CH 1, 2, 3, 4

Question 1

Which research design allows for the measure of a “cause and effect” relationship?

(A) experiment
(B) ex post facto study
(C) correlational study
(D) case study
(E) ethnographic study
(F) content analysis
(G) historical research study

Answer 1

(A) experiment

Question 2

Consider the following research hypothesis: Adult males and females with a college degree are less comfortable working on group projects than adult males and females who do not have a college degree. The dependent variable in this study would be:

(A) educational level (having a college degree vs. not having a college degree)
(B) gender (male vs. female)
(C) age level
(D) comfort level in working on group projects
(E) adults

Answer 2

(D) comfort level in working on group projects

*In this study, the researcher is wanting to compare comfort level in regard to working on group projects for adults with di!erent educational backgrounds.

Question 3

With the research hypothesis: Adult males and females with a college degree are less comfortable working on group projects than adult males and females who do not have a college degree. The independent variable would be:

(A) educational level (college degree vs. no college degree)
(B) gender (male vs. female)
(C) comfort level in regard to working in groups
(D) age
(E) adults

Answer 3

(A) educational level (college degree vs. no college

*The adult males and females are being grouped into two categories: those who have a college degree and those who do not have a college degree.

Question 4

With the research hypothesis: Adult males and females with a college degree are less comfortable working on group projects than adult males and females who do not have a college degree. What population is being studied? (e.g. the researcher is wanting to generalize their
findings to what group?)

(A) All males and females
(B) Adult males and females
(C) Adults without a college degree
(D) Adults with a college degree
(E) Adult males with a high level of comfort in working on group projects

Answer 4

(B) Adult males and females

*The researcher indicates that he is interested in adult males and females. Note that he hasn’t specified whether there is a restriction to adults in the U.S., or adults who live in California, or adults that live in the mid-west…

*The researcher indicates that he is interested in adult males and females. Note that he hasn’t specified whether there is a restriction to adults in the U.S., or adults who live in California, or adults
that live in the mid-west…

Question 5

Choose the most appropriate critique for the following hypothesis.

“Should the theory of evolution be taught in the middle school science curriculum?”

(A) This question is too specific; it would not be generalizable to a more global population.
(B) The answer to this question would not contribute to the existing body of knowledge.
(C) Research can not answer questions of value; it can only produce information on which decisions can be made.
(D) This is a researchable question.

Answer 5

(C) Research can not answer questions of value; it can only produce information on which decisions can be made.

*“Should evolution be taught…” is a value question that can not be answered with empirical data.

Question 6

Which variable would be classified as continuous?

A) Brand of Computer (e.g., Dell, Gateway, Apple
(B) Hair color
(C) Father’s annual salary
(D) Favorite soft drink

Answer 6

(C) Father’s annual salary

*A continuous variable is one which can be expressed using a measurement continuum such as time, speed, distance covered, amount, etc.

Question 7

Which variable would be considered categorical?

(A) Amount of time to complete a task
(B) Miles per gallon of gasoline
(C) Degree program (e.g., bachelor of science, bachelor of arts, master of science)
(D) Months employed with current employer

Answer 7

(C) Degree program (e.g., bachelor of science, bachelor of arts, master of science)

*A categorical variable is one which has predefined units and does not exist on a continuum such as gender, ethnicity, religious a#iliation, color preference, etc.

Question 8

A principal difference between the scientific approach (deductive reasoning) and inductive reasoning is that the scientific approach or deductive reasoning begins with:

(A) observation of the participants in one’s sample
(B) the collection of data
(C) the analysis or evaluation of data
(D) the development of hypotheses (or predictions)

Answer 8

(D) the development of hypotheses (or predictions)

*Deductive reasoning begins with the development of hypotheses (or predictions) based on prior theory obtained from sources such as a review of literature, experience, expert judgment, or observation. In deductive reasoning, one uses the hypotheses to design the study, determining who the population will be for sampling, what instruments will be selected for measuring the variables, and finally what
analyses to conduct for interpreting the data.
Inductive reasoning does not begin with specific hypotheses (or predictions) but consists of making conclusions based on observational data obtained.

Question 9

Which of the following purposes for proposed research studies would be least acceptable to the scientific researcher?

(A) To show that the permissive philosophy of Benjamin Spock has had an adverse effect on American education.
(B) To predict performance in successive terms in college from tests and grades.
(C) To study the relationship between college students’ ratings of professors and the grades they received from the professors.
(D) To determine if grade in#ation has occurred at the University of Arkansas over the past 10 years.

Answer 9

(A) To show that the permissive philosophy of Benjamin Spock has had an adverse effect on American education.

*Scientific research can not answer vague questions of value (“adverse effect on American education”). It can, however, provide evidence of outcomes that policymakers can use to support a position for or against a particular policy.

**For example, researchers could graph trends in behavioral outcomes documented in American schools prior to Dr. Spock’s publications and post-publication. However, it would be a difficult task to rule out other factors that may also be related to changes in behavioral outcomes observed pre and post-Dr. Spock.

Question 10

A limitation in applying the scientific approach in educational research is

(A) complexity of subject matter to be studied.
(B) difficulty in controlling variables.
(C) lack of researchable problems
(D) both a and b
(E) both b and c

Answer 10

(D) both a and b

*There is definitely NOT a lack of researchable problems, however controlling for important extraneous variables and identifying good measures for unobservable constructs are definite difficulties in social science research!

