1.

Why do qualitative methodologists talk about serendipity in qualitative research, whereas in more
quantitative research there is less stress on it?

It is an important aspect of the lifeworld of the participant, when studying interactions.

Because there is more room for flexibility in qualitative research, it enlarges the possibility of
accidental findings.

Without reflexivity in qualitative research observations are seen as abstract descriptions.

As a philosophical position, it could be placed between realism and constructivism, which is an

2.
Question 2
Which of the following statements is false?

1 point

An ontological position entails a view on knowledge

Constructivism is an ontological position

Positivism is an epistemological position

An epistemological position entails a view on knowledge

3.
Question 3
What is the main objective of ethnography?

1 point

To be able to use a variety of methods

To write about people you usually do not meet

To be part of the social setting for a prolonged period of time

4.
Question 4
Pragmatism requires the researcher to be exclusively concerned with practical knowledge.

1 point

True

False

5.
Question 5
Participant observation does not provide:

1 point

Naturally occurring data

Contextualized data

In-depth data

Single type of data

6.
Question 6
Thick description is an in-depth and contextual description in order to represent reality as factual as
possible.

1 point

True

False

7.
Question 7
Which of the following statements is false:

Deviant cases are relevant because:

1 point

Deviant cases can provide additional support for a theory

Deviant cases are simply exceptional

Deviant cases can require modification of a theory

Deviant cases provide the best data

8.
Question 8
Theoretical saturation means that no additional data are being found whereby the sociologist can
develop properties of the category.

1 point

True

False

9.
Question 9
Which of the following is not a critique on triangulation?

1 point

Triangulation leads to a weak description of your findings

Triangulation is often used to search for a single truth, so it is by definition focused on a single,
unconstructed reality

Triangulation does lead to testing effects

It is impossible to compare an interview with an observation because you move away from the social
context of both methods
10.
Question 10
Abduction works like this:

The surprising fact, C, is observed; But if A were true, C would be a matter of course, hence, A is
true

1 point

True

False

11.
Question 11
Abduction in qualitative research is:

1 point

A criterion for rigorous research

A form of kidnapping ideas and building conspiracy theories

A creative and appealing form of guessing

An analytical tool for doing focused observations in waiting rooms

12.
Question 12
Qualitative researchers tend to focus strongly on details as well as context. What is not an issue with
the focus on details?

1 point

Inattentional blindness

A focus on details is too much quick and dirty work

For a focus on details the issue is on the range and depth of the focus: where to start description and
where to end description?
Details and context are both independent of a researchers knowledge of the local situation

13.
Question 13
Qualitative researchers see the use of sensitizing concepts as key to good theoretical
understanding, why?

1 point

A sensitizing concept gives a definitive sense of reference and guidance in approaching empirical
instances

A sensitizing concept is a very concrete/clear-cut concept and defines exactly what specific empirical
instances to look for

A sensitizing concept gives a temporary sense of reference and guidance in approaching empirical
instances

A sensitizing concept is a stable concept, which defines exactly what specific empirical instances to
look for

14.
Question 14
In the lecture it was argued that reflexivity could be seen as a confession on three levels. Which level
was not considered in the lecture?

1 point

Theory

Ethical

Personal

Method

15.
Question 15
Generalisation is a big issue in more quantitative social research. In qualitative research:
1 point

Many qualitative researchers generalise less to statistical representation, but more to populations

Many qualitative researchers generalise less to variation, but more to deviant cases

Qualitative researchers just don’t care about generalisation

Many qualitative researchers generalise less to statistical representation, but more to variation

16.
Question 16
Which of the following forms of is not a form of theoretical saturation?

1 point

Saturation by using redundancy

Saturation by using variation

Saturation by using theory

Saturation by using complete representation

17.
Question 17
In naturalism social researchers are considered as part of the social world they study.

1 point

True

False

18.
Question 18
Which epistemological position fits this quote:

“Social reality has a specific meaning and relevance structure for the beings living, acting, and
thinking within it”
1 point

Positivist position

Pragmatist position

Interpretivist position

Realist position

19.
Question 19
Which of the following philosophical positions places “natural” knowledge between brackets:

1 point

Hermeneutics

Pragmatism

Positivism

Phenomenology

20.
Question 20
Which of the following methods is central to Ethnography?

1 point

Document analysis

Participant observation

Surveys

Biographical interviews
21.
Question 21
Dramaturgical sociology as an observational paradigm entails:

1 point

Focusing on how people act, interact and form relationships to determine meaning

Focusing on the city and dealing with private and public

Focusing on the forms of social interaction & social types

Focusing on self-observation and auto-ethnography

22.
Question 22
Selective observation (Spradley, 1980) is focused on comparisons and nuances.

1 point

True

False

23.
Question 23
A researcher can win authority based on rhetorics only, by showing the hardships he or she went
through in the research.

1 point

True

False

24.
Question 24
The problem with a focus is:

1 point

Confirmation bias
Sampling bias

Respondent validation

Deliberate blindness

25.
Question 25
People use Symbolic transformation (Lofland, 1973) as a way of privatising public space

1 point

True

False

26.
Question 26
What to note when taking field notes in an observational study depends on:

1 point

Your research question

Your writing skills

Your personal interests

The results you expect to get

27.
Question 27
A woman is screaming at her partner in the supermarket. They are a fighting couple.

This is an example of interpretation

1 point

True
False

28.
Question 28
When working with multiple interviewers on the same study, a structured coding scheme enhances:

1 point

Internal reliability

External validity

Credibility

Internal validity

29.
Question 29
Which of the following is the not a type of triangulation?

1 point

Triangulation of informants

Triangulation of methods

Triangulation of ontology

Triangulation of researchers

30.
Question 30
In qualitative research following strict procedures is crucial

1 point

True
False

Q2

1.
Question 1
Which of the following is not a vision of interviewing?

1 point

Interview as a topic and a tunnel

Interview as a method

Interview as a tunnel (to the truth)

