Study Guide

Research Design & Exploratory Research

Chapter 6 in your text, posted materials, lecture notes and in-class assignments

• What are the advantages and disadvantages of using qualitative research?
• What is exploratory research?  Be able to identify and discuss each type of exploratory research.
• What is a projective technique? How are projective techniques advantageous? Why can projective techniques be problematic? If provided with a projective technique type, be able to describe it and provide an example or if given a scenario, you should be able to identify the projective technique used.
• What is an in-depth interview?  What is a focus group?
• Be able to identify and discuss the advantages and disadvantages of an in-depth interview.
• When might you use an in-depth interview versus a focus group? Explain.
• What is laddering?  If given a scenario, you should be able to provide a laddering sequence.
• Be able to identify and discuss the advantages and disadvantages of focus group.
• Be able to describe and discuss the general characteristics of a focus group. Be able to discuss key parameters of a focus group.
• If given a scenario, you should be able to identify the type of focus group being described.
• You should be able to discuss the parameters in planning a focus group or if given a scenario, you should be able to address any questions as to how to best plan the focus group (e.g. what type of participants to be recruited).
• Why is the moderator so important to a focus group? What are some characteristics of a good moderator?  What can be problematic in a moderator?
• You should be able to describe the three primary components of a focus group session.
• What is a moderator's guide?  If provided with a scenario, you should be able to provide a brief outline.
• What is a debriefing analysis?  Why is this important?
• Be able to discuss some of the various problems that may occur in a focus group.