SFL 290 EXAM 3 QUESTIONS WITH VERIFIED
ANSWERS
What are the six different sources of qualitative research data discussed in the text? Of
what does each consist? - Answers - Documentation
Archival Records
Physical Artifacts
Direct Observation
Participation Observation
Focus Group
What are the three main types of qualitative studies? What are the advantages and
disadvantages of each? - Answers - 1. Case study: method used to study an individual
or institution in a unique situation
Advantages:
focus on one individual or thing (lets us have close examination)
Encourages the use of several different techniques to get necessary information
No way to get a richer account
Suggests directions for further study
Disadvantages:
What you see is not always what you get - time consuming
The notes you take is only one reality - everyone has different biases
Although it has depth, it doesn't have breadth
You can't establish cause and effect links
Generalizability of the findings is limited
2. Ethnographies: exploring a culture
Advantages:
Disadvantages:
3. Historical research:
Advantages:
Disadvantages:
Limited in generalizability
Primarily derived from observations of others (letters, books, art)
Takes a lot of time
In order, what are the six steps of historical research? - Answers - 1. Define a topic
2. Form a hypothesis
3. Decide on useful and appropriate sources
4. Determine how to evaluate evidence
5. Integrate and synthesize data
6. Interpret results with reference to the original hypothesis
, What are considered primary and secondary sources in historical research? - Answers -
Primary Sources: Originate with the people or animals actually involved in the historical
event
are direct results of the historical event
Secondary Sources: Are at least "once removed" from the historical event
result from "after the fact" reports of a historical event
What are authenticity and accuracy? Why is one called internal criticism and the other
external criticism? - Answers - Authenticity: Is the thing from the time it says it should be
from? Is this a real artifact or was it planted?
How does this fit in with other things from the period? (external)
..Is the ink the type of thing we expect to find at that period? Style of writing? Etc.
Accuracy: asks whether the source of the data was objective and trustworthy
Internal
How are authenticity and accuracy in qualitative research similar to reliability and
validity in quantitative research? - Answers - Qualitative Research: descriptions rather
than numerical measurements of behavior. (Family History research= scrapbooking,
archival records, physical artifacts, etc.)
What are four limitations of historical research? - Answers - -Generalizability is limited
-Data not observed by trained observers, may be questionable
-Time-consuming
-Evaluated by different criteria than quantitative research
What are two types of pre-experiments? Why can each not give unequivocal answers to
a research question? - Answers - 1. One shot case study/one person does one thing
(cheap and easy to do). This is how all classes are designed.
2. A "before and after." Weight-loss products are prime examples of this. These suffer
from a lack of having a control group.
What are three types of experimental design? Under what different conditions would
each be preferred? - Answers - PRE-EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN- least amount of
control
TRUE EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN- most control
QUASI-EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN- medium amount of control
What are the seven threats to internal validity? How does each make the results of a
study equivocal? - Answers - 1. History- competing changes in the research setting
Uncontrolled outside influences on participants during an experiment
Something else was going on at the same time of the experiment. Doesn't have to be of
historical significance.
2. Maturation- competing changes inside the participants
Something internal in addition to the independent variable happens during the study
3. Selection- inequality between experimental and control groups
ANSWERS
What are the six different sources of qualitative research data discussed in the text? Of
what does each consist? - Answers - Documentation
Archival Records
Physical Artifacts
Direct Observation
Participation Observation
Focus Group
What are the three main types of qualitative studies? What are the advantages and
disadvantages of each? - Answers - 1. Case study: method used to study an individual
or institution in a unique situation
Advantages:
focus on one individual or thing (lets us have close examination)
Encourages the use of several different techniques to get necessary information
No way to get a richer account
Suggests directions for further study
Disadvantages:
What you see is not always what you get - time consuming
The notes you take is only one reality - everyone has different biases
Although it has depth, it doesn't have breadth
You can't establish cause and effect links
Generalizability of the findings is limited
2. Ethnographies: exploring a culture
Advantages:
Disadvantages:
3. Historical research:
Advantages:
Disadvantages:
Limited in generalizability
Primarily derived from observations of others (letters, books, art)
Takes a lot of time
In order, what are the six steps of historical research? - Answers - 1. Define a topic
2. Form a hypothesis
3. Decide on useful and appropriate sources
4. Determine how to evaluate evidence
5. Integrate and synthesize data
6. Interpret results with reference to the original hypothesis
, What are considered primary and secondary sources in historical research? - Answers -
Primary Sources: Originate with the people or animals actually involved in the historical
event
are direct results of the historical event
Secondary Sources: Are at least "once removed" from the historical event
result from "after the fact" reports of a historical event
What are authenticity and accuracy? Why is one called internal criticism and the other
external criticism? - Answers - Authenticity: Is the thing from the time it says it should be
from? Is this a real artifact or was it planted?
How does this fit in with other things from the period? (external)
..Is the ink the type of thing we expect to find at that period? Style of writing? Etc.
Accuracy: asks whether the source of the data was objective and trustworthy
Internal
How are authenticity and accuracy in qualitative research similar to reliability and
validity in quantitative research? - Answers - Qualitative Research: descriptions rather
than numerical measurements of behavior. (Family History research= scrapbooking,
archival records, physical artifacts, etc.)
What are four limitations of historical research? - Answers - -Generalizability is limited
-Data not observed by trained observers, may be questionable
-Time-consuming
-Evaluated by different criteria than quantitative research
What are two types of pre-experiments? Why can each not give unequivocal answers to
a research question? - Answers - 1. One shot case study/one person does one thing
(cheap and easy to do). This is how all classes are designed.
2. A "before and after." Weight-loss products are prime examples of this. These suffer
from a lack of having a control group.
What are three types of experimental design? Under what different conditions would
each be preferred? - Answers - PRE-EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN- least amount of
control
TRUE EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN- most control
QUASI-EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN- medium amount of control
What are the seven threats to internal validity? How does each make the results of a
study equivocal? - Answers - 1. History- competing changes in the research setting
Uncontrolled outside influences on participants during an experiment
Something else was going on at the same time of the experiment. Doesn't have to be of
historical significance.
2. Maturation- competing changes inside the participants
Something internal in addition to the independent variable happens during the study
3. Selection- inequality between experimental and control groups
