Chapter 4: How to Critically Review the Literature and Develop Good Research Questions

Test Bank

Multiple Choice

1. Which of the following topics cannot be resolved through research?

A. Teaching students phonics improves reading performance.

B. Sex education is morally wrong.

C. Self-efficacy is related to school success.

D. Teaching students elaboration strategies can improve their memory performance.

Learning Objective: 4-2: Identify research problems.

Cognitive Domain: Application

Answer Location: Ideas That Can’t Be Resolved Through Empirical Research

Difficulty Level: Hard

2. Which of the following topics can be tested through empirical research?

A. School prayer should be a regular part of school.

B. Sex education is morally wrong.

C. Evolution should be taught in schools.

D. Teaching comprehension strategies leads to better reading comprehension in fifth graders.

Learning Objective: 4-2: Identify research problems.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Ideas That Can’t Be Resolved Through Empirical Research

Difficulty Level: Easy

3. After reviewing the literature, Louise finds a study that has a finding which has not been seen in other studies. She decides to repeat the study with a different group of students to see if she can find the same results. Louise’s study ______.

A. is a replication

B. is generating a new theory

C. is an extension of the study

D. is improving the study’s internal validity in her study

Learning Objective: 4-2: Identify research problems.

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Sources of Research Ideas

Difficulty Level: Medium

4. After reviewing the literature, Jamal finds evidence from a laboratory study that a strategy for teaching reading comprehension works well. He is concerned, however, that the finding might be hard to show in real classrooms. He decides to do a study that examines the technique in real classrooms. Which of the following best describes what his research focus is on?

A. replication

B. generating a new theory

C. testing the external validity of the study

D. improving the internal validity of the study

Learning Objective: 4-2: Identify research problems.

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Sources of Research Ideas

Difficulty Level: Medium

4. In a “grounded theory” study, ______.

A. the literature might not be reviewed before data collection

B. the literature review is larger than in a quantitative study

C. the literature review is used deductively

D. the literature review is used to frame specific a priori hypotheses

Learning Objective: 4-4: Conduct a literature search.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Literature Review for Qualitative Research Studies

Difficulty Level: Easy

5. A good qualitative statement of purpose ______.

A. defines the independent and dependent variables

B. conveys a sense of emerging design

C. specifies a research hypothesis to be tested

D. specifies the relationship between variables that the researcher expects to find

Learning Objective: 4-5: Explain the reason for stating the purpose of a research study and the research questions.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Statement of Purpose in a Qualitative Study

Difficulty Level: Easy

6. A good quantitative statement of purpose ______.

A. is very general about what relationships are predicted

B. conveys a sense of emerging design

C. defines a global question only

D. specifies the relationship that the researcher expects to find

Learning Objective: 4-5: Explain the reason for stating the purpose of a research study and the research questions.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Statement of Purpose in a Qualitative Study

Difficulty Level: Easy

7. In a quantitative study, hypotheses represent ______.

A. a best guess about the predicted relations between the variables

B. a definition of the independent variable

C. a definition of the dependent variable

D. trends that emerge from the data as they are collected

Learning Objective: 4-7: Explain the purpose and necessity of stating your research questions and hypotheses.

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Formulating Hypotheses

Difficulty Level: Medium

8. Generally, in a qualitative study, hypotheses ______.

A. are stated before the study is done

B. might be derived as data are collected and analyzed

C. are never derived from the data

D. are never part of qualitative research

Learning Objective: 4-7: Explain the purpose and necessity of stating your research questions and hypotheses.

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Formulating Hypotheses

Difficulty Level: Medium

9. In which type of research is a literature search always completed PRIOR to actually conducting the study?

A. mixed methods research

B. quantitative research

C. qualitative research

D. grounded theory research

Learning Objective: 4-4: Conduct a literature search.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Literature Review for Quantitative Research Studies

Difficulty Level: Easy

10. In what type of research would the literature review be integrated throughout the conduct of the study with the researcher working back and forth between the literature and the research study?

