Research Methods

To be considered true research, a project must:

gather and interpret information in a systematic fashion so as

to increase understanding of some phenomenon.

Which of the following is defined as an organized body of

concepts and principles intended to explain a particular

phenomenon?

Theory

The purpose of formal research is to:

support or fail to support the study hypotheses

Assumptions come into play:

for nearly every research study.

Well-designed research manages to minimize or avoid:

bias.

Researchers (Blank) their phenomenon of interest on the basis

of data analysis.

make inferences about.

A primary function of the methodology is to:

guide and control the acquisition of data & extract meaning

from the data that have been gathered.

A well-designed and well-conducted study:

answers some questions and raises other questions.

Reading the professional literature in the field of interest:

will enhance an individual's ability to design and conduct high-

quality research.

One indication that a piece of information is of high quality is

that the information:

is found in a juried (or refereed) research report.

A (blank) is a specific mechanism or strategy the researcher

uses to collect, manipulate, or interpret data.

Research tool

Research methodology refers to:

...

Sam wants to find high-quality research reports related to

attribution theory that have been published in professional

journals. Sam's best approach would be to:

consult an online or electronic database.

Sonya is a college freshman who has just been assigned her

first research paper, and she doesn't know how to get started

finding information. Sonya should:

consult a reference librarian.

A (blank) allows a researcher to receive news in an area of

special interest and discuss that news with others.

A List server

A (blank) allows researchers to personally correspond

practically instantly with other users around the world.

A web browser

John wants to begin using e-mail. Which of the following steps

is NOT necessary for John to get started as an e-mail user?

Obtain necessary software from the e-mail provider and load

it onto a computer.

Three of the following statements about measurement in the

research setting are accurate. Which one is NOT accurate?

Measurement is applied by researchers only to insubstantial

phenomena.

Kade has spent the past month carefully observing a group of

third graders on the playground during recess, taking note of

how the students interact with one another. On the basis of

these observations, Kade is drawing conclusions about the

interaction styles of boys and girls. This is an example of:

Inductive Logic

Kimberly knows that teenagers often do no make good decisions

in areas where they have little knowledge. She also knows that

most have little knowledge about human sexuality. Therefore,

Kimberly believes that teens are likely to make poor decisions

about sexual activity. This is an example of:

Deductive Logic

How are inferential statistics different from descriptive

statistics?

Inferential statistics allow one to draw inferences from the

sample to a target population.

(Blank) are characteristics of samples, whereas (Blank) are

characteristics of populations.

Statistics; parameters

In a normal distribution, what percentage of scores falls

between one standard deviation below the mean and one

standard deviation above the mean?

68%

Dorothy has been surveying the Munchkins to deteremine their

level of life satisification. The possible scores on the life

satiscifcation questionnaire range from 0 to 100. If Dorothy

decides to statistically compare the male and female

Munchkins on their level of satifcation, she should use a

(Blank) test.

Parametric

Here is a set of scores:

5,3,7,3,6,2,5,3

The mean of this set of scores is:

4.25

Here is a set of scores:

5,3,7,3,6,2,5,3

The median of this set of scores is:

4

Here is a set of scores:

5,3,7,3,6,2,5,3

The mode of this set of scores is:

3

The measure of central tendency that is/are appropriate for

use with nominal data is/are

the mode only.

When summarizing ordinal data, the (blank) is the most useful

measure of central tendency

median

When reporting growth data, the (blank) is the most useful

measure of central tendency.

geometric mean

When the (blank) is the measure of central tendency, the

(blank) is the most appropriate and informative measure of

dispersion.

Median; interquartile range

An exam was give to two sections of the same course. In Section

1, the exam mean was 51 and the standard deviation was 7. In

Section 2, the exam mean was 51 and the standard deviation

was 13. Which of the following conclusions is accurate?

Section 1 scores were less variable than Section 2.

The z-score, or standard score, allows the research to

determine:

How far a target individual's score is from the group mean.

The percentile rank allows the researcher to determine:

what percentage of individuals in the sample scored below the

target individual.

Danzell is purchasing agent for a major grocery store chain. He

has noticed over the year that the higher the outdoor

temperature, the more likely people are to buy fresh fruits.

Based on Danzell's observations, we would say there is (blank)

relationship between outdoor temperature and buying of fresh

fruit.

a positive

Frank Fitness found a correlation coefficient of -.74 between

hours of strenuous exercise each week and a standard measure

of body mass. He interprets this to mean that there is a

(blank) and (blank) relationship between hours of strenuous

exercise and body mass.

weak; negative

Three of the following factors are associated with a relatively

small standard error of the mean. Which one is NOT?

The variance in the sample is relatively large.

Seamus has determined that there is a 95% chance that the

number of people visiting the Blarney Stone in the month June

will between 1,760 and 2,025. This is a/an (blank) estimate.

interval

Statistical hypothesis testing involves testing the :

null hypothesis

On the basis of statistical findings, Ron determines that the

difference between males and females on a test of spatial

reasoning are not due merely to chance. If, in fact,there are

no gender differences in the population, Ron will have made a:

Type 1 error.

