Instructor Resource

Creswell, Qualitative Inquiry and Research Design 4e

SAGE Publishing, 2018
Chapter 6 Test: Introducing & Focusing the Study
Test Bank
Multiple Choice

1. Reasons for conducting a qualitative study include which of the following?

a. Address a research problem.
b. Give voice to an underrepresented group.
c. Understand causal connections.
d. Use qualitative data analysis software.
Ans: B

2. A researcher may develop a research map in relationship to which element of a qualitative

study’s introduction?
a. Topic
b. Research problem
c. Scholarly literature
d. Audiences or stakeholders
e. Purpose statement
Ans: C

3. Which of the following components are most important in a qualitative introduction?

a. Author’s biographical background.
b. The need for the study.
c. The research site.
d. The research participants.
Ans: A

4. The central question should

a. Start with why
b. Start with how
c. Start with when
d. Start with where
Ans: B

5. The purpose statement includes the following components:

a. Evidence from the literature
b. Reasons for the study
c. The audiences to profit
d. Definition of the central phenomenon
Ans: D

6. According to Spradley (1979, 1980), which of the following is an example of a “grand tour”
question?
a. “Tell me about yourself?”
b. “Tell me about your family members?”
c. “How are you doing today?”
d. “How do you feel about participating in this study?”
Ans: A
 Instructor Resource
Creswell, Qualitative Inquiry and Research Design 4e
SAGE Publishing, 2018

7. Components of a central question include each of the following except:

a. Approach to inquiry
b. Central phenomenon
c. Participants
d. Literature reference
Ans: D

8. How many subquestions do Creswell and Poth recommend?

a. Two questions
b. 3–4 questions
c. 5–7 questions
d. 8–10 questions
Ans: C

9. For an ethnographic study, the subquestions focus on detailed aspects of a culture-sharing

group. The detailed aspects could include which of the following:
a. What theory they seek
b. Economic way of life
c. How the researcher gained access to the group
d. The major assertions
Ans: B

10. Identify the central phenomenon in the following passage: “The purpose of the present study
is to conceptualize engagement as both theoretical and methodological in relation to social
movements.” (Clair, 2012)*
a. The present study
b. Conceptualize engagement
c. Theoretical and methodological
d. Social movements
Ans: B
* Clair (2012) is a supplemental article listed with chapter 5 ancillaries. The reference is: Clair,
R. P. (2012). Engaged ethnography and the story(ies) of the anti-sweatshop movement.
Cultural Studies <-> Critical Methodologies, 12(2), 132‒145.
doi:10.1177/1532708611435212

11. Identify the central phenomenon in the following passage: “The purpose of this intrinsic case
study was to investigate two homeschooled undergraduates’ decisions to become and remain
music education majors.” (Parker, 2011)*
a. Intrinsic case study
b. Homeschooled undergraduates
c. Decisions
d. Music education majors
Ans: C
*Parker (2011) is a supplemental article listed with chapter 5 ancillaries. The reference is:
Parker, E. C. (2011). An intrinsic case study of two homeschooled undergraduates’
decisions to become and remain music education majors. Journal of Music Teacher
Education, 21(2), 54-68. doi:10.1177/1057083711412782

12. Creswell and Poth suggests the following central question for Chan (2009):
 Instructor Resource
Creswell, Qualitative Inquiry and Research Design 4e
SAGE Publishing, 2018
What are the conflicting stories of ethnic identity that Ai Mei experienced in her school,
with her peers, and with her family? Which of the following is the best potential
subquestions related to this central question?
a. What family experiences does Ai Mei describe as influential to her ethnic identity?
b. What are the core beliefs of Ai Mei’s cultural group?
c. What does it mean to be ill while in school?
d. What is the educational background of Ai Mei’s teachers?
Ans: A

13. A potential research question for Anderson and Spencer’s (2002) study is “What meaning do
41 men and 17 women with a diagnosis of AIDS ascribe to their illness?” Which of the following
is encoding the approach?
a. Illness
b. Diagnosis of AIDS
c. Meaning
d. Central phenomenon
Ans: C

