Lecture 4: WHY/WHEN/HOW Qualitative Research Flashcards
What is the primary goal of phenomenology in qualitative research?
A. To generate explanatory theories of human behavior
B. To understand cultural practices and beliefs
C. To explore the essence of lived experiences
D. To identify patterns in social interactions
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Phenomenology seeks to understand what it is like to have a particular experience, focusing on the core essence of lived experiences
Which method focuses on studying cultural beliefs and practices from an insider’s perspective?
A. Phenomenology
B. Ethnography
C. Grounded Theory
D. Discourse Analysis
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Ethnography involves understanding human behavior and beliefs within cultural contexts, using observations and interviews to reveal cultural norms and patterns1
What is a core principle of grounded theory?
A. It seeks to confirm pre-existing theories through systematic observation.
B. It generates theory through simultaneous data collection and analysis.
C. It focuses solely on individual experiences without context.
D. It primarily relies on quantitative data for theory development.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Grounded theory develops and verifies theories through literative data collection and analysis, with theoretical sampling guiding the process
What is the purpose of “bracketing” in phenomenology?
A. To identify cultural patterns in behavior
B. To set aside the researcher’s preconceptions
C. To determine the phases of an experience
D. To generate explanatory theories
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Bracketing ensures that researchers suspend their own biases, focusing solely on the participants’ perspectives during data analysis
What does “thick description” in ethnography refer to?
A. Collecting large amounts of quantitative data
B. Creating detailed narratives to understand cultural context
C. Identifying phases of a social process
D. Simplifying complex phenomena into key themes
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Thick description provides detailed insights into cultural norms and behaviors, revealing meaning within context
How does methodological congruence contribute to qualitative research?
A. By ensuring alignment between research questions, methods, and data handling
B. By focusing only on one qualitative method per study
C. By emphasizing statistical rigor in qualitative data
D. By eliminating all risks to participants
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Methodological congruence ensures that the research design, data collection, and analysis align with the research purpose and questions
What is the key outcome of grounded theory research?
A. Rich, descriptive narratives
B. Identification of cultural norms
C. Explanatory theories of human behavior
D. Analysis of communication patterns
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Grounded theory aims to generate and verify theories that explain human behavior and processes within specific contexts
Which qualitative method is best suited to understanding the meaning of lived experiences?
A. Phenomenology
B. Ethnography
C. Grounded Theory
D. Semi-structured Interviews
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Phenomenology focuses on the essence and meaning of lived experiences from the participants’ perspectives
What is the significance of an “armchair walk through” in research?
A. It ensures statistical validity.
B. It helps predict research processes and outcomes.
C. It verifies the authenticity of data.
D. It determines theoretical saturation.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: An armchair walk through involves mentally envisioning the research process to reduce uncertainty and improve planning
Which method analyzes the phases and stages of an experience over time?
A. Phenomenology
B. Ethnography
C. Grounded Theory
D. Discourse Analysis
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Grounded theory focuses on understanding processes over time, such as stages and phases within experiences
Which qualitative method is rooted in symbolic interactionism?
A. Phenomenology
B. Ethnography
C. Grounded Theory
D. Thematic Analysis
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Grounded theory is based on symbolic interactionism, which examines how individuals create realities through interactions
Why are qualitative methods often used in health research?
A. To test the efficacy of treatments
B. To generate statistical generalizations
C. To explore complex experiences and cultural factors
D. To ensure precise measurements of variables
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Qualitative methods help uncover nuanced insights into health behaviors, cultural contexts, and patient experiences
What is a core feature of qualitative research paradigms?
A. Objectivity in data interpretation
B. A focus on numerical data and hypotheses
C. Emphasis on subjective and contextual understanding
D. Replication of findings across studies
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Qualitative paradigms prioritize understanding subjective experiences and contexts over objective measurements
How do qualitative and quantitative paradigms differ in their approach to data?
A. Qualitative paradigms prioritize numerical precision.
B. Quantitative paradigms focus on subjective experiences.
C. Qualitative paradigms explore meaning, while quantitative paradigms measure variables.
D. Both paradigms use identical data collection methods.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Qualitative research seeks to explore meanings and contexts, while quantitative research measures and tests variables
What is methodological purposiveness?
A. Using multiple methods in a single study
B. Aligning research questions with appropriate data collection and analysis methods
C. Prioritizing theoretical frameworks over practical considerations
D. Randomly selecting methods based on researcher preferences
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Methodological purposiveness ensures that the chosen research methods align with the research purpose and questions
What is the primary purpose of ethnographic research in health care?
