Research Methods

Question 1

Participatory action research (PAR)

Answer 1

is an approach to research in communities that emphasizes participation and action.

Question 2

Collaborative research

Answer 2

Ensures that the community has control over determining the questions, designing the study, interpreting meaning and putting research to use.

Question 3

Survey

Answer 3

• Limits bias/external influence.

- Answer variation is controlled.

Question 4

In-depth interviews

Answer 4

• Focus on interviewees explanations and experiences, definitions of the situation and feelings.
• Allows for more flexibility.

Question 5

Active interview

Answer 5

Involves researcher being self aware of the interview process itself as a source of data.

• ex: how interviewee reacts/communicates to you, body language, choice of tone.

Question 6

Semi-structured interviews

Answer 6

interview is guided by predetermined open ended questions and prompts.

Question 7

Unstructured interviews

Answer 7

often has one opening question or prompt, and the remainder of the interview is determined by the interviewee.

Question 8

Leading question:

Answer 8

a question that prompts or encourages the desired answer.

Question 9

Loaded question

Answer 9

contains assumptions that may impose a particular position.

Question 10

Double-barreled question

Answer 10

asks two separate questions but frames as acceptable only one answer.

Question 11

Close-ended question

Answer 11

can be answered by a simple “yes” or “no”.

Question 12

Forced choice question

Answer 12

question from a list of predetermined answers.

Question 13

Open-ended

Answer 13

require more thought than a simple one-word answer.

Question 14

Field notes

Answer 14

general notes/impression from the interview, should be written up immediately.

Question 15

Transcription

Answer 15

written document of an interview.

Question 16

Focus Groups

Answer 16

moderated group discussions.

Question 17

Challenges of Focus Groups

Answer 17

• Keeping the discussion on topic, while allowing for enough flexibility to be open to issues.
• Intragroup power dynamics impact who speaks & is heard.
• Herd mentality → group follows cues set by dominant voices.
• Managing privacy concerns.
• Enabling a safe space.

Question 18

Tips for Focus Groups

Answer 18

• Comfortable environment.
• Ice breakers.
• Provide water/coffee.
• Identify commonalities.
• Outline limits of self-disclosure.
• Open-ended questions.

Question 19

Unobtrusive research

Answer 19

• Data collection without interacting with research participants.
• Works with already existing materials.

Question 20

Virtual Ethnography

Answer 20

• The internet, social media, chatrooms, comment sections, etc as ‘field’.
• May help eliminate finance obstacle.

Question 21

Issues with virtual ethnography include

Answer 21

Problems around user deception, ethics, informed consent, lack of non-verbal context and lurking.

Question 22

Insurgent research involves

Answer 22

(1) explicitly employing Indigenous world-views.
(2) orienting knowledge creation toward Indigenous communities.
(3) seeing our responsibility as researchers as directed almost exclusively toward the community.

Question 23

Conversational Method

Answer 23

• Grounded in a particular tribal epistemology.
• Is relational and reciprocal.
• Is action-oriented.
• Intentional and attached to specific custom.
• Informal and flexible.
• Collaborative and reflexive.

Question 24

Yarning circles

Answer 24

• rooted in aborginal cultures.
• participants seated in a circle where topics are introduced and all participants contribute, building on one another’s ideas.

Question 25

Talking circle

Answer 25

grounded in cultures of Turtle Island, often used as a form of healing.

Question 26

Ethnography

Answer 26

requires the researcher to immerse themselves in a social setting.