exam 2

Question 1

Define unobstructive research.

Answer 1

Ways of gathering data without interacting with research participants. Researchers analyze material that already exists, meaning that the process of collecting data does not affect the material that is studied.

E.g. journals of people during WW2, archeologists, historians.

Question 2

What can we learn from unobstructive research?

Answer 2

What we learn from that research can destabilize our knowledge. New knowledge can shift our understanding of events in history.

E.g. getting another point of view of the same situation.

Question 3

What is a limitation of unobstructive research?

Answer 3

Can’t get something you don’t have unless it’s available.

Question 4

Give examples of unobstructive research.

Answer 4

Maps, movies, fashion, books, letters, diaries, ads, fairy tales.

Question 5

On how many levels can artifacts give us meaning? Describe them.

Answer 5

1. Manifest content: obvious or surface meaning. 2. Latent context: subtle or hidden meaning.

Question 6

Describe the Bechdel test.

Answer 6

Assesses the presence of women in movies. 1. Are there 2 or more women with names? 2. Do they talk to each other? 3. Do they talk about anything other than men?

Question 7

What is a systematic problem identified by the Bechdel test?

Answer 7

The entire industry is catered to men because they don’t like women.

Question 8

Describe the race Bechdel test.

Answer 8

Assesses the presence of people of color in movies. 1. Are there two or more people of color? 2. Do they talk with each other? 3. About something other than their race? (or other than white people).

Question 9

What is the DuVernay test?

Answer 9

In which African American and other minorities talk about anything other than their race. 1. Are there named characters of color? 2. Do they have dialogue? 3. Are they romantically involved with one another? 4. Do they have conversations that are not comforting or supportive of white characters? 5. Is one of them definitely not magical?

Question 10

What are the types of content analysis? Explain them.

Answer 10

Qualitative
○ Measures frequently, count occurrences
○ Numerical data and measurable variables (seconds of dialogue)
○ Usually requires larger sample to have statistical significance
○ Analysis phase
§ Systematic coding
§ Statistical analysis
§ Hypothesis testing
§ Measuring relationships between variables
○ “how many?”, “what?”
- Quantitative
○ Examining meaning, themes and pattern in content
○ Interprets underlying messages and context
○ Often uses smaller samples to allow for in-depth analysis
○ Analysis phase
§ Reading and re-reading
§ Identifying emerging themes
○ Developing interpretive frameworks
○ Creating detailed descriptions
○ “How?”, “why?”

Question 11

What are the advantages of content analysis?

Answer 11

Enormous scope, inexpensive technique, flexible, focus on very important aspects of contemporary life due to the importance of mass media.

Question 12

What are the disadvantages of content analysis?

Answer 12

Careful preparation, sampling process has to be carefully thought through, reliability of coding, questions of interpretation are a major problem.

Question 13

Define operational definition.

Answer 13

A definition of a concept that is measurable.

E.g. height, weight.

Question 14

Define objectification.

Answer 14

Focusing on body parts rather than the entire person.

Question 15

Define implicit sexuality.

Answer 15

Suggests sexual activity, includes acts such as licking lips, dancing, choking, etc.

Question 16

Define explicit sexuality.

Answer 16

Explicit sexual touch or simulated sexual activity.

E.g. touching breasts or genitals.

Question 17

What are focus groups?

Answer 17

Structured process used to obtain detailed information about a particular situation. Obtains perception of a defined research area.

Question 18

When should you use focus groups?

Answer 18

When considering an intro to a new program or service, when questions can’t be easily answered in a survey, when you have time, knowledge, and resources to recruit a willing group of focus participants.

Question 19

How are focus groups conducted?

Answer 19

Conducted by a trained interviewer in a comfortable, quiet environment. Three focus groups are usually the minimum for a study. Draws out precise issue that may be unkown to the investigator.

Question 20

How long should a group session last?

Answer 20

1 to 1 1/2 hours, max 2 hours.

Question 21

How do moderators keep the discussion on track?

Answer 21

By asking open-ended questions.

Question 22

True or False: It is okay to go over the time limit.

Answer 22

False, you need to respect others’ time, especially if they’re not paid.

Question 23

Define the role of the moderator.

Answer 23

Facilitates focus groups, guides the group with little intervention as possible, should not have an opinion.

Question 24

Define observer interference.

Answer 24

We interfere with the environment we’re in.

Question 25

Does positionality matter?

Answer 25

Yes, as a moderator it is important to know your position in society while conducting the focus groups.

Question 26

Who should you ask to be in a focus group?

Answer 26

6-9 participants, homogenous people representing a particular segment of the population.

Question 27

How are focus groups different from regular groups?

Answer 27

The focus group has a specific discussion topic, has a trained facilitator, is carefully planned to create a non-threatening environment. Can yield a lot of info in a relatively short amount of time. Specific discussion topic.

Question 28

What are the advantages of focus groups?

Answer 28

In-depth understanding, efficiency, real-time feedback, diverse perspectives.

Question 29

What are the disadvantages of focus groups?

Answer 29

Bias of moderator, dominant voice, limited sample size, lack of privacy.

Question 30

Why do we need policies?

Answer 30

Because of egregious violations in the past.

Question 31

Define informed consent.

Answer 31

Opportunity to accept or reject, participants must be told who is conducting the research, how long the research will take, why the research is conducted.

Question 32

Define confidentiality.

Answer 32

Promising to keep knowledge of the participants' identities restricted to the research team.

Question 33

What are the ethical concerns?

Answer 33

1. Treatment of respondents: Participants are not harmed, informed consent. 2. Treatment of the research team: Ensure a safe environment. 3. Obligations to research community: Don’t falsify data. 4. Obligations to humanity: Some topics should not be researched.

Question 34

Define bias.

Answer 34

Commonly understood to be any influence that provides a distortion in the results of a study.

Question 35

What are the types of bias? Explain them.

Answer 35

1. Cultural and ethnocentric bias: Many foundational theories were developed from western perspectives. 2. Researcher positionality: A researcher's identity shapes what questions they ask. 3. Intersectionality gaps: Traditional approaches often fail to capture how multiple forms of disadvantages intersect.

Question 36

Who should you ask to be in a focus group?

Answer 36

6-9 participants who are homogenous and represent a particular segment of the population.

Question 37

How are focus groups different from regular groups?

Answer 37

Focus groups have a specific discussion topic, a trained facilitator, a carefully planned environment, and can yield a lot of information in a short time.

Question 38

What are the advantages of focus groups?

Answer 38

In-depth understanding, efficiency, real-time feedback, and diverse perspectives.

Question 39

What are the disadvantages of focus groups?

Answer 39

Bias of moderator, dominant voice, limited sample size, and lack of privacy.

Question 40

Define informed consent.

Answer 40

Opportunity to accept or reject participation; participants must be informed about who is conducting the research, how long it will take, and why it is conducted.

Question 41

Define confidentiality.

Answer 41

Promising to keep participants' identities restricted to the research team; responses are anonymous or kept private.

Question 42

What are the ethical concerns in research?

Answer 42

1. Treatment of respondents: no harm, informed consent, confidentiality. 2. Treatment of the research team: safe environment for colleagues. 3. Obligations to research community: no data falsification, data availability, transparency. 4. Obligations to humanity: ethical considerations of research topics.

Question 43

Define bias.

Answer 43

Any influence that distorts the results of a study; values inform bias.

Question 44

What are the types of bias?

Answer 44

1. Cultural and ethnocentric bias: theories developed from western perspectives. 2. Researcher positionality: a researcher's identity shapes their questions and interpretations. 3. Intersectionality gaps: traditional approaches fail to capture multiple disadvantages.