HREDU82 Assignment 2 Semester 1 – University of
South Africa (UNISA) – 2026/2027 Academic
Year – Questions and Answers for
Postgraduate Education and HRD Students
Q1. What is HREDU82?
A) A postgraduate diploma in curriculum studies
B) A Research Project in Education module at UNISA, offered at Honours level (NQF
Level 8, 36 credits)
C) A master's degree in educational psychology
D) A doctoral research methodology course
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: HREDU82 is a Research Project in Education module at UNISA, offered at
Honours level (NQF Level 8, 36 credits). It builds on Research Theories and Methods in
Education (RSE4801) and enables students to conceptualise and conduct their own
research project in education .
Q2. What is the primary purpose of HREDU82?
A) To memorize existing educational theories
B) To provide students with the opportunity to formulate a research problem from their
educational practice, engage with relevant theories and concepts, develop a research
design, and reflect on research ethics
C) To complete a teaching practicum
D) To prepare for a licensing examination
Correct Answer: B
,Rationale: The purpose of HREDU82 is to provide students with the opportunity to
formulate a research problem from their educational practice, engage with relevant
theories and concepts, develop a research design, and reflect on research ethics,
ultimately contributing to quality and relevant education .
Q3. Which key themes are emphasized in HREDU82 research?
A) Only quantitative research methods
B) Only Western educational theories
C) Decolonisation, Afrikanisation, and indigenisation of education and educational
research
D) Standardised testing and assessment
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The module emphasizes issues of decolonisation, Afrikanisation, and
indigenisation of education and educational research. This reflects UNISA's commitment
to contextualising educational research within African perspectives .
Q4. What is educational research?
A) A review of educational policies
B) A systematic inquiry into educational phenomena, practices, policies, and theories
aimed at generating knowledge that can improve teaching, learning, and educational
outcomes
C) A statistical analysis of school data
D) A theoretical discussion of teaching methods
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Educational research is a systematic inquiry into educational phenomena,
practices, policies, and theories aimed at generating knowledge that can improve
teaching, learning, and educational outcomes .
,Q5. What are the main types of educational research?
A) Descriptive, exploratory, and explanatory
B) Quantitative research, qualitative research, and mixed-methods research
C) Experimental and non-experimental
D) Basic and applied
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The main types of educational research are quantitative research, qualitative
research, and mixed-methods research. Each approach has distinct philosophical
underpinnings and methodological applications .
Q6. What is quantitative research?
A) Research that uses only interviews
B) Research that involves the collection and analysis of numerical data to identify
patterns, test hypotheses, and make predictions
C) Research that focuses only on case studies
D) Research that does not use statistics
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Quantitative research involves the collection and analysis of numerical data
to identify patterns, test hypotheses, and make predictions. It is typically associated with
the positivist paradigm .
Q7. What is qualitative research?
A) Research that uses only numbers
B) Research that involves the collection and analysis of non-numerical data (e.g., words,
images, observations) to understand meanings, experiences, and social phenomena in
depth
C) Research that only uses experiments
D) Research that focuses only on statistics
, Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Qualitative research involves the collection and analysis of non-numerical
data such as words, images, and observations to understand meanings, experiences, and
social phenomena in depth .
Q8. What is mixed-methods research?
A) Research that uses only one method
B) Research that combines both quantitative and qualitative approaches in a single
study to provide a more comprehensive understanding of the research problem
C) Research that uses only surveys
D) Research that avoids both quantitative and qualitative methods
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Mixed-methods research combines both quantitative and qualitative
approaches in a single study to provide a more comprehensive understanding of the
research problem .
Q9. What is the difference between basic and applied research?
A) Basic research uses statistics; applied research uses interviews
B) Basic research is done in laboratories; applied research is done in schools
C) Basic research seeks to expand knowledge without immediate practical application;
applied research aims to solve specific practical problems in education
D) Basic research is shorter than applied research
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Basic research seeks to expand knowledge and theory without immediate
practical application, while applied research aims to solve specific practical problems in
education .
