Chapter 13- Qualitative Data Analysis

1. Which of the following is true of the roles played by the researchers in the Austin Homeless Study? A) Anderson and Snow conducted independent field observations in order to check the reliability of their observations. B) While in the field, Snow performed the role of seasoned veteran while Anderson acted as a newcomer to the area. C) Anderson blended the roles of researcher and friend as he “hung out” with the homeless. D) Anderson assumed the role of a homeless person by living among the homeless for a period of six months. 2. Which of the following sequences would not be possible in qualitative analysis? A) collect data  prepare data  identify patterns and relationships  draw conclusions B) collect data  prepare data  identify patterns and relationships  collect data C) prepare data  identify patterns and relationships  collect data  draw conclusions D) prepare data  identify patterns and relationships  draw conclusions  collect data E) collect data  identify patterns and relationships  prepare data  draw conclusions 3. Which of the following sequences most accurately describes data preparation in qualitative analysis? A) transform data to readable text  edit and clean data  manage data B) manage data  edit and clean data  transform data to readable text C) manage data  transform data to readable text  edit and clean data D) edit and clean data  transform data to readable text  manage data 4. Which of the following is true of recording errors in qualitative data? A) Fewer errors occur in recording textual than numerical data. B) Field researchers may ask informants to read their notes as a way of identifying errors. C) The quality of interviews determines whether errors occur in interview transcription. D) Trying to provide too much detail is the greatest source of errors for novice researchers. 5. Which of the following methods is most likely to be used in the early stages of qualitative analysis as a way of organizing the data? A) attribute coding B) analytic memo Page 1

C) code memo D) data matrix 6. Snow and Anderson organized their field notes into files consisting of settings, homeless individuals, and A) homeless support groups. B) sources of food and shelter. C) activity spheres. D) cultural domains. 7. In the homeless study, distancing, embracement, and fictive story telling are labels for A) patterns of identity talk. B) stages in homeless careers. C) different public reactions to the homeless. D) forms of extrication from the street. 8. A code memo in qualitative analysis communicates the __________ of a concept. A) conceptual definition B) operational definition C) level of measurement D) estimated reliability 9. To develop ideas from their data, qualitative analysts do all but which one of the following? A) ask questions about the data B) write memos C) construct data displays D) code the data into categories based on hypotheses that informed the research 10. Which way of summarizing textual data identifies types and dimensions of concepts? A) taxonomy B) data matrix C) typology D) flow chart 11. Taxonomy is to typology as _________ is to __________. A) biology; sociology B) dimension; concept Page 2

17. In her initial coding of an interview, Charmaz used the terms “taking action,” “learning the facts,” “meeting resistance,” and “seeking justice” to describe her interviewee's account of returning to work after an illness. These terms illustrate which type of coding advocated by grounded theory methods? A) realistic coding B) mimic coding C) in vivo coding D) action coding 18. Consistent with the aims of grounded theory, theoretical sampling is used to A) select research sites relevant to the theoretical aims of the research. B) select cases that are likely to be theoretically rich. C) select observations or interviewees that theoretically maximize variability. D) select observations or interviewees to develop aspects of an emerging theory. 19. The constant-comparative method is a general analytic strategy of A) grounded theory methods. B) narrative analysis. C) conversation analysis. D) historical analysis. 20. The object of narrative analysis is to A) use observations and interviews to create a narrative of a group or event. B) examine the structure and meaning of stories derived from interviews and other sources. C) create a single story line from divergent accounts of the same event. D) use reflexivity to create a chronologically accurate analysis. 21. Which of the following is true of Kathleen Blee's study of women in racist organizations? A) It is based on field research on racist organizations. B) It is based on life history interviews. C) It showed that family ties best explained women's conversion to racist beliefs. D) It illustrates the efficacy of theoretical sampling. 22. Conversation analysis uses the Jeffersonian method to combine the transcription of the content of communication with A) a record of gestures and facial expressions. B) the classification of gender, class, and other differences between communicators. C) a shorthand notation to indicate pauses, volume or loudness, and other details. Page 4

D) an account of the surrounding context of the communication. 23. Qualitative analysis is a linear process that starts with data collection moves to data preparation and coding and ends with analysis and interpretation. A) True B) False 24. Preparing for qualitative data analysis involves transforming observations and interviews into readable text. A) True B) False 25. A common error in the field notes of beginning field researchers is the omission of important information. A) True B) False 26. Transcription errors are avoidable if the interviewers themselves do the transcription. A) True B) False 27. The primary objective of attribute coding is to manage the data. A) True B) False 28. Qualitative analysis in field research may begin with the coding of actors and settings. A) True B) False 29. Interviewers file their data electronically, whereas field researchers always use a physical filing system. A) True B) False 30. To code interview data, researchers often use transcript lines as the coding unit. A) True Page 5

39. Some grounded theorists advise researchers to analyze their data while ignoring existing theory and research. A) True B) False 40. In vivo and action coding are only used in the later, “focused” phase of the grounded theory technique. A) True B) False 41. In vivo coding reflects grounded theory's emphasis on using participants' voices. A) True B) False 42. Unlike other forms of qualitative analysis, memo-writing plays a minor role in grounded theory methods. A) True B) False 43. Identification of “complicating actions” is part of narrative analysis. A) True B) False 44. Conversation analysis emphasizes the meaning of the spoken or written word. A) True B) False 45. The Jeffersonian method uses shorthand notation to identify aspects of communication other than the spoken word. A) True B) False 46. Compare data processing in quantitative analysis with data preparation in qualitative analysis. How do these processes differ and how are the same? 47. Using the concepts of attribute coding, code memos, taxonomy, and typology, describe how qualitative analysis moves from relatively concrete to increasingly abstract Page 7

interpretations of the data. 48. In Chapter 12, the authors remind you that “data analysis is part of a cycle of inquiry that takes place whenever theory and data are compared.” Explain when and how this comparison occurs in qualitative data analysis. Then describe how this process differs from quantitative data analysis. Page 8

45. A 46. 47. 48. Page 10