Deck 8: Data Analysis in Qualitative Studies

Question 1

The qualitative data analysis process can best be described as which of the following?

A) Correlational and computerized
B) Fluid and flexible
C) Standardized and objective
D) Statistical and significant

Answer 1

B

Question 2

What is coding?

A) A process that research ethics offices use to determine which research studies are not ethically sound.
B) A process in mixed methods research whereby researchers with different philosophical worldviews are brought together to combine their worldviews.
C) A process in qualitative data analysis whereby data is organized into meaningful chunks.
D) A process in quantitative research to facilitate the identification of valid and reliable measures.

Answer 2

C

Question 3

Why is it important to use in vivo terms when conducting qualitative data analysis?

A) To ensure the research is conducted in the participants' naturalistic setting
B) To ensure the participants understand the terms of their participation
C) To ensure the language of the participants is represented in the results
D) To ensure the researcher's writing is consistent with qualitative strategies of inquiry

Answer 3

C

Question 4

Which of the following is not a result researchers should be trying to achieve from a qualitative data analysis?

A) Statistical significance
B) A taxonomy
C) A theory
D) Themes

Question 5

A researcher uses her qualitative data analysis to produce a formal system for classifying young men's experiences of body image. What is the result of her data analysis process called?

A) Ontology
B) A taxonomy
C) Statistical significance
D) Coding

Question 6

A researcher uses her qualitative data analysis to categorize the responses of the participants in her study and provide insight into the essential components of their exercise motivation. What is the result of her data analysis process called?

A) Epistemology
B) Development of themes
C) In vivo
D) Creative synthesis

Question 7

A researcher uses her qualitative data analysis to produce a set of interlocking variables that help explain the causal role of sodium intake on exercise performance. What is the result of her data analysis process called?

A) A taxonomy
B) Theory development
C) Beneficence
D) Two-eyed seeing

Question 8

Which of the following is not a common characteristic of qualitative data analysis?

A) Objective
B) Immediate
C) Ongoing
D) Spiral

Question 9

Which of the following best represents the qualitative data analysis process?

A) Expected, surprising, unusual
B) Quantitative, qualitative, mixed methods
C) Fixed, linear, objective
D) Immediate, ongoing, spiral

Question 10

Within a qualitative study, which of the following is the primary data collection instrument?

A) Observation
B) The investigator
C) Questionnaires
D) Interviews

Question 11

What is the process of taking oral data and reproducing it as faithfully as possible as written text called?

A) Ethnodrama
B) Coding
C) Transcribing
D) Knowledge translation

Question 12

According to Creswell (2014), codes in qualitative data analysis are described as falling into what three categories?

A) Expected, surprising, unusual
B) Emotional, perceptual, cognitive
C) Green, yellow, red
D) Gender, age, socioeconomic status

Question 13

Which of the following steps in qualitative data analysis is most likely to be impacted by a researcher's philosophical worldview?

A) When they are organizing and preparing the data
B) When they are reading or looking at all the data
C) When they are starting to code all the data
D) When they are generating descriptions or themes

Question 14

According to Crocker and colleagues (2010), what are multiple interpretations of findings in qualitative research?

A) Expected and valued
B) Unexpected and discouraged
C) Expected but discouraged
D) Unexpected but valued

Question 15

Which of the following is not a reason why qualitative researchers often choose to publish qualitative research findings in a journal article?

A) Publishing research findings in a journal articles has a long history within academia.
B) Journal articles typically require a peer review process, which is considered one of the highest criteria of quality.
C) Most researchers are trained to develop writing skills directed towards publication in journal articles.
D) A requirement of qualitative research is that the findings be published in a journal article.

Question 16

Which of the following is not listed as a step among Creswell's (2014) recommended steps in the qualitative data analysis process?

A) Decide how the findings will be represented
B) Statistical significance testing
C) Organize and prepare the data
D) Start coding all the data

Question 17

Which of the following is not listed as a step among Creswell's (2014) recommended steps in the qualitative data analysis process?

A) Meta-analysis
B) Generate descriptions or themes
C) Read or look at all the data
D) Interpret the findings

Question 18

What is the first step in Creswell's (2014) recommended steps in the qualitative data analysis process?

A) Organize and prepare the data
B) Generate descriptions or themes
C) Start coding all the data
D) Interpret the findings

Question 19

Once all the data has been coded, what is the next step proposed in Creswell's (2014) recommended steps in the qualitative data analysis process?

A) Interpret the findings
B) Generate descriptions or themes
C) Start coding all the data
D) Decide how the findings will be represented

Question 20

Which of the following best describes Creswell's (2014) recommended steps in the qualitative data analysis process?

A) They are discrete steps that researchers flow naturally through in a systematic way from beginning to end.
B) Each step details activities with clear beginning and end points that are not returned to once they are complete.
C) Researchers can move between steps, often returning to earlier steps.
D) The steps are similar to the steps a researcher would follow when conducting a quantitative data analysis.

Question 21

Qualitative data analysis is a fixed linear approach, with steps in the analysis occurring sequentially one after the other.

Question 22

There is no such thing as a faulty interpretation in qualitative data analysis because qualitative research is ultimately filtered through the lens of the researcher.

Question 23

Any one method of data generation can result in many different types of data analysis.

Question 24

In a deductive data analysis process, there is an existing framework or starting list of categories by which researchers code the data.

Question 25

In a deductive data analysis process, researchers identify taxonomies, themes, or theory from the data generated in the research.

Question 26

In qualitative data analysis researchers can use an inductive data analysis process, a deductive data analysis process, or a combination of inductive and deductive processes.

Question 27

Qualitative data analysis is appropriate for written text only.

Question 28

Using a categorization matrix for coding of qualitative data is an example of an inductive data analysis process.

Question 29

Having participants review the generated descriptions or themes as part of a qualitative data analysis process can be a useful strategy in the generation of descriptions or themes that best represent the data.

Question 30

There are many different ways researchers might choose to represent the findings of a qualitative research study.

Question 31

Describe the types of errors that might occur when transcribing qualitative data.

Question 32

Describe similarities and differences between qualitative data analysis for oral data versus visual data.

Question 33

Describe the benefits of reading or looking at all of the data as a step in the qualitative data analysis process.

Question 34

Describe the two main factors that need to be considered by researchers in selecting a specific strategy for their coding process in qualitative data analysis.

Question 35

Discuss whether or not researchers should use qualitative data analysis software (QDAS) as part of their qualitative data analysis process.

Question 36

You conducted a qualitative study on five exercise participants' experiences of injury rehabilitation. Your methodology included one-on-one interviews with each participant (approximately one hour per interview), as well as a focus group interview with all participants together (approximately two hours). You audio-recorded all interviews. Describe the process that you would use to analyze the data.

Question 37

Compare and contrast qualitative data analysis and quantitative data analysis.

Question 38

Discuss factors someone conducting a qualitative research study needs to consider when deciding on whether or not to publish her or his findings in a journal article.