Question 11

Match each of the following research questions or hypotheses with the most appropriate type of research methodology.

(A) ex post facto study (B) case study (C) correlational study (D) content analysis (E) experiment (F) ethnography (G) historical research study

(1) Adult males and females with a college degree are less comfortable working on group projects than adult males and females who do not have a college degree.
(2) An evaluation of the factors contributing to a physically abusive home environment a young couple.
(3) Is there a relationship between students’ scores on their Algebra 2 final exam and their scores on their Chemistry final exam?
(4) How are female scientists portrayed in elementary school textbooks?

Answer 11

(A) ex post facto study
(1) Adult males and females with a college degree are less comfortable working on group projects than adult males and females who do not have a college degree.

(B) case study
(2) An evaluation of the factors contributing to a physically abusive home environment a young couple.

(C) correlational study
(3) Is there a relationship between students’ scores on their Algebra 2 final exam and their scores on their Chemistry final exam?

(D) content analysis
(4) How are female scientists portrayed in elementary school textbooks?

• This would be a content analysis because it involves analyzing and interpreting the textbooks to learn about human behavior (how female scientists are portrayed).
• *None of these could have been an experiment, because you could not manipulate the independent variable in any of these studies.

**None of these were an ethnography, because that is an in-depth study of naturally occurring behavior within a culture or social group that is conducted in the natural setting. This type of study would not be appropriate for any of the questions presented.

**None of these were an historical research study, because that involves analyzing documents and artifacts and/or using interviews with eyewitnesses to gain insight into past events.

Question 12

Which one of the following steps in conducting a research study would most likely involve deductive reasoning?

(A) formulation of a hypothesis
(B) review of literature
(C) collection of data
(D) statistical analysis of data

Answer 12

(A) formulation of a hypothesis

*Deductive reasoning is mostly like to be used in the formulating a hypothesis.

Question 13

The main purpose of the review of published literature is to

(A) show that the investigator is knowledgeable.
(B) find the answer to the research question that one has formulated.
(C) establish the signi!cance of the study by showing that other researchers have been interested in the same topic.
(D) link the question with the body of knowledge and take the next logical step.

Answer 13

(D) link the question with the body of knowledge and take the next logical step.

Question 14

Which of the following illustrates the null hypothesis?

(A) There is no significant difference in the achievement of groups taught by Method A and Method B.
(B) The difference in the effects on achievement of Method A and Method B equals zero.
(C) There is no relationship between the method of teaching and achievement.
(D) All of these are true.

Answer 14

(D) All of these are true.

*Null hypothesis differs from research hypothesis because it states that there is no relationship between the independent and dependent variables. All three statements are null hypotheses.

Question 15

A null hypothesis is a

(A) statistical term for hypotheses that the data fail to confirm.
(B) statistical hypothesis that says no relationship exists between the variables under investigation.
(C)research hypothesis that has been rejected by research findings.
(D) research hypothesis that states no relationship exists between the variables under investigation.

Answer 15

(B) statistical hypothesis that says no relationship exists between the variables under investigation.

*a null hypothesis is a statistical hypothesis that says no relationship exists between the variables under investigation.

Question 16

Which of the following is NOT an ethical principle in research with human subjects?

(A) Keep the identity of individual participants and the results of their participation private.
(B) Obtain informed consent from all participants.
(C) Keep information about the nature and purpose of the research from the participants.
(D) Allow participants to withdraw from the study at any time.
(E) Explain the nature and value of the research to the participants.

Answer 16

(C) Keep information about the nature and purpose of the research from the participants.

*The information about the nature and purpose of the research should be made available to the participants.

Question 17

What is the main function of an institution’s IRB?

(A) to oversee all research at the university
(B) to encourage more evidence-based research
(C) to evaluate research designs and methodology of proposed studies
(D) to review and give approval to any proposed research with human subjects

Answer 17

(D) to review and give approval to any proposed research with human subjects

*The main function if Institutional Review Board is to review and approve any proposed research that involves human subjects.

Question 18

When searching a database such as ERIC or PsycINFO, a good place to start is

(A) determining keywords.
(B) searching the thesaurus.
(C) reading abstracts.
(D) using interlibrary loan.

Answer 18

(A) determining keywords.

*The first step of searing a database such as ERIC is to determine the keywords.

Question 19

To find a doctoral dissertation, which is most appropriate to search?

(A) ERIC
(B) Dissertation Abstracts International
(C) PsycINFO
(D) PsycARTICLES

Answer 19

(B) Dissertation Abstracts International

*Dissertation Abstracts International is the best place to search for a doctoral dissertation.

Question 20

Which one is a directional hypothesis?

(A) There is no significant relationship between self-esteem and academic achievement.
(B) There is an interaction effect between method of teaching mathematics and gender of students upon learning of mathematics in high school.
(C) The presentation of advance organizers will raise the amount of learning and retention of the subsequently presented materials.
(D) There is a relationship between the emotional maturity of elementary school children and their experiences during the first two years of their childhood.

Answer 20

(C) The presentation of advance organizers will raise the amount of learning and retention of the subsequently presented materials.

*Directional hypothesis is one type of alternative hypothesis, which states that there is a relationship between the variables under investigation. Also, directional hypothesis indicates the direction of the relationship using keywords like increase, improve, decrease and so on.