A. experimental research

B. quantitative research

C. qualitative research

D. correlational research

Learning Objective: 4-4: Conduct a literature search

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Literature Review for Qualitative Research Studies

Difficulty Level: Easy

11. A critical consumer of educational research ______.

A. feels comfortable drawing conclusions based on one study

B. takes whatever researchers say as the truth

C. depends only on quantitative studies

D. looks for the replication of research findings in several studies

Learning Objective: 4-4: Conduct a literature search.

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Consumer Use of the Literature

Difficulty Level: Medium

12. Helen has just conducted a quantitative review of the literature. This is known as ______.

A. a meta-analysis

B. a meta-synthesis

C. part of the research plan

D. a narrative review of the literature

Learning Objective: 4-4: Conduct a literature search.

Cognitive Domain: Application

Answer Location: Consumer Use of the Literature

Difficulty Level: Hard

13. Assume that you had just been to a demonstration by the psychic Uri Geller and had watched him supposedly apply his psychic powers to do such things as bend spoons. Let’s further assume that you are a skeptic and doubt that this was done by psychic powers. You want to conduct a study to determine if Uri Geller really has the ability to bend a spoon through use of his psychic powers. This research idea would have originated from ______.

A. everyday life

B. a practical issue

C. past research

D. theory

Learning Objective: 4-2: Identify research problems.

Cognitive Domain: Application

Answer Location: Everyday Life

Difficulty Level: Hard

14. Dr. Skeptic was interested in the following questions:

--Is abortion ethical?

--Is there an afterlife?

--What is the meaning of life?

The common element in all three of these questions is that they ______.

A. arise from everyday life experience

B. arise from practical issues

C. arise from theory

D. are not capable of empirical investigation and solution

Learning Objective: 4-2: Identify research problems.

Cognitive Domain: Application

Answer Location: Ideas That Can’t Be Resolved Through Empirical Research

Difficulty Level: Hard

15. Dr. Excel was reading research articles on the causes of teacher burnout. Most of this research identified different variables associated with teacher burnout in rural and urban settings. Dr. Excel was interested in determining why the factors contributing to teacher burnout would be different in rural and urban settings, so he designed a study to investigate why such differences would exist. This research study originated from ______.

A. everyday life

B. a practical issue

C. past research

D. theory

Learning Objective: 4-2: Identify research problems.

Cognitive Domain: Application

Answer Location: Past Research

Difficulty Level: Hard

16. The primary reason for doing a literature review for a quantitative study is to ______.

A. determine which statistical test to use

B. find the proper phrasing of the research hypothesis

C. gain an understanding of the current state of knowledge in the area

D. determine who the research participants should be

Learning Objective: 4-3: Explain why it is necessary to conduct a literature search.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Literature Review for Quantitative Research Studies

Difficulty Level: Easy

17. Alexandra does a review of the literature review of quantitative studies in an area. All of the studies she finds were experimental studies, so she decides that she will probably do an experiment in her study. Which of the following is Alexandra using the research literature to help accomplish?

A. design her study

B. find the proper phrasing of the research hypothesis

C. identify data collection methods

D. determine who the research participants should be

Learning Objective: 4-3: Explain why it is necessary to conduct a literature search.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Literature Review for Quantitative Research Studies

Difficulty Level: Easy

18. The literature review in a qualitative research study ______.

A. is used only to introduce the topic of the study

B. can be integrated throughout the study

C. is unnecessary in most cases

D. provides no insight to the meaning of the results

Learning Objective: 4-3: Explain why it is necessary to conduct a literature search.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Literature Review for Qualitative Research Studies

Difficulty Level: Easy

19. The literature review for a mixed research study ______.

A. helps the researcher decide what kind of mixed methods design makes sense for the study

B. should only contain mixed methods studies

C. is used exactly the same as in qualitative studies

D. provides no insight to the meaning of the results

Learning Objective: 4-3: Explain why it is necessary to conduct a literature search.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Literature Review for Mixed Research Studies

Difficulty Level: Easy

20. Which of the following research database and search engines focused specifically on educational research?

A. OVID

B. ERIC

C. EBSCO

D. PsycINFO

Learning Objective: 4-4: Conduct a literature search.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Computer Databases

Difficulty Level: Easy

21. Sally was completing a literature search. She logged on the World Wide Web and conducted her search using one of the available search engines. As a result, she probably ______.

