Lecture 4 Flashcards
Primary data
Data which are unpublished and which the researcher has gathered directly themselves (interview transcripts)
Primary data add richness and credibility to qualitative manuscripts.
Secondary data
Previously published data (newspaper articles)
Interviews
Interviews demand real interaction between the researcher and the respondent.
Interviews are often considered the best data collection methods
Interview types
Structured
Semi structured
Unstructured
Interview question open vs closed
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.
Interview questions criteria
-Simple and clear
one thing at a time
-Straightforward non-leading
-Encourage open and complex answers
Observations
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.
Observation advantages
- Collect first-hand information in a natural setting.
- Can interpret and understand the observed behavior, attitude and situation
- Capture the dynamics of social behavior
Disadvantage of observation
Difficult to translate the events or happenings into scientifically useful information.
Participation or field observation
the observer is a natural part of the situation or event
A contrived setting
reactions are observed in a controlled setting in a laboratory or in other virtual reality
Non-participant observation
The observer or researcher observes a natural setting but is not part of the situation
A mechanica method of observation
replace a video camera overlooking a particular section of the supermarket.
Human observation
An observer follows his or her own values and expectations and is also limited by his or her own constraints.
Direct observations
Attending live as a human (time-consuming, costly)
allows for studying aspects of culture
Choices for collecting primary data through observations
Human observation or mechinical
Laboratory or field setting
Focus groups
Discussion groups, focus interviews, group interview
Advantages of a focus group
Gives rich data, quick and flexible, good interaction, observe reactions
Disadvantages of focus groups
Hard to summarize data, gathering people is difficult, biasas
Steps in conducting a focus group
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
Personal Documents
include individuals’ letters, diaries, notes, drafts, files and books
Private documents
include those that are produced by private organizations for internal purposes such as minutes of meetings, personnel records, budgets and memos
Public documents
include those that are produced for public consumption, such as annual reports, media statements or articles in newspapers
Criteria to use documents
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?
Advantages and disadvantages of using documents
+ 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
