HSA
590 Midterm and Final Exam – Strayer NEW
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Chapter
1 Through 12
Chapter 1
WHAT IS RESEARCH?
Multiple-Choice Questions
*1. To be
considered true research, a project must:
a.
gather together a body of existing information and
communicate it in a clear and
concise way.
b. uncover obscure or esoteric information
and bring it to the consideration of the broader research community.
c. gather and interpret information in a
systematic fashion so as to increase understanding of some phenomenon.
d. produce definitive conclusions
regarding the subject of study.
**2. Which of the following examples illustrates
research the way it is defined in your textbook?
a. Sally is writing a paper about the
effects of the Harry Potter books on the reading habits of fourth graders in
the United States and United Kingdom.
She goes to a research library to find information to include in her
paper.
b. Ian wants to know why the population of
songbirds has declined in recent years in the Sutton Wilderness Area. He carefully collects soil and water samples,
systematically surveys the entire area for predators, and then sits down to make
sense of his findings.
c. Leonard is starting a woodworking
business and is not sure how to calculate the cost of his labor so he can be
both profitable and fair to the customers.
He asks several established business owners how they calculate labor
changes.
d. Bill is doing a report on the sonnets
of Shakespeare. He carefully reads a
number of sonnets and then carefully reads scholarly reviews of those same
sonnets written by various Shakespeare scholars. He synthesizes all of this information in his
report.
*3. Which of the following is defined as an
organized body of concepts and principles intended to explain a particular
phenomenon?
a. Theory
b. Inference
c. Hypothesis
d. Interpretation
b. Inference
c. Hypothesis
d. Interpretation
*4. Which of the following is defined as a
reasonable guess, or a logical supposition, for explaining the phenomenon under
investigation?
a. Theory
b. Inference
c. Hypothesis
d. Interpretation
b. Inference
c. Hypothesis
d. Interpretation
*5. The process
of formal research begins with the identification of:
a. research hypotheses.
b. a feasible research plan.
c. available participants.
d. a research problem.
*6. The purpose
of formal research is to:
a. prove or disprove the study hypotheses.
b. support or fail to support the study
hypotheses.
c. identify alternative hypotheses.
d. move beyond the need for hypotheses.
*7. Assumptions
come into play:
a. in regard to nearly every aspect of
every research study.
b. in qualitative research but not in
quantitative research.
c. when research is not well thought out.
d. rarely, if ever.
*8. Well-designed
research manages to minimize or avoid:
a. assumptions.
b. predictions.
c. theory.
d. bias.
*9. Researchers
______ their phenomenon of interest on the basis of data analysis.
a. make inferences about
b. know facts about
c. define
d. identify
*10. A primary
function of the methodology is to:
a. guide and control the acquisition of
data.
b. extract meaning from the data that have
been gathered.
c. both a and b
d. neither a nor b
*11. Three of the following come into play as
the researcher analyzes the data. Which
one does NOT?
a. The study hypothesis/hypotheses
b. Preferences for certain outcomes
c. The logical reasoning process
d. Assumptions
*12. A
well-designed and well-conducted study:
a. answers questions of importance in the
field.
b. raises questions of importance to the
field.
c. answers some questions and raises other
questions.
*13. Reading the
professional literature in the field of interest:
a. will enhance an individual’s ability to
design and conduct high-quality research.
b. will stifle creativity and constrain
the individual to the status quo.
c. will make little difference to the
quality and impact of the individual’s work.
d. is necessary only for the leaders in
the field.
*14. One indication
that a piece of information is of high quality is that the information:
a. is found on the Internet.
b. is found in a juried (or refereed)
research report.
c. resulted from a project that received
corporate funding.
d. is the firsthand account of a personal
experience.
Essay Questions
15. Your chapter states: “Research is, by its
nature, cyclical or, more exactly, helical.”
Explain why “cyclical” is an appropriate description of the research
process. Then explain why “helical” is a
better description.
16. Describe an example of the word research
being used inappropriately. Be clear
about how your example deviates from the definition of research offered in the
chapter.
17. Graduate professors like to insist that
the completion of thesis or dissertation research is not merely an “academic
exercise” or final hurdle to obtaining the desired degree. Explain at least one personal benefit that
the individual derives from completing a high- quality thesis or
dissertation. Then explain at least one
societal benefit that follows from the individual’s completion of a
high-quality thesis or dissertation.
18. In the most rigorous tests of hypotheses,
the researcher sets out to fail to
support the hypothesis. Why is the
attempt to fail to support a more
rigorous test of the hypothesis than an attempt to support it?
Chapter 2
TOOLS OF RESEARCH
Multiple-Choice
Questions
*1. A ______ is a
specific mechanism or strategy the researcher uses to collect,
manipulate,
or interpret data.
a. research
tool
b. research
methodology
c. statistical
test
d. theory
*2. Research
methodology refers to:
a. the general approach the researcher
takes to conducting a research project.
b. a specific device the researcher uses
to collect data.
c. the specific theoretical basis of the
research project.
d. the statistical tests to be employed in
a research project.
**3. 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:
a. consult
the library catalog.
b. consult
an online or electronic database.
c. search
the World Wide Web.
d. browse
the shelves in the library.
**4. 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:
a. search
the World Wide Web.
b. consult
an online or electronic database.
c. consult
a reference librarian.
d. browse
the shelves in the library.
*5. ______ allows a researcher to receive
news in an area of special interest and discuss that news with others.
a. A search engine
b. E-mail
c. A list server
d. A Web browser
*6. ______ allows researchers to personally
correspond practically instantly with other users around the world.
a. A search engine
b. E-mail
c. A list server
d. A Web browser
**7. John wants to begin using e-mail. Which of the following steps is NOT necessary
for John to get started as an email user?
a. Request an e-mail account
b. Obtain necessary software from the
e-mail provider and load it onto a computer
c. Learn to use a Web browser to explore
the Internet
d. Learn how to access and use the e-mail
provider’s services
*8. Three of the following statements about
measurement in the research setting are accurate. Which one is NOT accurate?
a. The purpose of measurement is to
systematically limit the data in a way that makes it quantifiable.
b. Measurement is applied by researchers
only to insubstantial phenomena.
c. Measurement
is a tool that aids researchers in interpreting their observations.
d. Systematic measurement assists
researchers in obtaining objectivity in their researcher.
*9. An ordinal
scale of measurement:
a. assigns a name to a category.
b. is tied to an absolute zero.
c. incorporates equal units of
measurement.
d. communicates greater than and less than
relationships.
*10. An interval
level of measurement:
a. assigns a name to a category.
b. communicates rank-order information.
c. incorporates equal units of
measurement.
d. is tied to an absolute zero.
*11. A ratio scale
of measurement:
a. assigns a name to a category.
b. communicates rank-order information.
c. is especially appropriate for opinion
data.
d. is tied to an absolute zero.
**12. The main
difference between an interval and a ratio scale is that only one of them:
a. includes an absolute zero.
b. uses
equal units of measurement.
c. supports the use of statistical
analyses.
d. is used in research with human
subjects.
**13. 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:
a. nominal scale.
b. ordinal scale.
c. interval scale.
d. ratio scale.
**14. 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:
a. nominal scale.
b. ordinal scale.
c. interval scale.
d. ratio scale.
**15. 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:
a. nominal scale.
b. ordinal scale.
c. interval scale.
d. ratio scale.
**16. 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:
a. nominal scale.
b. ordinal scale.
c. interval scale.
d. ratio
scale.
*17. ______
refers to whether a measurement tool actually measures what it is intended to
measure.
a. Validity
b. Reliability
c. Accountability
d. Robustness
*18. ______ refers to how consistently a
measurement tool will yield the same result when the phenomenon under
investigation does not change.
a. Validity
b. Reliability
c. Replicability
d. Dependability
**19. 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:
a. hypothetical
logic.
b. deductive logic.
c. inductive
logic.
d. propositional logic.
