1) Over the past 16 years, only two building permits for new housing construction have been issued in Sedgwick County, Colorado. This is consistent with the depopulation (particularly of younger persons) and economic diminution that is attributed to a declining rainfall since the 1970s. These are quantitative details. It is unclear how much of the depopulation was due to perceived opportunities elsewhere, to copycat or fad behavior, and to perceived change in local economic opportunity. Is qualitative analysis more likely to identify the leading cause of Sedgwick County's out-migration than are quantitative econometric methods? Why or why not? Which characteristics of qualitative research exerted the most influence as you formed your view on this topic?
2) Much has been written on the self-perceived ability of individuals to change the nature of their lives (Rotter, 1990; Judge & Bono, 2001). While many psychologists interpret ideas such as "locus of control" and "self-efficacy" as individually variable personality characteristics, they may actually reflect worldviews of a nation, ethnic group, or geographic community. How might these worldviews affect the self-perceived ability of individuals to change the nature of their lives? How should these worldviews be addressed or compensated for in the scholarly research?
3) It is impossible to interview all participants in a study simultaneously. They almost always have the opportunity to discuss the interview contents with persons not yet interviewed. Is all influence of such discussions necessarily negative? Why or why not? What is the most effective way for researchers to minimize this influence? Why?
4) Focus on What is a theoretical foundation of a research study? Researchers often say that determining the theoretical foundation is the most difficult part of a research study. Do you agree or disagree with that? Why? What theory or model do you intend to use as the foundation for your research study? Why should the theory or model be used for your intended study?
5) Frost (2011) presents a definition of triangulation that extends beyond the traditional notion of the term. Why might this extension be viewed by traditional researchers as controversial? Is this extension valid and meaningful for qualitative researchers? Why or why not?
6) Researchers commonly consider the effects of their studies on the direct study participants and take action to mitigate any potential harm to these participants during the data collection process. What indirect study participants might exist in a qualitative research study? How should researchers mitigate the potential ethical issues surrounding the involvement of these indirect participants?
7) Consider the Ute Mountain Utes, a Native American tribe in Colorado. Tourism is a key part of that group's income. Suppose that a national economic problem similar to the economic collapse of late 2008 greatly reduced tourism and derived income for this population. Would an ethnographic approach or a phenomenological approach be the more effective means to understand the impacts of that event 5 years later? Why?
8) Ethnography and phenomenology both have roots in grounded theory. What aspects of the data collection and analysis procedures might prompt psychological researchers to act as Frost (2011) suggests and discount ethnography as a research approach? Why?