Study Guide - Research Methods

In the social sciences, the accepted probability level or level of significance is usually: 1. .05 or less 2. 1.0 or higher 3. .0001 or less 4. 5.0

.05 or less

Which of the following is a basic step in selecting a sample from a population regardless of the specific technique being used? 1. Identify the population 2. Define the sample size 3. Select a sample 4. All of these

All of these

Operationalizing variables simply means that they: 1. Are categorical 2. Are well defined 3. Can be manipulated 4. Can be easily entered into SPSS

Are well defined

There are four basic measurement scales: The nominal, ordinal, interval, and ratio scales. The nominal scale is strictly a qualitative scale. It is the simplest type of scale and is used to distinguish logically separated groups. Which of the following illustrates the function of the nominal scale? 1. A horse characterized as a second place winner in a show. 2. A DSM or ICD diagnostic category 3. An IQ score of 111 4. The weight of an Olympic barbell set

A DSM or ICD diagnostic category

A bi-model distribution has two modes (i.e., most frequently occurring scales). Graphically, this looks most like: 1. A symmetrical bell-shaped curve 2. The top half of a bowling ball 3. A camel's back with two humps 4. A mountain which is leaning towards the left.

A camel's back with two humps

Mr. Gallagher is conducting a study of college freshmen in Louisiana. He has been able to compile a list of every freshmen enrolled in the state supported universities, but the information on students attending private universities in not available to him. The students on his list are referred to as the: 1. Accessible population 2. Target population 3. Stratified sample 4. Sample

Accessible population

Instrument selection is largely based on: 1. Where, when, and how the data will be collected 2. Appropriateness of instrument to the population being studied 3. Psychometric properties of the instrument 4. All of the above

All of the above

Which of the following is an appropriate source for selecting a research topic? 1. All of the above. 2. Theory 3. Personal Experience 4. Replication of prior research

All of the above

From a mathematical standpoint, the mean is merely the sum of the scores divided by the number of scores. The mean is misleading when: 1. The distribution is skewed 2. The distribution has no extreme scores 3. There are extreme scores 4. Both 1 and 3

Both 1 and 3

Independent variable is to dependent variable as 1. Effect is to cause 2. Predictor is to criterion 3. Cause is to effect 4. Criterion is to predictor

Cause is to effect

Test reliability refers to: 1. Consistency in test results 2. The extent to which the test measures what it is supposed to measure 3. The types of writing errors that exist in the test 4. Generalizability of the research results.

Consistency in the test results

Ms. LeBlanc wants to measure her students' attitudes toward math. Attitudes are an example of a(n) 1. Variable 2. Construct 3. Operational Definition 4. Independent Variable

Construct

The application of the scientific method to the study of educational problems is called: 1. Inductive reasoning 2. Deductive reasoning 3. Educational research 4. Grounded Theory

Educational Research

A unique characteristic of a qualitative study that influences the research plan tremendously is the: 1. Emergent design 2. Inductive hypothesis 3. Large number of subjects 4. Analysis of the statistical data

Emergent design

In a negatively skewed distribution, mean is greater than the median. True or False

False

Which of the following concerns is MOST likely to become a problem is Ms. Bellau uses purposive sampling techniques? 1. Subjects participating in the study 2. Statistically equal groups 3. Generalizability to the population 4. Selection of participants who are thought to be informative, articulate, and experienced with the research topic and setting

Generalizability to the population

A ___________________ uses bars to indicate frequencies for each unit. 1. Frequency distribution 2. Histogram 3. Median 4. Pie graph

Histogram

The variable the researcher manipulates or controls in an experiment is the... 1. IV or independent variable 2. DV. 3. Dependent variable 4. The variable the researcher will measure to determine the outcome

IV or independent variable

Which of the following steps of the scientific method is exemplified by the researcher reviewing the literature and focusing on a specific problem that has yet to be resolved? 1. Identify a topic 2. Describe the procedures to collect information 3. Analyze the collected information 4. State the results of the data analysis

Identify a topic

Which of the following reliability estimates require only a single administration of a test? 1. None of the following 2. Stability 3. Equivalence 4. Internal Consistency

Internal Consistency

Mrs. Jones has begun a review of the literature and has found a theoretical framework around which her study could be framed. Her discussion of this framework is likely found in which section of a qualitative research plan? 1. Procedures 2. Title 3. Introduction

Introduction

Which of the following is NOT a required characteristic of a good research topic? 1. It can be investigated through the collection and analysis of data. 2. It is ethical. 3. It focuses on a philosophical or ethical issue. 4. It is theoretically or practically significant.

It focuses on a philosophical or ethical issue.

A researcher must be concerned with the significance level of the correlation coefficient because: 1. It is a measure of the validity of the relationship 2. It tells the researcher how likely it is that the computed correlation value is due to chance or sampling error. 3. It determines the feasibility for the study 4. Research reports require that significance exist in order to be published

It tells the researcher how likely it is that the computed correlation value is due to chance or sampling error.

