Types of Interviews
What is the main difference between data in an interview vs. an experiment?
Interviews produce textual data (qualitative), while experiments produce numerical data (quantitative).
Which sampling method involves recruiting participants that are easily available?
Convenience (or Opportunity) Sampling
What term is used interchangeably with "credibility" in qualitative research?
Trustworthiness
Which bias involves a participant's tendency to give positive answers regardless of the question?
Acquiescence Bias.
What is the bias where a researcher's own beliefs/expectations affect the study?
Confirmation Bias.
Name two common types of qualitative research methods besides interviews.
Observation, Focus Groups, or Case Studies.
What is "Snowball Sampling"?
Recruiting participants by asking existing participants to recommend others.
Name the technique of building trust with a participant to ensure honest answers.
Establishing a rapport.
What is "Social Desirability Bias"?
Participants answering in a way they think will make them more liked or accepted.
Which bias occurs when a researcher asks questions that suggest a specific "right" answer?
Leading Question Bias.
Does an interview follow a "nomothetic" or "idiographic" approach?
Idiographic; it seeks an in-depth, holistic understanding of a particular case rather than universal laws.
What is "Purposive Sampling"?
Recruiting participants who possess specific characteristics relevant to the research goal.
Explain "Method Triangulation" in the context of an interview study.
Using different methods (e.g., an interview AND an observation) to see if they yield the same results.
How does "Dominant Respondent Bias" affect group interviews?
One participant influences the group, making others feel intimidated or hesitant to speak their true minds.
What is "Question Order Bias"?
When the sequence of questions influences how the participant responds to later questions.
What is a "Focus Group," and what is its unique risk?
A group interview setting where participants interact. The risk is dominant respondent bias.
Describe "Theoretical Sampling" and when it is used.
Sampling that stops only when no new information is being obtained (data saturation) to build a theory.
What are "Thick Descriptions," and why are they important for credibility?
Rich, detailed descriptions of behavior and context that allow an outsider to understand the phenomenon holistically.
What is "Sensitivity Bias," and how can a researcher overcome it?
Distorting answers on sensitive topics. Overcome it by building rapport and reinforcing confidentiality.
Explain "Biased Reporting" in qualitative research.
When the researcher selectively reports only the findings that support their hypothesis or are most "exciting".
Explain why an interviewer is considered a "tool of measurement."
Because the researcher is an integral part of the process, their interpretations and presence directly shape the data collection.
In what specific situation would a researcher choose "Quota Sampling" over others?
When the researcher knows the exact proportions of certain characteristics needed in the sample to reflect the target population.
Define "Reflexivity" and distinguish between its two types: personal and epistemological.
Personal Reflexivity (researcher's own beliefs) vs. Epistemological Reflexivity (strengths/limitations of the method used).
How do "Acquiescence" and "Social Desirability" biases differ in their underlying causes?
Acquiescence is about being agreeable or avoiding disagreement; Social Desirability is about impression management and being liked.
What is "Sampling Bias" in the context of qualitative research?
When the way participants were recruited (sampling) results in a group that doesn't provide the necessary depth or diversity for the study's aim.