Deck 10: Observing People in Natural Settings

Question 1

Mr.Marsh is a poor notetaker.What suggestion might be most helpful for him while doing his field research?

A)Make a few notes in the field and immediately after write down all his memories.
B)Don't take any notes;just start writing the paper right away.
C)In 10-minute increments alternate notetaking and observing over and over again.
D)Hire a secretary to accompany him into the field.

Answer 1

A

Question 2

A gatekeeper

A)can limit access to a field site.
B)holds a specific key ring.
C)is a formal role only.
D)is not an issue that the field researcher must address.

Answer 2

A

Question 3

Mr.Marsh writes the following in his notes: "the cashier had a bad hairdo." What would be a better way to describe the cashier's hair for field notes?

A)The cashier had weird hair that other people stared at.
B)The cashier's hair didn't match his outfit.
C)The cashier had an unusual hairdo.
D)The cashier had combed his jet-black hair straight forward over his eyes.

Answer 3

D

Question 4

Choosing people using a routine,special,or unanticipated focus is called

A)field choice.
B)population selection.
C)sampling.
D)field selection.

Question 5

What is the most common ethical issue in field research?

A)deceit
B)confidentiality
C)privacy
D)gossip

Question 6

Which of the following is NOT preparation for doing a field study?

A)increasing self-awareness
B)downloading music for field study
C)practice observing and writing
D)conducting background investigation

Question 7

Three major issues to consider when entering the field include: presentation of self,social role,and what other issue?

A)empathy
B)disclosure
C)professionalism
D)comfort

Question 8

Cultural knowledge has two parts,explicit and

A)textile.
B)explanatory.
C)tacit.
D)tactile.

Question 9

One of the essential steps in starting a field research project is

A)selecting a competent assistant.
B)selecting a field site.
C)selecting an appropriate website for future blogs.
D)selecting reading materials for entertainment while waiting for something to happen.

Question 10

Which of the following is NOT a factor affecting a researcher's choice of a field site?

A)substitution- using another similar site
B)richness- more interesting data
C)suitability- practical issues
D)containment- sustained social interaction within a bounded space

Question 11

Field researchers have strategies that they tailor to the field site and their background.Which of those strategies is listed below?

A)being an earnest novice
B)being absolutely silent
C)provoking conflict
D)using odd facial expressions

Question 12

Mr.Marsh is "concerned" that nothing seems to be happening in his field research.What should he do?

A)Be patient,the relevance may not be apparent until the information is reviewed.
B)Be patient,but make personal deadlines to keep himself on track.
C)Stop the research immediately and move onto another subject.
D)Take notes for one more hour and then review his notes.

Question 13

Which of the following is true when developing strategies for success in the field?

A)The researcher does not develop social relationships,keeping a distant perspective with people in the field site.
B)There is no exchange between the researcher and the people at the field site.
C)A researcher should appear interested in people and events of a field site.
D)A researcher should appear aloof with the people and events of a field site.

Question 14

When observing and collecting data

A)the researcher becomes the data collection instrument.
B)the physical environment of the site is not of concern.
C)the individual physical characteristics of the people are typically not recorded.
D)the researcher is not responsible for his conduct.

Question 15

What three types of questions do field researchers ask when interviewing?

A)descriptive,structural,and contrast questions
B)descriptive,unstructured,and contrast questions
C)definition,structural,and contrast questions
D)definition,structural,and substantive questions

Question 16

Which of the following is NOT a level of field notes?

A)jotted notes
B)personal notes
C)suggested notes
D)direct observation notes

Question 17

Tacit knowledge includes

A)time as given by a timepiece.
B)book references.
C)unspoken cultural norms.
D)a journal reference.

Question 18

As a researcher learns how to fit in by learning rules,customs,etc. ,he/she does what?

A)normalizes
B)play acts
C)negotiates
D)lies

Question 19

The purpose of ethnography is

A)to provide a description of a population using historical documents.
B)to provide a description of a way of life from the standpoint of its insiders.
C)to explain why a specific religious sect uses varies articles of worship from the viewpoint of political candidates.
D)to provide a description of a population sample with historical and political documents.

Question 20

Self-awareness in the context of preparing for field research means

A)attending support classes.
B)being aware of a researcher's own personal concerns.
C)writing an autobiography.
D)attending a self-awareness meeting.

Question 21

Building relationships through doing small favors,appearing interested,and avoiding conflicts are all strategies for success in field research.

Question 22

A researcher may need to negotiate for access to new areas as his research focus develops.

Question 23

What is the difference between explicit and tacit knowledge?

Question 24

Structural questions

A)are never used in field research.
B)are the same as contrast questions.
C)are the same as descriptive questions.
D)are asked after a researcher has organized specific field events into preliminary conceptual categories.