Which type of scale requires a student to respond to an item based on whether they strongly disagree, disagree, agree, or strongly agree? 1. Thurstone 2. Semantic differential 3. Rating 4. Likert

Likert

Which of the following is NOT part of the introduction section of a quantitative research plan? 1. Statement of the topic 2. Review of the literature 3. Listing of materials and apparatus 4. Statement of the hypothesis

Listing of materials and apparatus

If data indicate that students who study a lot get very high scores on the state counselor licensing exams, then the correlation between study time and LPC exam scores would be? positive or negative

Positive

Which of the following is not a random sampling technique? 1. Purposive sampling 2. Stratified sampling 3. Cluster sampling 4. Systematic sampling

Purposive sampling

Sampling error is controlled by? 1. Purposive sampling 2. Randomly selecting large samples from the population 3. Carefully reviewing the sampling process. 4. Randomly selecting 10% of the population

Randomly selecting large samples from the population

Which of the following is NOT likely to be found in the methods section of a quantitative research plan? 1. Participants 2. Results 3. Instruments 4. Research design

Results

Mr. Norris is studying the effects of two innovative instructional strategies on student achievement. He randomly selected 60 students from the 1,512 students in his community college to participate in the study. These 60 students are referred to most appropriately as the: 1. Research group 2. Target population 3. Sample 4. Accessible population

Sample

The process of selecting a number of participants for a study in such a way that they represent the larger group from which they were selected is known as... 1. Sampling 2. Research Design 3. Data Collection 4. Random Assignment

Sampling

Which of the following is NOT a general rule for determining sample size? 1. Select about 20% of the population in a descriptive study. 2. Select a minimum of 30 subjects per group in a casual-comparative research design. 3. Select a maximum of 20 subjects for correlational research designs. 4. Select about 60 subjects for a two-group experimental design.

Select a maximum of 20 subjects for correlational research designs.

When data points on a particular variable do not conform to a normal curve they are best known as: 1. A frequency Distribution 2. Skewed 3. Negatively skewed 4. Positively skewed 5. Symmetrical

Skewed

Which sampling technique is Dr. Alexander using when he uses the advice of several participants to contact others who might participate in his study? 1. Intensity 2. Snowball 3. Quota 4. Criterion

Snowball

Considerations in determining appropriate sample size for a study generally include all but which of the following: 1. Statistical program used to analyze data 2. Type of statistical analysis to be employed 3. Sample sizes in previous studies 4. The likelihood of finding a large effect

Statistical program used to analyze data

In a skewed distribution: 1. The mean is the same as the median 2. The median is closer to the extreme scores than the mean 3. The mean is closer to the extreme scores than the median 4. The mode is closer to the extreme scores than the mean

The mean is closer to the extreme scores than the median

Ms. Acosta is proposing a very sophisticated statistical analysis of the data she is collecting. The explanation of these procedures will be found in which of the following? 1. The methods section of a qualitative research plan 2. The methods section of a quantitative research plan 3. The data analysis section of a qualitative research plan 4. The data analysis section of a quantitative research plan

The methods section of a quantitative research plan

Mr. Smith is proposing to randomly select a sample of 170 fifth grade students from the population of fifth grade students in Pamlico County Schools. Where would you likely find the details of the procedures he is using? 1. The methods section of a qualitative research plan. 2. The methods section of a quantitative research plan. 3. The data analysis section of a qualitative research plan. 4. The data analysis section of a quantitative research plan.

The methods section of a quantitative research plan.

The most common measures of the central tendency are the mean, median, and the mode. The mode is: 1. Always 10% less that the mean 2. The most frequently occurring score and the least important measure of central tendency 3. The arithmetic average 4. The middle score in the distribution of scores

The most frequently occurring score and the least important measure of central tendency

The procedures section of a qualitative research plan includes all of the following EXCEPT a discussion of the: 1. Trustworthiness 2. Researcher's role 3. Theoretical framework 4. Data collection, management, and analysis strategies

Theoretical framework

Why might a researcher consult handbook, yearbooks, encyclopedias or reviews in the initial stages of identifying a research topic? 1. These sources are readily available 2. These sources provide an overview of the issues related to a topic 3. These are primary sources 4. These sources avoid reporting statistical data so one can interpret the results more easily.

These sources provide an overview of the issues related to a topic

Which of the following are the general components of a qualitative research plan? 1. Introduction, methods, procedures, and data analysis 2. Title, introduction, procedures, potential contributions, and limitations 3. Introduction, data collection and analysis, and results 4. Title, introduction, results, interpretations

Title, introduction, procedures, potential contributions, and limitations

Which of the following is not a purpose of correlational research? 1. To make predictions 2. To determine if a relationship exists between two variables 3. To establish casual relationships 4. To determine the degree to which a relationship exists between two variables

To establish casual relationships

The extent to which a test provides scores that are meaningful, appropriate, or useful is referred to as: 1. Reliability 2. Validity 3. Accuracy 4. Social Desirability

Validity

A ___________________ score is a standardized score that tells the researcher how far a person is from the mean in the metric of standard deviation units: 1. Z 2. Q 3. T-test 4. ANOVA

Z