Flashcards on Qualitative Research Methods in Social Sciences
Qualitative Research Methods in Social Sciences: A Guide
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Qualitative Research Methods
43 cards
Card 1
Question: What is qualitative research aiming to achieve in the study of social reality?
Answer: An in-depth understanding of a phenomenon, answering mainly 'why?' and 'how?', and understanding from the inside how participants perceive, interpret,
Card 2
Question: When is qualitative research especially used?
Answer: When it is difficult or impossible to describe everyday behaviours, value systems, or life histories using quantitative methods.
Card 3
Question: Name four key characteristics of qualitative research.
Answer: Flexibility of the research process; small, purposive samples; contextuality; interpretative nature of analysis.
Card 4
Question: List four objectives of qualitative research.
Answer: Understanding social phenomena; reconstructing meanings and experiences; exploring new research areas; developing new theories.
Card 5
Question: What distinguishes field (reactive) qualitative research?
Answer: The researcher has direct contact with people and conducts research in participants' natural environment (‘goes into the field’).
Card 6
Question: Give an example of an early pioneer of field research mentioned in the content.
Answer: Bronisław Malinowski, who conducted fieldwork in the Trobriand Islands (Papua New Guinea) between 1915 and 1918.
Card 7
Question: What is non-reactive qualitative research?
Answer: Research where the researcher does not interact directly with participants but analyzes existing materials such as documents, press articles, archives
Card 8
Question: Name the two main techniques of field qualitative research listed.
Answer: Observation and qualitative interview.
Card 9
Question: What is an observation sheet used for in field research?
Answer: It is the researcher's notebook used for systematically recording what is observed during field research.
Card 10
Question: What is an interview guide and how is it used?
Answer: A flexible tool that lists topics or guiding questions the researcher can modify; the order can change and follow-up questions are asked freely to dee