**20. Kimberly knows that teenagers often do not
make good decisions in areas where they have little knowledge. She also knows that most teens 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:
a. inductive
logic.
b. propositional logic.
c. transductive logic.
d. deductive logic.
Essay Questions
21. In your opinion, what is the one greatest
advantage to society of the information revolution? What is the one greatest disadvantage? Support your answer.
22. Near the end of Chapter 2 the authors of
your textbook include a relatively lengthy section on writing the research
report. Why is it important that
research results are carefully written up and made available to the scientific
community?
23. Do recent technological advances (e.g.,
the World Wide Web, electronic databases) assure that future research will be
of higher quality, or of greater utility, than past research? Support your answer.
Chapter 3
THE PROBLEM: THE
HEART OF THE RESEARCH PROCESS
Multiple-Choice
Questions
*1. Research
problems, as defined in your textbook:
a. are identified by experts in the field,
and not typically knowable by novices.
b. clearly and completely specify
important questions that are currently unanswered in a particular field of
inquiry.
c. are broad, general statements about the
incomplete state of understanding in a particular field of inquiry.
d. can be addressed by compiling and
synthesizing existing information in a way that sheds light on the issue of
interest.
*2. Basic research is:
a. research intended to enhance basic
knowledge about the physical, biological, psychological, or social world or to
shed light on historical, cultural, or aesthetic phenomena.
b. large scale research performed under
contract with a governmental agency such as the National Science Foundation
(NSF), National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), etc.
c. informal research conducted locally by
a small staff with a small budget, the purpose of which is to pave the way for
larger research initiatives.
d. research intended to address issues
that have immediate relevance to current practices, procedures, and policies.
*3. Applied research is:
a. research intended to enhance basic
knowledge about the physical, biological, psychological, or social world or to
shed light on historical, cultural, or aesthetic phenomena.
b. large-scale research performed under
contract with a governmental agency such as the National Science Foundation
(NSF), National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), etc.
c. informal research conducted by a small
staff with a small budget, the purpose of which is to shed light on a problem
of local interest.
d. research intended to address issues
that have immediate relevance to current practices, procedures, and policies.
**4. Which of the
following represents a well-written basic
research problem?
a. “Which general education course is more
interesting, U.S. History or World Music?”
b. “How do business teams of six or fewer
members compare to teams of more than six members in terms of productivity?”
c. “How does the organization of
mathematical information in long-term memory differ between 3-year-olds and
13-year-olds?”
d. “What is the ratio of native-born
students to international students on the campuses of major U.S. state
universities?”
**5. Which of the
following represents a well-written applied
research problem?
a. “How does the organization of
mathematical information in long-term memory differ between 3-year-olds and
13-year-olds?”
b. “How do business teams of six or fewer
members compare to teams of more than six members in terms of productivity?”
c. “Which general education course is more
interesting, U.S. History or World Music?”
d. “What is the ratio of native-born
students to international students on the campuses of major U.S. state
universities?”
**6. Three of the following questions lend
themselves well to formal research.
Which one does NOT?
a. “How does the organization of
mathematical information in long-term memory differ between 3-year-olds and
13-year-olds?”
b. “How do business teams of six or fewer
members compare to teams of more than six members in terms of productivity?”
c. “Does message medium, print versus
television, impact the effectiveness of public service health messages?”
d. “Which general education course is more
interesting, U.S. History or World Music?”
*7. Three of the following are
characteristics of a well-written research problem. Which one is NOT?
a. The problem statement includes jargon
associated with the field.
b. The problem statement clearly delimits
the object(s) of study.
c. The problem statement identifies the
important factors to be investigated in the study.
d. The problem statement explicitly
identifies assumptions.
*8. A common
weakness of research problems is that they:
a. delimit the object(s) of study.
b. constrain the variables to be
investigated.
c. implicitly rest on common assumptions.
d. incorporate a number of subproblems.
**9. “What proportion of workers hired by
selected factories in the state of Oklahoma between 1995 and 2000 held
four-year college degrees?”
The chief
weakness of this research problem is that:
a. it lacks clarity or completeness in the
problem statement.
b. it implies only description of the
data, not interpretation.
c. it does not lead to the
creation/discovery of new information.
d. studying
the question as stated is not feasible.
**10. “What do underemployed U.S. workers (i.e., those
workers who are employed, but not in positions for which they have specialized
training or expertise) identify as the primary reason for their inability to
find suitable employment?”
The chief
weakness of this research problem is that:
a. it lacks clarity or completeness in the
problem statement.
b. it does not lead to the
creation/discovery of new information.
c. it implies only description of the
data, not interpretation.
d. studying the question as stated is not
feasible.
**11. “What is the correlation between an index of
civic-mindedness and years of involvement in local organizations and charities
among members of city councils of selected midsized cities in the northeastern
United States?”
The chief
weakness of this research problem is that:
a. it implies only description of the
data, not interpretation.
b. it does not lead to the
creation/discovery of new information.
c. it lacks clarity or completeness in the
problem statement.
d. studying the question as stated is not
feasible.
**12. “Among social workers in selected U.S. urban
areas, are the personality characteristics of Need for Structure or In-Group
Preference related to prejudicial social judgments about African Americans,
Latino Americans, or Asian Americans?”
Which of the following is a
well-stated subproblem that follows from this research problem?
a. Which group is more discriminated
against by the public at large in each of the selected areas: African
Americans, Latino Americans, or Asian Americans?
b. What
is the most valid existing measure of In-Group Preference?
c. What is the relationship between an
index of Need for Structure and an index of prejudice targeting attitudes about
Asian Americans among the selected social workers?
d. Which analytic technique is best suited
to addressing the research problem, multiple regression or path analysis?
*13. In regard to
research questions and hypotheses, a high-quality research study will:
a. articulate only research questions, not
hypotheses, so as not to constrain the possible findings.
b. articulate only hypotheses, not
research questions, in order to preserve the scientific rigor of the
investigation.
c. focus only on those questions that can
support the correctness of current hypotheses or theoretical positions.
d. articulate either research questions or
hypotheses depending on the nature of the study.
**14. Which of the
following represents a null hypothesis?
a. Class A high school basketball teams
who employ a sports psychologist will have a higher proportion of wins over the
course of the season than comparable teams who do not employ a sports
psychologist.
b. There will be no difference in rate of
skill improvement between college gymnasts who practice meditation and those
who do not.
c. Does incorporating relaxation exercises
into the daily practice routine of college vocal majors enhance their
performance confidence?
d. None of the above
**15. Which of the
following represents a research hypothesis?
a. Class A high school basketball teams
who employ a sports psychologist will have a higher proportion of wins over the
course of the season than comparable teams who do not employ a sports
psychologist.
b. There will be no difference in rate of
skill improvement between college gymnasts who practice meditation and those
who do not.
c. Does incorporating relaxation exercises
into the daily practice routine of college vocal majors enhance their
performance confidence?
d. None of the above
*16. The
recommended order of tasks in preparing a research proposal is:
a. state the problem and subproblems, note
the assumptions, note the delimitations, define the terms, note the research
questions/hypotheses.
b. state the problem and subproblems, note
the delimitations, note the research questions/hypotheses, note the assumptions,
define the terms.
c. state the problem and subproblems, note
the research questions/hypotheses, note the assumptions, define the terms, note
the delimitations.
d. state the problem and subproblems, note
the research questions/hypotheses, note the delimitations, define the terms,
note the assumptions.
*17. Three of the following comprise the setting
of the research problem. Which one does
NOT?
a. A clear description of all measurement
tools to be used in the research project
b. A clear statement of what the
researcher will and will not do in the course of the study
c. A clear statement of the assumptions on
which the research problem rests
d. A clear definition of all terms related
to the research problem that might be misunderstood by a reader
Essay Questions
18. Why is it important that the researcher
articulate, as clearly as possible, all assumptions that affect the research
problem?
19. Your textbook authors recommend
explicitly defining any term that might be misunderstood by someone reading the
research proposal. If the research
proposal is being written chiefly for use and review by researchers, why is
such a step necessary?
