ESS 5346 Exam 1 Sample Questions

Describe how the Boolean operators "and" and "or" function to provide an optimal number of pertinent literature sources.

- Adding and helps narrow the search - Adding or will help broaden the search

A good definition of research is

- the object of research is to determine how things are as compared to how they might be - implies careful and systematic means of solving problems and hypothesis

five characteristics of scientific research are:

SLERR: systematic, logical, empirical, reductive, and replicable

This question pertains to the following study: "A researcher wishes to determine the effects of an outdoor adventure summer camp on the self-concept of inner-city boys. Boys are randomly assigned to the summer camp and to a control situation. The experimental treatment is for three months. A secondary purpose is to see if age (ages 6, 9, and 12) affects the relationship of the camp effects and self-concept." The primary independent variable is

adventure summer camp

a researcher is required to protect the rights of:

all participants

a treatment quesi-experimental study is the same as

an independent variable

which of the major types of research will be not be covered in lecture, but Dr.Knudson suggested reading about in the text

analytical

Henrich et al (2010) WEIRD acronym makes the point that samples in most psychological research studies are

biased representations of aa persons

the greater control of an experimental study means there is

both a lower potential errors/bias and less ecological valdity

when we say that research is empirical, we mean that the researcher

collects data on which to base decisions

The primary purpose of meta-analysis is to

conduct a quantitative research synthesis on a particular topic

what can human participants in research ethically expect?

confidentiality privacy non-participation ALL OF THE ABOVE

which of the following is not an important purpose for reviewing the literature?

developing the method

In evaluating the method section of a research report, which is a very important question to keep in mind?

did the author provide enough information that the study could be repeated?

which is not a characteristic of research

disorderly

"cooking the data" refers to:

eliminating data

a good beginning point in a literature search for the student with a very limited knowledge about a topic is

encyclopedias, textbooks, and reviews

The only type of research that can manipulate treatments and establish a cause and effect is

experimental research

The generalizability of the results pertains to what kind of validity?

external note: generalizability = external

what is a primary source for a literature review?

first-hand sources of data in research; original studies - most valuable - most primary sources in a literature review are journal articles - thesis and dissertations

A researcher conducts a study on the effectiveness of computer-assisted instruction (CAI) by comparing classes that use this method with classes that do not. The researcher expects the CAI classes to show higher gains in achievement. This expectation is

hypothesis

which is not a category of research reviewed/supervised by IRBs?

immaterial

the variable of interest in a research study or one that must be controlled is an ___variable

independent

In which part of the method section should you expect to find information about statistical tests used?

instruments

The extent to which the results of a study can be attributed to the treatments used in the study is the definition of what kind of validity?

internal

It is desirable to carry out a pilot study prior to the actual research study because

it permits a thorough check of the planned data collection and analysis procedures

the consensus of scholars of the codified and theory-based observations of their field is:

knowledge

Good repeatability must be ensured by the _____ section of a research report?

methods

replication of research requires a strong ___ section of research report

methods

A researcher states that there will be no significant difference in participant's weight loss due to their assignment into either: 1) intervention A; 2) intervention B; or 3) no intervention (control group). The researcher statement is an example of

null hypothesis

In describing participants in the method section of a research report, which of the following should be included?

number of participants and pertinent descriptive

Defining volleyball skill as a score on a Standardized Volleyball Test is a(n):

operational definition

Which of the following is not scientific misconduct

participant randomization

what is not one of the four classic steps of the scientific method?

pilot study

the term that denotes using idea, writings, or drawings of others as you own is

plagiarism

the research question is equivalent to the thesis/dissertation section

problem statement

A researcher predicts that there will be a positive relationship between attitude scores and grade point average. This is an example of a

research hypothesis

the expected result based on theory or experience is the ____hypothesis

research hypothesis

The researcher's statement that "the boys in the adventure program will make significantly greater gains in self-concept than the boys in the control group" is an example of a(n)

research hypothesis (what you think will happen)

currently the easiest "S" in performing a review of literature is

searching

A likert scale is often used in

survey research

According to the American Psychological Association, when a graduate student submits his or her thesis or dissertation for publication jointly with the major professor, the first author should be

the one who developed the idea for the study

Compares to applied research, basic research

usually offers more control, such as in a laboratory

In a study designed to assess the comparative effectiveness of two workbooks used in teaching students about laboratory procedures, the independent variable of the study would be

workbooks