ‘case studies’ in qualitative research?

Answer 7

Case studies are used to explore a phenomenon in its real-life context, focusing on a specific case and often using an inductive approach for detailed insight.

Question 8

Describe ‘participant observation’ as a data collection method.

Answer 8

Participant observation involves the researcher participating in activities to gain trust and insider meanings, balancing between being a participant and an observer.

Question 9

What is ‘purposive sampling’ in qualitative research?

Answer 9

Purposive sampling involves selecting participants strategically based on their relevance to the research question, aiming for data that directly informs the study.

Question 10

How does ‘triangulation’ enhance the validity of a qualitative study?

Answer 10

Triangulation uses multiple methods or data sources to cross-check and deepen understanding, increasing the accuracy and credibility of the research findings.

Question 11

What is the significance of ‘thick description’ in qualitative research?

Answer 11

Thick description provides a detailed, in-depth account of the context and meaning of behaviors or events, allowing for a deeper understanding of the phenomenon under study.

Question 12

Explain the concept of ‘reflexivity’ in qualitative research.

Answer 12

Reflexivity involves the researcher reflecting on and critically examining their own role, biases, and impact on the research process and outcomes.

Question 13

Explain Positivism

Answer 13

Describing the world as it is – reality exists in one particular form independent of the researcher, will reveal the reason behind actions.

Question 14

Explain Interpretivism

Answer 14

Interest: the subjective understanding of the world, the human lived world. Interpret/understand/typify meaning universes plus the motives behind action. Not how the world looks, but people’s subjective experiences with it. The world is what people experience.

Question 15

Explain constructivism

Answer 15

The world is continuously constructed through social processes (collective process). Phenomena are contingent; they are historically or socially related. Complexity, context and language are in focus.

Question 16

Describe the role of ‘narrative analysis’ in qualitative research.

Answer 16

Narrative analysis focuses on the ways people use stories to make sense of experiences, often analyzing the structure and content of these narratives.

Question 17

What is ‘grounded theory’ in qualitative research?

Answer 17

Grounded theory is a systematic methodology involving the construction of theory through the analysis of data, typically collected through qualitative methods.

Question 18

How is ‘content analysis’ used in qualitative research?

Answer 18

Content analysis systematically identifies and quantifies patterns in textual data, allowing for the interpretation of meanings and themes in the data.

Question 19

What are ‘focus groups’ and how are they used in qualitative research?

Answer 19

Focus groups are a data collection method where a small group of people discuss topics guided by a moderator, allowing for the exploration of collective views and experiences.

Question 20

Explain the importance of ‘context’ in qualitative research.

Answer 20

Context is crucial in qualitative research as it helps to understand the environment and circumstances in which the data is collected, influencing the interpretation of findings.

Question 21

What does ‘ethnography’ entail in qualitative research?

Answer 21

Ethnography is a research approach focused on the systematic study of people and cultures, often involving extended observations and immersion in the field.

Question 22

How does ‘member checking’ contribute to the credibility of qualitative research?

Answer 22

Member checking involves taking findings back to participants for validation, ensuring accuracy and credibility of the interpretations made by the researcher.

Question 22

What is the role of ‘coding’ in qualitative data analysis?

Answer 22

Coding is the process of categorizing and labeling qualitative data to identify themes, patterns, and relationships, essential for data analysis and theory development.

Question 23

Explain the concept of ‘saturation’ in qualitative research.

Answer 23

Saturation is reached when no new information or themes are observed in the data, indicating that the data collection can be concluded.

Question 24

What is the role of a ‘pilot study’ in qualitative research?

Answer 24

A pilot study is a small-scale preliminary study conducted to evaluate feasibility, time, cost, and adverse events, helping to refine the main study’s design and methodology.

Question 25

Describe the method of ‘constant comparison’ in qualitative analysis.

Answer 25

Constant comparison involves continuously comparing each new piece of data with existing data to refine and define categories and identify patterns and themes.

Question 26

What does ‘data triangulation’ mean in the context of qualitative research?

Answer 26

Data triangulation refers to the use of multiple data sources in a study to ensure the reliability and validity of the research findings.

Question 27

What is ‘discourse analysis’ in qualitative research?

Answer 27

Discourse analysis examines how language is used in texts and conversations to construct meanings and understand social interactions.

Question 28

How does ‘theoretical sampling’ differ from ‘purposive sampling’ in qualitative research?

Answer 28

Theoretical sampling is driven by concepts emerging from data analysis, while purposive sampling is based on selecting cases that are likely to be informative about a particular issue.

Question 29

What is ‘autoethnography’ in qualitative research?

Answer 29

Autoethnography is a form of qualitative research in which the researcher uses personal experience to understand a cultural experience, blending autobiography and ethnography.

Question 30

What are key elements to consider in designing qualitative research?

Answer 30

Key elements include defining the research problem, selecting a suitable qualitative methodology, determining data collection methods, and considering ethical issues.

Question 31

List and briefly describe three common data collection methods in qualitative research.

