Research Methods Modules 1

A good researcher always begins with a(n):

• Theory

• Problem or Unanswered Question

• Hypothesis

• Interesting Topic

The primary reason to seek research articles published in academic journals, rather than those posted by the author on the Internet, is that:

• they have been carefully selected after an extensive review by experts.

• they are more likely to follow the scientific method.

• they tend to focus on the most important topics in the field.

• they are more objective and show fewer pitfalls in human reasoning.

Researchers who ascribe to the belief that there are multiple realities to be discovered are known as:

• Constructivists.

• Positivists.

• Post-Positivists.

• Pragmatists.

A specific mechanism or strategy the researcher uses to collect, manipulate, or interpret data is known as a(n):

• research methodology.

• research tool. 

• research hypothesis. 

• research resource.

This type of research generally focuses on amounts or quantities, typically in numeric form.

• Qualitative research

• Quantitative research

• Action research

• Mixed-Methods research

Which of the following is true regarding the nature of descriptive and inferential statistics?

• Descriptive statistics help us to describe the characteristics of data while inferential statistics help us to make decisions about data.

• Inferential statistics help us to describe the characteristics of data while descriptive statistics help us to make decisions about data.

• Descriptive statistics help us to determine causation from correlation.

• Inferential statistics help us to describe the shape of a set of data.

The primary purpose of inferential statistics is to:

• organize and summarize the data.

• turn qualitative data into meaningful numbers that can be interpreted.

• measure social and psychological phenomena in an unbiased way.

• help the researcher draw conclusions from the data.

Kade has spent the past month carefully observing a group of third graders on the playground during recess, taking note of how the students interact with one another.  On the basis of these observations, Kade is drawing conclusions about the interaction styles of boys and girls.  This is an example of:

• theory building.

• deductive reasoning.

• inductive reasoning.

• the scientific method.

Kimberly knows that teenagers often do not make good decisions in areas where they have little knowledge.  She also knows that most teens have little knowledge about human sexuality.  Therefore, Kimberly believes that teens are likely to make poor decisions about sexual activity.  This is an example of:

• inductive reasoning.

• theory building.

• problem solving.

• deductive logic.

Having completed a series of studies for her dissertation, Marianela sits down to brainstorm about possible explanations for her key findings.  She can see a variety of ways in which all data work together, and she prepares to write a final chapter in which she presents those ideas.  We would most likely say Marianela is engaged in the process of:

• science.

• theory building.

• constructivism.

• deductive reasoning.