J494 TEST EXAM QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
LATEST UPDATE
Estimology
How we know what we know
By looking at the relationship between a subject and an object we can explore the idea
of ********** and how it influences research design.
Qualitative
the descriptive and conceptual findings collected through questionnaires, interviews, or
observation.
WHEN TO USE qualitative
- "Soft" data (usually inductive)
- Uncontrolled, subjective, random observation
- open-ended, free response, unstructured
- Usually valid but not "reliable"
- Rarely "projectable" to large audiences
- Generally uses nonrandom samples
Quantitative
data are data represented numerically, including anything that can be counted,
measured, or given a numerical value.
WHEN TO USE quantitative
- "Hard" data (usually deductive)
-Controlled, objective, systematic observation
- Usually close-ended, food choice, highly structured
- Validity and reliability can be measured
- Usually very "projectable" to large audiences
- Generally uses random samples
Quantitative examples
- Case studies
- Focus groups
- Participant observation
- Interviews
- Ethnography
- Thematic analysis
- Historical analysis
Theory
- a set of related proposition that presents a systematic view of phenomena by
specifying relationships among concepts
- Comes from research and hypothesis (drawn from observation)
Errors in Inquiry
1. Inaccurate Observations
2. Overgeneralization leads to selective observation
4. Illogical Reasoning can lead to errors in acquiring knowledge
5. Ecological fallacy **
, Unit of analysis
- The focus of your study - an important element
Units of analysis is what you will observe
- avoid ecological fallacy
Different units of analysis
- Individuals
- Social groups
- Social organizations
- Social artifacts
Layout of a journal article
***************
Primary sources
- a first-hand or contemporary account of an event or topic
Types of primary sources
original documents
e.g. birth certificates
trial transcripts
biographies, autobiographies manuscripts
interviews
speeches
oral histories
case law
legislation
regulations
Secondary sources
information previously compiled for other purposes that can be adapted for your needs
Three key questions of secondary sources
1. What do we know about a given topic?
2. Where can we gather existing information?
3. How can we do it as quickly (cheaply) as possible
Types of secondary sources
News clippings
Google scholar
Google
archives/historical documents
Academic journals
Characteristics of qualitative research
- In-depth analysis
- Purposely or convenient selection
- Research interpretation
- Subjective
- Based on discourse
Lindlof and Taylor (2011) describe qualitative research as that which focuses on "the
performance and practices of human communication" (p.4).
Inductive reasoning
LATEST UPDATE
Estimology
How we know what we know
By looking at the relationship between a subject and an object we can explore the idea
of ********** and how it influences research design.
Qualitative
the descriptive and conceptual findings collected through questionnaires, interviews, or
observation.
WHEN TO USE qualitative
- "Soft" data (usually inductive)
- Uncontrolled, subjective, random observation
- open-ended, free response, unstructured
- Usually valid but not "reliable"
- Rarely "projectable" to large audiences
- Generally uses nonrandom samples
Quantitative
data are data represented numerically, including anything that can be counted,
measured, or given a numerical value.
WHEN TO USE quantitative
- "Hard" data (usually deductive)
-Controlled, objective, systematic observation
- Usually close-ended, food choice, highly structured
- Validity and reliability can be measured
- Usually very "projectable" to large audiences
- Generally uses random samples
Quantitative examples
- Case studies
- Focus groups
- Participant observation
- Interviews
- Ethnography
- Thematic analysis
- Historical analysis
Theory
- a set of related proposition that presents a systematic view of phenomena by
specifying relationships among concepts
- Comes from research and hypothesis (drawn from observation)
Errors in Inquiry
1. Inaccurate Observations
2. Overgeneralization leads to selective observation
4. Illogical Reasoning can lead to errors in acquiring knowledge
5. Ecological fallacy **
, Unit of analysis
- The focus of your study - an important element
Units of analysis is what you will observe
- avoid ecological fallacy
Different units of analysis
- Individuals
- Social groups
- Social organizations
- Social artifacts
Layout of a journal article
***************
Primary sources
- a first-hand or contemporary account of an event or topic
Types of primary sources
original documents
e.g. birth certificates
trial transcripts
biographies, autobiographies manuscripts
interviews
speeches
oral histories
case law
legislation
regulations
Secondary sources
information previously compiled for other purposes that can be adapted for your needs
Three key questions of secondary sources
1. What do we know about a given topic?
2. Where can we gather existing information?
3. How can we do it as quickly (cheaply) as possible
Types of secondary sources
News clippings
Google scholar
archives/historical documents
Academic journals
Characteristics of qualitative research
- In-depth analysis
- Purposely or convenient selection
- Research interpretation
- Subjective
- Based on discourse
Lindlof and Taylor (2011) describe qualitative research as that which focuses on "the
performance and practices of human communication" (p.4).
Inductive reasoning
