Y13 RESEARCH METHODS - case studies and content analysis

Question 1

what are case studies?

Answer 1

in depth analysis of an individual, group or event

Question 2

what kind of data does case study usually produce?

Answer 2

qualitative data

Question 3

how do researchers construct a case study?

Answer 3

• construct a case history
  by using interviews, observations, questionnaires or a combination of all of them

Question 4

what does longitudinal mean?

Answer 4

case studies that tend to take over a long period of time

Question 5

When doing a case study is it focused just on the individual of interest?

Answer 5

No, additional data can be gathered from family and friends of the individual

Question 6

Strengths of a case study:

Answer 6

Rich, detailed insight on unusual or atypical forms of behaviours
Help contribute to ‘normal’ functions
May generate future hypothesis

Question 7

Limitations of a case study:

Answer 7

• External validity lacking = low generalisation due to low samples
• info made onto final report is based on subjective selection and interpretation of the researcher

Question 8

What is content analysis?

Answer 8

Research technique that enables the indirect study of behaviour by examining communications that people produce

Question 9

What are examples of content analysis?

Answer 9

Text, emails, TV, film and other media

Question 10

What is coding in content analysis?

Answer 10

Communication to be studied is analysed by identifying each instance of the chosen categories

Question 11

What is thematic analysis?

Answer 11

Inductive and qualitative approach to analysis that identifies implicit or explicit ideas within the data

Question 12

When do themes emerge in analysis?

Answer 12

After data has been coded

Question 13

When may coding occur?

Answer 13

When the data sets are extremely large so need to categorise into meaningful units

Question 14

What is a theme in content analysis?

Answer 14

Any idea which is recurrent

Question 15

Coding or thematic analysis is more likely to be descriptive?

Answer 15

Thematic analysis

Question 16

What happens if the researcher is satisfied with the themes and how they cover aspects?

Answer 16

May collect a new set of data to test validity of themes and categories

Question 17

What do researchers do when new sets of data fit old set of data?

Answer 17

Research writes up final report
- Tend to use direct quotes to show theme

Question 18

What kind of data is produced by coding in content analysis?

Answer 18

quantitative data

Question 19

What kind of data is produced by thematic analysis in content analysis?

Answer 19

qualitative data

Question 20

Strengths of content analysis:

Answer 20

Reduced ethical issues as research studying already exists in public domain
Produce quantitative or qualitative data

quantitative data = statistical testing can be carried out to test for significance

reliability can be tested for

Question 21

Limitations of content analysis:

Answer 21

A
Studied indirectly so outside of context so opinions and motivations may have been distorted
Lack of objectivity as categories are decided by researcher = bringing possible subjectivity to research
bias may threaten validity of findings