On the basis of statistical findings, Becky determines that the

difference between males and females on a test of abstract

mathematical reasoning is merely due to chance. If, in fact,

there are gender differences in a population, Becky will have

made a:

Type II error.

When writing the research report, the findings of statistical

analyses are typically reported in the (blank) section.

Results

When writing the research report, the descriptions of

instruments used for data gathering are typically included in

the (blank) section.

Method

The reference list is included in the:

End matter

Copies of the survey instruments are included in the:

Appendices

The abstract is included in the:

Front matter

In a quantitative study, the description of participants

(subjects) is included in the :

Method section

The acknowledgments are included in the:

Front matter

"Johnson eliminated three interviews from the data set due to

noncompliance on the part of the respondents" This sentence is

an example of:

Passive Voice

"The third subscale was dropped from further consideration

due to problems with internal consistency." This sentence is an

example of:

Passive Voice

The style manual of the American Psychological Association

(APA) suggests that (blank) tense be used when writing the

method section (blank) tense when presenting conclusions.

Past;present

Generally speaking, the best time to begin the literature

review associated with a specific research project is

before or during the formulation of the research problem.

If you want to find information about books available in your

local library, (blank) will probably be your best resource.

The library catalog

If you want to conduct a keyword or author search of research

reports published in professional journals, (Blank) will probably

be your best resource.

An online database

If you want to find statistics on health care spending broken

down by state, (blank) will probably be your best resource.

Government publications

If an important reference you want to include in your

literature review is checked out to another library patron, you

might:

obtain it through interlibrary loan or obtain it by asking the

library to recall the reference

If an important recent research article that you want to

include in your literature review is not owned by your library,

you might:

Obtain it through interlibrary loan.

(blank) is an example of a search engine.

Altavista.

(blank) is an example of an electronic database.

ERIC (Educational Resources Information Center)

Jane wants to search for information about the variety of

attention disorders that are seen in childhood. Which of the

following sets of keywords would best get Jane started on an

effective and efficient search?

"ADHD" "ADD" and "children"

If a researcher has completed a thorough search of the World

Wide Web:

it may be also fruitful to search an electronic database

The main purpose of the review of literature is to:

show how your study is related to, and extends, other work in

the area.

A well-structured literature review:

begins with broad/general information, then narrows the focus

to those studies most closely related to the research problem.

The review of literature can be curtailed when

you are no longer encountering new ideas or information

A well-written literature review:

emphasizes critique and synthesis of the work of others that is

related to your own research problem.

Typically, the literature review should:

emphaize how the studies being reviewed are related to the

research problem under consideration.

A good research plan, according to your textbook, includes:

includes specific sampling plan, procedures, data sources, and

analysis plan.

The basic format of the quantitative research process includes

(in part), in chronological order:

pose the question, pose a hypothesis, search the literature,

collect the data.

When considering general criteria for high-quality research

projects, universality refers to the fact that:

a well-designed research project could be carried out by any

competent researcher; it does not rely on a specific individual.

When considering general criteria for high-quality research

projects, replicability refers to the fact that:

another researcher, using the same procedures under the same

circumstances to research the same question, would obtain

comparable results.

Three of the following accurately characterize data. Which one

does NOT necessarily characterize data?

Data reveal truth.

Charlotte, an anthropologist, has been living in an Incan village

for 3 years. During that time Charlotte has become expert in

Incan weaving by observing and imitating the master weavers

in the community. For Charlotte, observing weaving constitutes

primary data.

Charlotte wrote a book about her experience as an

anthropologist living in an Incan village for 3 years and

becoming an expert weaver. Her book was widely read by other

anthropologist, including Mira, who is an expert in Navaho

weaving. For Mira, Charlotte's book constitutes:

secondary data.

Sean, a high school wrestler, has agreed to participate in a

study of cardiovascular conditioning. He is left somewhat

confused when, at the first research session, he is asked to

complete a questionnaire about commonly purchased grocery

items. Sean's confusion indicates a lack of (blank) regarding

the task.

face validity

A researcher decides to use a high school sample to test the

relationship between her new measure of empathy and a well-

established measure of interpersonal sensitivity. She finds that

the tow instruments are highly related, which supports the

(blank) of the new instrument.

Criterion validity.

Dick and Jane are studying aggression among preschool

children. Separately, they each watch a videotape of four

children interacting in a playroom and then rate each child on

the level of aggression displayed during the play session. They

compare their completed ratings and are pleased to note they

are highly similar. This is an example of (blank) reliability.

Interrater

Dr. Drive is testing a 10-question measure of achievement

motivation. He notes that if his respondents agree with the

first question, they tend to also agree with the other nine.

Likewise, if his respondents disagree with the first question,

they tend to disagree with the other nine. This is an indication

of good (blank) reliability.

Internal consistency

Professor Pickle is studying civic-mindedness among senior

citizens. She administers a survey of civic mindedness to a

senior citizen group in early April, then again in early May. By

comparing the two sets of scores, the professor can assess the

(blank) reliability of her measure of civic-mindedness.

test-retest

Three of the following are associated with quantitative

research methods. Which one is NOT?

