Chapter 15: Evaluating the Discussion Section

Test Bank

Multiple Choice

1. The discussion section is designed to ______.

A. provide an overview of the relevant literature

B. provide an overview of the participants

C. summarize the intent of the research project

D. provide an overview of the instrumentation

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Evaluating the Discussion Section

Difficulty Level: Easy

2. As consumers of research, practitioners are particularly interested in the discussion because ______.

A. it provides an overview of the participants

B. it provides an overview of instrumentation

C. it delineates the variables used

D. it provides what worked and how it may be applied

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Evaluating the Discussion Section

Difficulty Level: Easy

3. Ideally, the researchers will restate the purpose of the study ______.

A. at the beginning of the discussion section

B. at the end of the discussion section

C. in the middle of the discussion section

D. throughout the paper

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Evaluating the Discussion Section

Difficulty Level: Easy

4. Restating the purpose is done to ______.

A. remind the reader of the purpose

B. determine if the hypotheses or research questions are answered

C. determine if the dependent variable has been identified

D. determine if the independent variable has been identified

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Evaluating the Discussion Section

Difficulty Level: Easy

5. The researchers should summarize the results by ______.

A. not using any numbers or statistics

B. relating results to previous research

C. relating results to theories and practice

D. all of the above

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Evaluating the Discussion Section

Difficulty Level: Easy

6. In the discussion section, it is important that the researchers address ______.

A. how the independent variable was chosen

B. how the dependent variable was chosen

C. how the research questions or hypotheses relate to the findings

D. what themes were used in the study

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Evaluating the Discussion Section

Difficulty Level: Easy

7. Researchers need to relate the results to theory or practice in a ______.

A. format utilized by the type of data collected

B. clear and understandable manner

C. format which delineates the type of statistical methods used

D. manner which explains the tactics or strategies for coding used

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Evaluating the Discussion Section

Difficulty Level: Easy

8. The researchers will want to relate the results to ______.

A. format utilized by the type of data collected

B. format which delineates the type of statistical methods used

C. manner which explains the tactics or strategies for coding used

D. previous research that either supports or refutes prior findings

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Evaluating the Discussion Section

Difficulty Level: Easy

9. In the discussion section, researchers may need to propose ______.

A. concrete links to the data

B. alternative explanations when the results do not meet expected outcomes or are not consistent with the theories addressed

C. the type of statistics the reader should use

D. to what extent the instruments were standardized

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Evaluating the Discussion Section

Difficulty Level: Easy

10. It is important that the researchers systematically address ______.

A. any results in which there is some discrepancy from what was expected

B. the reason for the type of statistical method used

C. internal validity

D. external validity

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Evaluating the Discussion Section

Difficulty Level: Easy

11. The researchers specifically review the research methods employed and the method of selecting participants to determine if ______.

A. the instruments used in the study were adequate

B. the study is reliable

C. there are potential limitations of the study

D. tactics or strategies for interpreting the data are provided

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Evaluating the Discussion Section

Difficulty Level: Easy

12. In evaluating this section of the discussion, it is necessary to review the potential threats to validity based on ______.

A. the research design used

B. the methods of selecting participants

C. the tactics used for coding

D. both the research design used and the methods of selecting participants

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Evaluating the Discussion Section

Difficulty Level: Easy

13. The researchers’ acknowledgement of possible limitations demonstrates ______.

A. honesty

B. integrity

C. an understanding of the cautions that should be taken when interpreting results

D. weakness

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Evaluating the Discussion Section

Difficulty Level: Easy

14. Generally, the last point for the researchers to address in the discussion section is to ______.

A. suggest further issues to study

B. discuss weaknesses of the study

C. discuss strengths of the study

D. discuss limitations of the study

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Evaluating the Discussion Section

Difficulty Level: Easy

15. In this section, the researchers specifically review the research methods employed and the method of selecting participants.

