Test Bank For
Understanding Communication Research Methods 4e By Stephen M. Croucher, Daniel
Cronn-Mills
Chapter 1-20
Chapter 1 Introduction & Ethics
Multiple Choice Questions
1. Which of the following definitions refer to “communication”?
a. A statement of facts
b. The process of sharing meaning with others *
c. A technological system for the transmission of information
d. All of the above
2. In which ways can communication take place?
a. Through verbal interaction
b. Through mediated/online communication
c. Through non-verbal communication
d. All of the above *
3. Which of the following aspects is not relevant to the process of communication?
a. The sender
b. The length of the message*
c. The message
d. The receiver
4. What are different approaches to research called?
a. Theories
b. Paradigms *
c. Disciplines
5. Which of the following statement(s) describe(s) a theory?
a. The detailed study of a subject
b. Rules on which a subject is based
c. The process of obtaining new information about a subject
d. A formal statement of rules
e. b and d
6. Which of the following statement does NOT refer to methodology?
a. A technique or procedure to conduct research *
b. The study of one or methods
c. The process of explaining what makes a certain method an appropriate choice
for your research
d. The process of discussing the theory behind the method
,7. Which of the following examples is not a paradigm?
a. Social scientific paradigm
b. Interpretive paradigm
c. Ethnographic paradigm*
d. Critical/cultural paradigm
8. Which of the following methods can be used in qualitative studies?
a. Interview
b. Ethnography
c. Focus groups
d. All of the above *
9. Which of the following is NOT a quantitative method of data collection?
a. Surveys
b. Experiments
c. Participant observation *
10. What aspect of research is referred to as “research design”?
a. The theoretical framework
b. The instruments of data collection
c. The findings
d. The type of data collected
e. b and d*
11. Suzanne collected data for a study on effectiveness of evidence in presidential debates. Her
data is almost conclusive. A few subtle tweaks to the data would make the results stronger.
Pat’s desire to tweak the data is driven by her _______.
a. Id *
b. superId
c. Ego
d. SuperEgo
e. Psychomachia
12. Anne is writing a paper on Islamic ethics. She knows to include the three key principles of
patience, shame and _______.
a. justice
b. forgiveness *
c. fairness
d. relationships
13. The concept of patience in Islamic ethics means one should:
a. not rush to judgment
b. contemplate a situation
c. pray for guidance
d. seek help when needed
, e. all of the above *
14. The foundation of Christian ethics is based:
a. on The New Testament
b. decided by the Pope
c. on The Old Testament
d. the US Constitution
e. A and C *
15. Shereen is studying the background of Mary Shelly’s Frankenstein and discovered …
a. The book is an argument for an amoral approach to science
b. The book is an argument for a strict moral approach to science *
c. The book is an argument for utilitarian ethics
d. The book is an argument for integrating technology and science
16. History is awash with scientific experiments run afoul of ethics. Identify the one experiment
not discussed in your textbook.
a. The Tuskegee syphilis experiments
b. The Southam and Mandel cancer cell studies
c. The Dire blue eye/brown eye experiments *
d. The Milgram authority-figure experiments
e. The Stanford Prison experiments
17. IRB is an acronym all communication scholars know well. IRB stands for:
a. Institutional Research Bureau
b. Investigative Review Board
c. Institutional Review Board *
d. Institutional Research Board
18. A college or university IRB should have a healthy mix of representation including:
a. a diversity of disciplines
b. a diversity of methodological approaches
c. a diversity of theoretical perspectives
d. a diversity of race, ethnicity and sex
e. all of the above *
19. The Belmont Report identified three key principles of ethical research:
a. respect, beneficence, and justice *
b. respect, credibility, and fairness
c. respect, credibility, and sound results
d. insight, beneficence, and fairness
20. Heather believes she has designed an exempt research project. An exempt project has:
a. full board review, close scrutiny, and high-levels of risk
b. minimal risk, similar to what one faces in a normal day *
, c. two-person board review, a one-page form, average levels of risk
d. skips the review process entirely
21. DeVante believes he has designed a non-exempt research project. A non-exempt project
has:
a. full board review, close scrutiny, and high-levels of risk *
b. minimal risk, similar to what one faces in a normal day
c. two-person board review, a one-page form, average levels of risk
d. skips the review process entirely
22. Mekhi is preparing a document to give to participants in his study. The document includes
explaining the risks and benefits of being part of the study. The document is part of:
a. informed consent *
b. negotiated participation
c. blind participation
d. snowball effect consent
23. Amara is preparing a document to give to participants in her study. The document includes
explaining to participants they have a right to stop participating at any time. The document
is part of:
a. informed consent *
b. negotiated participation
c. blind participation
d. snowball effect consent
24. Marcus is preparing a document to give to participants in his study. The document includes
his contact information. The document is part of:
a. informed consent *
b. negotiated participation
c. blind participation
d. snowball effect consent
25. Informed Consent includes
a. documenting how you will handle participant’s privacy
b. documenting how you will handle participant’s confidentiality
c. documenting how you will handle participant’s responses
d. documenting how you will handle participant’s anonymity
26. A researcher may sometimes use a confederate as part of a study. A confederate is:
a. a historical person from the South during the Civil War
b. a person who participates in the study but provides false data
c. a person who collaborates with the researcher to assist with data collection *
