Master Qualitative Research Methods in Politics: A Comprehensive Guide

Question 1

In participant observation, the researcher primarily:

Accepted Answer

Interacts with participants as an active participant

Answer

Observes participants from a detached distance

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Interviews participants in a structured manner

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Analyzes written documents and artifacts

Question 2

The primary purpose of focus group research is to:

Accepted Answer

Explore diverse perspectives on a particular topic

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Generate new ideas and insights

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Test the validity of a predetermined hypothesis

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Collect quantifiable statistical data

Question 3

For qualitative research, which type of research question is most appropriate?

Accepted Answer

Questions exploring the experiences of individuals or groups

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Questions seeking to establish causal relationships

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Questions evaluating the effectiveness of interventions

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Questions comparing two or more groups using statistical tests

Question 4

When studying political behaviour using qualitative research, which method would be most appropriate for investigating voters' motivations and beliefs?

Accepted Answer

In-depth interviews with a small number of voters

Answer

Content analysis of campaign speeches

Answer

Large-scale survey research

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Participant observation at political rallies

Question 5

Which defining characteristic distinguishes participant observation as a qualitative research method?

Accepted Answer

Extended immersion in the research setting

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Limited researcher involvement in the research setting

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Reliance on pre-determined interview questions

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Focus on generating quantitative data

Question 6

What is a primary benefit of employing qualitative research methods?

Accepted Answer

Gathering in-depth and nuanced data

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Generalizing findings to a broad population

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Measuring variables with great accuracy

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Conducting research swiftly and effectively

Question 7

Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of qualitative research methods often used in political science?

Accepted Answer

Reliance on numerical data

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Emphasis on meaning and context

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Focus on the experiences of individuals

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Holistic approach

Question 8

For a research project seeking to gain in-depth insights from a specific group of people, which sampling technique is most appropriate?

Accepted Answer

Purposive sampling

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Simple random sampling

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Stratified sampling

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Quota sampling

Question 9

Participant observation, a qualitative research method, involves:

Accepted Answer

Directly observing and recording behavior in a natural setting

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Conducting interviews with participants

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Analyzing written documentation

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Experimentally manipulating variables

Question 10

Thematic analysis, a qualitative data analysis technique, is commonly used to:

Accepted Answer

Identify and analyze recurring themes and patterns in qualitative data

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Test statistical hypotheses

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Quantify and summarize data

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Develop grounded theory

Question 11

Interpretive research approaches in qualitative research emphasize:

Accepted Answer

Understanding the subjective experiences of individuals

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Objectivity and generalization of findings

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Rigorous quantitative data analysis

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Testing predefined hypotheses

Question 12

A major challenge in qualitative data analysis is:

Accepted Answer

The potential for subjective interpretation

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The need for extremely large sample sizes

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The difficulty in generalizing findings to a wider population

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The absence of quantitative measures

Question 13

Mixed methods research, combining qualitative and quantitative approaches, involves:

Accepted Answer

Integrating both qualitative and quantitative data and methods

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Using exclusively qualitative or quantitative methods

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Focusing solely on a single research question

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Simply replicating previous research findings

Question 14

What is a primary advantage of practicing reflexivity in qualitative research?

Accepted Answer

Increases researcher awareness of their own biases and assumptions

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Simplifies the triangulation of findings

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Guarantees the validity of research results

Question 15

Which of the following is NOT a type of qualitative research question?

Accepted Answer

Causal

Answer

Descriptive

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Exploratory

Question 16

When analyzing qualitative data, it is important to:

Accepted Answer

Identify themes and patterns

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Quantify the data for statistical analysis

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Focus solely on the direct responses from participants

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Ignore any subjective interpretations

Question 17

Which of the following is NOT an ethical consideration when conducting qualitative research?

Accepted Answer

Exploiting participants for personal gain

Answer

Protecting participant confidentiality

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Obtaining informed consent

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Maintaining transparency in research methods

Question 18

Participant observation is particularly well-suited for research that aims to:

Accepted Answer

Understand hidden behaviors and interactions

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Generate numerical data for statistical analysis

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Test hypotheses about political phenomena

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Measure public opinion on specific issues

Question 19

Which software tool is specifically designed for managing and analyzing qualitative research data, allowing for efficient handling of large datasets?

Accepted Answer

NVivo

Answer

SPSS

Answer

Excel

Answer

R

Question 20

Which of the following is NOT a potential bias that can arise in qualitative research?

Accepted Answer

Experimenter bias

Answer

Researcher bias

Answer

Participant bias

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Sampling bias

Question 21

Which technique is commonly used to assess data saturation in qualitative research?

Accepted Answer

Identifying recurring themes and patterns in the data

Answer

Comparing transcripts line-by-line

Answer

Counting the number of participants interviewed

Answer

Using statistical software to analyze the data