South Africa (UNISA) – 2026/2027 Academic
Year – Questions and Answers for
Postgraduate Education and HRD Students
Q1. What is HREDU82?
A) A postgraduate diploma in curriculum studies
B) A Research Project in Education module at UNISA, offered at Honours level (NQF
Level 8, 36 credits)
C) A master's degree in educational psychology
D) A doctoral research methodology course
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: HREDU82 is a Research Project in Education module at UNISA, offered at
Honours level (NQF Level 8, 36 credits). It builds on Research Theories and Methods in
Education (RSE4801) and enables students to conceptualise and conduct their own
research project in education .
Q2. What is the primary purpose of HREDU82?
A) To memorize existing educational theories
B) To provide students with the opportunity to formulate a research problem from their
educational practice, engage with relevant theories and concepts, develop a research
design, and reflect on research ethics
C) To complete a teaching practicum
D) To prepare for a licensing examination
Correct Answer: B
,Rationale: The purpose of HREDU82 is to provide students with the opportunity to
formulate a research problem from their educational practice, engage with relevant
theories and concepts, develop a research design, and reflect on research ethics,
ultimately contributing to quality and relevant education .
Q3. Which key themes are emphasized in HREDU82 research?
A) Only quantitative research methods
B) Only Western educational theories
C) Decolonisation, Afrikanisation, and indigenisation of education and educational
research
D) Standardised testing and assessment
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The module emphasizes issues of decolonisation, Afrikanisation, and
indigenisation of education and educational research. This reflects UNISA's commitment
to contextualising educational research within African perspectives .
Q4. What is educational research?
A) A review of educational policies
B) A systematic inquiry into educational phenomena, practices, policies, and theories
aimed at generating knowledge that can improve teaching, learning, and educational
outcomes
C) A statistical analysis of school data
D) A theoretical discussion of teaching methods
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Educational research is a systematic inquiry into educational phenomena,
practices, policies, and theories aimed at generating knowledge that can improve
teaching, learning, and educational outcomes .
,Q5. What are the main types of educational research?
A) Descriptive, exploratory, and explanatory
B) Quantitative research, qualitative research, and mixed-methods research
C) Experimental and non-experimental
D) Basic and applied
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The main types of educational research are quantitative research, qualitative
research, and mixed-methods research. Each approach has distinct philosophical
underpinnings and methodological applications .
Q6. What is quantitative research?
A) Research that uses only interviews
B) Research that involves the collection and analysis of numerical data to identify
patterns, test hypotheses, and make predictions
C) Research that focuses only on case studies
D) Research that does not use statistics
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Quantitative research involves the collection and analysis of numerical data
to identify patterns, test hypotheses, and make predictions. It is typically associated with
the positivist paradigm .
Q7. What is qualitative research?
A) Research that uses only numbers
B) Research that involves the collection and analysis of non-numerical data (e.g., words,
images, observations) to understand meanings, experiences, and social phenomena in
depth
C) Research that only uses experiments
D) Research that focuses only on statistics
, Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Qualitative research involves the collection and analysis of non-numerical
data such as words, images, and observations to understand meanings, experiences, and
social phenomena in depth .
Q8. What is mixed-methods research?
A) Research that uses only one method
B) Research that combines both quantitative and qualitative approaches in a single
study to provide a more comprehensive understanding of the research problem
C) Research that uses only surveys
D) Research that avoids both quantitative and qualitative methods
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Mixed-methods research combines both quantitative and qualitative
approaches in a single study to provide a more comprehensive understanding of the
research problem .
Q9. What is the difference between basic and applied research?
A) Basic research uses statistics; applied research uses interviews
B) Basic research is done in laboratories; applied research is done in schools
C) Basic research seeks to expand knowledge without immediate practical application;
applied research aims to solve specific practical problems in education
D) Basic research is shorter than applied research
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Basic research seeks to expand knowledge and theory without immediate
practical application, while applied research aims to solve specific practical problems in
education .
