Chapter 6: Data Collection in Qualitative Methods Flashcards
Focus Group
an informal discussion among selected individuals about specific topics
Visual Methods
typically involve the use of moving or still images as data
Photo-elicitation
a research method that involves the use of photographs as a basis for interview or focus group discussion, and frequently involves asking participants to take photographs themselves
Archival Data
can refer quite broadly to any data that is stored for later use
What are sampling methods?
convenience: trying to get data where you can get
stratified: more holistic view, get more variety of people with different backgrounds
systematic: more random sampling without picking those people individually can increase diversity
snowball: have an initial participant, ask them to refer to people to study, then those people recruit
random: very unlikely to have random sample in the population everyone has equal shot of being sampled
What factors influence the data collection method that will be used in a particular study?
research question: what are we interested in studying?
research method used: what methodology are we using in our study?
availability of data: is the data obtainable?, includes the sample as well
philosophical assumptions: what counts as “good” data
What are focus groups?
an informal discussion among selected individuals about specific topics
groups are (usually) restricted to 4-8 people
conducting focus groups require considering several questions
more participants, less control
Why are focus groups used?
focus groups are great if you are interested how a group of people may interact/influence/co-create with each other
certain research questions may benefit greatly from focus groups
good way to get multiple perspectives in a shorter amount of time
can liven up participation in research studies
may expose you to something you failed to consider
come with their own ethics-obstacles
How do you conduct a focus group?
technology allows for virtual (online) focus groups: is this the best way to address your question?
how much structure should I impose?
am I prepared?: equipment, knowledge base, practice makes one better
What is naturalistic data?
data that is naturally occurring and generated without the direct involvement of the researcher
is it naturalistic if the observed parties know they are being observed
the dead social scientist test: if the researcher got run over on the way to the university, would the interaction nevertheless have taken place, and in the way that it did?
What are questions to consider when collecting naturalistic data?
what is the best format for data?
even if privacy cannot be assumed, is it still okay to use people and their behaviors as data?
when (if?) should the researcher intervene?
What is media data?
data from media sources, especially mass-media: TV, newspaper, radio, internet, etc.
focus may be more on how a message is constructed and delivered over the message itself
could be analyzed the same way as other data collection methods
suitable if you are interested in how various media outlets construct and deliver a message: cultural transmission
What must you do when collecting media data?
when collecting media data, you need to define the parameters of data collection because of the level of information out there
what is public domain? people in media stories and confidentiality
the internet as a source of promise and worry: itself an interesting qualitative research question?
What is visual data?
the use of visual information (e.g., movies, pictures, and paintings) as data
What is photo-elicitation?
a research method that involves photographs as a basis for interview or focus group discussion and frequently involves asking participants to take photographs themselves
may add to the richness of the study, even in unexpected ways
ethical concerns