A. did not obtain any relevant information

B. became frustrated because the process was too slow

C. did not collect enough information

D. collected a lot of information, some with questionable credibility

Learning Objective: 4-4: Conduct a literature search.

Cognitive Domain: Analysis

Answer Location: The Internet

Difficulty Level: Medium

22. A qualitative research problem focuses on ______.

A. explaining events

B. predicting events

C. exploring some process or event

D. describing relationships

Learning Objective: 4-8: Explain the difference between problem statements in qualitative and quantitative studies.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Stating a Qualitative Research Problem

Difficulty Level: Easy

23. A quantitative research problem focuses on ______.

A. exploring some process or event

B. explaining or predicting events

C. understanding subjective insider points of view

D. reasons for mixing research methods

Learning Objective: 4-8: Explain the difference between problem statements in qualitative and quantitative studies.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Stating a Quantitative Research Problem

Difficulty Level: Easy

24. The statement of purpose in a research study should ______.

A. identify the design of the study

B. identify the researcher’s intent or objective of the study

C. specify the type of people to be used in the study

D. describe the study

Learning Objective: 4-6: Explain the difference between purpose statements and research questions in qualitative and quantitative studies.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Statement of the Purpose of the Study

Difficulty Level: Easy

25. Dr. Schwartz stated that the purpose of his study was to explore the process by which students learned to interact with people from another culture. This purpose statement would most likely come from a ______.

A. qualitative study

B. quantitative study investigating a causal connection

C. quantitative study investigating a predictive relationship

D. quantitative study investigating a theory

Learning Objective: 4-6: Explain the difference between purpose statements and research questions in qualitative and quantitative studies.

Cognitive Domain: Application

Answer Location: Statement of Purpose in a Qualitative Study

Difficulty Level: Hard

26. Why is the statement “What are the effects of extracurricular activities on cognitive development of school-age children” not a particularly good statement of a quantitative research question?

A. because there clearly is no connection between extracurricular activities and cognitive development

B. because there are not enough school-age children engaged in extracurricular activities to conduct a study

C. because the statement did not mention the past literature on the topic

D. because the statement was not specific enough to provide an understanding of the variables being investigated

Learning Objective: 4-6: Explain the difference between purpose statements and research questions in qualitative and quantitative studies.

Cognitive Domain: Analysis

Answer Location: Statement of a Quantitative Research Question

Difficulty Level: Medium

27. Joseph’s research question was “What are the processes and procedures used to refer students to special education services.” His study is probably a ______.

A. quantitative correlational study

B. mixed methods study

C. qualitative study

D. quantitative predictive study

Learning Objective: 4-6: Explain the difference between purpose statements and research questions in qualitative and quantitative studies.

Cognitive Domain: Analysis

Answer Location: Statement of a Qualitative Research Question

Difficulty Level: Medium

28. Research hypotheses must ______.

A. be proven by the research study

B. be capable of being confirmed or refuted

C. come from a proven theory

D. not contradict proven theories

Learning Objective: 4-7: Explain the purpose and necessity of stating your research questions and hypotheses.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Formulating Hypotheses

Difficulty Level: Easy

29. Hypotheses are most important and most typically stated in which type of research?

A. mixed methods research

B. quantitative research

C. qualitative research

D. grounded theory research

Learning Objective: 4-7: Explain the purpose and necessity of stating your research questions and hypotheses.

