Lecture 4: Qualitative Data Collection I Types of Data, Sampling & Ethics

Question 1

What is Process tracing

Answer 1

A tool used to study causal mechanisms in a single-case design

Question 2

What is the aim of process tracing?

Answer 2

To go beyond merely identifying correlations between independent variables (Xs) and outcomes (Ys), and focus on understanding causal mechanisms

Question 3

Name the three variants of process tracing.

Answer 3

1. Theory-testing process tracing
2. Theory-building process tracing
3. Explaining-outcome process tracing

Question 4

What is Theory-testing process tracing?

Answer 4

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.

Question 5

What is Explaining-outcome process tracing?

Answer 5

A method focused on identifying the causes of a specific outcome in a single case without aiming to build a generalizable theory.

Question 6

What is the role of Research Ethics in qualitative research?

Answer 6

Ensuring production transparency, analytical transparency, and data access in research processes and conclusions.

Question 7

What are the 3 research steps in Theory- testing process tracing?

Answer 7

1. Make the theorized causal mechanism eplicit
2. Operationalize the causal mechanism as observable implications
3. Collect evidence on the observable implications.

Question 8

What is Theory-building process tracing?

Answer 8

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.

Question 9

What is main feature of Explaining- outcome process tracing?

Answer 9

The goal is to construct a sufficient causal mechanism for the specific case being studied, often including non-systematic and case-specific causes.

Question 10

What are the 3 commonalities/ similarities betwen the 3 vafriants of process tracing?

Answer 10

1. Focus on studying causal mechanisms
2. Deterministic theorization + logic of inference
3. Mechanismic understanding of causation

Question 11

What are the differences between the three variants of process tracing?

Answer 11

1. Theory vs. case-centric approaches.
2. Testing vs. building new mechanisms.
3. Generalizability of the causal mechanism.
4. Types of inferences (presence/absence vs. sufficiency)

Question 12

Case selection strategies for single-case studies (5)

Answer 12

1. Extreme case study design
2. Deviant case study design
3. Influential case study design
4. Crucial case study designs (most likely/ least likely)
5. Typical case study design

Question 13

Case selection strategies for comparative case studies? (3)

Answer 13

1. Most-similar case study design (Mill’s method of difference)
2. Most-different case study design (Mill’s method of agreement)
3. Diverse case study design

Question 13

What is Qualitative data?

Answer 13

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.

Question 14

What are primary sources of qualitative data? –> 3 except 2!!!

Answer 14

1. Participant data
   (in-depth in interviews, focus groups, participant observation)
2. Archival data
   (historical accounts, actor-specific publications)
3. Arts-based data
   (photovoice, co-creation)

Question 15

What is a sampling plan?

Answer 15

An integral part of research design that is informed by the research goal and the analytical purpose of data collection (Tracy, 2020).

Question 16

What are the two types of non-random sampling?

Answer 16

1. Purposeful sampling
   (criterion-based selection)
2. Convenience sampling
   (based on availability)

Question 17

What are the main 4 components of a sampling plan?

Answer 17

1. Theoretical population
2. Study population
3. Sample
4. Sampling frame (how you can access)

Question 18

What 4 factors should be considered when choosing a sample?

Answer 18

1. Symbolic representation
2. Sample diversity
3. Sample size (based on saturation + resources)
4. Sample frames (existing resources, generated frames)

Question 19

What is Research Transparency in qualitative research?

Answer 19

The need for transparency in the procedures used to collect, generate, and analyze data to ensure scientific validity and trustworthiness (Lupia & Elman, 2014).

Question 20

What are the two types of concepts in classification?

Answer 20

• Uni-dimensional concepts (single attribute)
• Multi-dimensional concepts (combination of attributes)

Question 21

What is a dichotomy?

Answer 21

a classification where cases are divided into two mutually exclusive categories.

Question 22

What are the key characteristics of classifications?

Answer 22

• Mutual exclusiveness –> each case belongs to one case
• Exhaustiveness –> each case must belong to a class

Question 23

What is a systematized concept

Answer 23

A concept that has a structure determining how attributes are linked to each other.

Question 24

What is the difference between necessary conditions + family resemblance concepts?

Answer 24

Necessary conditions require all attributes to be present: family resemblance requires only one attribute.

Question 25

What is a population in research

Answer 25

the universe of cases, including both studies + unstudied cases

Question 26

What is a sample in research

Answer 26

Specific cases being studied, drawn from population

Question 27

What does selection on dependent variable mean?

Answer 27

Choosing cases based on specific outcome, which can lead to biased conclusions

Question 28

What are general objectives of case selection (what is it good for?)

Answer 28

To achieve useful variation
ensure representativeness
adress theoretical empirical puzzles

Question 29

What are case-centered + theory-centered case studies?

Answer 29

Case-centered focuses on individual cases
Theory-centered: aims to advance general theory

Question 30

What are comprehensive case selection strategies?

Answer 30

Strategies include:
- most similar, most different, crucial cases and various distribution-based methods