EXAM #1 SET 1

Question 1

True or False:
Engineering research must always be based on the scientific method.

Answer 1

TRUE

Question 2

True or False:
A hypothesis can be proven true by testing every possible case.

Answer 2

FALSE

Question 3

True or False:
Engineering research and scientific research are mutually exclusive fields.

Answer 3

FALSE

Question 4

True or False:
The goal of engineering research is to produce outcomes that benefit humankind.

Answer 4

TRUE

Question 5

True or False:
Research conclusions are only valid if published in international, refereed journals.

Answer 5

TRUE

Question 6

True or False:
Ethics are an essential part of engineering research, especially in human and environmental contexts.

Answer 6

TRUE

Question 7

True or False:
Research results must always align with the researcher’s hypothesis for the research to be valid.

Answer 7

FALSE

Question 8

True or False:
Peer review is optional in engineering research, but it helps validate research findings.

Answer 8

FALSE

Question 9

True or False:
Engineering ethics includes the responsibility to produce sustainable solutions

Answer 9

TRUE

Question 10

True or False:
Failure analysis is not an important part of engineering research.

Answer 10

FALSE

Question 11

True or False:
Publishing research in a non-peer-reviewed journal is always acceptable.

Answer 11

FALSE

Question 11

True or False:
Engineering research can be used to solve practical problems in human systems.

Answer 11

TRUE

Question 12

True or False:
Codes of ethics do not impact the way engineers conduct research.

Answer 12

FALSE

Question 12

True or False:
A valid research question can only start with the word “Why”.

Answer 12

FALSE

Question 12

True or False:
A successful literature review ensures that the research problem has not already been solved.

Answer 12

TRUE

Question 13

True or False:
The scientific method involves testing theories and hypotheses through experimentation.

Answer 13

TRUE

Question 14

True or False:
Engineers are not required to consider environmental outcomes in their research.

Answer 14

FALSE

Question 15

True or False:
Research projects should only be conducted when the researchers are certain of a positive outcome.

Answer 15

FALSE

Question 16

True or False:
Research findings should be publicly presented for review by other experts.

Answer 16

TRUE

Question 17

True or False:
Only independent verification is needed for research to be considered valid.

Answer 17

FALSE

Question 18

True or False:
New research knowledge must be built on previously published work.

Answer 18

TRUE

Question 19

True or False:
A hypothesis that fails to apply to one case must be adjusted with limiting conditions.

Answer 19

TRUE

Question 20

True or False:
Engineers do not need to be familiar with the archival literature in their field.

Answer 20

FALSE

Question 21

True or False:
Most research starts with a hypothesis that can either be proven or disproven.

Answer 21

TRUE

Question 22

True or False:
Environmental sustainability is a key goal in engineering research.

Answer 22

TRUE

Question 23

Which of the following is a primary goal of engineering research?

A) To develop new technologies regardless of practicality
B) To prove all scientific theories wrong
C) To apply scientific principles for the benefit of human society
D) To focus solely on theoretical knowledge

Answer 23

C) To apply scientific principles for the benefit of human society

Question 24

A valid hypothesis in research must be:

A) Complex and difficult to test
B) Easily disproven with a counter-example
C) Proven to be true in every instance
D) Based on assumptions

Answer 24

B) Easily disproven with a counter-example

Question 25

What is the primary purpose of peer review in engineering research?

A) To gain funding
B) To publish findings without validation
C) To validate and verify research results through expert evaluation
D) To critique the researcher’s writing style

Answer 25

C) To validate and verify research results through expert evaluation

Question 26

Which of the following is an ethical responsibility of engineers?

A) To maximize profits regardless of environmental consequences
B) To prioritize safety and sustainability in their designs
C) To work in secret to avoid criticism
D) To ignore potential failure risks in their designs

Answer 26

B) To prioritize safety and sustainability in their designs

Question 27

Which question might initiate an engineering research project?

A) How can we reduce emissions in automobile engines?
B) Why does gravity exist?
C) When will the next solar eclipse occur?
D) What are the ingredients in soda?

Answer 27

A) How can we reduce emissions in automobile engines?

Question 28

What constitutes ‘new knowledge’ in research?

A) Discovering previously unknown concepts or facts
B) Repeating already established knowledge
C) Gathering data from unverified sources
D) Collecting opinions without verification

Answer 28

A) Discovering previously unknown concepts or facts

Question 29

In which of the following scenarios should ethics approval be sought?

A) When the research involves animals or humans
B) When the research only involves computer models
C) When the research results will not be published
D) When the researcher is working alone

Answer 29

A) When the research involves animals or humans

Question 30

Engineering codes of ethics primarily focus on which of the following?