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Formulating Hypotheses

Difficulty Level: Medium

30. A quantitative analysis of the results of many quantitative studies on a topic is called ______.

A. a narrative review

B. a meta-synthesis

C. a search engine

D. a meta-analysis

Learning Objective: 4-4: Conduct a literature search.

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Consumer Use of the Literature

Difficulty Level: Medium

31. According to the text, the flowchart of the development of a research idea goes in which of the following orders?

A. research topic, research problem, research purpose, specific research question, and, for quantitative research, research hypothesis

B. research topic, research purpose, specific research question, research hypothesis, and, for quantitative research, research problem

C. research topic, research hypothesis, research purpose, specific research question, and, for quantitative research, research problem

D. research topic, research problem, research purpose, research hypothesis, and, for quantitative research, specific research question

Learning Objective: 4-6: Explain the difference between purpose statements and research questions in qualitative and quantitative studies.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Theory

Difficulty Level: Easy

32. Which of the following sources is least often used by academic researchers?

A. books

B. journals

C. computer databases

D. magazines

Learning Objective: 4-4: Conduct a literature search.

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Sources of Information

Difficulty Level: Medium

33. Which of the following generally contains the most recent studies on a particular field?

A. books

B. journals

C. magazines

D. Wikipedia pages

Learning Objective: 4-4: Conduct a literature search.

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Sources of Information

Difficulty Level: Medium

34. Which kind of research problem points to the need to explain, predict, or describe the operation of an outcome variable?

A. quantitative

B. qualitative

C. correlational

D. causal comparative

Learning Objective: 4-7: Explain the purpose and necessity of stating your research questions and hypotheses.

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Statement of a Quantitative Research Question

Difficulty Level: Medium

35. Which kind of research problem points to the need to explore a process, event, or phenomenon?

A. quantitative

B. qualitative

C. correlational

D. causal comparative

Learning Objective: 4-7: Explain the purpose and necessity of stating your research questions and hypotheses.

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Statement of Purpose in a Qualitative Study

Difficulty Level: Medium

36. In the first paragraph of her research paper, Wilma writes “This study will explore the emotions students express while reading.” This is an example of a ______.

A. research topic

B. research question

C. research problem

D. research idea

Learning Objective: 4-5: Explain the reason for stating the purpose of a research study and the research questions.

Cognitive Domain: Analysis

Answer Location: Sources of Research Ideas—Theory

Difficulty Level: Medium

37. The research question for a quantitative study asks about ______.

A. the process that is to be studied

B. the phenomenon of the study

C. the relationship between two or more variables

D. the purpose for the study

Learning Objective: 4-7: Explain the purpose and necessity of stating your research questions and hypotheses.

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Statement of a Quantitative Research Questions

Difficulty Level: Medium

38. Which of the following is true about research questions in mixed methods studies?

A. There is only one approach to creating research questions in mixed studies.

B. Researchers cannot use separate quantitative and qualitative questions, only specifically mixed questions can be used.

C. Researchers can use the same research questions for both the quantitative and qualitative part of the study because many questions have quantitative and qualitative aspects.

D. There is no such thing as a mixed research question.

Learning Objective: 4-6: Explain the difference between purpose statements and research questions in qualitative and quantitative studies.

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Statement of Research Questions

Difficulty Level: Medium

39. Statements of purpose for mixed methods studies ______.

A. refer to quantitative and qualitative aspects of the study

B. simply describe the phenomenon under investigation

C. focus on predictive variables

D. tend to be shorter than purpose statements for other types of studies

Learning Objective: 4-6: Explain the difference between purpose statements and research questions in qualitative and quantitative studies.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Statement of Purpose in a Mixed Study

Difficulty Level: Easy

40. When conducting his literature review, Yusef found a study that summarized the findings of many qualitative studies that were similar to his. What he found was a ______.

A. research synthesis

B. literature review

C. meta-analysis

D. meta-synthesis

Learning Objective: 4-4: Conduct a literature search

Cognitive Domain: Analysis

Answer Location: Consumer Use of the Literature

Difficulty Level: Medium

41. Hillary has said that she is interested in the impact of poor phonics instruction on students’ reading. In this case, “poor phonics instruction” is ______.