20. Daphne has been a member of a research
team studying interpersonal aggression among preschoolers for more than a
year. In that time, her team has
repeatedly employed a consistent set of techniques and procedures to study
preschoolers as they interact in a number of settings. The procedures revolve around volunteer
mothers bringing their children to the university child development lab for a
“play session” that is the basis of the formal observations. Settings they have studied so far include:
the university pre-school, affluent local day-care centers, and a
pre-kindergarten program being offered in the neighborhood school
district. All of these settings were
fairly racially homogenous.
Daphne has just learned that a
friend of a friend can help her gain research access, in the near future, to
preschoolers in an unusually racially diverse though impoverished preschool
setting. Daphne decides she has no time
to prepare a formal research proposal before embarking on the study. “Besides,” she thinks, “this study should go
just like all the others we’ve done.”
Is Daphne leaving herself open to
problems in this situation, or is she safe moving ahead with no formal
proposal, given how familiar she is with the study techniques and
procedures?
Chapter 4
REVIEW OF THE RELATED
LITERATURE
Multiple-Choice
Questions
*1. Generally speaking, the best time to
begin the literature review associated with a specific research project is:
a. after the research problem has been
clearly articulated.
b. after the data have been collected, but
before they are analyzed.
c. based on personal preference; there is
no single best time.
d. before or during the formulation of the
research problem.
*2. If you want to find information about
books available in your local library, ______ will probably be your best
resource.
a. the library catalog
b. government publications
c. an online database
d. the World Wide Web
*3. If you want to conduct a keyword or
author search of research reports published in professional journals, ______
will probably be your best resource.
a. the library catalog
b. government publications
c. an online database
d. the World Wide Web
*4. If you want to find statistics on health
care spending broken down by state, ______ will probably be your best resource.
a. the library catalog
b. government publications
c. an online database
d. the reference lists of important papers
in your area
**5. If an important reference you want to
include in your literature review is checked out to another library patron, you
might:
a. obtain it through interlibrary loan.
b. obtain it by asking the library to
recall the reference.
c. obtain it through an online document
delivery service.
d. decide to make do without it.
**6. If an important recent research article
that you want to include in your literature review is not owned by your
library, you might:
a. cite it anyway for the benefit of the
reader.
b. obtain it by asking the library to
recall the reference.
c. obtain it through an online document
delivery service.
d. decide to make do without it.
**7. If an important book that you want to
include in your literature review is not owned by your library, your best move
would probably be to:
a. obtain it through interlibrary loan.
b. obtain it by asking the library to
recall the reference.
c. obtain it through an online document
delivery service.
d. cite
it anyway for the benefit of the reader.
*8. ______ is an example of a search engine.
a. Altavista
b. Books
in Print
c. ERIC
(Educational Resources Information Center)
d. Humanities
Index
*9. ______ is an example of an electronic
database.
a. Altavista
b. Books
in Print
c. ERIC
(Educational Resources Information Center)
d. Humanities
Index
**10. 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?
a. “attention disorders”
b. “ADHD,” “ADD,” and “children”
c. “disorders” and “children”
d. “attention disorders” and “children”
*11. If a researcher has completed a thorough
search of the World Wide Web:
a. the literature search can be concluded.
b. it
may also be fruitful to search an electronic database.
c. it
may also be fruitful to search the Internet.
d. he/she
will find largely redundant information on an electronic database.
*12. The main purpose of the review of the
literature is to:
a. acknowledge the work of others by
listing their findings prior to proposing your own project.
b. show
how your study is superior to other work done in the area.
c. publicly demonstrate your mastery of
the research literature in your area.
d. show how your study is related to, and
extends, other work in the area.
*13. A
well-structured literature review:
a. contains highly detailed descriptions
of each work chosen for inclusion in the review.
b. begins with those studies most closely
related to the research problem, then opens up to a broader perspective.
c. begins with broad/general information,
then narrows the focus to those studies most closely related to the research
problem.
d. contains general summaries of each work
chosen for inclusion in the review.
*14. The review of
the literature can be curtailed when:
a. you
are no longer encountering new ideas or information.
b. all
of the work done by top researchers in the area has been reviewed.
c. all
published work related to a topic has been reviewed.
d. two
to four weeks have been devoted to the search.
*15. A well-written literature review:
a. avoids evaluation or critique of the
literature reviewed, so as not to bias the opinion of the reader.
b. emphasizes critique and synthesis of
the work of others that is related to your
own research problem.
c. avoids summarizing the work of others
so that details of the original work are not lost in the reviewing process.
d. emphasizes detailed reporting of each
piece of research included in the literature review.
*16. Typically, the
literature review should:
a. include few or no works more than five
years old to avoid having the work become prematurely obsolete.
b. be limited to work coming out of the
very best labs and universities in the country.
c. give a broad overview of the area,
without getting bogged down in the details of particular studies or theoretical
perspectives.
d. emphasize how the studies being
reviewed are related to the research problem under consideration.
Essay Questions
17. Describe three benefits of conducting a
thorough review of existing literature before writing a research proposal.
18. Kirby is conducting a literature review
in preparation for his study of “expectations regarding the sharing of
financial and practical responsibilities among married and cohabiting couples
in which both partners are between the ages of 20 and 29.” Conducting a keyword search on “couples” and
“responsibility,” Kirby has generated a lengthy list of research articles. He decides to shorten the list of potential
articles by eliminating all articles that were not published in prestigious
research journals. He will include all
the remaining articles in his literature review. What is your opinion of Kirby’s approach to
selecting articles for the literature review?
Explain.
19. You are reading a literature review
written by a novice researcher in your field.
You notice that the researcher seems to have relied heavily on the World
Wide Web in preparing the literature review.
Your hunch is supported when you glance at the reference page and find a
long list of Internet addresses. What
goes through your mind regarding the quality and adequacy of the literature
review in this situation?
Chapter 5
PLANNING YOUR
RESEARCH PROJECT
Multiple-Choice
Questions
*1. A good
research plan, according to your textbook, includes:
a. specific procedures and data sources,
but does not lock the researcher into an analysis plan.
b. initial procedures and key data
sources, but is also open to modification as the project progresses.
c. a specific plan regarding data sources
and analyses, although information regarding the specific research sample is
best left open.
d. includes specific sampling plan,
procedures, data sources, and analysis plan.
*2. The basic format of the quantitative
research process includes (in part), in chronological order:
a. pose the question, pose a hypothesis,
search the literature, collect the data.
b.
clearly state the research question, collect data,
review the literature, write up the
findings.
c. review the literature, identify a
question, collect data, analyze data.
d. pose a hypothesis, collect data,
analyze data, review the literature.
*3. When considering general criteria for
high-quality research projects, universality refers to the fact that:
a. the research design allows the researcher
to control those factors that are central to the success of the project.
b. another researcher in the same field,
using the same procedures under the same circumstances to research the same
question, would obtain comparable results.
c. a well-designed research project could
be carried out by any competent researcher; it does not rely on a specific
individual.
d. the phenomena of interest must be
quantified in some systematic way.
*4. When considering general criteria for
high-quality research projects, replicability refers to the fact that:
a. the research design allows the
researcher to control those factors that are central to the success of the
project.
b. another researcher, using the same
procedures under the same circumstances to research the same question, would
obtain comparable results.
c. a well-designed research project could
be carried out by a specific individual conducting research in the same field.
d. the phenomena of interest must be
quantified in some systematic way.
*5. Three of the following accurately
characterize data. Which one does NOT
necessarily characterize data?
a. Data may be elusive.
b. Data can be volatile.
c. Data are ever changing.
d. Data reveal truth.
**6. Charlotte, an anthropologist, has been
living in an Incan village for three 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:
a. primary data.
b. secondary data.
c. informal data.
d. nonempirical data.
**7. Charlotte wrote a book about her experience
as an anthropologist living in an Incan village for three years and becoming an
expert weaver. Her book was widely read
by other anthropologists, including Mira, who is an expert in Navaho
weaving. For Mira, Charlotte’s book
constitutes:
a. hearsay data.
b. secondary data.
c. informal data.
d. primary data.
