Lecture 4: Qualitative Data Collection I Types of Data, Sampling & Ethics Flashcards
What is Process tracing
A tool used to study causal mechanisms in a single-case design
What is the aim of process tracing?
To go beyond merely identifying correlations between independent variables (Xs) and outcomes (Ys), and focus on understanding causal mechanisms
Name the three variants of process tracing.
- Theory-testing process tracing
- Theory-building process tracing
- Explaining-outcome process tracing
What is Theory-testing process tracing?
Involves having a hypothesis about a plausible mechanism (X and Y are known) and collecting evidence on observable implications.
a method where both X and Y are known, and existing conjectures or logical reasoning are used to formulate a causal mechanism.
What is Explaining-outcome process tracing?
A method focused on identifying the causes of a specific outcome in a single case without aiming to build a generalizable theory.
What is the role of Research Ethics in qualitative research?
Ensuring production transparency, analytical transparency, and data access in research processes and conclusions.
What are the 3 research steps in Theory- testing process tracing?
- Make the theorized causal mechanism eplicit
- Operationalize the causal mechanism as observable implications
- Collect evidence on the observable implications.
What is Theory-building process tracing?
This method is used when we observe Y , but do not know yet the causal mechanism. The goal is to construct a new theory or mechanism based on case evidence.
What is main feature of Explaining- outcome process tracing?
The goal is to construct a sufficient causal mechanism for the specific case being studied, often including non-systematic and case-specific causes.
What are the 3 commonalities/ similarities betwen the 3 vafriants of process tracing?
- Focus on studying causal mechanisms
- Deterministic theorization + logic of inference
- Mechanismic understanding of causation
What are the differences between the three variants of process tracing?
- Theory vs. case-centric approaches.
- Testing vs. building new mechanisms.
- Generalizability of the causal mechanism.
- Types of inferences (presence/absence vs. sufficiency)
Case selection strategies for single-case studies (5)
- Extreme case study design
- Deviant case study design
- Influential case study design
- Crucial case study designs (most likely/ least likely)
- Typical case study design
Case selection strategies for comparative case studies? (3)
- Most-similar case study design (Mill’s method of difference)
- Most-different case study design (Mill’s method of agreement)
- Diverse case study design
What is Qualitative data?
Data generated through qualitative research,
which is oral, textual, visual, or audible,
often massive in volume, and
aimed at providing novel insights into difficult-to-measure phenomena.
What are primary sources of qualitative data? –> 3 except 2!!!
- Participant data
(in-depth in interviews, focus groups, participant observation) - Archival data
(historical accounts, actor-specific publications) - Arts-based data
(photovoice, co-creation)
What is a sampling plan?
An integral part of research design that is informed by the research goal and the analytical purpose of data collection (Tracy, 2020).
What are the two types of non-random sampling?
- Purposeful sampling
(criterion-based selection) - Convenience sampling
(based on availability)
What are the main 4 components of a sampling plan?
- Theoretical population
- Study population
- Sample
- Sampling frame (how you can access)
What 4 factors should be considered when choosing a sample?
- Symbolic representation
- Sample diversity
- Sample size (based on saturation + resources)
- Sample frames (existing resources, generated frames)
What is Research Transparency in qualitative research?
The need for transparency in the procedures used to collect, generate, and analyze data to ensure scientific validity and trustworthiness (Lupia & Elman, 2014).
What are the two types of concepts in classification?
- Uni-dimensional concepts (single attribute)
- Multi-dimensional concepts (combination of attributes)
What is a dichotomy?
a classification where cases are divided into two mutually exclusive categories.
What are the key characteristics of classifications?
- Mutual exclusiveness –> each case belongs to one case
- Exhaustiveness –> each case must belong to a class
What is a systematized concept
A concept that has a structure determining how attributes are linked to each other.
What is the difference between necessary conditions + family resemblance concepts?
Necessary conditions require all attributes to be present: family resemblance requires only one attribute.
What is a population in research
the universe of cases, including both studies + unstudied cases
What is a sample in research
Specific cases being studied, drawn from population
What does selection on dependent variable mean?
Choosing cases based on specific outcome, which can lead to biased conclusions
What are general objectives of case selection (what is it good for?)
To achieve useful variation
ensure representativeness
adress theoretical empirical puzzles
What are case-centered + theory-centered case studies?
Case-centered focuses on individual cases
Theory-centered: aims to advance general theory
What are comprehensive case selection strategies?
Strategies include:
- most similar, most different, crucial cases and various distribution-based methods
