Week 3

Question 1

A research method involving a thorough, in-depth analysis of an individual, group, institution, or other social unit.

Answer 1

case study

Question 2

A procedure often used in a grounded theory analysis wherein newly collected data are compared in an ongoing fashion with data obtained earlier, to refine theoretically relevant categories.

Answer 2

constant comparison

Question 3

A criterion for evaluating the quality of qualitative research, referring to the objectivity or neutrality of the data or the analysis and interpretation.

Answer 3

confirmability

Question 4

The extent to which findings can be transferred to other settings or groups—often used in qualitative research and analogous to generalizability in quantitative research.

Answer 4

transferability

Question 5

The degree of confidence qualitative researchers have in their data, assessed using the criteria of credibility, transferability, dependability, and confirmability.

Answer 5

trustworthiness

Question 6

A criterion for evaluating data quality in qualitative studies, referring to confidence in the truth of the data.

Answer 6

credibility

Question 7

A criterion for evaluating data quality in qualitative data, referring to the stability of data over time and over conditions

Answer 7

dependability

Question 8

A method of validating the credibility of qualitative data through debriefings and discussions with informants

Answer 8

member check

Question 9

The collection of data in a qualitative study to the point at which a sense of closure is attained because new data yield redundant information.

Answer 9

data saturation

Question 10

The degree to which the research methods justify the inference that the findings are true for a broader group than study participants; in particular, the inference that the findings can be generalized from the sample to the population.

Answer 10

generalizability

Question 11

A design that unfolds in the course of a qualitative study as the researcher makes ongoing design decisions reflecting what has already been learned.

Answer 11

emergent design

Question 12

The process of transforming raw data into standardized form for data processing and analysis; in quantitative research, the process of attaching numbers to categories; in qualitative research, the process of identifying recurring words, themes, or concepts within the data.

Answer 12

coding

Question 13

A branch of human inquiry, associated with the field of anthropology, that focuses on the culture of a group of people, with an effort to understand the worldview of those under study.

Answer 13

ethnography

Question 14

The process of organizing and integrating narrative, qualitative information according to emerging themes and concepts.

Answer 14

content analysis

Question 15

A non-probability sampling method in which the researcher selects participants based on personal judgment about which ones will be most representative or informative

Answer 15

Purposive (purposeful) sampling

Question 16

The selection of participants through referrals from earlier participants

Answer 16

snowball sampling

Question 17

In qualitative studies, the selection of sample members based on emerging findings as the study progresses to ensure adequate representation of important themes.

Answer 17

theoretical sampling

Question 18

A sampling approach used by qualitative researchers involving the purposeful selection of cases with a wide range of variation.

Answer 18

maximum variation sampling

Question 19

A rich and thorough description of the research context in a qualitative study.

Answer 19

thick description

Question 20

An approach to collecting and analyzing qualitative data that aims to develop theories and theoretical propositions grounded in real-world observations.

Answer 20

grounded theory

Question 21

A qualitative research tradition, with roots in philosophy and psychology, that focuses on the lived experience of humans

Answer 21

Phenomenology

Question 22

A type of phenomenology, developed by Husserl, that emphasizes the careful description of ordinary conscious experience of everyday life

Answer 22

Descriptive phenomenology

Question 23

An approach to phenomenology in which interpreting and understanding—and not just describing— human experience is stressed; also called hermeneutics.

Answer 23

interpretative phenomenology

Question 24

In phenomenological inquiries, the process of identifying and holding in abeyance any preconceived beliefs and opinions about the phenomena under study.

Answer 24

Bracketing

Question 25

An oral self-report in which the researcher asks a respondent questions without having a predetermined plan regarding the content or flow of information to be gathered.

Answer 25

unstructured interview

Question 26

An interview in which the researcher has listed topics to cover rather than specific questions to ask.

Answer 26

semi-structured interview

Question 27

An interview with a group of individuals assembled to answer questions on a given topic.

Answer 27

focus groups

Question 28

An interview stimulated and guided by photographic images.

Answer 28

photo elicitation

Question 29

relies on in-depth exploration to describe the dimensions, variations, and importance of phenomena.

Answer 29

qualitative description

Question 30

The process of making sense of the results of a study and examining their implications

Answer 30

Interpretive description

Question 31

The use of multiple methods to collect and interpret data about a phenomenon so as to converge on an accurate representation of reality.

Answer 31

Triangulation

Question 32

The use of multiple data sources for the purpose of validating conclusions.

Answer 32

data triangulation

Question 33

The use of two or more researchers to analyze and interpret a data set to enhance the validity of the findings.

Answer 33

investigator triangulation

Question 34

The use of multiple methods of data collection about the same phenomenon to enhance the validity of the findings.

Answer 34

method triangulation

Question 35

The collection of data on the same phenomenon or about the same people at different points in time to enhance the validity of the findings.

Answer 35

time triangulation