Question 25

A gatekeeper can be intimidating;a researcher may need to negotiate with him/her.

Question 26

What is true of audio or video recordings in field research?

A)They can be introduced into all field notes.
B)People in the field do not see them as a threat.
C)Recorders save a great deal of time.
D)Recorders frequently miss action or are out of range.

Question 27

What does normalizing the social research mean?

Question 28

The best guide to attire in the field is to respect oneself and the people one is studying.

Question 29

A specialized qualitative research technique that involves informal group interviews about a topic is a(n)

A)integrated group.
B)meeting group.
C)teleconference group.
D)focus group.

Question 30

A focus group is usually conducted by telephone.

Question 31

Dr.Mottle has been developing relationships within the community where she is conducting her field research.To gain trust she has been helping out with some of the chores in the local store.This is an example of possible strategies that build success in the field.

Question 32

Tacit knowledge is what remains unseen or unstated in field research.

Question 33

Questions that focus on similarities are called

A)contrast questions.
B)structural questions.
C)similarity questions.
D)descriptive questions.

Question 34

What does "being an earnest novice" mean?

Question 35

A field site or setting is a fixed physical location.

Question 36

Being in the field is the last stage in doing a field research study.

Question 37

What does "going native" mean in deciding on a degree of involvement in field research?

Question 38

An informant in field research

A)is a member in the field site with whom a researcher develops a relationship and who tells the researcher details about life in the field state.
B)is a member of the research team with whom a researcher develops a field relationship.
C)is not a member of the research team,but monitors the research for the researcher.
D)who goes undercover for the legal authorities.

Question 39

In getting organized for a field study a researcher begins the process with a narrow question or specific hypothesis.

Question 40

Name three types of field site events that a researcher can sample.

Question 41

A member in a field site with whom a researcher develops a relationship and who tells the researcher many details about life in the field state is called a(n)______.

Question 42

What is the difference between jotted notes and direct observational notes?

Question 43

In field research,a(n)______ is the instrument for acquiring field data.

Question 44

A(n)______ of strangeness is a perspective in which the field researcher questions and notices ordinary details by looking at the ordinary through the eyes of a stranger.

Question 45

When a researcher learns to act as if she cares and is not bored or distracted,she maintains a(n)______.

Question 46

Three types of field site events for sampling include: routine,______,and unanticipated.

Question 47

A type of field sampling where events occur over and again the same way is called ______ sampling.

Question 48

______ is not the same as sympathy,agreement,or approval.It means to see,feel,and think as another person does.

Question 49

Researchers ask three types of field interview questions,______,structural,and contrast questions.

Question 50

The purpose of ______ is to provide a detailed description and up-close understanding of a way of life from the standpoint of its natives or members.

Question 51

What does "performing small favors" mean in the context of strategies for success in the field?

Question 52

What is the most common ethical issue in field research?

Question 53

What four factors affect a researcher's choice of a field research site?

Question 54

What three issues should be considered when entering the field?

Question 55

A(n)______ group is a qualitative research technique that involves informal group interviews about a topic.

Question 56

Very short notes of a few words,written inconspicuously in the field site and used only to trigger memory later are called ______ notes.

Question 57

_________ is the most common ethical issue that field researchers face.

Question 58

Someone who has formal or informal authority to control access to a field site is a(n)______.

Question 59

_________ questions focus on the similarities or differences among the categories,processes,or aspects after structural questions.

Question 60

______ is the principle that we learn best by observing ordinary events in a natural setting,not in a contrived,invented,or researcher-created setting.

Question 61

Discuss explicit and tacit knowledge.What do the terms mean to the social researcher?

Question 62

Differentiate a typical survey interview versus a typical field interview in three different aspects.

Question 63

Mr.Marsh's field study involves observation of family and friends while they wait for their loved one in the emergency room waiting area.He formally asked and gained permission of the hospital administrator,the ER director,and the head ER physician to conduct the research study.An hour into his field work,an ER nurse takes him aside and tells him that two people have complained that he is "creeping them out" and asks him who he is and what he is doing in the waiting area.When he tells the nurse what he is doing,she tells him that he does NOT have her permission to conduct his research.The nurse is someone with the formal or informal authority to control access to the field site.How should Mr.Marsh proceed? Write two paragraphs on possible "next steps" for Mr.Marsh to continue his research.

Question 64

Discuss three strategies for success in field researcher,i.e.what are they,and how are they accomplished?

Question 65

Four factors affecting a researcher's choice of a field research site are containment,richness,unfamiliarity,and suitability.Discuss what each means and its importance to the field research.