Chapter 9- Field Research and In-Depth Interviews

1. What distinguishes ethnography from other types of field research? A) direct observation of a group or setting B) a focus on the culture of a group of people C) active participation in the lives of the people studied D) observation of people in natural social settings 2. Which of the following most accurately describes Smith's study of transnationalization? A) It involved one year of field experience in Mexico and one year in New York City. B) It examined gender relations in the first and second generation of immigrants. C) It showed that U.S. assimilation of Ticuanense immigrants was smoother than expected. D) It showed that the most successful immigrants were those who severed ties with their homeland. 3. Which of the following is true of Valdez's research on Mexican Americans? A) She did field research on a specific Mexican community. B) She focused on the experience of first-generation immigrants. C) She supplemented her field observations with informal interviews. D) She recruited interviewees from northern and southern California. 4. Both Smith and Valdez used all but which one of the following as a source of data? A) direct experience B) observation C) interviews with informants D) archival records E) structured community surveys 5. Reflexivity in qualitative research refers to A) the process of understanding others' actions from their point of view. B) sympathetic understanding based on a disavowal of one's own beliefs. C) a researcher's reflection on how his or her personal characteristics influence the research process. D) a researcher's reflexive or spontaneous reactions to people and events. 6. Which sampling method is least likely to be used in qualitative research? A) multistage sampling B) snowball sampling C) purposive sampling D) theoretical sampling Page 1

7. Which of the following statements most accurately describes data analysis in qualitative research? A) Data analysis follows the completion of data collection, as in quantitative research. B) Analysis generally follows the deductive logic of inquiry. C) Interview data may be used to cross-check data from observations. D) Researcher's let the data speak for themselves without using theory to shape their interpretations. 8. A primary goal of participant observation is to A) understand reality from an insider's point of view. B) gain access to secret or private information withheld from outsiders. C) make it easier to obtain all kinds of information. D) develop deeper, more intimate relationships with the people being studied. 9. (Box 9.2) Rebekah Nathan's study of college life and culture was controversial because A) she did not seek IRB approval for her research. B) she used informant's names without their permission.. C) she published detailed information on sensitive topics such as sexual behavior. D) she never revealed her true identity to students during the course of her research. E) students felt betrayed when her true identity came to light. 10. Figure 9.2 in the text represents variations in field observation in a two- dimensional space. Which study located in this space is, for the most part, “participant” and “covert”? A) Smith's field research on transnationalization B) Lareau's observation of families C) Lofland's study of people in public places D) Nathan's study of college life and culture 11. A focus group refers to A) the group that becomes the focus of attention in field observation. B) a group that purposely draws attention to itself. C) a type of group interview. D) a group randomly chosen for observation. 12. The most important consideration in selecting a group or setting for field research is that A) it should speak to the researcher's theoretical or substantive interests. Page 2

A) a set of rules for how to conduct interviews in social research. B) an outline of topics and questions used in in-depth interviews. C) strategies for presenting questions in informal interviewing. D) a list of the most commonly asked questions in qualitative interviewing. 19. What are the two primary types of questions in in-depth interviews? A) main questions and probes B) background questions and topical questions C) closed-ended questions and open-ended questions D) prepared questions and spontaneous questions 20. Which of the following questions from Valdez's interview guide is an example of a grand tour question ? A) Have you ever encountered discrimination? B) Could you briefly describe your relationship with your: grandparents, parents, children, grandchildren? C) Do you remember the first time someone told you that you were Mexican- American? D) Is there anything I did not ask but that I should have? 21. Typical of qualitative interview research, Valdez gathered data by A) making quick jottings, which she embellished later with more detailed notes. B) taking detailed notes during the course of the interview. C) audiotaping her interviews in addition to taking notes. D) videotaping her interviews. 22. Which of the following guidelines is recommended for conducting in-depth interviews? A) Conduct the interview in a nonthreatening public place such as a restaurant or park. B) To convey the businesslike character of he interview, avoid unnecessary chitchat before the interview starts. C) Use audio or video devices to record the interviews. D) Stick to the order of questions in the interview guide. E) Avoid sensitive topics that might cause discomfort. 23. Which of the following is not a strength of qualitative research? A) naturalistic approach B) in-depth/subjective understanding C) holistic/contextual understanding D) flexible research design E) generalizability Page 4

24. Compared with other research approaches, qualitative research generally A) takes less time to complete. B) generates more reliable information. C) requires a more detailed research design. D) is more dependent on the observational and interpretive skills of the researcher. 25. By virtue of its strengths, qualitative research would work best for addressing which one of the following research questions? A) Do feelings of guilt increase the likelihood that someone will help others? B) Are men more likely than women to donate blood? C) How do homeless people survive on the streets? D) Does the incidence of domestic abuse increase during an economic recession? 26. A researcher's direct experience is an important source of data in qualitative research. A) True B) False 27. Interviewing in field research may occur in informal conversations or in more formal in-depth interviews. A) True B) False 28. In-depth interviews are like structured survey interviews except they take longer. A) True B) False 29. Qualitative researchers may choose to supplement their observations with data from official records. A) True B) False 30. Once in the field, sampling in qualitative research usually involves the random selection of participants and events. A) True B) False Page 5

39. Because of access issues, field research is generally limited to public settings. A) True B) False 40. Field researchers generally avoid forming close relationships with those they are observing. A) True B) False 41. Key informants refer to gatekeepers who allow access (i.e., unlock gates) to the observational setting. A) True B) False 42. The primary basis of field notes is videotaped recordings of interactions. A) True B) False 43. Field notes may include the researcher's thoughts and preliminary analyses. A) True B) False 44. In leaving the field, field researchers should consider how members of the group or community being studied may react to their absence. A) True B) False 45. Interviewees in in-depth interview studies are usually randomly selected. A) True B) False 46. Interview guides for semi-structured interviews contain a list of topics and questions. A) True B) False 47. In order not to undermine rapport in in-depth interviews, the researcher may ask Page 7

for informed consent at the end rather than the beginning of the interview. A) True B) False 48. One way to increase the reliability of field research is to conduct team research with two or more investigators. A) True B) False 49. Field research is a good way to study rapidly changing situations. A) True B) False 50. The major cost in most field research is time. A) True B) False 51. Field research is highly dependent on the observational and interpretive skills of the researcher. A) True B) False 52. This chapter discussed two major types of qualitative research: field research and in- depth interviews. How are these approaches similar and how are they different in terms of research design, data collection, and data analysis? 53. In qualitative research, the researcher is the primary instrument of inquiry. Carefully explain the meaning of this statement by discussing how, more so than in surveys and experiments, the quality of qualitative research depends on the observational and analytical skills of the researcher. Then explain why this makes reflexivity an important component of qualitative research. 54. Compare the process of planning and conducting a survey (Figure 8.3) with the process of doing in-depth interviews (Figure 9.4). What does this comparison reveal about the differences between quantitative and qualitative research? Page 8

45. B 46. A 47. B 48. A 49. A 50. A 51. A 52. 53. 54. Page 10