Qualitative methods

Question 1

what are the 3 assumptions underlying research

Answer 1

ontology
epistemology
methodology

Question 2

what is ontology

Answer 2

reality

reality and meaning are constructed through personal experience and interpretation

Question 3

what is epistemology

Answer 3

knowledge

knowledge is multiple and selective

Question 4

what is methodology

Answer 4

how can we observe and capture reality and create new knowledge

Question 5

what 4 things can qualitative research examine

Answer 5

meaning
personal experience
social interaction
language

Question 6

what 4 things can quantitative research examine

Answer 6

examine cause/effect relationships
produce replicable, generalisation data
measure change
isolate variables

Question 7

3 things about hypotheses

Answer 7

informed by previous empirical research
specific-predictions about correlations
includes specific populations and variables

Question 8

3 things about research questions

Answer 8

may be used for exploratory research
does not predict the outcome of the research
includes specific populations and contexts

Question 9

what does CASP stand for

Answer 9

critical
assessment
skills
programme

Question 10

what is CASP

Answer 10

a quality criteria designed to be used when reading research

Question 11

name 4 things in CASP

Answer 11

clear statement of aims
appropriate methodology
appropriate research design
data analysis

Question 12

what is thematic analysis

Answer 12

a method of identifying and analysing patterns in qualitative data that is theoretically flexible…a method rather than a methodology

Question 13

what 4 things can thematic analysis be

Answer 13

inductive
deductive
semantic
latent

Question 14

what does inductive mean

Answer 14

coding/themes based on and led by the data

Question 15

what does deductive mean

Answer 15

coding/themes based on existing concepts or ideas

Question 16

what does semantic mean

Answer 16

coding/themes reflect apparent or explicit content of the data

Question 17

what does latent mean

Answer 17

coding/themes report underlying or implicit assumptions

Question 18

thematic analysis can be used for what 3 things

Answer 18

experiences
peoples interaction/understanding of those experiences
how people talk and feel about a range of phenomena in a range of situations

Question 19

what 4 types of data can thematic analysis be used with

Answer 19

interview transcripts
written accounts of experiences
media
large/small data sets

Question 20

what are the 6 phases of thematic analysis

Answer 20

familiarisation of the data 
coding
searching for themes
reviewing themes
defining and naming themes
writing up

Question 21

familiarisation of the data

Answer 21

researcher must read and re-read their data

get a broad ‘shape’ of the data, what’s the content and what scope does it cover

Question 22

coding

Answer 22

generate descriptive labels for important features of the data and link to broader research questions

Question 23

searching for themes

Answer 23

search for coherent and meaningful patterns that relate to the research question
all codes relevant to each theme are grouped together

Question 24

reviewing themes

Answer 24

themes should be reviewed and asked…

1) do they capture what is in the data
2) how do they relate to each other and the ‘overall’ story of the data
3) is each theme distinct, or can they be collapsed together

Question 25

defining and naming themes

Answer 25

each theme should tell a story

name of the themes should be concise, precise, informative and convey the content of the theme

Question 26

writing up

Answer 26

theme titles may change during this
include extracts
relate to existing literature