**8. 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 ______ regarding the task.
a. construct validity
b. content validity
c. criterion validity
d. face validity
**9. 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 two instruments are highly
related, which supports the ______ of the new instrument.
a. predictive validity
b. content validity
c. criterion validity
d. face validity
**10. A researcher designed a new questionnaire to
measure political conservatism. To test
out his new instrument, he asks people leaving their polling place on election
day to report their degree of political conservatism on a scale of 1 (low) to
10 (high) and then complete his questionnaire.
Results show that people who identified themselves as political conservatives
also had the highest scores on his questionnaire. This is an indication of the ______ of the
new instrument.
a. criterion validity
b. content validity
c. face validity
d. predictive validity
**11. 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 ______ reliability.
a. interrater
b. internal consistency
c. equivalent form
d. test–retest
**12. 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 of disagree with the other nine. This is an indication of good ______
reliability.
a. interrater
b. internal consistency
c. equivalent form
d. test–retest
**13. Professor Pickle is studying civic-mindedness
among senior citizens. She administers a
survey of civic mindedness to a senior citizens group in early April, then
again in early May. By comparing the two
sets of scores, the professor can assess the ______ reliability of her measure
of civic-mindedness.
a. interrater
b. internal consistency
c. equivalent form
d. test–retest
*14. Three of the following are associated with
quantitative research methods. Which one
is NOT?
a. The purpose is to explain or predict.
b. It is assumed that the findings will
generalize to similar others.
c. Deductive reasoning is applied to data
analysis and interpretation.
d. Statistical analyses are the primary
source of findings.
*15. Three of the following are associated with
qualitative research methods. Which one
is NOT?
a. The purpose is to describe or explain.
b. No data are gathered as part of this
approach.
c. Textual data are gathered from a small
number of participants.
d. The study is context bound.
*16. Three of the following are techniques for
strengthening the internal validity of a study.
Which one is NOT?
a. Conduct the study in a controlled
laboratory setting.
b. Conduct a double-blind experiment.
c. Make participants fully aware of your
expected findings.
d. Build in opportunities for
triangulation.
*17. Three of the following are techniques for
strengthening the external validity of a study.
Which one is NOT?
a. Conduct the study in a real-life
setting.
b. Assure that you have a representative
sample.
c. Replicate the study under a variety of
relevant conditions.
d. Allow flexibility in procedures and
instruments.
*18. Three of the following are techniques for
strengthening the credibility or dependability of a qualitative study. Which one is NOT?
a. Spend extensive time in the field
studying the phenomenon of interest.
b. Acquire rich and detailed descriptions
of the phenomena being studied.
c. Exclude participants who have
experiences or opinions that are very different from those of others in the
study.
d. Ask participants to comment on the
conclusions being drawn from the study.
*19. The requirement to keep information
provided by research participants confidential applies:
a. to legal minors (children under the age
of 18), but not adults.
b. only in cases where it is specifically
requested by the participant.
c. to all persons under almost all
conditions.
d. only in cases where participants
divulge information that is potentially illegal.
*20. The altering
of data is allowable:
a. when it is clear that the participant
marked a response in error.
b. when the researcher suspects a
participant of being careless.
c. when the researcher suspects a participant
of misunderstanding the question.
d. under no circumstances.
**21. 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?
a. Yes
b. No
c. Only if the study is accepted for
publication
**22. 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
______ study.
a. quantitative
b. qualitative
**23. 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. Furthermore, among those who see the
connection, why do some become committed to environmentalism while others do
not? Dr. Greenwald looks forward to
probing the thoughts 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
______ study.
a. quantitative
b. qualitative
Essay Questions
24. Professor Parsnip wants to know more
about the mental process students go through as they learn about research
methods. She also wants to know which
instructional methods are most effective for teaching research methods to her
students. Assume that Professor Parsnip
decides to take a qualitative
approach to studying these questions.
State a specific research question related to her general research
problem that lends itself well to a qualitative research approach. Then explain why your question is better
addressed using a qualitative, rather than a quantitative, methodology.
25. Professor Parsnip wants to know more
about the mental process students go through as they learn about research
methods. She also wants to know which
instructional methods are most effective for teaching research methods to her
students. Assume that Professor Parsnip
decides to take a quantitative
approach to studying these questions.
State a specific research question related to her general research
problem that lends itself well to a quantitative research approach. Then explain why your question is better
addressed using a quantitative, rather than a qualitative, methodology.
26. Sometimes students believe that taking
the time to prepare a complete and carefully designed research proposal is
something to be preached, but not really practiced. Identify at least two different problems
related to research design that are commonly encountered when doing research. For each problem, explain how a complete and
detailed research proposal would help the researcher avoid the problem.
Chapter 6
WRITING THE RESEARCH
PROPOSAL
Multiple-Choice
Questions
*1. According to
the textbook, the most effective research proposals:
a. are a brief outline of the study you
intend to conduct without an excess of detail.
b. justify the study to be conducted by
explaining how it will contribute to the professional literature.
c. are detailed and straightforward
explanations of the research problem and methodology.
d. include an autobiographical section
that explains how the researcher became interested in the research topic.
*2. A proposal
for a quantitative study typically includes these elements in this order:
a. 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.
b. a review of the literature, a statement
of the problem, an explanation of the means for collecting data, a description
of how the study will be conducted.
c. a review of the literature, a statement
of the problem, a description of how the study will be conducted, an
explanation of the means for collecting data.
d. a statement of the problem, an
explanation of the means for collecting data, a review of the literature, a
description of how the study will be conducted.
*3. A proposal
for a qualitative study typically includes these elements in this order:
a. an explanation of how the findings will
fit with the larger literature, a statement of the purpose of the study and its
guiding questions, a management plan, an explanation of theoretical and
methodological grounding.
b. a statement of the purpose of the study
and its guiding questions, an explanation of how the findings will fit with the
larger literature, an explanation of theoretical and methodological grounding,
a management plan.
c. 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.
d. a statement of the purpose of the study
and its guiding questions, an explanation of theoretical and methodological
grounding, a management plan, an explanation of how the findings will fit with
the larger literature.
*4. Proposals for
______ studies include a methodology section.
a. qualitative
b. quantitative
c. both
quantitative and qualitative
d. neither quantitative or qualitative
*5. In ______ research proposal(s), the
review of literature comes late in the document in conjunction with
interpretation of data.
a. both quantitative and qualitative
b. neither quantitative or qualitative
c. a quantitative
d. a qualitative
*6. In ______ research proposal(s), a specific research problem is clearly stated at the outset
of the proposal.
a. both quantitative and qualitative
b. neither quantitative or qualitative
c. a quantitative
d. a qualitative
*7. In ______ research proposal(s), a
specific plan for how the data will be handled is clearly laid out in the
document.
a. both quantitative and qualitative
b. neither quantitative or qualitative
c. a quantitative
d. a qualitative
*8. In ______ research proposal(s), specific
hypotheses regarding findings are often stated.
a. both quantitative and qualitative
b. neither quantitative or qualitative
c. a quantitative
d. a
qualitative
*9. In regard to the style you will use for
headings and subheadings in the research proposal:
a. there are no special formatting requirements
unless the document is a thesis or dissertation.
b. all disciplines recognize the major
formal styles, so it is a matter of personal choice.
c. the writer is free to show creativity
as long as s/he is consistent throughout the document.
d. disciplines often dictate the use of
specific formal styles, so you must find out what the expectations are.
*10. Experienced writers of research proposals
typically:
a. plan
to make revisions to the first draft of the proposal.
b. do not need to make revisions to the
first draft of the proposal.
c. make
revisions to the first draft of the proposal only if they are requested by a
reviewer.
d. may need to edit the first draft of the
proposal for typos, but not content.
*11. When writing
the proposal, you should assume that the reader:
a. will know which data analytic
techniques are appropriate for your study without a detailed explanation.
b. is an expert in the area you are
addressing and will be familiar with common issues, variables, instruments,
etc.
c. can discern for him/herself what the
importance of the study is.
d. knows nothing about the proposed
project, so all the details must be thoroughly explained.
