Week 3 - Design Flashcards
What are potential sources for research topics?
Potential research topics are all around us, often stemming from personal experiences or strong feelings.
What is serendipity in research?
Serendipity refers to stumbling onto a research topic through chance encounters or lucky coincidences, leading to unexpected inspiration.
How can convenience influence topic selection?
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.
How does convenience factor into qualitative research?
While convenience is a factor in almost all research, in qualitative research, it often extends beyond mere convenience to deeper interests and relevance.
What should guide your research topic selection?
Choose a topic you genuinely want to know more about; this interest will drive your research process.
What is the importance of research questions (RQ)?
Research questions guide your study, allowing for flexibility and realignment as research evolves, ensuring relevance to the topic.
How do research questions relate to the data source?
The data source should connect to both the topic and the RQ, with the analysis answering the RQ while maintaining focus.
What characterizes qualitative research questions (QLR RQ)?
QLR RQs are open-ended, exploratory, and not dichotomous; they do not test preconceived notions or assume differences.
What should QLR RQs focus on?
QLR RQs should focus on experiences or messages, often starting with “how” or “what,” and should address the “so-what” question.
How should QLR questions be framed?
They should be specific, indicating context and aspects of the data source to ensure clarity and relevance.
Why is gaining access important in qualitative research (QLR)?
Access is often a key issue; it’s essential for establishing credibility as a researcher.
Who are gatekeepers in the context of research access?
Gatekeepers are individuals or organizations that control access to participants or data; their role is complex and requires negotiation.
What is purposive/criterion-based sampling?
This sampling method involves selecting participants based on specific criteria relevant to the research question.
What are opportunistic and convenience sampling?
Opportunistic sampling involves selecting participants based on availability, while convenience sampling uses readily accessible subjects.
What is snowball or chain sampling?
This method relies on existing participants to recruit future participants, creating a network of respondents.
Do qualitative researchers consult literature before their studies?
Yes, QLRers typically read broadly in their area of interest to gain knowledge but avoid deep reading early on to prevent bias.
What is the “Plumb Line” in qualitative research?
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.
What is Chenail’s “Y of the how”?
This concept involves exploring the various dimensions and contexts of how the research project fits into the broader understanding of the topic.
What is the sociological imagination?
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.
What distinguishes private problems from public issues?
Private problems are individual-level issues (e.g., unemployment), while public issues are widespread problems requiring sociological analysis (e.g., systemic unemployment).
What is the hierarchy of credibility?
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
How does qualitative research challenge the hierarchy of credibility?
It aims to give a voice to marginalized groups, allowing their perspectives to be heard and recognized.
Give examples of undermining the hierarchy of credibility.
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.
What is participatory action research?
A community-based method that democratizes research by collaborating with marginalized groups, aiming to address social justice and empower participants.
How can personal and theoretical questions be combined in research?
Use personal experiences to explain theoretical arguments, creating an equal blend of curiosity and theoretical concern, and apply insights across different social settings.
How should you begin your own study?
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.
What are key steps in developing research questions?
Brainstorm a list of engaging questions.
Ensure questions are flexible and adaptable.
Focus on generic social processes, such as identity acquisition, perception acquiring
How does theoretical stance influence research?
Theoretical perspectives shape the development of research questions (e.g., a feminist stance may focus on gender issues).
What methods can be chosen for qualitative research?
Observational: Studying settings.
Qualitative interviews: Exploring social experiences.
Focus groups: Examining shared experiences.
Unobtrusive methods: Analyzing media influence.
Combining methods for a comprehensive approach.
What is sensemaking in research?
It involves understanding the interplay between research literature, personal experiences, and field data.
What is triangulation in research?
The use of multiple data sources, analyses, researchers, and theoretical perspectives to enhance the robustness of findings.
Why must researchers recognize their influence on the research process?
To acknowledge how personal biases and experiences may shape the research outcomes.
Why is alignment important in research?
The curiosity, mission question, and data collected must be coherent and aligned to ensure meaningful analysis and findings.
What was the focus of the study on incels?
It involved three years of interviews using a phenomenological approach to explore incels’ lived experiences for empathetic understanding.
What does reflexivity entail in research?
It combines reflection on personal feelings and processes with action, considering the context of those actions.
How does reflexivity apply to incel research?
Researchers examine how their personal identities and experiences influence their understanding and interpretations of incel perspectives.
What is the phenomenological approach?
A method aimed at understanding participants’ situations without personal bias, focusing on their lived experiences.
What challenges might arise from positionality in qualitative research?
Personal identity and background can shape interactions and influence how researchers are perceived by participants.
