PRC Qualitative Research Methods Flashcards

Constant comparative analysis is a core analytical procedure in which qualitative approach?

Answer: Grounded theory

Grounded theory uses constant comparative analysis, in which researchers continuously compare new data with previously coded data to refine categories and develop theory.

Which of the following best describes the purpose of an audit trail in qualitative research?

Answer: Documenting methodological decisions to allow external review of the research process

An audit trail is a detailed record of methodological decisions, analytic memos, and process notes that allows an external reviewer to evaluate the dependability of the research.

When a qualitative researcher uses 'bracketing,' they are:

Answer: Setting aside preconceived notions to approach data with an open mind

Bracketing (epoché) is a phenomenological practice in which researchers consciously suspend their prior assumptions and biases to see the data as freshly as possible.

Discourse analysis as a qualitative method focuses primarily on:

Answer: How language constructs social reality and power relationships

Discourse analysis examines how language use in texts and talk constructs social identities, relationships, and realities, often revealing underlying power structures.

In qualitative research, 'thick description' serves to:

Answer: Provide rich contextual detail that supports transferability to other settings

Thick description, coined by Geertz, provides detailed contextual accounts of findings so readers can judge whether results are transferable to their own contexts.

A researcher who begins data collection and analysis simultaneously, allowing early findings to shape subsequent data gathering, is applying which qualitative principle?

Answer: Iterative and emergent design

Qualitative research often uses an iterative, emergent design in which analysis begins during data collection and informs ongoing sampling and questioning strategies.