*12. When
explaining how the data are to be analyzed and interpreted:
a. it is best to provide only a general
plan as things will probably change over the course of the study anyway.
b. it is best to be as detailed as
possible so all contingencies related to analysis and interpretation can be
anticipated.
c. it is impossible to be highly detailed
until one has the actual data in hand.
d. an overly specific plan may bias the
analyses or interpretation, impairing the validity of the study.
*13. Research proposals that ______ are commonly
judged to be of higher quality than proposals that do not.
a. favor straightforward vocabulary
b. employ complex sentence structure
c. favor
a highly esoteric vocabulary
d. rely
on the reader to draw inferences
*14. Three of the following are elements in the
proposal revision process. Which one is
NOT?
a. Reconsider the feasibility of what you
are proposing to do.
b. Carefully assess the logic and
organization of the information in the document.
c. Avoid breaks of 24 hours or more as the
material will get too “cold” in your mind.
d. Seek feedback from knowledgeable
others.
**15. The research
proposal is best thought of as:
a. a general and flexible outline of how
the research problem is to be investigated.
b. “Plan A,” with the expectation that
“Plan B” or even “Plan C” will become necessary as the study unfolds.
c. a detailed and firm contract between
the researcher and others who are involved in the research project
(participants, supervisors, funding agencies, etc.)
d. a document that is written for others
(internal review boards, funding agencies) and is of little value to the
researcher.
Essay Questions
16. In regard to quantitative research
proposals, novice researchers often find it very challenging and tedious to
explain in detail how the data will be analyzed and interpreted in their study. Explain why it is essential that the
researcher not cut corners in this section of the proposal.
17. Issues of feasibility are central to a
well-planned research project. Discuss
how feasibility issues come into play when deciding on the sampling plan.
18. Issues of feasibility are central to a
well-planned research project. Discuss
how feasibility issues come into play when choosing the measurement instruments
or techniques.
19. There are unique challenges associated
with conducting research on data that are already in existence (e.g.,
historical research). Discuss some of
these unique challenges, pointing out pitfalls the researcher should be careful
to avoid.
Chapter 7
QUALITATIVE RESEARCH
Multiple-Choice
Questions
*1. In
qualitative research the ______ is the most important instrument.
a. questionnaire
b. behavior checklist
c. researcher
d. participant
*2. In qualitative research, the fact that
the research methodology may be vaguely described or very general in nature at
the outset of the study indicates:
a. a normal and acceptable practice.
b. that the study is poorly designed.
c. that the researcher is inexperienced.
d. a common but unprofessional practice.
*3. Qualitative studies typically serve three
of the following purposes. Which purpose
do they NOT serve?
a. description of situations, processes,
relationships, etc.
b. interpretation of information in order
to gain new understanding
c. determining the final truth about a
situation or phenomenon
d. evaluation of existing policies,
practices, etc.
*4. In ______, a
body of material is systematically examined for patterns, themes, or biases.
a. case study
b. ethnography
c. grounded theory
d. content analysis
*5. In ______, a particular group of
individuals is studied in depth over a defined period of time.
a. case study
b. ethnography
c. phenomenology
d. grounded theory
*6. In ______, the researcher studies the
deep meaning an event or situation holds for other people.
a. phenomenology
b. ethnography
c. grounded theory
d. content analysis
*7. In ______, a particular individual,
program, or event is studied in depth over a defined period of time.
a. case study
b. ethnography
c. phenomenology
d. grounded theory
**8. Carl Compost has been living and working on
a communal organic farm for the past six months. He wants to understand the political,
environmental, and social perspectives shared by the members of the
commune. Dr. Compost is probably
employing a/an ______ methodology.
a. case study
b. ethnographic
c. phenomenological
d. content analysis
**9. Daniel Daring is an emerging playwright
whose works have begun to stir great passions in the major U.S. cities where
they are staged. Researcher Eugenia Edge
is “shadowing” Mr. Daring for six months in an attempt to understand the
artistic process. Dr. Edge is probably
employing a ______ methodology.
a. case study
b. grounded theory
c. phenomenological
d. content analysis
**10. Helen Heartwell flew to New York City a few
weeks after the September 11, 2001, bombing of the World Trade Center. She wanted to know how the victims of the
attack were making sense of what had happened to them. Dr. Heartwell is probably employing a/an
______ methodology.
a. case study
b. grounded theory
c. phenomenological
d. ethnographic
**11. Richard Relic is carefully examining writings
from the time of the U.S. Civil War to determine how each side characterized
the position of their opponent. Dr.
Relic is probably employing a ______ methodology.
a. case study
b. grounded theory
c. phenomenological
d. content analysis
*12. The constant
comparative method of data analysis is most associated with:
a. ethnography.
b. phenomenology.
c. grounded theory.
d. content analysis.
*13. The technique of
participant observation is most associated with:
a. case study.
b. ethnography.
c. grounded theory.
d. content analysis.
*14. ______ is most useful in situations where
current theory regarding the subject of investigation is inadequate or
nonexistent.
a. Case study
b. Ethnography
c. Grounded theory
d. Phenomenology
*15. When conducting observations to be used as
data in a qualitative study, it is:
a. always
necessary to obtain informed consent from those being observed.
b. not necessary to obtain informed
consent if the observations are being conducted in a public place.
c. not necessary to obtain informed
consent if the observer is in full view of those being observed.
d. only necessary to obtain informed
consent if the study will be published.
*16. If you interview two people about the same
event and their stories diverge at certain points, you can conclude that:
a. at
least one of the interviewees is not being fully honest with you.
b. at least one of the participants was
not paying attention to what was going on.
c. they didn’t really both witness the
same event.
d. the meaning people draw from an event
can vary from person to person.
*17. Three of the following are techniques that
strengthen the objectivity of a qualitative study. Which one is NOT?
a. The researcher should intentionally
look for evidence that contradicts his/her hunches or hypotheses.
b. The researcher should collect two or
more different kinds of data (e.g., observations and interviews).
c. The researcher should acknowledge
personal biases or presumptions in the research report.
d. The researcher should rely as much as
possible on a single well-informed respondent.
Essay Questions
18. A goal of qualitative research is to
uncover the “multiple truths” that characterize any complex phenomenon or
situation. What does the term “multiple
truths” refer to in this usage?
19. A fundamental pitfall in qualitative
research is to confuse the actual observations with the interpretation of the observations.
Why is it important that these two things remain distinctly separate?
20. Dr. D is conducting an interview with
Amber, who works as a cocktail waitress.
Here is an excerpt:
Dr. D: What shift do you typically work?
Amber: Night.
I come in a around 7:00 p.m. and work until 2:00 a.m.
Dr. D: Cocktail waitressing has a bad
reputation. How bad is it to work here?
Amber: Not so bad.
Most of our customers are pretty nice guys. They’re
regulars and they don’t drink too
much and get out of control. In fact,
if
one customer is
giving me a hard time, another often steps in and helps out.
Dr. D: As the evening progresses, the men give you
more and more problems,
don’t they? What do you do about that?
Amber: I ignore it as long as I can. I get the manager to step in if they don’t
straighten up.
Do you notice any problems with the
interviewing technique of Dr. D?
Describe the problems you see in the excerpts and then explain what Dr.
D should do differently.
Chapter 8
HISTORICAL RESEARCH
Multiple-Choice Questions
*1. Historical
research is chiefly concerned with:
a. the
study of history.
b. the
meaning of past events.
c. creating
an accurate chronology of past events.
d. determining
an “official” interpretation of a historical event.
*2. Historical research
may include:
a. qualitative, but not quantitative,
methods.
b. quantitative, but not qualitative,
methods.
c. both qualitative and quantitative
methods.
d. neither qualitative or quantitative
methods.
**3. To a historical researcher studying the
lives of women pioneers in the late 1880s, letters written by Rebecca Adams, a
pioneer woman on the Nebraska plains, to her sister in Philadelphia represent:
a. primary data.
b. secondary data.
