Qualitative Research Approaches Flashcards

What distinguishes a structured interview from a semi-structured one in qualitative research?

Answer: Structured interviews follow a fixed set of predetermined questions without deviation

Structured interviews follow a strict script with no deviation, while semi-structured interviews have a guide but allow for probing and flexible exploration.

Which of the following best describes 'positionality' in qualitative research?

Answer: The researcher's acknowledgment of how their identity and perspective influence the research

Positionality refers to how the researcher's social location, identity, and values shape their perspective and influence every stage of the research process.

In content analysis of qualitative data, what is the difference between manifest and latent content?

Answer: Manifest content is visible and surface-level; latent content refers to underlying meaning

Manifest content refers to the explicit, visible elements of communication, while latent content refers to the deeper symbolic or interpretive meaning beneath the surface.

What is 'purposive sampling' in qualitative research?

Answer: Deliberately selecting participants based on specific characteristics relevant to the research question

Purposive (or purposeful) sampling intentionally selects information-rich cases that will best illuminate the research question.

Which qualitative tradition is most appropriate for studying how a small, bounded social unit functions as a whole?

Answer: Case study

Case study research is designed to provide an in-depth understanding of a bounded system — such as an organization, community, or program — in its real-world context.

What does 'inter-rater reliability' mean in the context of qualitative coding?

Answer: The degree of agreement between two or more coders applying the same coding scheme

Inter-rater reliability measures the extent to which independent coders assign the same codes to the same data segments, indicating coding consistency.

Which of the following is a key ethical consideration unique to ethnographic fieldwork?

Answer: Managing the power dynamics and potential harm of long-term immersion in a community

Ethnography's prolonged immersion creates unique ethical challenges around informed consent, confidentiality, power relations, and the researcher's impact on the community.