A. To measure patient satisfaction quantitatively
B. To generate theories about health care processes
C. To understand cultural beliefs and practices influencing health behaviors
D. To examine the stages of a particular health condition
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Ethnography focuses on understanding cultural norms and practices, particularly how they influence health and illness behaviors
What does “theoretical sampling” in grounded theory entail?
A. Selecting participants randomly to ensure unbiased results
B. Recruiting participants based on emerging data and theory
C. Focusing only on a single cultural group for consistency
D. Analyzing data before recruiting participants
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Theoretical sampling involves selecting participants purposefully to refine and develop the emerging theory during grounded theory research
Which qualitative method is particularly suited for studying cultural disjunctures?
A. Grounded Theory
B. Phenomenology
C. Ethnography
D. Narrative Analysis
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Ethnography is often used to uncover and analyze cultural disjunctures, revealing mismatches between cultural practices and institutional norms
What is the primary analytical focus of grounded theory?
A. Identifying cultural patterns
B. Understanding lived experiences
C. Developing processes and theories based on data
D. Creating detailed narratives
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Grounded theory emphasizes generating processes and theories from systematically analyzed qualitative data
How does phenomenology approach the study of experiences?
A. By testing hypotheses using controlled variables
B. By exploring the lived meanings and essence of experiences
C. By focusing on cultural influences on behavior
D. By identifying stages in human behavior
Answer: B
Rationale: Phenomenology seeks to uncover the meaning and essence of experiences as perceived by individuals
What is the primary role of “bracketing” in phenomenological research?
A. To remove cultural influences from analysis
B. To minimize the researcher’s influence on data interpretation
C. To organize data into categories and themes
D. To identify emerging patterns in participant narratives
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Bracketing ensures that researchers set aside their assumptions to focus on participants’ lived experiences without bias
Which method is best suited for studying the process of becoming a caregiver over time?
A. Phenomenology
B. Ethnography
C. Grounded Theory
D. Case Study
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Grounded theory is ideal for studying processes and changes over time, such as the phases of becoming a caregiver
What does “methodological congruence” emphasize in qualitative research?
A. Ensuring alignment between research questions, methods, and data handling
B. Prioritizing cultural contexts in data analysis
C. Developing multiple theories from a single data set
D. Combining quantitative and qualitative methods in a study
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Methodological congruence ensures coherence between the research problem, questions, methods, and data analysis techniques
What is a defining feature of the ethnographic approach?
A. Focus on symbolic interactionism
B. Use of unstructured interviews exclusively
C. Thick descriptions of cultural practices
D. Bracketing researcher biases
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Ethnography uses thick descriptions to provide detailed insights into cultural practices and their meanings
Which qualitative method uses symbolic interactionism as its theoretical foundation?
A. Phenomenology
B. Grounded Theory
C. Ethnography
D. Thematic Analysis
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Grounded theory is rooted in symbolic interactionism, which examines how individuals create meaning through social interactions
What is the purpose of “memoing” in qualitative research?
A. To enhance participant recruitment
B. To document emerging ideas and reflections during analysis
C. To structure interviews and guide data collection
D. To develop statistical models based on qualitative data
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Memoing is a reflective process where researchers record insights and emerging ideas during data analysis, especially in grounded theory
How is “temporality” understood in phenomenological research?
A. As the influence of time on cultural practices
B. As the experience of lived time by individuals
C. As the historical context of social interactions
D. As the chronology of events in a narrative
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Temporality in phenomenology refers to the subjective experience of lived time, one of the key existentials
Which qualitative method examines relationality in lived experiences?
A. Phenomenology
B. Ethnography
C. Grounded Theory
D. Case Study
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Phenomenology explores relationality (lived human relations) as part of its focus on understanding lived experiences
What does “thick description” provide in qualitative research?
A. A simplified summary of participant responses
B. A detailed account of cultural contexts and meanings
C. A theory explaining human behavior
D. A process-oriented analysis of experiences
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Thick description offers a rich, detailed understanding of cultural contexts and the meanings behind observed behaviors
How does grounded theory differ from ethnography?
A. Grounded theory focuses on cultural contexts, while ethnography develops theories.
B. Grounded theory generates explanatory theories, while ethnography describes cultural norms.
C. Grounded theory is descriptive, while ethnography is theory-driven.
D. Grounded theory uses structured interviews, while ethnography does not.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Grounded theory generates explanatory theories of processes and experiences, while ethnography focuses on describing and interpreting cultural norms and practices