**4. To a historical researcher studying the
lives of women pioneers in the late 1880s, letters written by Deloris Adams of
Philadelphia, describing the life of her sister, Rebecca Adams, a pioneer woman
on the Nebraska plains, represent:
a. primary data.
b. secondary data.
**5. Professor McGrath is studying the history
of African Americans in Oklahoma. Three
of the following are primary data sources for Professor McGrath. Which one is NOT?
a. Census reports from the all-Black town
of Taft
b. Photographs of Taft
c. Diaries of a school teacher in one of the
first integrated schools in Taft
d. Articles from the Taft newspaper
published in the late 19th century
*6. In historical
research, bias:
a. generally does not exist to a
problematic degree.
b. is less of a problem than in other
forms of research.
c. is impossible for the researcher to
detect.
d. can be used as an advantage to the
researcher.
*7. In regard to
bias in historical research, the researcher:
a. must be vigilant in regard to bias in
secondary data, but it is not a problem with primary data.
b. must be vigilant in regard to bias in
primary data, but it is not a problem with secondary data.
c. must be vigilant in regard to bias in
both primary and secondary data.
d. can assume that the various biases will
cancel each other out without special steps being taken by the researcher.
**8. Perry Prose is in possession of a letter
allegedly written by President Theodore Roosevelt during his time in
office. He has taken the letter to a
number of experts, who have examined the paper, ink, handwriting, and content
of the letter in an attempt to establish its authenticity. Dr. Prose is attempting to establish ______
regarding the validity of the letter.
a. external evidence
b.
internal evidence
**9. Fran Freedom is trying to determine what
the phrase “with liberty and justice for all” from the Pledge of Allegiance
meant at the time it was penned. She
suspects there were actually some limits on “all.” Dr. Freedom is attempting to establish ______
regarding the validity of the letter.
a. external evidence
b. internal evidence
**10. The information to the right is an example of:
a. ex
post facto research.
b. a
historiography.
c. a historic method.
d. a chronology.
*11. ______ is/are
an appropriate focus of historical research.
a. Concepts
b. Ideas
c. People
d. all of the above
*12. Historical researchers can count on
authoritative sources such as the Anglo-Saxon
Chronology or the Cambridge Ancient
History as accurate and complete accounts of history.
a. True
b. False
*13. In writing a
historical research report, it is best to:
a. avoid mentioning alternative
interpretations of events proposed by other scholars.
b.
leave most of the interpretation of data to the reader
rather than impose your own
point of view.
c. point out the weaknesses in the
arguments or assertions you are making.
d. discuss
the weaknesses, but not the strengths, of arguments put forth by other
scholars.
*14. A historical research report may differ
from other research reports in that presentation of data and interpretation of
data:
a. are
confined to separate sections of the paper.
b. may not be included.
c. may be intertwined in a technical style
of scientific writing.
d. may be intertwined in a flowing
narrative style.
Essay Questions
15. One of the most challenging aspects of
conducting historical research is systematically organizing the hundreds or
thousands of notes that are collected in the course of the research
project. Describe one method for
handling this organizational challenge, including mention of both the strengths
and weaknesses of the approach.
16. Conducting rigorous historical research
involves more than reading historical
documents, taking notes, and organizing those notes. Explain.
17. The authors recommend that chronological
data be arrayed in a time line as part of the interpretative process. What type of information can be revealed by
this technique?
18. The authors recommend that chronological
data be plotted on a map as part of the interpretative process. What type of information can be revealed by
this technique?
Chapter 9
DESCRIPTIVE RESEARCH
Multiple-Choice
Questions
*1. Observational
research, as a form of descriptive research,
a. focuses on rich narrative description
of the phenomenon of interest.
b. involves counting or rating of behavior
in as objective a manner as possible.
c. relies on open-ended techniques that
can respond to the evolving situation.
d. allows
the researcher to gather behavioral data in a relatively quick and easy
manner.
*2. Three of the following procedures or
techniques are integral to observational research. Which one is NOT?
a. Pilot studies are used to test instruments
and procedures.
b. Observers
are carefully trained to follow specific criteria when recording the
observation data.
c. Multiple observers may independently
rate the same behavior.
d. Observation
instruments are intentionally general so as not to constrain the
observer.
*3. Correlational
research allows the researcher to answer questions such as:
a. what is the relationship between
Variable A and Variable B?
b. does
change in Variable A cause change in Variable B?
c. is there a significant difference
between scores on Variable A and scores on Variable B?
d. does change in Variable B causes change
in Variable A?
**4. The
scatterplot to the right indicates a ______ relationship between Variable A and
Variable B.
a. weak
b. moderate
c. strong
d. indeterminate
**5. A researcher wishes to study developmental
changes in people’s preference for action movies. The researcher locates 50 people at each of
the following ages: 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, and 50 years. She asks them to rate their preference for
action movies in relation to other sorts of movies. This is an example of a ______ design.
a. longitudinal
b. nested
c. cross-sectional
d. panel
**6. A researcher wishes to study developmental
changes in the music people prefer to listen to. The researcher locates 50 people who are
about 20 years old. She sends these
people a questionnaire every year for the next 10 years asking about the types
of music they prefer to listen to. This
is an example of a ______ design.
a. longitudinal
b. nested
c. cross-sectional
d. panel
*7. Among survey methods, _____ generally
generate the highest response rate, and ______ generally generate the lowest
response rate.
a. face-to-face interviews; telephone
interviews
b. telephone interviews; questionnaires
c. face-to-face interviews;
questionnaires
d. questionnaires; telephone interviews
*8. Advantages of
questionnaires include all of the following EXCEPT:
a. large numbers of people can be
contacted for a relatively low cost.
b. data
can be gathered from a large number of people in a relatively short period of
time.
c. participants may feel more confident
about their anonymity and therefore respond more honestly.
d. because questions are in written form,
they are less likely to be misunderstood by respondents.
*9. Regarding the length of questionnaires to
be used in survey research, which of the following statements is most accurate?
a. Including a large number of items on
the survey assures that you will get useful data for all of your trouble.
b. Keeping the survey short makes it more
likely people will be willing to complete it.
c. A relatively lengthy survey
communicates your seriousness about the research endeavor so people will be
more willing to complete it.
d. Shorter surveys produce data that are
ambiguous and therefore not useful.
**10. “How unhappy are you with your current
salary?”
This question
violates which rule of good survey writing?
a. It is not quantifiable.
b. It makes an unwarranted assumption.
c. It fails to keep the respondent’s task
simple.
d. It uses technical language that may not
be known to all.
*11. The typical
return rate for a survey mailed to strangers is about:
a. 80%
b. 65%
c. 50%
d. 35%
*12. In descriptive research, the researcher
typically studies a______, then draws conclusions about the______.
a. sample; population
b. population; sample
c. sample; sample
d. population; population
**13. Polly Petunia is Chief Horticulturalist for
the Southwest region, encompassing Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas. She wants to survey amateur gardeners in her
region to determine what, if any, water conservation practices they employ in
their home gardening. Polly sends her
survey to 150 randomly selected gardeners in each state. Polly is using:
a. purposive
sampling.
b. proportional stratified sampling.
c. systematic sampling.
d. stratified random sampling.
**14. Paul Pollster, a political psychologist,
wants to determine whether rates of voter participation in his home state vary
between rural, urban, and suburban voters.
He notes that there are more rural voters than suburban or urban voters
in the state. Paul should use ______ in
this study.
a. simple
random sampling
b. cluster sampling
c. proportional stratified sampling
d. systematic sampling
**15. Simon Cinema wants to know what the audience
thought of tonight’s advanced screening of a heralded psychological thriller
called “I Can’t Sleep.” He and his
research assistants stand outside the theatre exit and ask every fifth person
leaving the theatre to answer several questions about their impression of the
movie. Simon is using:
a. systematic sampling.
b. stratified random sampling.
c. convenience sampling.
d. purposive sampling.
