CRE CRE Qualitative Research Techniques 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the role of a moderator guide in a focus group?
- A script the moderator reads verbatim
- A flexible outline of topics and probes to guide discussion while allowing exploration (Correct answer)
- A list of closed-ended survey questions
- A checklist for facility setup
Correct answer: A flexible outline of topics and probes to guide discussion while allowing exploration
The moderator guide provides structure with key topics and probes but is designed to be flexible enough to follow productive conversational threads.
Question 2: Which qualitative technique is most appropriate for systematically analyzing themes in existing documents, media, or text?
- Ethnography
- Content analysis (Correct answer)
- In-depth interview
- Projective technique
Correct answer: Content analysis
Content analysis provides a systematic framework for identifying, coding, and interpreting patterns within text, images, or media.
Question 3: What is 'triangulation' in qualitative research?
- Using three focus groups minimum
- Using multiple data sources, methods, or researchers to increase credibility (Correct answer)
- Applying a three-stage coding process
- Recruiting participants from three geographic regions
Correct answer: Using multiple data sources, methods, or researchers to increase credibility
Triangulation cross-validates findings by examining them through multiple lenses, strengthening the trustworthiness of qualitative conclusions.
Question 4: In qualitative research, what is 'respondent bias' in a focus group setting?
- Moderators steering discussion toward desired outcomes
- Participants conforming to perceived group norms rather than expressing true views (Correct answer)
- Oversampling from one demographic
- Recording technical errors distorting responses
Correct answer: Participants conforming to perceived group norms rather than expressing true views
Social desirability and group conformity pressure can cause focus group participants to suppress dissenting views in favor of dominant opinions.
Question 5: What is a 'projective technique' used for in qualitative research?
- Displaying data on a projector for group review
- Helping respondents reveal subconscious attitudes through indirect tasks like word association (Correct answer)
- Projecting future market trends
- Testing hypotheses about demographic segments
Correct answer: Helping respondents reveal subconscious attitudes through indirect tasks like word association
Projective techniques bypass conscious defenses by asking respondents to respond to ambiguous stimuli, revealing underlying motivations and attitudes.
Question 6: Which sampling approach is commonly used in qualitative research to purposefully select information-rich cases?
- Simple random sampling
- Systematic sampling
- Purposive (purposeful) sampling (Correct answer)
- Cluster sampling
Correct answer: Purposive (purposeful) sampling
Purposive sampling deliberately selects participants who are most likely to provide rich, relevant data for the research questions.
CRE CRE Qualitative Research Techniques 2
What is the role of a moderator guide in a focus group?