Research question, design and ethical considerations in qualitative research

Question 1

What is the theory-practice gap?

Answer 1

When academic research fails to address real-world issues effectively

Question 2

The theory-practice gap is framed through three perspectives. Which?

Answer 2

1. knowledge transfer problem
2. distinct knowledge forms
3. knowledge production problem

Question 3

What is the Diamond model of research? (Van de Ven)

Answer 3

The model outlines four interconnected research activities:

1. Problem Formulation: Identifying and situating the research problem through stakeholder engagement.
2. Theory Building: Developing, refining, and testing theories by integrating academic and practitioner insights.
3. Research Design: Employing robust methodologies tailored to investigate the formulated problem.
4. Problem Solving: Applying findings in ways that impact both theory and practice.

Question 4

What are type III errors?

Answer 4

Solving the wrong problem, when using simplified shortcuts in problem framing.

Question 5

What are some challenges in problem formulation?

Answer 5

Stakeholder biases, complexity, pseudo problems, insufficient creativity

Question 6

What is pseudo-problems?

Answer 6

Problems without a firm grounding in reality often result in ineffective theories.

Question 7

What is cognitive mapping?

Answer 7

A technique for visualizing how individuals or groups perceive problems.

It structures the relationships between causes, consequences, and possible resolutions.

Question 8

What can be some biases in judgement and how can we mitigate them?

Answer 8

Individual and group biases (e.g., confirmation bias, groupthink) affect problem formulation.

Fix:
- triangulation
- structured group interactions can mitigate these biases.

Question 9

What is the definition of research design?

Answer 9

Research design is the framework guiding the collection and analysis of data.

It ensures the study answers the research questions effectively and aligns with theoretical and practical considerations.

Question 10

What is an experimental design?

Answer 10

Establishes causal relationships through control and manipulation of variables.

Emphasizes random assignment and controlled conditions to isolate effects of the independent variable on the dependent variable.

Question 11

What is cross-sectional design?

Answer 11

Focuses on collecting data at a single point in time across different subjects.
Suitable for studying patterns, relationships, or correlations rather than causality.

Question 12

What is longitudinal design?

Answer 12

Involves repeated observations over time to assess changes and developments.
Can be either panel (tracking the same subjects) or cohort studies (following groups with shared characteristics).

Question 13

What are the three criterias for evaluating research designs?

Answer 13

1. reliability
2. validity
3. replication

Question 14

What are the dimensions to validity?

Answer 14

Measurement
Internal
External
Ecological

Question 15

What are some practical considerations for research design?

Answer 15

Balancing theoretical rigor with feasibility, considering resource constraints and ethical implications.

Aligning design choice with research goals, whether exploratory, descriptive, explanatory, or evaluative.

Question 16

What are some theoretical implications of research design?

Answer 16

Designs are not merely technical; they embed philosophical commitments regarding the nature of knowledge (epistemology) and reality (ontology).

Different paradigms (e.g., positivism, interpretivism) influence design choices, shaping the scope and focus of the study.

Question 17

What are some ethical considerations of research design?

Answer 17

Highlights the importance of integrity, transparency, and respect for participants.

Emphasizes informed consent, confidentiality, and minimizing harm.

Question 18

What are some types of research questions?

Answer 18

Descriptive
Normative
Explanatory
Exploratory

Question 19

What is a exploratory research design?

Answer 19

If a decision-maker knows very little about a subject area, the primary goal of the research can be to explore the topic in more detail. An exploratory research design is appropriate when there is no clear idea of what variables are relevant or how they are connected. You may not know the relevant theoretical concepts or have a theoretical model as a starting point. In such a situation, the purpose is to gain insights into the research problem. The goal of the research can initially be to understand and interpret the relevant phenomenon in the best possible way. In many cases, it will also be relevant to develop hypotheses about possible relationships. A natural start in an exploratory design is to investigate whether something has been written about the topic (literature review), and whether there is data collected by others (secondary data). Often, it will also be relevant to collect your own primary data.

Question 20

What is a descriptive design?

Answer 20

When you have a basic understanding of the problem area, a descriptive research design is appropriate for describing the situation in a particular context. This includes describing a single variable or the relationship between two or more variables.

With a descriptive design, we have no basis for claiming that there are causal relationships. We can say that things change together in a systematic way, which we can refer to as correlation. However, we cannot claim that one thing causes the other.

Question 21

What is a casual design?

Answer 21

To investigate the possible effect of one variable on another, we use a causal research design. Generally, this means some form of experiment. To say that an event (X) is the cause of another event (Y) under a set of boundary conditions (Z), we must satisfy the following conditions that:

• There is covariation between X and Y.
• X happens before Y.
• And, other possible causes for the covariation are not present (isolation).

Question 22

What is quasi-experiments?

Answer 22

Quasi means almost. A quasi-experiment lacks at least one of the two characteristics of a true experiment, either randomization or control group. As a result, a quasi- experiment does not have the same rigor as a true experiment.
Quasi-Experiments
* Lack either randomization and/or control group.
* Have a weaker test of causality than a true experiment.

Question 23

What is field experiments?

Answer 23

+ A field experiment is done in the environment in which the phenomenon naturally occurs.

• Field experiments make it difficult to isolate the effects of our stimuli from other influences.

Provides results that can be generalized to similar situations.

Question 24

What is validity?

Answer 24

Validity refers to how well we measure what we intend to measure. (träffsäkerheten)

Question 25

What is reliability?

Answer 25

Reliability refers to the consistency of how well we measure something. (tillförlitligheten) Measures with Cronbachs

Question 26

What is random error?

Answer 26

Random error does not have any systematic source and has no pattern, so it tends to average out over repeated measures. (alltså när du ökar observationerna N försvinner det)

Question 27

What is systematic error?

Answer 27

Systematic error is consistent in each measurement, so over repeated measurements it causes a bias in the results.