Lecture 4

Question 1

Primary data

Answer 1

Data which are unpublished and which the researcher has gathered directly themselves (interview transcripts)

Primary data add richness and credibility to qualitative manuscripts.

Question 2

Secondary data

Answer 2

Previously published data (newspaper articles)

Question 3

Interviews

Answer 3

Interviews demand real interaction between the researcher and the respondent.

Interviews are often considered the best data collection methods

Question 4

Interview types

Answer 4

Structured
Semi structured
Unstructured

Question 5

Interview question open vs closed

Answer 5

Open question encourage an open-ended elaboration.

Closed questions reflect already a choice of the interviewer, reduce the answer to a choice between alternatives and encourage short answers.

Question 6

Interview questions criteria

Answer 6

-Simple and clear
one thing at a time
-Straightforward non-leading
-Encourage open and complex answers

Question 7

Observations

Answer 7

Observations as a data collection tool entails listening and watching other peoples behavior in a way that allows some type of learning and analytical interpretation.

Question 8

Observation advantages

Answer 8

• Collect first-hand information in a natural setting.
• Can interpret and understand the observed behavior, attitude and situation
• Capture the dynamics of social behavior

Question 9

Disadvantage of observation

Answer 9

Difficult to translate the events or happenings into scientifically useful information.

Question 10

Participation or field observation

Answer 10

the observer is a natural part of the situation or event

Question 11

A contrived setting

Answer 11

reactions are observed in a controlled setting in a laboratory or in other virtual reality

Question 12

Non-participant observation

Answer 12

The observer or researcher observes a natural setting but is not part of the situation

Question 13

A mechanica method of observation

Answer 13

replace a video camera overlooking a particular section of the supermarket.

Question 14

Human observation

Answer 14

An observer follows his or her own values and expectations and is also limited by his or her own constraints.

Question 15

Direct observations

Answer 15

Attending live as a human (time-consuming, costly)

allows for studying aspects of culture

Question 16

Choices for collecting primary data through observations

Answer 16

Human observation or mechinical

Laboratory or field setting

Question 17

Focus groups

Answer 17

Discussion groups, focus interviews, group interview

Question 18

Advantages of a focus group

Answer 18

Gives rich data, quick and flexible, good interaction, observe reactions

Question 19

Disadvantages of focus groups

Answer 19

Hard to summarize data, gathering people is difficult, biasas

Question 20

Steps in conducting a focus group

Answer 20

Formulation of research question

Identification of the sample

identification of the moderator

generation of interview guide/questions and structure

recruiting the sample

conducting the group

interpretation and analysis

writing the report

Question 21

Personal Documents

Answer 21

include individuals’ letters, diaries, notes, drafts, files and books

Question 22

Private documents

Answer 22

include those that are produced by private organizations for internal purposes such as minutes of meetings, personnel records, budgets and memos

Question 23

Public documents

Answer 23

include those that are produced for public consumption, such as annual reports, media statements or articles in newspapers

Question 24

Criteria to use documents

Answer 24

Authenticity: Is the evidence genuine and of unquestionable origin?

Credibility: Is the evidencefree from error and distortion?

Representativeness: Is the evidence typical of its kind, and, if not, is the extent of its untypicality known?

Meaning: Is the evidence clear and comprehensible?

Question 25

Advantages and disadvantages of using documents

Answer 25

+ Documents are relatively cheap and quick to access

+ Documents can be invaluable for providing important details of events

+ Documents make things visible and are traceable

• access can be difficult for some types of documents