A. research topic

B. research problem

C. hypothesis

D. problem statement

Learning Objective: 4-7: Explain the purpose and necessity of stating your research questions and hypotheses.

Cognitive Domain: Analysis

Answer Location: Statement of the Research Problem

Difficulty Level: Medium

42. Statements of purpose for mixed methods studies ______.

A. refer to quantitative and qualitative aspects of the study

B. simply describe the phenomenon under investigation

C. focus on predictive variables

D. tend to be shorter than purpose statements for other types of studies

Learning Objective: 4-6: Explain the difference between purpose statements and research questions in qualitative and quantitative studies.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Statement of Purpose in a Mixed Study

Difficulty Level: Easy

43. A study’s intent or objective is contained in the ______.

A. statement of purpose

B. research question

C. research purpose

D. literature review

Learning Objective: 4-6: Explain the difference between purpose statements and research questions in qualitative and quantitative studies.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Statement of the Purpose of the Study

Difficulty Level: Easy

44. In quantitative research, the statement of the research problem should ______.

A. explore an event or phenomenon

B. key in on the process

C. focus on the inner world of a particular group

D. explain, predict, or describe an outcome of event

Learning Objective: 4-8: Explain the difference between problem statements in qualitative and quantitative studies.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Stating a Quantitative Research Problem

Difficulty Level: Easy

45. Previous work has indicated that elementary school boys receive lower grades than their peers and that interviews with their teachers reveal different teaching processes for these students. This could be an example of a ______.

A. statement of a qualitative research question

B. statement of purpose for a quantitative study

C. statement of a mixed methods research problem

D. predictive statement for a quantitative study

Learning Objective: 4-6: Explain the difference between purpose statements and research questions in qualitative and quantitative studies.

Cognitive Domain: Analysis

Answer Location: Stating a Mixed Research Problem

Difficulty Level: Medium

46. Ben created the following research question: “How does the inclusion of students with intellectual disabilities in postsecondary education influence students’ perceptions of disability?”

It is for what type of study?

A. quantitative research study

B. qualitative research study

C. mixed methods research study

D. It cannot be determined from this question.

Learning Objective: 4-7: Explain the purpose and necessity of stating your research questions and hypotheses.

Cognitive Domain: Analysis

Answer Location: Statement of a Qualitative Research Question

Difficulty Level: Medium

47. Holly’s research questions are: “Are there different rates of autism in school children from different racial and ethnic groups?” “What is the process of referral for special education services for students with disabilities?” It appears that Holly is conducting a ______.

A. quantitative research study

B. qualitative research study

C. mixed methods research study

D. it cannot be determined from this question

Learning Objective: 4-7: Explain the purpose and necessity of stating your research questions and hypotheses.

Cognitive Domain: Analysis

Answer Location: Statement of a Qualitative Research Question

Difficulty Level: Medium

48. Mallory’s research question is “Do students who participate on athletic teams in high school receive higher test grades during their sports season or during the rest of the year?”

A. quantitative research study

B. qualitative research study

C. mixed methods research study

D. It cannot be determined from this question.

Learning Objective: 4-7: Explain the purpose and necessity of stating your research questions and hypotheses.

Cognitive Domain: Analysis

Answer Location: Statement of a Qualitative Research Question

Difficulty Level: Medium

49. Bill has written a literature review that explains the theory behind his study, helped support his research question and the choice of participants in his study. Based on this information, it appears that Bill’s study is a ______.

A. quantitative research study

B. qualitative research study

C. mixed methods research study

D. it cannot be determined from this question

Learning Objective: 4-4: Conduct a literature search.

Cognitive Domain: Analysis

Answer Location: Literature Review for Qualitative Research Studies

Difficulty Level: Medium

50. Gwen’s literature review provided ideas about procedure, design, data collection instruments, and methodological problems in addition to helping her form her research questions. Based on this information, it appears that Gwen’s study is a ______.