**16. Danny Drive wants to know the relationship
between intrinsic motivation and course grade among math students. He contacts a local professor who teaches
several general education math classes and asks about the possibility of
gathering data in her classes. Danny is
using:
a. simple
random sampling.
b. cluster sampling.
c. convenience sampling.
d. systematic sampling
**17. Edward Ethics is studying public opinion
regarding prayer in public schools. He
plans to gather survey data from a number of churches on Sunday mornings. He also wants to include a number of people
who are not associated with an organized religion in his sample. Edward is using:
a. stratified random sampling.
b. cluster sampling.
c. convenience sampling.
d. purposive sampling.
Essay Questions
18. Your chapter identifies several
weaknesses related to survey data. Note
one of these weaknesses and discuss the associated problems and possible ways
to minimize them.
19. In writing the cover letter to accompany
a mailed survey, novice researchers often stress the immediacy of their need
for the data. Is this the best approach
to take in the cover letter? If not,
what do you recommend instead?
20. The authors of your textbook suggest that
sampling bias is virtually unavoidable and that it is important to disclose and
discuss possible sources of bias in the study report. Do you agree?
Explain your position.
Chapter 10
EXPERIMENTAL AND EX
POST FACTO DESIGNS
Multiple-Choice
Questions
*1. Experimental
research differs from descriptive research in that it:
a. is less sensitive to sampling bias.
b. employs statistical analyses.
c. attempts to determine causality.
d. is conducted in a laboratory.
*2. In
experimental design, the variable that is manipulated is the:
a. dependent
variable.
b. independent
variable.
c. confounding
variable.
d. constant.
*3. In
experimental design, the variable that reflects the outcome of the treatment is
the:
a. dependent
variable.
b. independent
variable.
c. confounding
variable.
d. constant.
**4. “There will be gender differences in degree
of mood elevation seen in depressed clients after receiving
cognitive-behavioral therapy.”
In this
hypothesis, gender is the:
a. dependent
variable.
b. independent
variable.
c. confounding
variable.
d. constant.
**5. “There will be differences in degree of
mood elevation seen in depressed clients after receiving either
cognitive-behavioral or psychoanalytic therapy.”
In this
hypothesis, mood elevation is the:
a. dependent
variable.
b. independent
variable.
c. confounding
variable.
d. constant.
**6. “There will be differences in degree of
mood elevation seen in depressed clients after receiving either
cognitive-behavioral or psychoanalytic therapy.”
In this
hypothesis, type of therapy is the:
a. dependent
variable.
b. confounding
variable.
c. independent
variable.
d. constant.
**7. “There will be differences in degree of
mood elevation seen in depressed clients after receiving either
cognitive-behavioral or psychoanalytic therapy.”
During a test of this hypothesis,
it was discovered that some of the participants lived with family members and
others lived alone. This variable,
living situation, is a/an _____.
a. independent
variable.
b. dependent
variable.
c. constant.
d. confoundingvariable.
**8. Dr. Dow Jones wants to know whether a
problem-based approach to teaching economics will result in higher academic
performance than his traditional method.
Of the six sections of Economics 101 at his university, Dr. Jones
randomly assigns three sections to the traditional method and three sections to
the problem-based method. At the end of
the semester, all students complete the same final exam. In this design, students studying under the
traditional method constitute the:
a. placebo group.
b. treatment group.
c. sample.
d. control group.
**9. Dr. Dow Jones wants to know whether a
problem-based approach to teaching economics will result in higher academic
performance than his traditional method.
Of the six sections of Economics 101 at his university, Dr. Jones
randomly assigns three sections to the traditional method and three sections to
the problem-based method. At the end of
semester all students complete the same final exam. In this design, students studying under the
problem-based method constitute the:
a. placebo group.
b. treatment group.
c. sample.
d. control group.
**10. Dr. Dow Jones wants to know whether a
problem-based approach to teaching economics will result in higher academic
performance than his traditional method.
Of the six sections of Economics 101 at his university, Dr. Jones
randomly assigns three sections to the traditional method and three sections to
the problem-based method for Unit 1 of the course. Then all sections switch instructional method
for Unit 2. He plans to compare the
performance of the two groups of sections on their Unit 1 and Unit 2
exams. This study employs a ______
design.
a. within subjects (repeated measures)
b. quasi-experimental
c. true experimental
d. ex post facto
**11. Penny Poodle wanted to know which dog
obedience training program was more effective: Puppy Pride, the approach she
has been using for many years, or Doggie Do-Right, a new approach. Penny convinced 50 human companions of untrained
dogs to participate in her study. The
dogs and their humans were randomly assigned to complete the Puppy Pride or
Doggie Do-Right course. At the end of
the training programs, all of the dogs were scored on their level of obedience
on a standardized dog obedience checklist (scores could range from 10 to
100). In this study, ______ is the
dependent variable.
a. Doggie Do-Right
b. type of dog training program
c. score on the dog obedience
checklist
d. obedience training versus no training
**12. Penny Poodle wanted to know which dog obedience
training program was more effective: Puppy Pride, the approach she has been
using for any years, or Doggie Do-Right, a new approach. Penny convinced 50 human companions of
untrained dogs to participate in her study.
The dogs and their humans were randomly assigned to complete the Puppy
Pride or Doggie Do-Right course. At the
end of the training programs, all of the dogs were scored on their level of
obedience on a standardized dog obedience checklist (scores could range from 10
to 100). In this study, ______ is the
independent variable.
a. Doggie Do-Right
b. type of dog training program
c. score on the dog obedience
checklist
d. obedience training versus no training
**13. Penny Poodle wanted to know which dog
obedience training program was more effective: Puppy Pride, the approach she
has been using for any years, or Doggie Do-Right, a new approach. Penny convinced 50 human companions of
untrained dogs to participate in her study.
The dogs and their humans were randomly assigned to complete the Puppy
Pride or Doggie Do-Right course. At the
end of the training programs, all of the dogs were scored on their level of
obedience on a standardized dog obedience checklist (scores could range from 10
to 100). This study employed a/an ______
design.
a. one-shot experimental
b. ex post facto
c. posttest-only control group design
d. within subjects
**14. Dr. Robbins wants to know if there are
different opinions regarding the value of public school education between
Native Americans who have at least one relative who attended Indian Boarding
School and Native Americans who have no family experience with Indian Boarding
School. Dr. Robbins contacts 35 Native
American participants in each group. He
wants each group to include younger as well as older adults, and a mix of male
and female participants. He asks each
person to complete a survey about their attitudes toward public education. In this study, _____ is the independent
variable.
a. score on the “attitude toward public
schools” measure
b. experience with Indian boarding school
c. gender of participant
d. age of participant
**15. Dr. Robbins wants to know if there are
different opinions regarding the value of public school education between
Native Americans who have at least one relative who attended Indian Boarding
School and Native Americans who have no family experience with Indian Boarding
School. Dr. Robbins contacts 35 Native
American participants in each group. He
wants each group to include younger as well as older adults, and a mix of male
and female participants. He asks each
person to complete a survey about their attitudes toward public education. In this study, _____ is the dependent
variable.
a. score on the “attitude toward public
schools” measure
b. experience with Indian boarding school
c. gender of participant
d. age of participant
**16. Dr. Robbins wants to know if there are
different opinions regarding the value of public school education between
Native Americans who have at least one relative who attended Indian Boarding
School and Native Americans who have no family experience with Indian Boarding
School. Dr. Robbins contacts 35 Native
American participants in each group. He
wants each group to include younger as well as older adults, and a mix of male
and female participants. He asks each
person to complete a survey about their attitudes toward public education. This study employs a/an ______ design.
a. pre-experimental
b. factorial
c. true experimental
d. ex post facto
*17. Three of the
following are examples of true experimental designs. Which one is NOT?
a. Multiple baseline design
b. Solomon four-group design
c. Within subjects design
d. Pretest–posttest control group design
*18. Three of the
following are examples of quasi-experimental designs. Which one is NOT?
a. Nonrandomized pretest–posttest control
group design
b. Control group time-series design
c. Single-subjects design
d. One-shot experimental design
*19. A
meta-analysis is used when:
a. the researcher wishes to analyze the
analyses of a number of existing studies.
b. there is little existing literature to
use as a launching pad for a new study.
c. the researcher has no access to
sophisticated statistical techniques.
d. several researchers jointly conduct a
large-scale study.
