Data collection, interviews and textual data (qualitative)

Question 1

What are some qualitative research designs?

Answer 1

1. quasi experiment
2. case study design
3. cross-sectional
4. longitudinal
5. comparative studies

Question 2

What are some techniques for gathering data?

Answer 2

1. observations
2. interviews
3. surveys
4. documents / text
5. focus groups

Question 3

What are some coding and systematic data analysises?

Answer 3

1. grounded theory
2. content analysis
3. discourse analysis
4. narrative analysis

Question 4

When is a case study suitable?

Answer 4

• when asking how and why questions
• when the investigator has little or no control over events

Question 5

What are different types of cases?

Answer 5

• unique case
• typical case
• extreme case
• comparative cases

Question 6

What are some problems with interviews?

Answer 6

1. Sampling errors
   - snowballing
   - too convienient sampling?
2. Biases
   - response bias (social desirable)
   - recall bias
   - interviewer bias (unclear questions)
   - recording errors

Question 7

What is etnography?

Answer 7

An alternative way of collecting data.
It is a method of observing human interaction in social settings and activities (in their cultural context): you learn from people from the inside and it hence allows direct access to behavior and actions that otherwise is hidden. Takes time.

Question 8

What is focus groups?

Answer 8

A research method organized to collect qualitative data through interaction and directed discussions. Members are carefully selected.

One moderator poses topics and makes sure that no one individual dominate the group.

One observer takes notes on non-verbal aspects.
Neglected or unnoticed phenomenon can be brought to the surface.
Influence of moderator / biased questions is a risk.

Question 9

What are some secondary data sources?

Answer 9

Databases
Annual reports
Newspaper articles
Archives
Websites

Question 10

What is triangulation?

Answer 10

using a variety of data sources to strengthen the reliability of the results. its a good thing

Question 11

What is archival data?

Answer 11

A structured source of information that exists independent of the researcher (one type of secondary data)

Not an objective mirroring of reality

Fragments and lost pieces
Pay attention to time (when written) and purpose (why written) of a certain document