A. limitations

B. future research

C. the introduction

D. the summary

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Evaluating the Discussion Section

Difficulty Level: Easy

True/False

1. The discussion section is designed to summarize the intent of the research project and present implications for actual practice.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Evaluating the Discussion Section

Difficulty Level: Easy

2. Ideally, the researchers will restate the purpose of the study at the beginning of the discussion section.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Evaluating the Discussion Section

Difficulty Level: Easy

3. In the discussion section, researchers should summarize the results and use numbers or statistics and relate them to previous research, theories, and practice.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Evaluating the Discussion Section

Difficulty Level: Easy

4. In summarizing the results, the researchers need to be succinct and note the significant points of the findings.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Evaluating the Discussion Section

Difficulty Level: Easy

5. The discussion section should address the practical significance of the results.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Evaluating the Discussion Section

Difficulty Level: Easy

6. The last point for the researchers to address in the discussion section is to suggest further issues to study.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Evaluating the Discussion Section

Difficulty Level: Easy

7. As consumers of research, we are not interested in the discussion section because a discussion of future areas of investigation does not provide insight into what else needs to be accomplished.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Evaluating the Discussion Section

Difficulty Level: Easy

8. Almost every study has limitations.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Evaluating the Discussion Section

Difficulty Level: Easy

9. The researchers must go beyond the numbers and statistics reported in the results section and interpret the findings so that they may be of practical application.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Evaluating the Discussion Section

Difficulty Level: Easy

10. Stating the purpose of the study theoretically ensures that the purpose and the hypotheses or research questions are answered.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Evaluating the Discussion Section

Difficulty Level: Easy

Short Answer

1. List three of the five guidelines for evaluating the discussion section.

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Guidelines and Questions for Evaluating the Discussion Section

Difficulty Level: Medium

2. Why should researchers restate the purpose of the study at the beginning of the discussion section?

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Evaluating the Discussion Section

Difficulty Level: Easy

3. In the discussion section, how should researchers summarize results?

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Evaluating the Discussion Section

Difficulty Level: Medium

4. What were two weaknesses of the Henderson et al. study?

Cognitive Domain: Application

Answer Location: Quantitative Research Study Examples

Difficulty Level: Medium

5. What was the hypothesis of the Storlie (2012) study?

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Single-Subject Case Example

Difficulty Level: Medium

6. List the IV and DV of the Storlie (2012) study.

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Single-Subject Case Example

Difficulty Level: Medium

7. What are some limitations of the Fry (2007) qualitative study?

Cognitive Domain: Application

Answer Location: Qualitative Research Study Example

Difficulty Level: Medium

8. What were areas of future research listed in the Fry (2007) study?

Cognitive Domain: Application

Answer Location: Qualitative Research Study Example

Difficulty Level: Medium

9. Why are practitioners interested in the discussion section?

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Evaluating the Discussion Section

Difficulty Level: Easy

10. How should numbers and statistics be presented in the discussion section?

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Evaluating the Discussion Section

Difficulty Level: Easy

Essay

1. List and describe the various components of the discussion section.

Cognitive Domain: Analysis

Answer Location: Evaluating the Discussion Section

Difficulty Level: Medium

2. How should researchers proceed when results do not meet expected outcomes or are not consistent with the theories addressed? Give an example.

Cognitive Domain: Analysis

Answer Location: Evaluating the Discussion Section

Difficulty Level: Hard

3. What is included in the limitations section?

Cognitive Domain: Analysis

Answer Location: Evaluating the Discussion Section

Difficulty Level: Medium

4. What is addressed in the future research section? Give an example from a case in the chapter.

Cognitive Domain: Application

Answer Location: Evaluating the Discussion Section

Difficulty Level: Hard

5. After reviewing the Henderson et al. study, suggest some areas of future research that could be included in the discussion section.

Cognitive Domain: Application

Answer Location: Quantitative Research Study Examples

Difficulty Level: Hard