Lesson 1: Definition and History of Field Methods

Question 1

What is another term for “field methods”?

Answer 1

Qualitative methods

Question 2

What are qualitative or field methods often used for?

Answer 2

They are used to answer questions about:

1. experience,
2. meaning, and
3. perspective

This is most often from the standpoint of the participant.

Question 3

What are the qualitative research techniques?

Answer 3

This includes:

a. small-group discussions,
b. semi-structured interviews,
c. in-depth interviews, and
d. analysis of texts and documents

Question 4

What is a small-group discussion?

Answer 4

It is a technique that involves investigating:

1. attitudes,
2. beliefs, and
3. concepts of normative behavior

Question 5

What is a semi-structured interview?

Answer 5

It is a technique that involves seeking views on a focused topic or with key informants for background information or an institutional perspective.

Question 6

What is an in-depth interview?

Answer 6

It is an interview that involves understanding a:

1. condition,
2. experience, or
3. event

Note: This is all from a personal perspective.

Question 7

What is the analysis of texts and documents?

Answer 7

It is the technique that involves learning distributed or private knowledge from texts and documents such as government reports, media articles, website, or diaries.

Question 8

What is the technique that involves investigating beliefs, attitudes, and concepts of normative behavior?

Answer 8

Small-group discussions.

Question 9

What is the technique that seeks views on a focused topic or with key informants for background information or an institutional perspective?

Answer 9

Semi-structured interviews.

Question 10

What is the technique that involves understanding a condition, experience, or event from a personal perspective?

Answer 10

In-depth interviews.

Question 11

What is the technique that involves learning distributed or private knowledge from texts and documents such as government reports, media articles, website, or diaries?

Answer 11

Analysis of texts and documents.

Question 12

How is qualitative research defined?

Answer 12

It is defined as;

a. a situated activity that locates the observer in the world,
b. a research that consists of a set of interpretive material practices that make the world visible,
c. these practices transform the world and turn the world into a series of representations, including field notes, interviews, conversations, photographs, recordings, and memos to the self
d. research that begins with the assumptions and use of interpretive or theoretical frameworks that informs the study of research problems addressing the meaning individuals or groups ascribe to a social or human problem
e. research whose final report or presentation includes the voices of participants, the reflexivity of the researcher, a complex description and interpretation of the problem, and its contribution to the literature or a call for change

Question 13

What is a situated activity that locates the observer in the world?

Answer 13

Qualitative research

Question 14

What is a research that consists of a set of interpretive material practices that make the world visible?

Answer 14

Qualitative research

Question 15

What are the practices that transform the world and turn the world into a series of representations, including field notes, interviews, conversations, photographs, recordings, and memos to the self?

Answer 15

Qualitative research

Question 16

What is the research that begins with the assumptions and use of interpretive or theoretical frameworks that informs the study of research problems addressing the meaning individuals or groups ascribe to a social or human problem?

Answer 16

Qualitative research

Question 17

What is the research whose final report or presentation includes the voices of participants, the reflexivity of the researcher, a complex description and interpretation of the problem, and its contribution to the literature or a call for change?

Answer 17

Qualitative research

Question 18

What are qualitative researchers?

Answer 18

They are researchers who use on an emerging qualitative approach to the inquiry, the collection of data in a natural setting sensitive to the people and places under study, and data analysis that is both inductive and deductive and establishes patterns or themes.

Question 19

What are researchers who use on an emerging qualitative approach to the inquiry, the collection of data in a natural setting sensitive to the people and places under study, and data analysis that is both inductive and deductive and establishes patterns or themes?

Answer 19

Qualitative researchers

Question 20

What did European researchers do during the 13th century?

Answer 20

European explorers have written descriptions of the strange culture and peoples they have encountered, whilst others read these descriptions to learn about foreign cultures.

Question 21

What study did academic field research begin with?

Answer 21

Anthropology.

Question 22

When did academic field research begin with anthropology?

Answer 22

The 19th century.

Question 23

What happened to research in the 19th century?

Answer 23

1. Academic field research began with anthropology,
2. The first anthropologists only read the reports of explorers, government officials, or missionaries, and
3. British anthropologist Bronislaw Malinoski was the first researcher to live with a group of people for a long period of time and write about collecting data.

Question 24

Who was the first researcher to live among a group of people for a long period of time and write about collecting data?

Answer 24

British anthropologist Bronislaw Malinoski.