QUALTITATIVE DATA COLLECTION

Question 1

why conduct qualitative analysis?

Answer 1

data can be difficult to anticipate prior to being collected e.g. if abt individual or capturing complex sequence of events
greater success in interviewing ppts than completing questionnaire if lack of intellectual resources
novel area of research requires exploration, so qualitative allows this with ppts

Question 2

familiar data collection methods for qualitative analysis:

Answer 2

observations
biographies
focus groups
in-depth interviews
recordings of convo e.g. interviews/ other recordings
mass media output
documentary and historical records
internet sources

Question 3

what does Bryman say ppt observation?

Answer 3

Bryman- immersed in social setting, observed behaviours in ss, accurately record activity in ss, identify meanings members set to environment in ss.
ppt observation = central tool for cultural/social anthropology

Question 4

key aspects of ppt observation

Answer 4

observers role
groups knowledge of observation process
explications of study’s purpose
length
focus

Question 5

three ways focus groups can be used focus groups

Answer 5

1. early stage to explore/identify significant issues
2. generate broadly convo data to be analysed, controversial and want naturalistic
3. evaluate the findings of research in eyes of people research is abt to discuss conc

Question 6

researcher facilitates group process, without dominating, suggestions include:

Answer 6

1. 2 hours
2. several focus groups to ensure good range of viewpoints
3. 6-10 individuals
4. Gibs - x tell them too much in advance, strangers, heterogenous (varied) in edu level, race, ethnicity, social econ status

Question 7

tasks of focus group moderator :

Answer 7

explain purpose and objectives
positive experience for members
prompting discussion
enabling participation for all members
stopping conversational drifts
x appear judgemental
keep opinion to themselves

Question 8

interviews

Answer 8

structured interviews - market research, satisfactory amount of ppts, recruited on spot e.g. mai/online, pre-coded/multiple choice = quick computer analysis
in-depth interview/ semi-structured interview - interviewee talk about themselves, interview guide adding age, gender, qual, job, questions need to be developed in terms of research, topics should be sensible and helpful and use of appropriate language for ppt group

Question 9

what does researcher do in semi-structured interview?

Answer 9

actively building understanding of what they are told
formulate questions extends and clarifies what the ppts have said

Question 10

structured interviews strengths and weaknesses

Answer 10

+ highly specific and well formulated q’s
+ format allows assessment of reliability and validity
+ address concerns that emerge from researcher
+ forced to stick to the point
+ little/no departure form interviewer, v standardised
- inflexible
- answers generated are supposed to be readily/quickly coded with no labour
- repeats interviewing is rare, apart from longitudinal studies

Question 11

semi-structured/qualitative interview strengths and weaknesses

Answer 11

+ flexible
+ looking for rich and detailed answers, leads to extensive and labour-intensive cording
+ repeat interviewing x uncommon allows researcher to regroup and check data from previous interview
+ rephrase questions and formulate new questions probing responses
- less clear agenda of content
- reliability and validity problematic/complex
- led by ppts as researcher has broader agenda, which accommodates this
- rambling accounts