Deductive reasoning is applied to data analysis and

interpretation.

Three of the following are associated with qualitative research

methods. Which one is NOT?

No data are gathered as part of this approach.

Three of the following are techniques for strengthening the

internal validity of a study. Which one is NOT?

Make participants fully aware of your expected findings.

Three of the following are techniques for strengthening the

external validity of a study. Which one is NOT?

Allow flexibility in procedures and instruments.

Three of the following are techniques for strengthening the

credibility or dependability of a qualitative study. Which one is

NOT?

Exclude participants who experiences or opinions that are very

different from those of others in the study.

The requirement to keep information provided by research

participants confidential applies:

to all persons under almost all conditions

The altering of data is allowable:

under no circumstance.

Dr. Davenport wants to conduct a study of whether high school

students learn more efficiently while seated at a desk

compared to in an easy chair. Participants will be seniors in

local high school history classes. She hopes to publish her

findings in the History Teacher Quarterly. Does Dr. Davenport

need internal review board (IRB) approval for this study?

YES

Dr. Davenport wants to conduct a study of whether high school

students learn more efficiently while seated at a desk

compared to in an easy chair. She knows there is a large

research literature regarding similar influences on learning,

and she wants to see if the findings hold true with a group of

high school history students. Moreover, as a researcher she is

uneasy with a lack of structure. You recommend that Dr.

Davenport conduct a (blank) study.

Quantitative

Dr. Greenhill wants to know how it is that some early

adolescents come to make a connection between their personal

lifestyle and environmental problems, while others don't.

Futhermore, among those who see the connection, why do some

become committed to environmentalism while others do not? Dr.

Greenhill looks forward to probing the thought of young teens

on these issues and trying to see the questions and issues

through "14-year old eyes." You recommend that Dr. Greenhill

conduct a (blank) study.

Qualitative

Three of the following statements about measurement in the

research setting are accurate. Which one is NOT accurate?

Measurement is applied by researchers only to insubstantial

phenomena.

An ordinal scale of measurement:

communicates greater than and less than relationships.

An interval level of measurement:

incorporates equal units of measurement.

A ratio scale of measurement:

is tied to an absolute zero.

The main difference between an interval and a ratio scale is

that only one of them:

includes an absolute zero.

Professor Harris is constructing a demographic questionnaire

for use in a research project. One question asks students to

report how politically conservative they are. It includes a 7-

point scale where 1 is "not at all conservative" and 7 is

extremely conservative." This is an example of a/an:

Interval scale.

Professor Harris is constructing a demographic questionnaire

for use in a research project. One question asks students to

report their highest level of education by choosing from these

options: "some high school" "completed high school" "some

college" or "completed 4-year college degree". This is an

example of a/an:

ordinal scale.

Professor Harris is constructing a demographic questionnaire

for use in a research project. One question asks students to

report their age in years. This is an example of a/an:

Ratio scale

Professor Harris is constructing a demographic questionnaire

for use in a research project. One question asks students to

report whether they are currently living in an "urban"

"suburban" or "rural" setting. This is an example of a/an:

Nominal Scale

According to the textbook, the most effective research

proposals:

are detailed and straightforward explanations of the research

problem and methodology.

A proposal for a quantitative study typically includes these

elements in this order:

a statement of the problem, a review of the literature, an

explanation of the means for collecting data, a description of

how the study will be conducted.

A proposal for a qualitative study typically includes these

elements in this order:

A statement of the purpose of the study and its guiding

questions, an explanation of theoretical and methodological

grounding, an explanation of how the findings will fit with the

larger literature, a management plan.

Proposals for (blank) studies include methodology section.

Both quantitative and qualitative

In (blank) research proposals, the review of literature comes

late in the document in conjunction with interpretation of

data.

a qualitative

In (blank) research proposals, a specific research problem is

clearly stated at the outset of the proposal.

both quantitative and qualitative

In (blank) research proposals, a specific plan for how the data

will be handled is clearly laid out in the document.

Both quantitative and qualitative

In (blank) research proposals, specific hypotheses regarding

findings are often stated.

A quantitative

In regard to the style you will use for headings and

subheadings in the research proposal:

Disciplines often dictate the use of specific formal styles, so

you must find out what the expectations are.

Experienced writers of research proposals typically:

plan to make revisions to the first draft of the proposal.

When writing the proposal, you should assume that the reader:

knows nothing about the proposed project, so al the details

must be thoroughly explained.

When explaining how the data are to be analyzed and

interpreted:

it is best to be as detailed as possible so all contingencies

related to analysis and interpretation can be anticipated.

Research proposals that (blank) are commonly judged to be of

higher quality than proposals that do not.

favor straightforward vocabulary

Three of the following are elements in the proposal revision

process. Which one is NOT?

Avoid breaks of 24 hours or more as the material will get too

"Cold" in your mind.

The research proposal is best thought of as:

a detailed and firm contract between the researcher and

others who are involved in the research project (participants,

supervisors, funding agencies, etc.)

In which of the following settings would a qualitative study be

LEAST likely to be the appropriate approach for conducting

research?

food science laboratory