A. quantitative research study

B. qualitative research study

C. mixed methods research study

D. it cannot be determined from this question

Learning Objective: 4-4: Conduct a literature search.

Cognitive Domain: Analysis

Answer Location: Literature Review for Qualitative Research Studies

Difficulty Level: Medium

51. When analyzing the introduction to a quantitative research study, which of the following quality criteria would you consider?

A. Does the literature review lead to the research purpose and/or research question(s)?

B. Was an appropriate method of sampling used, given the purpose of the study?

C. Are the results presented clearly?

D. Do the researchers clearly explain the meaning and significance of the results of the study?

Learning Objective: 4-1: Critically evaluate the quality of an empirical research study.

Cognitive Domain: Analysis

Answer Location: Consumer Use of the Literature

Difficulty Level: Medium

52. When analyzing the methods section of a quantitative research study, which of the following quality criteria would you consider?

A. Does the literature review lead to the research purpose and/or research question(s)?

B. Was an appropriate method of sampling used, given the purpose of the study?

C. Are the results presented clearly?

D. Do the researchers clearly explain the meaning and significance of the results of the study?

Learning Objective: 4-1: Critically evaluate the quality of an empirical research study.

Cognitive Domain: Analysis

Answer Location: Consumer Use of the Literature

Difficulty Level: Medium

53. When analyzing the results section of a quantitative research study, which of the following quality criteria would you consider?

A. Does the literature review lead to the research purpose and/or research question(s)?

B. Was an appropriate method of sampling used, given the purpose of the study?

C. Were appropriate statistical tests and calculations of effect size used?

D. Do the researchers clearly explain the meaning and significance of the results of the study?

Learning Objective: 4-1: Critically evaluate the quality of an empirical research study.

Cognitive Domain: Analysis

Answer Location: Consumer Use of the Literature

Difficulty Level: Medium

54. When analyzing the discussion section of a quantitative research study, which of the following quality criteria would you consider?

A. Does the literature review lead to the research purpose and/or research question(s)?

B. Was an appropriate method of sampling used, given the purpose of the study?

C. Are the results presented clearly?

D. Are limitations of the study discussed?

Learning Objective: 4-1: Critically evaluate the quality of an empirical research study.

Cognitive Domain: Analysis

Answer Location: Consumer Use of the Literature

Difficulty Level: Medium

55. When analyzing the methods section of a quantitative research study, which of the following quality criteria would you consider?

A. Does the literature review lead to the research purpose and/or research question(s)?

B. Are the research instruments reliable and valid for the participants used in the study?

C. Are the results presented clearly?

D. Do the researchers clearly explain the meaning and significance of the results of the study?

Learning Objective: 4-1: Critically evaluate the quality of an empirical research study.

Cognitive Domain: Analysis

Answer Location: Consumer Use of the Literature

Difficulty Level: Medium

56. When analyzing the methods section of a qualitative research study, which of the following quality criteria would you consider?

A. Does the literature review lead to the research purpose and/or research question(s)?

B. Are the results presented clearly?

C. Were triangulation and other validity-enhancing strategies used?

D. Do the researchers clearly explain the meaning and significance of the results of the study?

Learning Objective: 4-1: Critically evaluate the quality of an empirical research study.

Cognitive Domain: Analysis

Answer Location: Consumer Use of the Literature

Difficulty Level: Medium

57. When analyzing the introduction section of a qualitative research study, which of the following quality criteria would you consider?

A. Is the purpose of the research clearly stated?

B. Are the results presented clearly?

C. Were triangulation and other validity-enhancing strategies used?

D. Do the researchers clearly explain the meaning and significance of the results of the study?

Learning Objective: 4-1: Critically evaluate the quality of an empirical research study.

Cognitive Domain: Analysis

Answer Location: Consumer Use of the Literature

Difficulty Level: Medium

58. When analyzing the results section of a qualitative research study, which of the following quality criteria would you consider?

