A researcher is interested in studying the experiences of gay ...

[lindiwe]

A researcher is interested in studying the experiences of gay (G), lesbian (L), and transgender (T) youth in the middle school setting.
 
  With parental consent and the students' assent to participate, she provided a group of 12 students with disposable digital cameras and had them each take 15 photos that illustrate their experiences, both positive and negative, as a GLT adolescent. The researcher then developed the photos and asked participants to discuss what they documented. This is an example of what type of qualitative data collection technique?
  a. Thick description
  b. Photovoice or photo novella
  c. Participatory research
  d. Data immersion

Question 2

The qualitative researcher's awareness of personal biases and past experiences that might influence his or her responses to participants or their data so that the data can be honestly and intellectually analyzed is termed
 
  a. An etic view
  b. Reflexivity
  c. A co-constructive process
  d. An emic view

[mk6555]

Answer to Question 1

ANS: B
Photovoice (or photo novella) is a technique for gathering data from participants that reflect their individual perspectives of a phenomenon. This strategy involves asking individuals to record their experiences and perceptions with photos that are then analyzed for meaning with input from participants. Thick description is a term used to describe a richness and depth of information gathered from effective qualitative interviews. Involving study participants in collecting data via taking digital photographs would be a participatory strategy but is not specific term for this technique. Data immersion is a term commonly used to describe the researcher's experience of being immersed and fully invested in reading and thinking about the data.

Answer to Question 2

ANS: B
Reflexivity is the term used to describe the researcher's awareness of personal biases and past experiences that might influence how he or she responds to the participants and analyzes data in an intellectually honest way. An etic view is one that reflects the outsider's perspective and tends to occur when the qualitative interviewer is not careful about establishing a relationship characterized by openness and trust. As a result, the view of the phenomenon obtained by the interviewer is an outsider's perspective. The co-constructive process is a term used to describe the mutual influence the qualitative researcher and the study participant have on one another in generating findings. An emic view is the perspective of the participant. Qualitative interviewers should interact with the participants in a way that is open, fosters trust, and encourages the emic (or participant's) view to emerge.