AthenaStudies Session

Question 1

Characteristics of qualitative research: (4)

Answer 1

• Small samples and purposefully chosen samples
  
  • Rich, extensive data
• Flexible research design
• Diverse analysis and interpretation approaches
  
  • Comprehensive, detailed output
• Participant’s perspective is key

Question 2

Qualitative Research has 4 functions:

Answer 2

1. Contextual
2. Explanatory
3. Evaluative
4. Generative

Question 3

Contextual function (3)

Answer 3

1. Contextual
   
   1. Purpose: Describe the nature or form of what exists.
   2. Focus: To discover and understand a phenomenon in the social world.
   3. Key Question: What exists and how does it present itself?

Question 4

Explanatory function (3)

Answer 4

2. Explanatory
   
   1. Purpose: Investigate reasons or associations.
   2. Focus: Exploring why phenomena exists and what influences them.
   3. Key Question: Why does phenomena happen and what factors are involved?

Question 5

Evaluative function (3)

Answer 5

3. Evaluative
   
   1. Purpose: Assess effectiveness
   2. Focus: Evaluating how and when things work or don’t work
   3. Key Questions: How well does this work in different situations

Question 6

Generative function (3)

Answer 6

4. Generative
   
   1. Purpose: Develop new theories.
   2. Focus: Encouraging innovation and creation of new concepts
      
      3. Key Questions: What new ideas can be generated from this?

Question 7

When is qualitative research helpful to use? (6)
(Situation + Example)

Answer 7

1. Poorly defined phenomena
   
   1. Situation: The topic is not well understood or lacks clear definition.
   2. Example: Emerging social trends.
2. Deeply rooted phenomena
   
   1. Situation: Involves personal knowledge or self-understanding
   2. Example: Personal identity formation.
3. Complex phenomena
   
   1. Situation: The subject matter has many interrelated aspects.
   2. Example: Organizational culture.
4. Unique or specialized roles
   
   1. Situation: The subject has a distinct or pivotal role in society
   2. Example: Studies involving public figures or experts.
5. Fragile or intangible phenomena
   
   1. Situation: The topic is difficult to find, ephemeral, or not directly observable.
   2. Example: Community cultural practices
6. Sensitive phenomena
   
   1. Situation: The subject matter is delicate or potentially controversial.
   2. Example: Research on trauma.

Question 8

What are the aspects needed to establish an effective relationship within interviews (6)

Answer 8

1. Express interest and attention
   
   • Maintaining eye contact with the interviewee
   • Occasionally smile or nod towards the interviewee
2. Establish that there are no right or wrong answers
   
   • Say this at the start of the interview
3. Be sensitive to tone of voice and body language
   
   • React accordingly when there is a display of body language or in tone of voice - this could be taking a small break, pausing before continuing, or asking if they are alright.
4. Allow the participant time to reply
   
   • Give opportunity for the interviewee to reflect.
5. Pace the interview
   
   • If extra time is needed, it should be negotiated as early as possible.
6. Handle extraneous information.

Question 9

There are 7 types of questions (in an interview):

Answer 9

1. Open questions
   
   • Encourage the person to speak
   • Often begin with ‘who, what, when’
   • Can be statements: “Can you give me an example of…”
2. Closed and semi-closed questions
   
   • Closed: Require a yes or no.
   • Semi closed: Use to check facts
     a. i.e. “To what extent”, “on a scale of 1-10”
3. Specific questions:
   
   • Determining facts
     ○ i.e. “How much do you spend on rent per month”
4. Probing questions
   
   • To gain more details or clarification
   • Allows you to explore certain areas
     ○ “Could you please tell me more about that?”
5. Hypothetical questions
   
   • Introduce a situation in the future
   • Used to make people think of new/unique situations
6. Reflective questions
   
   • Check understanding, by asking interviewee to reflect on their answer.
7. Leading questions
   
   • These are question which is where the interviewer may influence the interviewees answer.

Question 10

Draw a table to show the general structure of a topic-based interview-guide:

Answer 10

See table on onenote.

Question 11

Draw a sample matrix using the following primary criteria:
- Height
- Gender
- Clothes size (s, m, or L)

Answer 11

Answer on onenote

Question 12

There are 2 types of sampling strategies:

Answer 12

1. Probability sampling
   
   • Mainly for quantitative research:
   • Randomly selecting participants
   • Known probability of selection
   • Statistically representative of the population
2. Non-probability sampling:
   
   • Deliberate selection
     Symbolically represents the population

Question 13

Non-probability Sampling Methods (4)

Answer 13

1. Purposive Sampling
   
   • Researchers select participants based on specific criteria.
   • Ensures comprehensive understanding of the topic
2. Theoretical Sampling
   
   • Based on evolving theory during the research
   • This is where a sample is chosen, then the sample is analyzed, based on the findings they would refine their criteria to get a more relevant sample, this is repeated until they have reached theoretical saturation.
3. Convenience sampling
   * Based on ease of access
   * This is practical for exploratory studies.
4. Opportunistic sampling
   
   • Based on unexpected opportunities
   • Adds unique perspectives as they arise

Question 14

There are 2 types of case study designs:

Answer 14

1. Single case studies
2. Multiple case studies

Question 15

For each case study design, there are 2 different levels of analysis:

Answer 15

1. Holistic (single level)
   
   • Often using the question “Why”
2. Embedded (multiple level)
   · Often use the question “How”

Question 16

Create a table to show the different forms of case study design (4):

Answer 16

Check on onenote

Question 17

What are the 5 main criteria to determine the quality of the research?

Answer 17

1. Objectivity
   
   • Do conclusions come from the data, or from biases induced by the researcher?
2. Reliability
   
   • Has the research process been consistent and stable over time and across methods and researchers?
3. Internal Validity - AKA Credibility and authenticity; Do the results make sense in the context of the study.
4. External Validity - AKA Transferability and generalizability; Can the findings be generalized or transferred to another context?
5. Utilization / application
   
   • Can the facts be used for actions?
     ○ Is what we gained from the research able to be applied in real life?

Question 18

There are 4 types of validity:

Answer 18

• Content validity: Do we measure what we want to measure?
• Internal Validity: Also known as the credibility and authenticity, do the results make sense within the context of the study?
• External Validity: Known as transferability and generalizability, can the findings be generalized or transferred into another context?
• Procedural validity: This focuses on the production of the data- how valid is the procedure used to obtain data?

Question 19

There are 3 steps to theoretical coding:

Answer 19

1. Step 1: Open coding
   
   • Creating codes from answers to questions
2. Step 2: Axial coding
   
   • Grouping codes into categories
3. Step 3: Selective coding
   
   • Select the most important categories and build a storyline to connect the categories