A. Is the purpose of the research clearly stated?

B. Were any potentially important data ignored by researchers?

C. Were triangulation and other validity-enhancing strategies used?

D. Do the researchers clearly explain the meaning and significance of the results of the study?

Learning Objective: 4-1: Critically evaluate the quality of an empirical research study.

Cognitive Domain: Analysis

Answer Location: Consumer Use of the Literature

Difficulty Level: Medium

59. When analyzing the discussion section of a qualitative research study, which of the following quality criteria would you consider?

A. Is the purpose of the research clearly stated?

B. Were any potentially important data ignored by researchers?

C. Were triangulation and other validity-enhancing strategies used?

D. Is sufficient evidence provided to convince you of the trustworthiness of the conclusions?

Learning Objective: 4-1: Critically evaluate the quality of an empirical research study.

Cognitive Domain: Analysis

Answer Location: Consumer Use of the Literature

Difficulty Level: Medium

60. When analyzing the introduction of a mixed research study, which of the following quality criteria would you consider?

A. Is a mixed research purpose clearly stated?

B. Were any potentially important data ignored by researchers?

C. Were triangulation and other validity-enhancing strategies used?

D. Do the researchers clearly explain the meaning and significance of the results of the study?

Learning Objective: 4-1: Critically evaluate the quality of an empirical research study.

Cognitive Domain: Analysis

Answer Location: Consumer Use of the Literature

Difficulty Level: Medium

61. When analyzing the methods of a mixed research study, which of the following quality criteria would you consider?

A. Is a mixed research purpose clearly stated?

B. Were any potentially important data ignored by researchers?

C. Is the mixed research design clearly explained?

D. Do the researchers clearly explain the meaning and significance of the results of the study?

Learning Objective: 4-1: Critically evaluate the quality of an empirical research study.

Cognitive Domain: Analysis

Answer Location: Consumer Use of the Literature

Difficulty Level: Medium

62. When analyzing the results of a mixed research study, which of the following quality criteria would you consider?

A. Is a mixed research purpose clearly stated?

B. Were triangulation and other validity-enhancing strategies used?

C. Were the data merged, connected, or linked to show integration?

D. Do the researchers clearly explain the meaning and significance of the results of the study?

Learning Objective: 4-1: Critically evaluate the quality of an empirical research study.

Cognitive Domain: Analysis

Answer Location: Consumer Use of the Literature

Difficulty Level: Medium

63. When analyzing the discussion of a mixed research study, which of the following quality criteria would you consider?

A. Is a mixed research purpose clearly stated?

B. Do the researchers make clear the added value gained through use of mixed research?

C. Were the data merged, connected, or linked to show integration?

D. Do the researchers clearly explain the meaning and significance of the results of the study?

Learning Objective: 4-1: Critically evaluate the quality of an empirical research study.

Cognitive Domain: Analysis

Answer Location: Consumer Use of the Literature

Difficulty Level: Medium

True/False

1. In quantitative research, one should first become familiar with any preexisting research literature before designing your research study.

Learning Objective: 4-4: Conduct a literature search.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Literature Review for Quantitative Research Studies

Difficulty Level: Easy

2. Issues such as aesthetics, morality, and religion cannot be resolved through empirical research.

Learning Objective: 4-2: Identify research problems.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Ideas That Can’t Be Resolved Through Empirical Research

Difficulty Level: Easy

3. Issues such as aesthetics, morality, and religion can usually be resolved through empirical research.

Learning Objective: 4-2: Identify research problems.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Ideas That Can’t Be Resolved Through Empirical Research

Difficulty Level: Easy

4. The research question for a quantitative research study should be specific enough that there is little doubt about what the variables are that are being studied.

