RSE4801 EXAM QUESTIONS WITH
DETAILED ANSWERS WITH
RATIONALE
QUESTION 1
What is the purpose of Turnitin in academic assignments?
A) It is optional and can be skipped
B) It checks for plagiarism and similarity with existing sources
C) It replaces the need for referencing
D) It is only relevant for group assignments
Answer: B) It checks for plagiarism and similarity with existing sources
Rationale: Turnitin is a plagiarism detection tool that checks for similarity with existing
sources. Students are advised to upload drafts to the draft link first and rewrite sections if
the similarity score is high .
QUESTION 2
What is the difference between a research design and a research method?
,A) They are the same concept
B) A research design is the overall strategy; methods are specific techniques
C) A research design is used only in quantitative research
D) Methods are used only in qualitative research
Answer: B) A research design is the overall strategy; methods are specific
techniques
Rationale: A research design is the overall strategy for conducting research, while methods
are the specific techniques used for data collection and analysis. The design guides which
methods will be used .
QUESTION 3
According to the assignment guidelines, what is the role of the method section in an
essay?
A) To explain how the research was conducted
B) To present the research findings
C) To list all references used
D) To provide a conclusion
Answer: A) To explain how the research was conducted
Rationale: A method section explains how the research was conducted and what was read.
This section demonstrates research rigor and authenticity .
QUESTION 4
What is the purpose of "bracketing" in phenomenological research?
A) To eliminate all subjectivity from the research
B) To set aside the researcher's preconceptions to understand participants' experiences
C) To increase the sample size
D) To replace the need for data analysis
,Answer: B) To set aside the researcher's preconceptions to understand
participants' experiences
Rationale: Bracketing in phenomenological research involves setting aside the researcher's
preconceptions and biases to understand participants' lived experiences. This allows the
researcher to approach the phenomenon with a fresh perspective .
QUESTION 5
What is the primary focus of ethnographic research?
A) Understanding the culture of a group
B) Measuring variables and testing hypotheses
C) Conducting experiments in controlled settings
D) Analyzing historical documents
Answer: A) Understanding the culture of a group
Rationale: Ethnographic research focuses on understanding the culture, behaviors, and
meanings of a particular group. It involves immersion in the group's environment through
observation and participation .
QUESTION 6
What is the purpose of Participatory Action Research (PAR)?
A) To conduct research on communities without their involvement
B) To engage communities in the research process to drive social change
C) To maintain researcher objectivity and distance
D) To collect data without community engagement
Answer: B) To engage communities in the research process to drive social change
Rationale: Participatory Action Research (PAR) engages communities and drives social
change through collaborative efforts. Collaborative relationships foster collective
engagement and action .
, QUESTION 7
What is the difference between a case study and a phenomenological study?
A) There is no difference
B) A case study focuses on a bounded system; phenomenology focuses on lived
experiences
C) A case study is always qualitative; phenomenology is quantitative
D) They use the same data collection methods
Answer: B) A case study focuses on a bounded system; phenomenology focuses on
lived experiences
Rationale: A case study involves an in-depth investigation of a bounded system (e.g., an
individual, classroom, or school), whereas phenomenology explores the essence of lived
experiences of a phenomenon. Both are distinct qualitative approaches with different foci .
QUESTION 8
What is the meaning of "trustworthiness" in qualitative research?
A) The extent to which findings are accurate and reliable
B) The number of participants in the study
C) The complexity of the research design
D) The length of the research report
Answer: A) The extent to which findings are accurate and reliable
Rationale: Trustworthiness in qualitative research is the extent to which findings are
accurate, reliable, and credible. It is the qualitative equivalent of validity and reliability in
quantitative research .
QUESTION 9
DETAILED ANSWERS WITH
RATIONALE
QUESTION 1
What is the purpose of Turnitin in academic assignments?
A) It is optional and can be skipped
B) It checks for plagiarism and similarity with existing sources
C) It replaces the need for referencing
D) It is only relevant for group assignments
Answer: B) It checks for plagiarism and similarity with existing sources
Rationale: Turnitin is a plagiarism detection tool that checks for similarity with existing
sources. Students are advised to upload drafts to the draft link first and rewrite sections if
the similarity score is high .
QUESTION 2
What is the difference between a research design and a research method?
,A) They are the same concept
B) A research design is the overall strategy; methods are specific techniques
C) A research design is used only in quantitative research
D) Methods are used only in qualitative research
Answer: B) A research design is the overall strategy; methods are specific
techniques
Rationale: A research design is the overall strategy for conducting research, while methods
are the specific techniques used for data collection and analysis. The design guides which
methods will be used .
QUESTION 3
According to the assignment guidelines, what is the role of the method section in an
essay?
A) To explain how the research was conducted
B) To present the research findings
C) To list all references used
D) To provide a conclusion
Answer: A) To explain how the research was conducted
Rationale: A method section explains how the research was conducted and what was read.
This section demonstrates research rigor and authenticity .
QUESTION 4
What is the purpose of "bracketing" in phenomenological research?
A) To eliminate all subjectivity from the research
B) To set aside the researcher's preconceptions to understand participants' experiences
C) To increase the sample size
D) To replace the need for data analysis
,Answer: B) To set aside the researcher's preconceptions to understand
participants' experiences
Rationale: Bracketing in phenomenological research involves setting aside the researcher's
preconceptions and biases to understand participants' lived experiences. This allows the
researcher to approach the phenomenon with a fresh perspective .
QUESTION 5
What is the primary focus of ethnographic research?
A) Understanding the culture of a group
B) Measuring variables and testing hypotheses
C) Conducting experiments in controlled settings
D) Analyzing historical documents
Answer: A) Understanding the culture of a group
Rationale: Ethnographic research focuses on understanding the culture, behaviors, and
meanings of a particular group. It involves immersion in the group's environment through
observation and participation .
QUESTION 6
What is the purpose of Participatory Action Research (PAR)?
A) To conduct research on communities without their involvement
B) To engage communities in the research process to drive social change
C) To maintain researcher objectivity and distance
D) To collect data without community engagement
Answer: B) To engage communities in the research process to drive social change
Rationale: Participatory Action Research (PAR) engages communities and drives social
change through collaborative efforts. Collaborative relationships foster collective
engagement and action .
, QUESTION 7
What is the difference between a case study and a phenomenological study?
A) There is no difference
B) A case study focuses on a bounded system; phenomenology focuses on lived
experiences
C) A case study is always qualitative; phenomenology is quantitative
D) They use the same data collection methods
Answer: B) A case study focuses on a bounded system; phenomenology focuses on
lived experiences
Rationale: A case study involves an in-depth investigation of a bounded system (e.g., an
individual, classroom, or school), whereas phenomenology explores the essence of lived
experiences of a phenomenon. Both are distinct qualitative approaches with different foci .
QUESTION 8
What is the meaning of "trustworthiness" in qualitative research?
A) The extent to which findings are accurate and reliable
B) The number of participants in the study
C) The complexity of the research design
D) The length of the research report
Answer: A) The extent to which findings are accurate and reliable
Rationale: Trustworthiness in qualitative research is the extent to which findings are
accurate, reliable, and credible. It is the qualitative equivalent of validity and reliability in
quantitative research .
QUESTION 9
