Week 8: Qualitative studies

Question 1

1. What is quantitative research?
2. What is qualitative research?

Answer 1

1. uses structured, hypothesis driven approaches to gather DATA that can be statistically analyzed –> # focused, testing existing hypotheses
2. uses in depth INTERVIEWS, focus group discussions, observation, and other methods to explore attitudes and perceptions, identify themes and patterns –> to answer the why and how, to formulate new theories

Question 2

________ research examines existing hypotheses
________ research formulates new hypotheses/theories

Answer 2

quantitative
qualitative

Question 3

T/F: phenomena cannot be directly measured

Answer 3

T.

Question 4

1. What is ontology?
2. ontology compares _________ vs _________

Answer 4

1. type of qualitative study involving realism vs relativism
   realism = one reality exists that can be understood by objective observation
   relativism = multiple realities that cannot be fully understood
2. nature VS reality

Question 5

1. Epistemology is ___________ vs ___________
2. Explain epistemology in terms of quantitative vs qualitative studies

Answer 5

1. positive/interpretism vs critical theory
2. quantitative study = researchers independent from their study subjects and can control for possible biases in order to make objective measurements
   qualitative study = researchers and study participants are interdependent and they create knowledge together as they interactively explore subjective topics

Question 6

What is methodology?

Answer 6

data collection and analysis

Question 7

What is axiology? explain in terms of quantitative vs qualitative studies

Answer 7

axiology = study of values
quantitative = assumes rigorous procedures can control the impact of values and biases on study outcomes
Qualitative = assumes that a researcher’s values affect the study

Question 8

what are theoretical paradigms?

Answer 8

Paradigms are philosophical and theoretical frameworks used within a discipline to formulate theories, generalizations, and the experiments performed in support of them
- for critical theory
- constructivism/interpretivism

Question 9

identify the correct order of the qualitative research planning process:
a) ontology –> methodology –> theoretical paradigms–> epistemology –> methods
b) methodology –> ontology –> theoretical paradigms–> epistemology –> methods
c) ontology –> epistemology –> theoretical paradigms –> methodology –> methods
d) epistemology –> ontology –> theoretical paradigms–> epistemology –> methodology –> methods

Answer 9

c) ontology –> epistemology –> theoretical paradigms –> methodology –> methods

Question 10

What is NOT a methodology in the health sciences?
a) case studies
b) phenomenology
c) grounded theory
d) ethnography
e) case reports

Answer 10

e)

Question 11

1. What is phenomenology?
2. what is the methods of gathering phenomenology information?
3. what is bracketing?

Answer 11

1. exploring how individuals interpret and find meaning in their own unique life experiences and feelings –> perspective of the participants
2. in depth interviews, looking at transcripts to find meanings and themes
3. bracketing = when researchers put aside preconceived ideas about reality in order to be open to new meanings that might be expressed by participants

Question 12

1. the grounded theory is an (inductive/deductive) reasoning process? Explain what this means
2. What is data saturation?

Answer 12

1. inductive. using observations to develop general THEORIES that explain phenomena
2. data saturation = data collection until the desired theory is reached.

Question 13

1. What is ethnography?
2. how are ethnographies DIFFERENT from phenomenology?

Answer 13

1. systematic study of people and cultures in their natural environments
2. Ethnography is the systematic study of people and cultures whereas phenomenology is the study of subjective, lived experiences and perspectives of participants.

Question 14

What is a case study?

Answer 14

using multiple data sources to examine and understand 1 person, group or event in detail

Question 15

what are mixed method studies?

Answer 15

Elements of both quantitative and qualitative methods in one single study–> collect both quantitative and qualitative data and then compare the results and interpret them

Question 16

What are the 2 main issues of collecting qualitative data?

Answer 16

1. high chance for bias since there is close engagement of participants with researchers–> hard to remain objective
2. it is a methodological (data analysis) and ethical issue

Question 17

1. What is an in-depth interview?
2. What type of interview is it? semi structured or structured?
3. What are some techniques?

Answer 17

1. long (1-2 hours) interview with a key informant using open ended questions
2. semi structured
3. probing, observing and recording

Question 18

What is a focus group?

Answer 18

small number of people with similar backgrounds, experiences or perspectives participating in 1-2 hours of a moderated discussion led by the researcher.

Question 19

1. Explain each type of observational methods:
   a) naturalistic observation
   b) controlled observation
   c) participant observation
   d) field notes
2. naturalistic observation is ______
   controlled observation is _______

Answer 19

1. a) naturalistic observation = the researcher discreetly observes study subjects in a natural setting, typically without the knowledge of the subjects
   b) controlled observation = study participants are observed in a laboratory setting and know that they are being observed
   c) participant observation = a trained investigator seeks to understand a community by engaging with its members and immersing in its practices
   d) field notes = observation records, interview transcripts, and other documents compiled during the qualitative research process
2. covert = secret
   overt = clear

Question 20

1. analyzing qualitative data is (inductive/deductive). This means…
2. analyzing quantitative data is (inductive/deductive). This means….

Answer 20

1. inductive –> developing theories
2. deductive –> testing theories

Question 21

Explain each analytic framework:
1. Content analysis
2. Constant comparison
3. narrative and discourse analysis

Answer 21

1. the process of categorizing textual data
   - by coding the text using labels and categories from text or from existing theories
   - determine which codes occur most often and identify the most prominent patterns and themes
2. collecting data, transcribing interviews, identifying categories, themes, theory
3. narrative analysis = understands personal stories; can apply different philosophies to interpret the stories (feminism)
   discourse analysis = uses linguistics to evaluate ordinary language

Question 22

Which of the following is NOT the most common analytic framework in health research?
a) content analysis
b) narrative and discourse analysis
c) collecting data

Answer 22

b)

Question 23

1. What is process coding?
2. what is process categorizing?
3. what is process themes?
4. what is a process theory?

Answer 23

1. using words or phrases to summarize contents, attitudes or processes in a transcript or other qualitative document
2. grouping related codes into categories
3. synthesizing the categories in order to identify concepts, meanings and themes that answer the study question
4. a construct that provides a systematic explanation about a phenomenon