Qualitative Research

Question 0

Weaknesses of documentation as evidence

Answer 0

Retrievability- difficult
Biased selectivity
Reporting bias- reflects author bias
Access- May be blocked

Question 1

Strengths of documentation as evidence

Answer 1

Stable- repeated review
Unobtrusive - exist prior to case study
Exact- names, etc.
broad coverage- extended time span

Question 2

Strengths of archival records as evidence

Answer 2

Same as documentation

Precise and quantitative

Question 3

Weaknesses of archival records as evidence

Answer 3

Same as documentation

Privacy may inhibit access

Question 4

Strengths of interviews as evidence

Answer 4

Targeted- focuses on case study topic

Insightful- provides perceived causal inferences

Question 5

Weaknesses of interviews as evidence

Answer 5

Bias due to poor questions
Response bias
Incomplete recollection
Reflexivity- interviewee expresses what interviewer wants to hear

Question 6

Strengths of direct observation as evidence

Answer 6

Reality- covers events in real time

Contextual- covers event context

Question 7

Weaknesses of direct observation as evidence

Answer 7

Time-consuming
Selectivity- might miss facts
Reflexivity- observer’s presence might cause change
Cost- observers need time

Question 8

Strengths of participant observation as evidence

Answer 8

Same as direct observation

Insightful into interpersonal behavior

Question 9

Weaknesses of participant observation as evidence

Answer 9

Same as direct observation

Bias due to investigator’s actions

Question 10

Strengths of physical artifacts as evidence

Answer 10

Insightful into cultural features

Insightful into technical operations

Question 11

Weaknesses of physical artifacts as evidence

Answer 11

Selectivity

Availability