Week 3 - Design

Question 1

What are potential sources for research topics?

Answer 1

Potential research topics are all around us, often stemming from personal experiences or strong feelings.

Question 2

What is serendipity in research?

Answer 2

Serendipity refers to stumbling onto a research topic through chance encounters or lucky coincidences, leading to unexpected inspiration.

Question 3

How can convenience influence topic selection?

Answer 3

Researchers may choose a data source simply because it’s easily available, such as a familiar show or podcast, which provides an opportunity for research.

Question 4

How does convenience factor into qualitative research?

Answer 4

While convenience is a factor in almost all research, in qualitative research, it often extends beyond mere convenience to deeper interests and relevance.

Question 5

What should guide your research topic selection?

Answer 5

Choose a topic you genuinely want to know more about; this interest will drive your research process.

Question 6

What is the importance of research questions (RQ)?

Answer 6

Research questions guide your study, allowing for flexibility and realignment as research evolves, ensuring relevance to the topic.

Question 7

How do research questions relate to the data source?

Answer 7

The data source should connect to both the topic and the RQ, with the analysis answering the RQ while maintaining focus.

Question 8

What characterizes qualitative research questions (QLR RQ)?

Answer 8

QLR RQs are open-ended, exploratory, and not dichotomous; they do not test preconceived notions or assume differences.

Question 9

What should QLR RQs focus on?

Answer 9

QLR RQs should focus on experiences or messages, often starting with “how” or “what,” and should address the “so-what” question.

Question 10

How should QLR questions be framed?

Answer 10

They should be specific, indicating context and aspects of the data source to ensure clarity and relevance.

Question 11

Why is gaining access important in qualitative research (QLR)?

Answer 11

Access is often a key issue; it’s essential for establishing credibility as a researcher.

Question 12

Who are gatekeepers in the context of research access?

Answer 12

Gatekeepers are individuals or organizations that control access to participants or data; their role is complex and requires negotiation.

Question 13

What is purposive/criterion-based sampling?

Answer 13

This sampling method involves selecting participants based on specific criteria relevant to the research question.

Question 14

What are opportunistic and convenience sampling?

Answer 14

Opportunistic sampling involves selecting participants based on availability, while convenience sampling uses readily accessible subjects.

Question 15

What is snowball or chain sampling?

Answer 15

This method relies on existing participants to recruit future participants, creating a network of respondents.

Question 16

Do qualitative researchers consult literature before their studies?

Answer 16

Yes, QLRers typically read broadly in their area of interest to gain knowledge but avoid deep reading early on to prevent bias.

Question 17

What is the “Plumb Line” in qualitative research?

Answer 17

The Plumb Line consists of your area of curiosity, mission question, data to be collected, and data to be analyzed; it’s crucial to draw it early and often.

Question 18

What is Chenail’s “Y of the how”?

Answer 18

This concept involves exploring the various dimensions and contexts of how the research project fits into the broader understanding of the topic.

Question 19

What is the sociological imagination?

Answer 19

Coined by C. Wright Mills, it’s the ability to link individual experiences with broader social contexts, helping identify social issues and connect biography with history.

Question 20

What distinguishes private problems from public issues?

Answer 20

Private problems are individual-level issues (e.g., unemployment), while public issues are widespread problems requiring sociological analysis (e.g., systemic unemployment).

Question 21

What is the hierarchy of credibility?

Answer 21

It’s a societal tendency to assume that individuals in higher social positions have more legitimate knowledge, leading to greater credibility being given to them

Question 22

How does qualitative research challenge the hierarchy of credibility?

Answer 22

It aims to give a voice to marginalized groups, allowing their perspectives to be heard and recognized.

Question 23

Give examples of undermining the hierarchy of credibility.

Answer 23

Talking to new mothers instead of doctors about childbirth.
Interviewing self-harmers instead of psychologists.
Claudia Malacrida’s focus on inmates’ experiences to reclaim their narratives.
Using indigenous perspectives directly from indigenous people.
Involving participants in research design.

Question 24

What is participatory action research?

Answer 24

A community-based method that democratizes research by collaborating with marginalized groups, aiming to address social justice and empower participants.

Question 25

How can personal and theoretical questions be combined in research?

Answer 25

Use personal experiences to explain theoretical arguments, creating an equal blend of curiosity and theoretical concern, and apply insights across different social settings.

Question 26

How should you begin your own study?

Answer 26

Starting where you are
Start with familiarity and personal interest, recognizing emotional involvement’s impact on objectivity, and consider accessibility, cultural sensitivity, time, and funding.

Question 27

What are key steps in developing research questions?

Answer 27

Brainstorm a list of engaging questions.
Ensure questions are flexible and adaptable.
Focus on generic social processes, such as identity acquisition, perception acquiring

Question 28

How does theoretical stance influence research?

Answer 28

Theoretical perspectives shape the development of research questions (e.g., a feminist stance may focus on gender issues).

Question 29

What methods can be chosen for qualitative research?

Answer 29

Observational: Studying settings.

Qualitative interviews: Exploring social experiences.

Focus groups: Examining shared experiences.

Unobtrusive methods: Analyzing media influence.

Combining methods for a comprehensive approach.

Question 30

What is sensemaking in research?

Answer 30

It involves understanding the interplay between research literature, personal experiences, and field data.

Question 31

What is triangulation in research?

Answer 31

The use of multiple data sources, analyses, researchers, and theoretical perspectives to enhance the robustness of findings.

Question 32

Why must researchers recognize their influence on the research process?

Answer 32

To acknowledge how personal biases and experiences may shape the research outcomes.

Question 33

Why is alignment important in research?

Answer 33

The curiosity, mission question, and data collected must be coherent and aligned to ensure meaningful analysis and findings.

Question 34

What was the focus of the study on incels?

Answer 34

It involved three years of interviews using a phenomenological approach to explore incels’ lived experiences for empathetic understanding.

Question 35

What does reflexivity entail in research?

Answer 35

It combines reflection on personal feelings and processes with action, considering the context of those actions.

Question 36

How does reflexivity apply to incel research?

Answer 36

Researchers examine how their personal identities and experiences influence their understanding and interpretations of incel perspectives.

Question 37

What is the phenomenological approach?

Answer 37

A method aimed at understanding participants’ situations without personal bias, focusing on their lived experiences.

Question 38

What challenges might arise from positionality in qualitative research?

Answer 38

Personal identity and background can shape interactions and influence how researchers are perceived by participants.