Qualitative Methods

Ethnographic research is called ______ because it seeks to describe and understand the natural social world as it is.

• adaptive

• naturalistic

• constructivist

• reflexive

Which of the following is NOT a feature of qualitative research designs?

• a focus on human subjectivity

• causal explanations

• reflexive research design

• sensitivity to the subjective role of the researcher

When an observer immerses himself or herself in a group for a long time, gradually establishing trust and experiencing the social world as do the participants, the observer is engaging in the process of ______.

• netnography

• ethnography

• systematic observation

• intensive interviewing

Focus groups are useful for all of the following EXCEPT ______.

• developing hypotheses

• assessing the range of opinions about an issue

• investigating the meaning of survey results

• generalizing findings

Intensive interviewing and focus groups should be conducted until ______.

• saturation point is reached

• all relevant informants have consented to participate

• field observation has been completed

• the researcher obtains relevant tacit knowledge from respondents

A researcher who goes to a coffee shop and clandestinely observes behavior, while taking jottings, is doing what kind of qualitative fieldwork?

• overt observation

• covert observation

• overt participation

• participant observation

In qualitative research, the sample is usually ______.

• random

• systematic

• unrepresentative

• thematic

Ralph arranges with the manager of a fantasy baseball league to observe and interview members as part of his research. At the baseball “draft,” Ralph introduces himself to other members of the fantasy league and they agree to let him observe the draft and allow themselves to be interviewed, although they do not allow him to join the league (as his knowledge of other members' strategies may affect how he manages his fantasy team). His role as a field researcher is that of a ______.

• note-taker

• overt observer

• participant observer

• complete participant

A researcher should avoid using focus groups when ______.

• the issue is emotionally charged

• sensitive information is needed and confidentiality cannot be ensured

• the goal of the project is to reach consensus

• all of these

The use of ethnographic methods to study online communities is called ______.

• cyberethnography

• netnography

• digital ethnography

• all of these