Qualitative Research Methods

Question 1

What are the different types of qualitative methods?

Answer 1

1. Unstructured interviews.
2. Observations.
3. Documents.

Question 2

Which type of sociologist use qualitative methods?

Answer 2

Interpretativists.

Question 3

What do interpretivists believe?

Answer 3

1. Peoples actions depend on the meanings they give to situations =

so, we can only understand their actions if we understand their meanings.

2. They believe in high validity.
3. People cannot be measured in the same way as nature.
4. Subjective.

Question 4

Why do interpretivists favour unstructured interviews?

Answer 4

• Because it allows the interviewer freedom to ask what they like.
• It allows rich insight into the meanings and world of the interviewee.
• Produce valid data.

Question 5

Which other type of interview do interpretivists use?

Answer 5

Group interviews =

fairly unstructured as the interviewer can ask the group to discuss a topic and record their responses.

Question 6

How is rapport a practical strength for unstructured interviews?

Answer 6

1). Allows interviewer to develop a rapport (relationship of trust and understanding) =

the interviewee can feel more at ease and open up about sensitive topics (e.g. abuse).

Question 7

How is time a practical issue for unstructured interviews?

Answer 7

They can take up to several hours and this limits the amount that can be carried out –> researcher will have a small sample.

Question 8

What other practical strengths and weaknesses of unstructured interviews are there?

Answer 8

1) . Characteristics (training) of interviewer needs to be thorough to develop rapport.
2) . Analysis takes time (large amounts of data).
3) . They are very flexible, the interviewer can formulate new hypotheses during the interview.
4) . No fixed questions (interviewee can speak more about certain things).

Question 9

What are the 4 interpretivists theoretical strengths of unstructured interviews?

Answer 9

1). Involvement =

understanding comes through involvement –> rapport allows researcher to be more involved.

2). Grounded theory =

they believe we should approach research with an open mind, not fixed questions.

3). The interviewees view =

interviewees are free to raise issues, and the interviewers probing helps focus their thoughts.

4). Open-ended questions =

allows interviewees to express themselves, revealing their true meaning.

Question 10

What are the 4 positivist’s theoretical weaknesses of unstructured interviews?

Answer 10

1). Reliability =

aren’t standardised so they aren’t reliable.

2). Quantification =

open-ended questions make it harder to quantify and categorise answers.

3). Representativeness =

small samples –> hard to generalise.

4). Validity =

interactions between interviewer/interviewee undermine validity.

Question 11

What do interpretivists see the positivists theoretical issues as not a problem?

Answer 11

Because they don’t emphasise generalisation –> they are seeking actors’ meanings, not causal laws.

Question 12

What different types of observations are there?

Answer 12

1. Non-participant =

researcher observes without taking part.

2. Participant observation =

researcher observes while taking part.

3. Overt observation =

researchers identity and purpose is known to those being studied.

4. Covert observation =

researcher conceals their identity and purpose.

5. Structured observations =

observations are recorded using a checklist.

Question 13

Which observation do interpretivists mostly use?

Answer 13

Unstructured participant observation.

(participant observation).

Question 14

Which observation do positivists sometimes use?

Answer 14

Structured non-participant observation.

Question 15

What is the main problem researchers face with participant observations?

Answer 15

Getting in,
Staying in,
Getting out.

Question 16

How is ‘getting in’ an issue of participant observations?

Answer 16

Some groups, such as gangs, are harder to join as the researcher needs personal skills, and their age, etc all conflict with their chances of getting in.

They may have to win the groups trust (befriending them)

Question 17

How is ‘staying in’ an issue of participant observations?

Answer 17

1). If the researcher is too involved =

they risk going native and becoming biased.

2). If the researcher is too detached =

they fail to gain true insight and understanding (lack validity).

Question 18

How is ‘getting out’ an issue of participant observations?

Answer 18

Loyalty may prevent them from leaving, and if it’s a gang they may risk their lives (ie, be suspected of being a researcher).

Question 19

What are the other practical issues (strengths) of participant observations?

Answer 19

1) . Insight.
2) . Access.
3) . Flexibility.
4) . Practical limitations.

Question 20

How is ‘insight’ a practical strength of participant observations?

Answer 20

Verstehen =

it allows the researcher to understand other peoples lives by being in their shows.

• produces rich, detailed, valid data.

Question 21

How is ‘access’ a practical strength of participant observations?

Answer 21

May be the only method to study certain groups (e.g. deviants may be suspicious of outsiders).

Question 22

How is ‘flexibility’ a practical strength of participant observations?

Answer 22

Researchers enter open minded and develop new hypotheses during their experience.

Question 23

What are the practical limitations of participant observations?

Answer 23

• Fieldwork is time-consuming.
• Produces large amounts of data which can be hard to analyse and categorise.
• Researcher needs training; observations can be stressful and dangerous.
• Powerful groups may prevent sociologists from participating.

Question 24

What are the practical issues of covert observations?

Answer 24

1) . Can behave normally.
2) . Can opt out of dangerous activities.
3) . Needs special knowledge and characteristics.
4) . Can ask naive but important questions.
5) . May be prevented from participating.
6) . Risk creating the Hawthorne effect (undermining validity).

Question 25

What are the practical issues of overt observations?

Answer 25

1) . Must maintain an act which can be stressful and dangerous.
2) . May have to engage in dangerous activities.
3) . May have no other way of obtaining data.
4) . Cannot ask naive questions –> has to rely on memory and notes in secret.
5) . Doesn’t risk the Hawthorn effect (higher validity).

Question 26

What is a interpretivist theoretical strength of participant observations?

Answer 26

Involvement =

the researcher is highly involved in the groups life, and this produces highly valid data (gain deep understanding of their meaning).

Question 27

How is grounded theory a theoretical strength of participant observations?

Answer 27

It allows researchers to modify and create new hypotheses based on their observed reality –> it’s not imposed by the researcher.

Question 28

What are 2 more interpretivist theoretical issues of participant observations?

Answer 28

1). Spending time with the group =

Able to understand their world/meanings more.

2). More dynamic picture =

Rather than ‘snapshots’ taken by interviews or questionnaire.

Question 29

Do positivist accept or reject the use of participant observations?

Answer 29

Reject.

Question 30

Why do positivist reject the use of participant observations?

Answer 30

Too unscientific because;

1). Representativeness =

Small groups are studied (low external validity).

2). Reliability =

Isn’t standardised, scientific methodology. Qualitative data makes comparisons difficult.

Question 31

Why do positivists say participant observations lack objectivity?

Answer 31

• Deep involvement = researcher being biased and subjective.
• Sociologists may conceal sensitive information.
• Often used by sociologists who sympathies with the criminal (interactionists).

Question 32

Why do positivists say participant observations lack validity?

Answer 32

They believe that the findings reflect the values of the observer –> they only record things which reflect their viewpoint = subjective.

Question 33

Why do positivists say the Hawthorne effect may be present in participant observations?

Answer 33

With the observer present, the subjects may act differently –> this doesn’t produce a ‘naturalistic’ account like participant observations are supposed to do.