PRC PRC Qualitative Research Methods 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which qualitative data collection method involves a researcher asking open-ended questions to one participant at a time to explore in-depth perspectives?
- In-depth interview (Correct answer)
- Focus group
- Structured survey
- Systematic observation
Correct answer: In-depth interview
In-depth interviews involve one-on-one conversations using open-ended questions to explore a participant's perspectives, experiences, and meanings in detail.
Question 2: In qualitative research, 'saturation' refers to the point at which:
- The study budget is fully spent
- No new themes or insights emerge from additional data (Correct answer)
- All participants have been interviewed
- The research team reaches consensus on findings
Correct answer: No new themes or insights emerge from additional data
Data saturation occurs when additional data collection no longer yields new themes, codes, or insights, signaling sufficient sample size in qualitative research.
Question 3: Which qualitative approach uses symbolic interactionism as its theoretical foundation and focuses on how meaning is constructed through social interaction?
- Phenomenology
- Grounded theory (Correct answer)
- Symbolic ethnography
- Symbolic interactionism grounded theory
Correct answer: Grounded theory
Grounded theory, developed by Glaser and Strauss, is rooted in symbolic interactionism and aims to generate theory from data about social processes.
Question 4: A researcher who embeds themselves in a community for an extended period to observe and document daily life is using which qualitative method?
- Case study
- Ethnography (Correct answer)
- Narrative inquiry
- Phenomenology
Correct answer: Ethnography
Ethnography involves prolonged immersion in a social setting to observe, participate in, and document the culture, behaviors, and meanings of a community.
Question 5: In thematic analysis, 'coding' refers to:
- Encrypting participant data for privacy
- Assigning labels to segments of data that capture meaningful patterns (Correct answer)
- Writing computer scripts to automate analysis
- Converting qualitative data to numeric values
Correct answer: Assigning labels to segments of data that capture meaningful patterns
Coding in thematic analysis involves systematically labeling segments of data with descriptive tags that capture key ideas, enabling patterns and themes to be identified.
Question 6: Which strategy for establishing trustworthiness in qualitative research involves checking interpretations with participants to confirm accuracy?
- Triangulation
- Member checking (Correct answer)
- Thick description
- Reflexivity
Correct answer: Member checking
Member checking (also called respondent validation) involves sharing findings or interpretations with participants to verify that the researcher has accurately represented their experiences.
PRC PRC Qualitative Research Methods 1
Which qualitative data collection method involves a researcher asking open-ended questions to one participant at a time to explore in-depth perspectives?