14. Asmussen and Creswell (1995) conducted a case study to describe and interpret a campus
response to a gun incident. Which of the following is the best subquestion?
a. Why did the campus respond as they did?
b. What meaning did the gunman ascribe to the even?
c. What happened during the event?
d. How did the campus culture evolve?
Ans: C

15. What is missing from the following purpose statement? The study presented in this article is a
qualitative case analysis that describes and interprets a campus response to a gun incident.
a. The central phenomenon
b. The participants and site
c. Indication of the approach
d. A definition of the central phenomenon
Ans: D

16. The central research question should be

a. Narrow
b. Broad
c. Axial
d. Constant
Ans: B

17. Jennifer is writing an introduction to her qualitative study about parents of children with rare
diseases. Which of the following rationales might she add?
a. Understand what led to the disease.
b. Determine the prevalence of such diseases.
c. Give voice to under-represented groups.
d. Test whether existing theories explain this group.
Ans: C
 Instructor Resource
Creswell, Qualitative Inquiry and Research Design 4e
SAGE Publishing, 2018
18. Jaytee is conducting a case study of a new information system implementation in an
organization. Of the following, which is the best focus for her subquestions?
a. The meaning of employee stories.
b. Describe an emerging theory.
c. Detail elements of the case.
d. Address the components of essence.
Ans: C

19. Frelin (2015) traced one teacher’s practices of negotiating relationships with students who
have a history of school failure within a particular school program. Which of the following is the
best audience to specify in the introduction?
a. Teacher educators
b. Students who experience failure
c. Medical professionals
d. Program evaluators
Ans: A

20. In discussing the current literature in the introduction to a study, which of the following is
best to include?
a. The researchers who conducted the studies.
b. The chronology of the literature.
c. All research conducted on the topic.
d. Gaps in terms of methods used in research.
Ans: D

True/False

1. A narrative hook comes at the end of a study’s introduction.

Ans: F

2. “Stories” is an encoding word for a narrative approach.

Ans: T

3. “Generate” is an encoding word for ethnography.

Ans: F

4. “Propositions” is an encoding word for grounded theory.

Ans: T

5. “Bounded” is an encoding word for case study.

Ans: T

6. “Meaning” is an encoding word for phenomenology.

Ans: T

7. “Essence” is an encoding word for grounded theory.

Ans: F

8. Creswell’s (2012) script for a purpose statement defines the central phenomenon before
indicating the participants.
 Instructor Resource
Creswell, Qualitative Inquiry and Research Design 4e
SAGE Publishing, 2018
Ans: F

9. Qualitative research questions may start with the word “why”.

Ans: F

10. Central questions should focus narrowly.

Ans: F

Essay

1. Choose a topic that interests you. Write a problem statement, purpose statement (using
Creswell and Poth’s script) central question and two or three subquestions.
Ans:
 The problem statement should include components of a good introduction (pp. 131‒
134).
 The purpose statement should follow the script on page 135.
 The research questions (central question and subquestions) should follow the
discussion on pages 138‒142.

2. Describe the introduction to qualitative studies, referring to the four components

Creswell and Poth provide in the summary to chapter 6 (pp. 142‒143). Provide details
described in previous pages of the chapter.
Ans: Students should include the following components in this sequence:
 Problem statement: topic, research problem, literature, deficiencies, and audience.
 Deficiencies section: need for [encoding words (see table 6.1 on page 136)].
 Purpose statement: Approach, encoding words, central phenomenon, participants,
site, definition of central phenomenon (p. 135).
 Research questions: one central question and 5–7 subquestions.

3. Describe the research problem statement including details of the five components
Creswell and Poth advance.
Ans: Students should describe the following components.
 Topic: narrative hook, avoid quotes in first sentence.
 Research problem: leads to need for study, including one or more of the following
reasons for the study.
o Dialogue
o In-depth understanding
o Fill a void in literature
o Establish new line of thinking
o Lift up marginalized individuals
o Assess an issue among an under-studied population
 Ways in which literature is deficient: need for research or present research is
inadequate.
 Instructor Resource
Creswell, Qualitative Inquiry and Research Design 4e
SAGE Publishing, 2018
 Audiences or stakeholders: e.g. researchers, policymakers, practitioners, and
students.