Overviewing qualitative research and interview methods

Question 1

What does quantitative research try to do?

Answer 1

Quantitative research tries to identify the relationship between variables - with the aim of generalising the results to a wider population.

Question 2

What does qualitative research try to do?

Answer 2

Qualitative research tries to understand a topic or idea. With the aim of their results contributing to more general understandings.

Question 3

What are the differences between qualitative and quantitative?

Answer 3

differences between qualitative and quantitative research is:

• qualitative research is words and quantitative research is numbers.
• quantitative research test theories and qualitative research generates theories.
• quantitative research tries to identify the relationship between variables but qualitative research tries to understand a topic/concept more.
• quantitative research can be generalised to a wider population but qualitative research cannot be generalised
• quantitative research can be done quickly but qualitative research takes a long time.
• quantitative research is objective. But qualitative research is subjective and has reflexivity

Question 4

How would you describe qualitative research in two words?

Answer 4

Qualitative research is subjective and has reflexivity.

Question 5

How would you describe quantitative research in 1 word?

Answer 5

qualitative research is objective.

Question 6

Definition of ontology.

Answer 6

Ontology is the nature of reality.

Question 7

What is on the ontological continuum

Answer 7

realism = all reality is objective.
critical realism = reality can be objective but it is distorted by humans.
relativism = all reality is relative.

Question 8

What does quantitative research believe?

Answer 8

Quantitative research believes in realism so all reality is objective.

Question 9

What does qualitative research believe?

Answer 9

Qualitative research believes in relativism which means all reality is relative.

Question 10

Definition of epistemology

Answer 10

Epistemology is the nature of knowledge.

Question 11

What is on the epistemology continuum?

Answer 11

Positivism = all knowledge is objective. 
contextualism = knowledge is context sensitive. 
Constructionism = all knowledge is constructed.

Question 12

What does qualitative research believe?

Answer 12

Qualitative research believes in contextualism and constructionism.

Question 13

What does quantitative research believe?

Answer 13

Quantitative research believes in positivism.

Question 14

how is qualitative research subjective?

Answer 14

Qualitative research treats knowledge and reality as subjective.

Question 15

What are the two types of reflexivity?

Answer 15

reflexivity acts as quality control as it reflects on knowledge produced. there are two forms of reflexivity including functional reflexivity and personal reflexivity.
personal reflexivity = the impact researcher has on their own research.
functional reflexivity = the impact research methods have on research.

Question 16

What does qualitative research require?

Answer 16

qualitative research requires a research questions.

Question 17

What is the difference between qualitative and quantitative research in terms of samples?

Answer 17

The difference between qualitative and quantitative research in terms of samples is that qualitative research has a more strategic sample (purposive). But, quantitative research has a more random sample.

Question 18

Definition of interview.

Answer 18

Interview is a conversation with a purpose.

Question 19

What are the different types of interviews?

Answer 19

There are different types of interviews including structured interviews, semi-structured interviews and unstructured interviews.

Question 20

What is qualitative research sample like?

Answer 20

qualitative research sample is purposive/strategic.

Question 21

What is quantitative research sample like?

Answer 21

Quantitative research sample is random.

Question 22

Describe structured interview.

Answer 22

structured interview has a fixed set of questions. structured interview uses open or closed questions. The advantage of structured interview is that it is reliable but it is not very valid because it does not accurately reflect a person’s experiences.

Question 23

What type of questions do structured interview use?

Answer 23

Structured interview contains a fixed set of questions. Structured interview uses both open and closed questions.

Question 24

What is the problem with structured interviews?

Answer 24

The problem with structured interview is the it is not very valid because the questions do not accurately reflect a person’s experiences. the other problem with unstructured interview is that it does not allow for room for elaboration.

Question 25

What is the advantage of structured interview?

Answer 25

the advantage of structured interview is that it is reliable.

Question 26

What type of questions does unstructured interview use?

Answer 26

In an unstructured interview, there are one or two broad open-ended questions. The conversation is left to develop naturalistically and is led by participant.

Question 27

What is the advantage of unstructured interview?

Answer 27

The advantage of unstructured interview is that it is useful for naturalistic data and it is very open. Another advantage of an unstructured interview is that it accurately reflects a participant's experience.

Question 28

What is the disadvantage of unstructured interview?

Answer 28

the disadvantage of unstructured interview is that the researcher has little control.

Question 29

What is used in semi-structured interview?

Answer 29

In semi-structured interviews, prompts and probs are given in order for participants to elaborate so it is more flexible than unstructured interview.

Question 30

What is the questions like in semi-structured interview?

Answer 30

in semi-structured interview, everyone is given a small number of broad questions so it allows for comparisons. in a semi-structured interview, a interview guide is used.

Question 31

What is the advantage of semi-structured interview?

Answer 31

The advantage of semi-structured interview is that it is allows for comparison as everyone is given a few fixed questions

Question 32

What is important when designing interview guide for semi-structured interview?

Answer 32

when designing interview guide for semi-structured interview you need to think of question order and wording of questions.

Question 33

What types of questions to avoid when doing a semi-structured interview?

Answer 33

You should avoid using overly-long questions, yes/no questions, leading questions and double-barrelled questions in semi-structured interviews.

Question 34

What do you need to consider when creating sample in qualitative research?

Answer 34

When creating a sample for qualitative research you need to consider: - either interviewing strangers or friends. - power differences - demographic differences of interviewer and interviewee e.g. gender. - vulnerable groups.

Question 35

What are things you need to consider in qualitative research but u don't need to consider in quantitative research?

Answer 35

in qualitative research you need to consider: - wording of question. - order of question. sample considerations: - vulnerable groups - power differences - interviewing friends vs strangers - demographic differences between interviewer and interviewee.

Question 36

What can interviews suffer from?

Answer 36

interviews can be biased by social desirability which is when participants respond in a socially acceptable way and a way they think the interviewers wants them to respond in. Social desirability is a type of bias and it is the tendency to respond in a socially acceptable way.

Question 37

What you need to consider before conducting interview?

Answer 37

before conducting interview you need to consider: - you need to practise. - think of location of interview. - safety considerations. - how would you record interview e.g. note taking, audio, video.

Question 38

What is the sequence of the interview?

Answer 38

1. Beginning of interview - includes introductions, explanation of interview, ethical issues e.g. informed consent. 2. Set the tone - build trust and rapport, body language and tone of voice are important. 3. Main body of interview 4. End of interview - ask them if they have any questions.

Question 39

What are potential difficulties for interviewer?

Answer 39

- anxiety about interview. - dealing with participant distress. - dealing with participants who talk too much or too little.

Question 40

What are the advantages of interview?

Answer 40

the advantages of interview include: - generates detailed account of a person's experiences. - only requires small amount of participants. - flexible.

Question 41

What are the disadvantages of interview?

Answer 41

the disadvantages of interview include: - time consuming for participants. - time consuming for researcher. - lack of breadth as only includes small sample.

Question 42

definition of virtual interview.

Answer 42

Interviews that are not face to face e.g. Email interviews, telephone interview, zoom.

Question 43

What are the advantages of virtual interviews?

Answer 43

Advantages of virtual interviews include it is more convenient and empowering, more accessible and useful for sensitive topics.

Question 44

What are the disadvantages of virtual interviews?

Answer 44

Disadvantages of virtual interviews is that it is less convenient for some and less accessible for some, data security and wifi issues.