Chapter 1 Test Item File
Geoffrey Mills
Educational Research: Competencies
for Analysis and Applications
@
Thirteenth Edition
A
Geoffrey Mills, Southern Oregon University
Adam Jordan, College of Charleston
pl
Prepared by: Adam Jordan
us
stu
vi
a
@Aplusstuvia
, Chapter 1: Introduction to Educational Research
Chapter 1 Learning Outcome Quizzes
Learning Outcome 1.1: Briefly describe the reasoning involved in the scientific method.
[Q1]
Jose is a graduate student who is beginning a research project. Which of the following
steps of the scientific method represents the first step Jose should take in conducting
research?
1. Formulate hypotheses.
2. Collect and analyze data.
3. Recognize and define the problem. [correct]
4. Draw conclusions regarding hypotheses.
[Feedback for Answer Choice 1]
Formulating hypotheses is an important part of the scientific process, but this occurs
later.
@
[Feedback for Answer Choice 2]
Collecting and analyzing data are important components of the scientific process, but
they occur later in the process.
[Feedback for Correct Answer 3]
A
Recognition and definition of the problem is the first step in the scientific method.
[Feedback for Answer Choice 4]
Conclusions are important, but cannot be the first part of the process.
pl
[Q2]
Susie engaged in the following activities last semester. Which of these activities is an
us
example of utilizing the scientific method?
1. Susie learned about problem-based learning by going to the library, reading about
this topic, and writing a summary.
2. Susie gathered and analyzed data from teachers in the district to answer a question
stu
about their attitudes regarding new high-stakes testing policies. [correct]
3. Susie wrote an item for a newsletter describing her personal opinion about the value
of parental involvement in school based on 10 years of working in the area.
4. Susie described a new program that was implemented at her school to help parents
become more involved.
vi
[Feedback for Answer Choice 1]
1
Copyright © 2023, 2019, 2016, 2012 by Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.
a
@Aplusstuvia
,Reviewing the literature in an area is an important practice, but in this example, she did
not engage in scientific inquiry following her review of the literature.
[Feedback for Correct Answer 2]
Susie has followed the scientific method by recognizing a problem (new high-stakes
testing policies), gathering data, and analyzing to address the research problem.
[Feedback for Answer Choice 3]
Opinions are important, but they are not included in the scientific process.
[Feedback for Answer Choice 4]
While Susie did a service by describing a new program, she did not engage in any sort
of data collection or analysis.
[Q3]
Manny is interested in investigating differences in spatial skills between middle school
girls and boys enrolled in his computer graphics class. He spends time reviewing the
relevant research in this area. What would be the next step in the scientific method?
1. Forming a hypothesis [correct]
2. Recognizing and defining the problem
@
3. Collecting data
4. Drawing conclusions regarding hypotheses
[Feedback for Correct Answer 1]
A
Forming a hypothesis is the next step in the scientific method. Manny was able to
develop a hypothesis because he was up to date on the current literature in his area of
interest.
[Feedback for Answer Choice 2]
pl
Manny’s recognition of the problem would have prompted his review of the literature;
therefore, this could not be the next step.
[Feedback for Answer Choice 3]
us
In order for Manny to collect data, he must have a better understanding of the direction
of his research.
[Feedback for Answer Choice 4]
stu
While Manny could certainly synthesize the findings of previous scholars, he could form
his own conclusion before conducting any research.
[Q4]
When discussing conclusions, it is important that the researcher does which of the
following?
vi
1. Makes an argument supporting his or her original hypothesis
2
Copyright © 2023, 2019, 2016, 2012 by Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.
a
@Aplusstuvia
, 2. Makes it clear that the results are not disputable
3. Indicates whether or not the research hypothesis was supported [correct]
4. Is brief in the explanation
[Feedback for Answer Choice 1]
The goal of good research is not to prove your hypothesis, but to better understand a
phenomenon or to provide a richer description of a situation.
[Feedback for Answer Choice 2]
All research has limitations, and it is important to make this reality clear when
presenting conclusions.
[Feedback for Correct Answer 3]
It is always important to explain whether or not the research hypothesis was supported.
Remember, just because a hypothesis may prove to be inconsistent with the
conclusion, does not mean the research was not important!
[Feedback for Answer Choice 4]
There is no limit for the length of a discussion of conclusions. It is simply important that
the researcher is clear and thorough.