Learning Objective: 4-7: Explain the purpose and necessity of stating your research questions and hypotheses.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Statement of a Quantitative Research Question

Difficulty Level: Easy

5. A scientific hypothesis must be something that can be supported or refuted by empirical evidence.

Learning Objective: 4-7: Explain the purpose and necessity of stating your research questions and hypotheses.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Formulating Hypotheses

Difficulty Level: Easy

6. The research question for a qualitative study should list the variables under investigation.

Learning Objective: 4-7: Explain the purpose and necessity of stating your research questions and hypotheses.

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Statement of a Qualitative Research Question

Difficulty Level: Medium

7. Descriptive questions, predictive questions, and causal questions are all used in quantitative research.

Learning Objective: 4-7: Explain the purpose and necessity of stating your research questions and hypotheses.

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Table 4.5 How to Judge the Quality of Internet Resources

Difficulty Level: Medium

8. Authority, accuracy, objectivity, currency, and coverage are all qualities used to judge the validity of Internet resources.

Learning Objective: 4-4: Conduct a literature search.

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Table 4.4 Checklist for Critically Evaluating a Mixed Methods Research Study

Difficulty Level: Medium

9. If your literature review indicates that the problem you had in mind has already been conducted, you must change to a different problem.

Learning Objective: 4-4: Conduct a literature search.

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Literature Review for Quantitative Research Studies

Difficulty Level: Medium

10. Literature reviews can give you information about the methodology you may want to use in your study.

Learning Objective: 4-4: Conduct a literature search.

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Literature Review for Quantitative Research Studies

Difficulty Level: Medium

11. Most current research information about a research topic is usually found in journals.

Learning Objective: 4-4: Conduct a literature search.

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Journals

Difficulty Level: Medium

12. The grant agency decided that the research proposal that was submitted was one that could be completed within a reasonable amount of time, use the skills the researcher had, and would not cost too much money. The study was judged to be feasible.

Learning Objective: 4-4: Conduct a literature search.

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Feasibility of the Study

Difficulty Level: Medium

13. There is only one approach to stating research questions in mixed methods studies.

Learning Objective: 4-6: Explain the difference between purpose statements and research questions in qualitative and quantitative studies.

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Statement of Research Questions

Difficulty Level: Medium

14. One approach to considering research questions in mixed methods studies is to create research questions that have both quantitative and qualitative aspects.

Learning Objective: 4-6: Explain the difference between purpose statements and research questions in qualitative and quantitative studies.

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Statement of Research Questions

Difficulty Level: Medium

Essay

1. Research ideas can come from many sources. Two of these are everyday life and practical issues. Propose one research idea from your everyday life and one from practical issues.

Learning Objective: 4-2: Identify research problems.

Cognitive Domain: Application

Answer Location: Sources of Research Ideas

Difficulty Level: Hard

2. State two problems and their related research questions you would like to answer using empirical research. Identify the type of research you will use (quantitative, qualitative, mixed methods).

Learning Objective: 4-9: State one or two research questions you would like to answer using empirical research.

Cognitive Domain: Application

Answer Location: Statement of the Research Problem | Statement of Research Questions

Difficulty Level: Hard

3. Compare and contrast qualitative and quantitative studies’ literature reviews.

Learning Objective: 4-3: Explain why it is necessary to conduct a literature search.

Cognitive Domain: Application

Answer Location: Review of the Literature

Difficulty Level: Hard

4. Explain why research questions and hypotheses need to be stated.

Learning Objective: 4-7: Explain the purpose and necessity of stating your research questions and hypotheses.

Cognitive Domain: Application

Answer Location: Statement of Research Questions | Formulating Hypotheses

Difficulty Level: Hard

5. What are the steps for conducting a literature review?

Learning Objective: 4-7: Explain the purpose and necessity of stating your research questions and hypotheses.

Cognitive Domain: Application

Answer Location: Theory

Difficulty Level: Medium

6. Compare and contrast the criteria for critically analyzing quantitative, qualitative, and mixed methods studies.

Learning Objective: 4-1: Critically evaluate the quality of an empirical research study.

Cognitive Domain: Analysis

Answer Location: Consumer Use of the Literature

Difficulty Level: Medium