Qualitative Research Methods Quiz

Which qualitative method studies one person or a very small group in great detail?

• Case study

• Survey

• Field experiment

• Correlation

What is one big strength of a case study?

• Gives rich, detailed information about the case

• Easy to repeat in another school

• Uses large random samples

• Always finds cause and effect

Semi-structured interviews always include:

• A mix of set and follow-up questions

• Only yes/no questions

• Hidden cameras

• Multiple-choice tests

A weakness of unstructured (open) interviews is that:

• Answers can be hard to compare

• Participants cannot speak freely

• They cost nothing to do

• They never need recording

Focus-group interviews are useful because:

• Group talk shows social ideas and norms

• No one influences anyone else

• They give statistical averages

• They avoid ethical issues

In naturalistic observation the researcher:

• Watches behaviour in the real setting

• Controls every variable

• Always talks to participants

• Uses only lab cameras

A risk of participant observation is that:

• The researcher may change the group’s behaviour

• Data are always numerical

• It proves hypotheses quickly

• It has no ethical limits

**Content analysis** is best described as:

• Studying texts, images or media for themes

• Running a memory test

• Measuring heart rate

• Weighing objects in a lab

Thematic analysis means the researcher:

• Looks for repeated patterns (themes) in the data

• Counts each word

• Calculates mean scores

• Hides the research aim

Which method records life stories in people’s own words?

• Narrative interview

• Structured questionnaire

• Brain scan

• Field experiment