d. a person planted by an opposition researcher to disrupt a study
Understanding Communication Research Methods 4e By Stephen M. Croucher, Daniel
Cronn-Mills
Chapter 1-20
Chapter 1 Introduction & Ethics
Multiple Choice Questions
1. Which of the following definitions refer to “communication”?
a. A statement of facts
b. The process of sharing meaning with others *
c. A technological system for the transmission of information
d. All of the above
2. In which ways can communication take place?
a. Through verbal interaction
b. Through mediated/online communication
c. Through non-verbal communication
d. All of the above *
3. Which of the following aspects is not relevant to the process of communication?
a. The sender
b. The length of the message*
c. The message
d. The receiver
4. What are different approaches to research called?
a. Theories
b. Paradigms *
c. Disciplines
5. Which of the following statement(s) describe(s) a theory?
a. The detailed study of a subject
b. Rules on which a subject is based
c. The process of obtaining new information about a subject
d. A formal statement of rules
e. b and d
6. Which of the following statement does NOT refer to methodology?
a. A technique or procedure to conduct research *
b. The study of one or methods
c. The process of explaining what makes a certain method an appropriate choice
for your research
d. The process of discussing the theory behind the method
,7. Which of the following examples is not a paradigm?
a. Social scientific paradigm
b. Interpretive paradigm
c. Ethnographic paradigm*
d. Critical/cultural paradigm
8. Which of the following methods can be used in qualitative studies?
a. Interview
b. Ethnography
c. Focus groups
d. All of the above *
9. Which of the following is NOT a quantitative method of data collection?
a. Surveys
b. Experiments
c. Participant observation *
10. What aspect of research is referred to as “research design”?
a. The theoretical framework
b. The instruments of data collection
c. The findings
d. The type of data collected
e. b and d*
11. Suzanne collected data for a study on effectiveness of evidence in presidential debates. Her
data is almost conclusive. A few subtle tweaks to the data would make the results stronger.
Pat’s desire to tweak the data is driven by her _______.
a. Id *
b. superId
c. Ego
d. SuperEgo
e. Psychomachia
12. Anne is writing a paper on Islamic ethics. She knows to include the three key principles of
patience, shame and _______.
a. justice
b. forgiveness *
c. fairness
d. relationships
13. The concept of patience in Islamic ethics means one should:
a. not rush to judgment
b. contemplate a situation
c. pray for guidance
d. seek help when needed
, e. all of the above *
14. The foundation of Christian ethics is based:
a. on The New Testament
b. decided by the Pope
c. on The Old Testament
d. the US Constitution
e. A and C *
15. Shereen is studying the background of Mary Shelly’s Frankenstein and discovered …
a. The book is an argument for an amoral approach to science
b. The book is an argument for a strict moral approach to science *
c. The book is an argument for utilitarian ethics
d. The book is an argument for integrating technology and science
16. History is awash with scientific experiments run afoul of ethics. Identify the one experiment
not discussed in your textbook.
a. The Tuskegee syphilis experiments
b. The Southam and Mandel cancer cell studies
c. The Dire blue eye/brown eye experiments *
d. The Milgram authority-figure experiments
e. The Stanford Prison experiments
17. IRB is an acronym all communication scholars know well. IRB stands for:
a. Institutional Research Bureau
b. Investigative Review Board
c. Institutional Review Board *
d. Institutional Research Board
18. A college or university IRB should have a healthy mix of representation including:
a. a diversity of disciplines
b. a diversity of methodological approaches
c. a diversity of theoretical perspectives
d. a diversity of race, ethnicity and sex
e. all of the above *
19. The Belmont Report identified three key principles of ethical research:
a. respect, beneficence, and justice *
b. respect, credibility, and fairness
c. respect, credibility, and sound results
d. insight, beneficence, and fairness
20. Heather believes she has designed an exempt research project. An exempt project has:
a. full board review, close scrutiny, and high-levels of risk
b. minimal risk, similar to what one faces in a normal day *
, c. two-person board review, a one-page form, average levels of risk
d. skips the review process entirely
21. DeVante believes he has designed a non-exempt research project. A non-exempt project
has:
a. full board review, close scrutiny, and high-levels of risk *
b. minimal risk, similar to what one faces in a normal day
c. two-person board review, a one-page form, average levels of risk
d. skips the review process entirely
22. Mekhi is preparing a document to give to participants in his study. The document includes
explaining the risks and benefits of being part of the study. The document is part of:
a. informed consent *
b. negotiated participation
c. blind participation
d. snowball effect consent
23. Amara is preparing a document to give to participants in her study. The document includes
explaining to participants they have a right to stop participating at any time. The document
is part of:
a. informed consent *
b. negotiated participation
c. blind participation
d. snowball effect consent
24. Marcus is preparing a document to give to participants in his study. The document includes
his contact information. The document is part of:
a. informed consent *
b. negotiated participation
c. blind participation
d. snowball effect consent
25. Informed Consent includes
a. documenting how you will handle participant’s privacy
b. documenting how you will handle participant’s confidentiality
c. documenting how you will handle participant’s responses
d. documenting how you will handle participant’s anonymity
26. A researcher may sometimes use a confederate as part of a study. A confederate is:
a. a historical person from the South during the Civil War
b. a person who participates in the study but provides false data
c. a person who collaborates with the researcher to assist with data collection *
d. a person planted by an opposition researcher to disrupt a study