Interview as a topic

2.
Question 2
Which of the following types are types of Grounded Theories?

1 point

Substantive and formal theories

World system and rational choice theories

Grand and middle-range theories

Objective and subjective theories

3.
Question 3
What is most important about rapport in interviewing?

1 point

It makes interviewing more fun for the researcher and the interviewee
It increases the chance that the interviewee will participate in future research

It is good for your self-esteem as and interviewer and your reputation as a kind person

It is also task-oriented behaviour and thus helps to enhance data quality

4.
Question 4
What is used by definition in a semi-structured qualitative interview?

1 point

Open questions

Predefined sequence of questions

Closed questions

Undefined sequence of questions

5.
Question 5
Which of the following three aspects are used in all approaches in qualitative analysis?

1 point

Data collection, transcribing and analysing

Data collection, interpreting and analysing

Interpreting, describing and analysing

Describing, analysing and generalising

6.
Question 6
Analytic Induction and Grounded Theory are both rather inductive methods:
1 point

False

True

7.
Question 7
What is the main objective of Grounded Theory?

1 point

To generalize to a population

To describe data grounded in theory

To develop a pure methodology

To develop a theory based on data

8.
Question 8
Why is coding in Grounded Theory so important?

1 point

Coding is one of the good practices of qualitative research

Coding is a way to organise the constant comparison of data with data, data with concepts and
categories

Coding enhances the quality of your research, because codes are short summaries

Coding helps you to confirm your newly developed theory by testing your codes

9.
Question 9
According to Charmaz the ontological position of a Grounded Theory researcher should be objectivist

1 point
False

True

10.
Question 10
Some approaches of qualitative analysis are iterative. What does iterative mean?

1 point

That the researcher goes back and forward between data and theoretical claims

That the researcher repeats the data collection after finding contradictory cases

That the researcher follows the research cycle step by step

That the researcher uses triangulation of methods

11.
Question 11
To ensure the best quality of gathered information using open interviews, the best probing tactic is by
definition:

1 point

Accommodating

Encouraging

Challenging

It does not matter, probing techniques are more important

12.
Question 12
Reflexivity is not a part of the writing process

1 point
True

False

13.
Question 13
Mixing methods could be useful because:

1 point

Quantitative methods are inferior to qualitative methods, so by mixing the quality of the research will
increase

Quantitative methods and qualitative methods are incompatible

Qualitative methods are inferior to quantitative methods, so by mixing the quality of the research will
increase

Quantitative methods and qualitative methods could complement each other

14.
Question 14
There are five focal points in ethics, which of the following is not a focal point:

1 point

Informed consent

Utilisation

Do no harm

Privacy

15.
Question 15
An interview is a conversation with a purpose.

1 point
False

True

16.
Question 16
The purpose of the interview as a topic is:

1 point

To obtain useful information about events and facts of the life of the interviewee

To obtain useful information about stories and the life world of the interviewee

To obtain useful information about emotions and experiences facts of the interviewee

To obtain useful information through observation of the interview

17.
Question 17
Behaviour in interviews can be oriented towards:

1 point

The interviewee as a person

The interview as a technique

The interviewee as an object

The interview as a good practice

18.
Question 18
As a result of Oakley’s (1981) critique on the interview as a power game, in the literature the
emphasis shifted towards:

1 point
The interviewer as an expert

The interview as a neutral method of research

Stronger focus on rapport, trust and reciprocity

The interviewee as inferior to the interviewer

19.
Question 19
Probing means to respond to replies from the interviewee with the aim to ask as many questions as
possible within a limited amount of time.

1 point

True

False

20.
Question 20
Which of the following statements about content analysis and analytic induction is true?

1 point

Analytic induction is a more sequential approach

Content analysis is a more sequential approach

Analytic induction is by definition less rigorous

Content analysis is by definition less rigorous

21.
Question 21
Framework analysis can be seen a version of content analysis.

1 point
False

True

22.
Question 22
Which of the following characteristics is not a key characteristic of Framework analysis

1 point

Framework analysis expands data

Framework analysis retains links to original data

Framework analysis works with hierarchies of themes and sub-themes

Framework analysis is both a case and theme based approach

23.
Question 23
The difference between Framework Analysis and Content Analysis is:

1 point

Framework analysis has strict interpretation rules, whereas content analysis has not.

Framework analysis reduces data through summaries and synthesis, whereas content analysis does
not.

Framework analysis entails coding the data, whereas content analysis does not.

Framework analysis has clear definitions of codes, whereas content analysis has not.

24.
Question 24
According to Karl Popper (1959) verification is crucial for the scientific method.

1 point
False

True

25.
Question 25
One of the objectives of qualitative writing is to account for the author’s choices in the application of
research methods.

1 point

False

True

26.
Question 26
A realist tale involves:

1 point

A narrative format

A distanced author

A clearly visible author

Multiple interpretations of the studied life world

27.
Question 27
A common weakness of quite some published qualitative research studies is:

1 point

It has no weaknesses

Lack of subjectivity
Lack of flexibility

Lack of transparency

28.
Question 28
Ethical considerations are important in qualitative research:

1 point

Because researchers have a responsibility towards the people under study

To gain authority in the field

To uphold your reputation as a researcher

Because of ethical boards

29.
Question 29
Self-Doubt is the enemy of any researcher.

1 point

False

True

30.
Question 30
If you consider the interview as a topic, rather than a tunnel, you tend to have a more

1 point

Emotionalist view of the interview

Objectivist view of the interview

Constructivist view of the interview