Chapters 66-71By:

Dalila OchoaMary S Garcia

Chapter 66:Measurement in Qualitative Research: I Semistructured Interviews: face-to-face interviews,

that are often tape-recorded. It is the most widely used type of instrument for collecting data for qualitative research.

Interview Protocol: written directions for conducting the interviews. This includes a set of predetermined questions to be asked by the interviewer to the interviewee. Practice these questions with a few individuals that are not part of the study. This will give you the opportunity to revise questions if necessary. Also, when possible have an expert in the area being investigated review the questions.

Chapter 66:Measurement in Qualitative Research: IInterview Protocol continued: first

establish rapport. Second use your predetermined questions. Begin with broad, open-ended questions. Then followed by increasingly specific question as the process continues. Keep the session to about 30 minutes.

Chapter 66:Measurement in Qualitative Research: I

“Semistructured”: interviewer does not need to ask only predetermined questions.

*Remember* Questions can be reworded if the

participant does not understand it. You can asked the interviewed to

elaborate a response. Also keep in mind that the interviewer can

ask additional questions in order to explore unexpected relevant material that has been revealed by the participant.

Chapter 66:Measurement in Qualitative Research: I

Selfdisclousre: consider the research problem in relation to the interviewer’s background and attitudes before conducting the interview. (Put yourself in their shoes)

Demographic Information: background information such as age and highest level of education. This information helps the researchers describe their participants in their reports.

Chapter 66 Questions1. Are semistructured interviews

widely used for data collection in qualitative research?

2. An interview protocol consists of what?

3. With whom should a pilot test of the interview question be conducted?

4. The initial questions should be designed to do what?

Chapter 66 Questions5. In a semistructured interview, is

it ever acceptable for an interviewer to ask questions not included in the list of predetermined questions?

6. What is the name of the process through which an interviewer can clear the air and clear the mind?

Chapter 66 Questions7. In your opinion, doe the flexibility afforded by

semistructured interviewing open the possibility that the interviewer might bias the interview so that the interviewer obtains results along the lines that her or she already expected? Do you think that fully structured interviews (with only predetermined questions) might provide more valid data?

8. If you are planning to conduct qualitative research, do you consider yourself a novice? If yes, how do you plan to gain experience before conducting your research? Explain.

Chapter 67:Measurement in Qualitative Research: II

Phenomenological Approach to acquiring knowledge: is examining participant perceptions

For example: if you ask participants how they were treated in a certain situation, they will tell researcher how they perceived the matter.Focus Group: 6 to 12 participants

who are gathered by the researcher to discuss a topic. They last about an hour and researchers may use several groups for their research projects.

Chapter 67:Measurement in Qualitative Research: II

Facilitator: leads the focus group. He describes the topics. Tries to create a non-

threatening environment in which participants express their opinions.

They also need predetermined questions “questioning route” to ensure that all aspects of the topic are described.

He should also probe for additional information when necessary.

Chapter 67:Measurement in Qualitative Research: II

Nonparticipant Observation: the researcher observes individuals as an outsider.

For example the researcher sits in the back of the classroom to observe student/teacher interaction. A concern may be that the participants may change their behavior because the know they are being observed.

Chapter 67:Measurement in Qualitative Research: II

Participant Observation: the researcher becomes a member of the group being researched and makes his or her observation.

For a example, a teacher who is also a researcher want to research a high school that is know for academic achievement. She or he may make arrangement to teach at that school. This would give the researcher the opportunity to observe while participating.

Chapter 67:Measurement in Qualitative Research: IIField Research: the work that is

done when observing the subjects. This comes from field of anthropology.

From the Greek anthropos (human) and logia (study), the word anthropology itself tells us it is the field that seeks to understand humankind, from the beginnings millions of years ago up to the present day. Anthropology considers how people's behaviors changes over time, and how people and seemingly dissimilar cultures are different and the same. http://www.aaanet.org/profdev/careers/Anthos.cfm

Ethnography: name of body of work when the researcher focuses on cultural issues.

Chapter 67 Questions1. Examining perceptions is known as

what type of approach to acquiring knowledge?

2. A focus group usually consists of about how many participants?

3. What are the two name for the individual who leads a focus group?

4. According to this topic, what is a “clear advantage” of using focus group?

Chapter 67 Questions5. What is the name of the type of observation in

which the researcher observes as an outsider?6. When the emphasis in field research is on

cultural issues, the researcher may be referred to as what?

7. Do you think that it would be easier to analyze and interpret data from “individual interviews” or from “focus discussions”? Explain.

8. If you are planning to conduct qualitative research, do you anticipate using focus groups? Explain.

Chapter 68:Quality Control in Qualitative Research

These are specific techniques that qualitative researchers use to establish the dependability and trustworthiness of their data.

Chapter 68:Quality Control in Qualitative Research

Data Triangulation: when the researcher uses multiple sources for obtaining data on the research topic. Several types of participants.

Example: for a study on discrimination in an employment setting, the researcher interviews the employees, their supervisors and responsible personnel officers. With the interviews the sources provide similar information and the data can be corroborated (verified) through data triangulation.

Chapter 68:Quality Control in Qualitative Research

Methods Triangulation: when the researcher uses several methods to collect the data. One type of participant, but several methods are used to collect data.

Example: a researcher conducts individual interviews with parents regarding their child-rearing practices and then have the same participants provide data via focus groups.

Chapter 68:Quality Control in Qualitative ResearchResearcher Triangulation:

when researchers for a team and each team member is collecting and analyzing data. This reduces the possibility that the results of the qualitative research only represent the idiosyncratic views of one individual researcher.

Chapter 68:Quality Control in Qualitative Research

Teach of Researchers with Diverse Backgrounds: it provides more than one perspective when one is collecting and analyzing the data.

Example 1: in gender and sexuality issues there are 3 researchers, 1 male and 2 females. Example 2 for focus groups: the session is recorded with audiotapes and then transcribed verbatim.

Chapter 68:Quality Control in Qualitative ResearchInterobserver agreement: when

researchers disagree, the often discuss their differences until they research an agreement.

Peer Review: a process where an outside expert can help to ensure the quality of the research. A peer (fellow qualitative researcher) can examine their process and provide feedback to the researcher.

Chapter 68:Quality Control in Qualitative Research

Auditor: in some circumstances the Peer Reviewer is called an auditor. This will be further discussed in chapter 70.

Member Checking: this based on the idea that the participants are members of the research team. The members review the result of the analysis and they determine if the research results are true to its participants.

Chapter 68 Questions1. Suppose a research interviewed

participants and then observed the behavior of the same participants. Is the an example of “data triangulation” or of “method triangulation”?

2. In data triangulation, how many types of participants are used?

3. What is the name of the type of triangulation that reduces the possibility that the results of qualitative research represent only the idiosyncratic views of an individual researcher?

4. Is it ever desirable for a team of researchers to consist of individual with diverse backgrounds?

Chapter 68 Questions5. In peer review, what is a peer?6. Who are the members in member

checking?7. Name a research topic for qualitative

research for which it might be helpful to have a team of researchers with diverse backgrounds. Explain why this might be helpful for the research topic you name.

8. If you are planning to conduct qualitative research, which of the techniques described in this topic, if any, do you plan to use? Explain your choice(s).

Chapter 69:Grounded Theory for Data Analysis

Chapter 70:Consensual Qualitative Research: Analysis

Chapter 71:The Structure of a Research Report