Essay Questions
20. A researcher is studying the
effectiveness of two different resident adolescent drug treatment
programs. Program A is used at
Summerhill adolescent facility. Program
B is used at Winterdale adolescent facility. Because random assignment to treatments is not
possible in this situation, what can the researcher do to minimize possible
effects of sample bias?
21. Factorial designs allow researchers to
study the effects of more than one independent variable simultaneously. Why is this advantageous? What information can factorial designs yield
that nonfactorial designs cannot?
Chapter 11
STRATEGIES FOR
ANALYZING QUANTITATIVE DATA
Multiple-Choice
Questions
*1. How are inferential statistics different
from descriptive statistics?
a. Descriptive
statistics allow one to draw inferences from the sample to a target population.
b.
Descriptive statistics
verify the accuracy of the inferential statistics.
c.
Inferential statistics
describe the results of a study.
d. Inferential
statistics allow one to draw inferences from the sample to a target population.
*2. ____ are
characteristics of samples, wheras _______ are characteristics of populations.
a. Concepts; statistics
b. Parameters;
statistics
c. Statistics; parameters
d. Parameters; estimations
*3. In
a normal distribution, what percentage of scores falls between one standard
deviation below the mean and one standard deviation above the mean?
a.
16%
b.
50%
c.
68%
d.
90%
*4. Dorothy has been surveying the Munchkins
to determine their level of life satisfaction.
The possible scores on the life satisfaction questionnaire range from 0
to 100. If Dorothy decides to statistically
compare the male and female Munchkins on their level of satisfaction, she
should use a _______ test.
a. parametric
b. nonparametric
**5. Here is a set of scores: 5, 3, 7, 3, 6, 2,
5, 3. The mean of this set of scores is
______.
a. 3
b. 4
c. 4.25
d. 4.5
**6. Here is a set of scores: 5, 3, 7, 3, 6, 2,
5, 3. The median of this set of scores
is ______.
a. 2
b. 3
c. 4
d. 4.5
**7. Here is a set
of scores: 5, 3, 7, 3, 6, 2, 5, 3. The
mode of this set of scores is ______.
a. 3
b. 4
c. 4.22
d. 4.5
*8. The measure(s) of central tendency that
is/are appropriate for use with nominal data is/are:
a. the
median only.
b. the
mode only.
c. the
median and the mean.
d. the
median and the mode.
*9. When summarizing ordinal data, the ______
is the most useful measure of central tendency.
a. arithmetic
mean
b. mode
c. median
d. geometric
mean
*10. When reporting growth data, the ______ is
the most useful measure of central tendency.
a. arithmetic
mean
b. mode
c. median
d. geometric
mean
*11. When the ____ is the measure of central
tendency, the _____ is the most appropriate and informative measure of
dispersion.
a. median;
standard deviation
b. median;
interquartile range
c. mean;
interquartile range
d. mean;
range
**12. An exam was given 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?
a.
Section 1 did better on the
exam than Section 2.
b.
Section 1 scores were more
variable than Section 2.
c.
Section 1 scores were less
variable than Section 2.
d.
Section 1 did less well on
the exam than Section 2.
*13. The z-score,
or standard score, allows the research to determine:
a. how far a target individual’s score is
from the group mean.
b. what percentage of individuals in the
sample scored above the target individual.
c. the mean for the population based on
the mean for the sample.
d. what percentage of individuals in the
sample scored below the target individual.
*14. The percentile
rank allows the researcher to determine:
a. how far a target individual’s score is
from the group mean.
b. what percentage of individuals in the
sample scored above the target individual.
c. the mean for the population based on
the mean for the sample.
d. what percentage of individuals in the
sample scored below the target individual.
**15. Danzell is a purchasing agent for a major
grocery store chain. He has noticed over
the years that the higher the outdoor temperature, the more likely people are
to buy fresh fruit. Based on Danzell’s
observations, we would say there is ______ relationship between outdoor
temperature and buying of fresh fruit.
a. a positive
b. a negative
c. a causal
d. no
**16. 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 ______ and ______ relationship between hours of strenuous
exercise and body mass.
a. strong; positive
b. strong; negative
c. weak; positive
d. weak; negative
*17. Three of the following factors are
associated with a relatively small standard error of the mean. Which one is NOT?
a. Sample size is relatively large.
b. Sample standard deviation is relatively
small.
c. The variance in the sample is
relatively large.
d. The sample is highly representative of
the population.
**18. Seamus has determined that there is a 95%
chance that the number of people visiting the Blarney Stone in the month of
June will be between 1,760 and 2,025.
This is a/an ______ estimate.
a. point
b. interval
*19. Statistical
hypothesis testing involves testing the:
a. research hypothesis.
b. probability level.
c. significance level.
d. null hypothesis.
**20. On the basis of statistical findings, Ron
determines that the differences 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:
a. Type I error.
b. Type II error.
**21. 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 the population, Becky will
have made a:
a. Type I error.
b. Type II error.
Essay Questions
22. A medical researcher is concerned about
mistakenly concluding that a new medication is effective when it really is
not. What type of error is the
researcher concerned about making (Type I or Type II)? Describe what the researcher might do to
decrease the likelihood of making that type of error. Discuss ramifications of your suggested
approach for other types of error in the study.
23. Note several
steps researchers can take to optimize the power of their statistical tests.
24. After completing planned analyses, the
researcher must interpret the results of statistical tests. Note several steps that are involved in such
interpretation.
Chapter 12
TECHNICAL DETAILS:
STYLE, FORMAT, AND ORGANIZATION
OF THE RESEARCH REPORT
Multiple-Choice
Questions
*1. When writing the research report, the
findings of statistical analyses are typically reported in the ______ section.
a. review of literature
b. method
c. results
d. discussion
*2. When writing the research report, the
descriptions of instruments used for data gathering are typically included in
the ______ section.
a. introduction
b. method
c. results
d. discussion
*3. When writing the research report, the
interpretation of study findings is typically included in the ______ section.
a. introduction
b. method
c. results
d. discussion
*4. When writing the research report, the
research problem is typically described in the ______ section.
a. introduction
b. review of literature
c. method
d. results
*5. When writing the research report,
information regarding the study design is typically included in the ______
section.
a. introduction
b. review of literature
c. method
d. results
*6. The reference
list is included in the:
a. front matter.
b. end matter.
c. appendices.
d. body
of the report.
*7. Copies of the
survey instruments are included in the:
a. front matter.
b. end matter.
c. appendices.
d. body of the report.
*8. The abstract
is included in the:
a. front matter.
b. end matter.
c. appendices.
d. body of the report.
*9. In a
quantitative study, the description of participants (subjects) is included in
the:
a. front matter.
b. end matter.
c. appendices.
d. method section.
*10. The
acknowledgments are included in the:
a. front matter.
b. end matter.
c. appendices.
d. body of the report.
**11. “Johnson eliminated three interviews from the
data set due to noncompliance on the part of the respondents.”
This sentence is
an example of:
a. active voice.
b. passive voice.
**12. “The third subscale was dropped from further
consideration due to problems with internal consistency.”
This sentence is
an example of:
a. active voice.
b. passive voice.
*13. The style manual of the American
Psychological Association (APA) suggests that ____ tense be used when writing
the method section and ______ tense be used when presenting conclusions.
a. present; present
b. past; past
c. present; past
d. past; present
Essay Questions
14. Throughout your textbook the authors
return to the importance of interpreting
the findings of a research project.
Explain why this is an essential element in a high-quality research
report.
15. Imagine that you just completed a
research project in which the data failed to support your chief
hypothesis. Why might this have
happened? Discuss several possibilities.
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