Research Methods Quiz

A researcher defines the variables being tested, identifies participants, and determines how to sample them. She then selects a research strategy, evaluates the ethics of her design, and obtains institutional approval to conduct research. Which step of the scientific method does this describe?

• A. Communicate the results

• B. Conduct the study

• C. Identify a problem

• D. Develop a research plan

Why is it important to analyze and evaluate the data in the scientific method?

• a. To make the study look more professional

• b. To find flaws in the study

• c. To make the study longer

• d. To confuse the readers

Which of the following is not an example of a variable?

• a. The value of x

• b. Duration of time

• c. Heights in inches

• d. Calories in a meal

A researcher explained that location was measured as the distance (in feet) of an object from the target location. In this example, the definition of the location is an example of:

• a. A dictionary definition

• b. an operational definition

• c. a semantic definition

• d. a researcher's defintion

To generate more new ideas within a research stusy, we can:

• a. Refine or expand the original hypothesis

• b. reformulate a new hypothesis

• c. start over

• d. all of the above

A method of knowing based largely on habit of superstition is called

• a. Intuition

• b. Tenacity

• c. Authority

• d. Rationalism

A method of knowing based on one's experience or observations is called:

• a. Empiricism

• b. Scientific

• c. Authority

• d.Rationalism

Which of the following identifies the four goals of scienice?

• a. Describe, create, explain,control

• b. Evaluate,eplain,predict,control

• c. Describe,explain,predict,control

• d.Evaluate,create,explain,control

Which of the following uses the scientific method is answer questions that address theoretical issues about fundamental processes and underlying mechanisms related to the behavoirals and events being studied?

• a. Basic research

• b. Science

• c. Applied research

• d. Hypothesis

Consider a measurement scale where the intervals between values are consistent, but there is no true zero point. What level of measurement does this represent?

• a. Ordinal

• b. Interval

• c. Ratio

• d. Nominal