A) Protecting the engineer from legal action
B) Ensuring the research benefits humanity and public safety
C) Limiting research funding
D) Avoiding collaboration with others

Answer 30

B) Ensuring the research benefits humanity and public safety

Question 31

What is the role of a literature review in research?

A) To summarize existing literature
B) To identify gaps in knowledge and avoid duplication of efforts
C) To find support for personal opinions
D) To avoid conducting original experiments

Answer 31

B) To identify gaps in knowledge and avoid duplication of efforts

Question 32

The publication of research results must include:

A) Full details of the funding sources
B) Review by experts in the field
C) Only the positive outcomes of the study
D) A complete list of the researchers’ credentials

Answer 32

B) Review by experts in the field

Question 33

Which of the following is true about hypothesis testing in research?

A) A hypothesis is always proven to be correct.
B) A hypothesis can be disproved by a single counterexample.
C) Hypothesis testing is not important in engineering research.
D) A hypothesis must cover every possible scenario without exception.

Answer 33

B) A hypothesis can be disproved by a single counterexample.

Question 34

A research project is typically not complete until:

A) The results are published for peer review.
B) The researcher is satisfied with the data collected.
C) All researchers agree on the outcome.
D) The research receives funding.

Answer 34

A) The results are published for peer review.

Question 35

Which of these is NOT a step in the scientific method?

A) Observation
B) Experimentation
C) Formulating theories without testing
D) Hypothesis testing

Answer 35

C) Formulating theories without testing

Question 36

Why is a peer-reviewed journal the most credible source for academic research?

A) It guarantees funding for future research.
B) It is reviewed by other experts in the field.
C) It is easier to publish than in non-peer-reviewed journals.
D) It involves little scrutiny before publication.

Answer 36

B) It is reviewed by other experts in the field.

Question 37

Which of the following best describes the concept of “validity” in research?

A) The consistency of results in different settings.
B) The accuracy of the measurements and findings.
C) The ability to replicate the research results.
D) The level of detail in the research.

Answer 37

B) The accuracy of the measurements and findings.

Question 38

What role do research ethics play in engineering research?

A) They ensure research outcomes are profitable.
B) They maintain the integrity and reliability of research.
C) They limit the number of researchers involved in a project.
D) They dictate the speed at which research is conducted.

Answer 38

B) They maintain the integrity and reliability of research.

Question 39

When is a hypothesis considered valid?

A) When it is never disproven.
B) When it applies to all observed cases.
C) When it has been validated through multiple experiments.
D) When it can no longer be tested.

Answer 39

C) When it has been validated through multiple experiments.

Question 40

Why is it necessary to conduct a literature review before starting a research project?

A) To avoid conducting unnecessary experiments.
B) To gather other researchers’ opinions.
C) To see what research has already been done and identify gaps.
D) To prove your hypothesis right before testing it.

Answer 40

C) To see what research has already been done and identify gaps.

Question 40

Which of the following should be done when designing a research question?

A) Make it as broad as possible.
B) Ensure it cannot be tested.
C) Focus on a specific aspect of the problem.
D) Avoid any link to previous research.

Answer 40

C) Focus on a specific aspect of the problem.

Question 41

Which of these is an example of engineering research improving human systems?

A) Discovering new mathematical theorems.
B) Developing sustainable materials for road construction.
C) Inventing a theoretical concept without practical application.
D) Creating tools that only benefit a small group of people.

Answer 41

B) Developing sustainable materials for road construction.

Question 42

The term “empirical research” refers to:

A) Research that is purely theoretical.
B) Research based on direct and indirect observation and experience.
C) A literature review without experiments.
D) A type of research that involves no data collection.

Answer 42

B) Research based on direct and indirect observation and experience.

Question 43

What is the purpose of including more than one research method in a project?

A) To confuse the participants.
B) To ensure the research has multiple forms of validation.
C) To make the research more expensive.
D) To make the research more difficult.

Answer 43

B) To ensure the research has multiple forms of validation.

Question 44

Which of the following is NOT a key feature of scientific research?

A) Results can be verified by others.
B) Research is always conducted in isolation.
C) It follows a structured, logical process.
D) Hypotheses can be tested and falsified.

Answer 44

B) Research is always conducted in isolation.

Question 45

Which of the following is a key component of engineering research ethics?

A) Hiding the results until it is profitable.
B) To ensure the research has multiple forms of validation.
C) Copying results from others without verification.
D) Publishing only the positive findings of a project.

Answer 45

B) To ensure the research has multiple forms of validation.

Question 46

What happens if a research project fails to gain ethics approval?

A) The project can still be conducted but not published.
B) The project must be modified to address ethical concerns before proceeding.
C) The researcher can ignore the ethics board and continue.
D) Ethics approval is not required for most research projects.

Answer 46

B) The project must be modified to address ethical concerns before proceeding.