Answer 31

Interviews (structured, semi-structured, unstructured), Observations (participant, non-participant), and Document analysis (review of existing texts and documents).

Question 32

What is the role of a literature review in formulating a qualitative research question?

Answer 32

A literature review helps identify gaps in existing research, refine the research topic, and frame the research question in the context of what is already known

Question 32

How should the sampling strategy align with the research design in qualitative research?

Answer 32

The sampling strategy should align with the research objectives and questions, ensuring that the selected participants can provide rich, relevant, and diverse perspectives.

Question 33

How can qualitative researchers ensure the reliability of their data collection methods?

Answer 33

Researchers can ensure reliability by using consistent data collection procedures, training interviewers, and using pilot studies to test and refine methods.

Question 34

What are the ethical considerations in data collection for qualitative research?

Answer 34

Ethical considerations include informed consent, confidentiality, respect for participants, avoiding harm, and considering the impact of the research on individuals and communities.

Question 35

What are the three steps in validating a research paper?

Answer 35

Reliability, Validity, Credibility.

Question 36

What entails reliability?

Answer 36

Creating consistent results. This is done by ensuring repeatability. It is also important to provide systematic information about the context of the observation i.e. by using standardized field notes. It is also important to focus on inter-rater reliability which means to provide the data to several analysts in order to dissever any differences.

Question 37

Under the point of validity, how do you ensure accuracy?

Answer 37

Study over a longer period of time to gain a better understanding. Use Triangulation, use different methods to be more precise (Cross checking). Analytic induction, revise your initial assumptions based in the data.

Question 38

How is credibility ensured?

Answer 38

To make the research more trustworthy a researcher could use respondent validation where the respondents see if the results match their own experiences. Make sure to have a “Thick description” to show in-depth understanding of the subject. Be open about limitations. Give a detailed description of and reasons for all your choices (how you did it and why). Create coherence by ensuring consistency in ones’ choices of method etc..

Question 39

What are the criteria’s for a good RQ?

Answer 39

A good RQ have a detailed and rich description. Is researchable (feasible to answer within the constraints). Not to broad not to narrow. Relationship between question and theories.

Question 39

What is the purpose of observations?

Answer 39

The aim for observations is to see how people act in certain situations because there may be a difference from what some people say to what they do

Question 40

Mention the three types of interview

Answer 40

Structured, semi-structured and unstructured.

Question 41

What is a focus group and why would you use one?

Answer 41

The focus group method is an interview with several people on a specific topic or issue. Used to examine the way in which people, in conjunction with one another, understand a pre-specified issue or topic.

Question 42

Which type of interview works best with each of the three paradigms.

Answer 42

Positivism Interviews provide access to facts about the world thus Structured (standardized) interviews.
Interpretivism Interviews provide insight into people’s authentic experiences thus Semi-structured interviews.
Constructivism, Interviews are a joint achievement (mutually constructed perception of the world) between the interviewer and the interviewee, thus Unstructured interviews.

Question 43

What is documents (as a data source) and why would one use it?

Answer 43

Type of naturally occurring data (text, visuals, videos, audio) When you are interested in change and processes over longer periods of time.

Question 44

Mention the two types of sampling methods

Answer 44

Convenience sampling, Choice based on availability and convenience. Purposive sampling, Selection based on relevance in relation to the research question. Under purposive sampling there are two sub methods. Snowball sampling, Start with a small group of people who are relevant to the research question The selected group nominates other participants in their network whom they consider to be relevant in relation to the research question. Theoretical sampling, Targeted sampling strategy where the purpose is theoretically defined

Question 45

what is the purpose of a literature review?

Answer 45

To position your study in relation to existing knowledge (incl. concepts/methods). To justify/defend why it is relevant to investigate what you are investigating - to identify your ‘knowledge gap’. At the same time, you demonstrate that you know ‘your field’. To guide you in a direction in relation to how your research design should look.

Question 46

deductive v. inductive

Answer 46

Deductive: the researcher “deducts” a hypothesis in the basis of what is known about a domain. This approach is top down where we are testing theory through hypotheses. the deductive approach works best with positivism). Inductive: “bottom up”, explorative studies, theory building from data. We make the hypotheses on the basis of the data.

Question 47

Types of case study

Answer 47

Exploratory, Descriptive, and Explanatory

Question 48

Access and setting

Answer 48

“Closed” vs “Open” settings
Closed: private settings (use of a “gate-keeper”)
Open: public settings
“Covert” vs “Overt” access
Covert: not to disclose your role as a researcher
Overt: be transparent about your role as a researcher

Question 49

what should an observer think about other than access and setting?

Answer 49

Role, should the role of the researcher be revealed? Researchers’ degree of participation.

Question 50

Name the four kinds of observations

Answer 50

Participant as observer, A complete participant, Observer as a participant, and A complete observer

Question 51

Describe the role of ‘thematic analysis’ in qualitative research.

Answer 51

This when there is found themes in the data, typically through coding of the data