@
Learning Outcome 1.2: Explain why researchers would use quantitative, qualitative,
mixed methods, or action research designs to address a specific research problem.
[Q1]
A
Of the following research goals, which approach most likely uses mixed-methods
research?
1. Comparing numeric test results across groups to understand the effects of a
particular instructional approach
pl
2. Exploring teachers’ use of formative quizzes within three second-language
classrooms
3. Conducting interviews with participants after completing an instrument to assess
us
instructional approaches to explain the results [correct]
4. Describing the relation between students’ math attitudes and their math achievement
[Feedback for Answer Choice 1]
stu
This comparison would only utilize quantitative methods.
[Feedback for Answer Choice 2]
While this topic could certainly be explored using mixed methods research, more
information is needed.
[Feedback for Correct Answer 3]
vi
3
Copyright © 2023, 2019, 2016, 2012 by Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.
a
@Aplusstuvia
Geoffrey Mills
Educational Research: Competencies
for Analysis and Applications
@
Thirteenth Edition
A
Geoffrey Mills, Southern Oregon University
Adam Jordan, College of Charleston
pl
Prepared by: Adam Jordan
us
stu
vi
a
@Aplusstuvia
, Chapter 1: Introduction to Educational Research
Chapter 1 Learning Outcome Quizzes
Learning Outcome 1.1: Briefly describe the reasoning involved in the scientific method.
[Q1]
Jose is a graduate student who is beginning a research project. Which of the following
steps of the scientific method represents the first step Jose should take in conducting
research?
1. Formulate hypotheses.
2. Collect and analyze data.
3. Recognize and define the problem. [correct]
4. Draw conclusions regarding hypotheses.
[Feedback for Answer Choice 1]
Formulating hypotheses is an important part of the scientific process, but this occurs
later.
@
[Feedback for Answer Choice 2]
Collecting and analyzing data are important components of the scientific process, but
they occur later in the process.
[Feedback for Correct Answer 3]
A
Recognition and definition of the problem is the first step in the scientific method.
[Feedback for Answer Choice 4]
Conclusions are important, but cannot be the first part of the process.
pl
[Q2]
Susie engaged in the following activities last semester. Which of these activities is an
us
example of utilizing the scientific method?
1. Susie learned about problem-based learning by going to the library, reading about
this topic, and writing a summary.
2. Susie gathered and analyzed data from teachers in the district to answer a question
stu
about their attitudes regarding new high-stakes testing policies. [correct]
3. Susie wrote an item for a newsletter describing her personal opinion about the value
of parental involvement in school based on 10 years of working in the area.
4. Susie described a new program that was implemented at her school to help parents
become more involved.
vi
[Feedback for Answer Choice 1]
1
Copyright © 2023, 2019, 2016, 2012 by Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.
a
@Aplusstuvia
,Reviewing the literature in an area is an important practice, but in this example, she did
not engage in scientific inquiry following her review of the literature.
[Feedback for Correct Answer 2]
Susie has followed the scientific method by recognizing a problem (new high-stakes
testing policies), gathering data, and analyzing to address the research problem.
[Feedback for Answer Choice 3]
Opinions are important, but they are not included in the scientific process.
[Feedback for Answer Choice 4]
While Susie did a service by describing a new program, she did not engage in any sort
of data collection or analysis.
[Q3]
Manny is interested in investigating differences in spatial skills between middle school
girls and boys enrolled in his computer graphics class. He spends time reviewing the
relevant research in this area. What would be the next step in the scientific method?
1. Forming a hypothesis [correct]
2. Recognizing and defining the problem
@
3. Collecting data
4. Drawing conclusions regarding hypotheses
[Feedback for Correct Answer 1]
A
Forming a hypothesis is the next step in the scientific method. Manny was able to
develop a hypothesis because he was up to date on the current literature in his area of
interest.
[Feedback for Answer Choice 2]
pl
Manny’s recognition of the problem would have prompted his review of the literature;
therefore, this could not be the next step.
[Feedback for Answer Choice 3]
us
In order for Manny to collect data, he must have a better understanding of the direction
of his research.
[Feedback for Answer Choice 4]
stu
While Manny could certainly synthesize the findings of previous scholars, he could form
his own conclusion before conducting any research.
[Q4]
When discussing conclusions, it is important that the researcher does which of the
following?
vi
1. Makes an argument supporting his or her original hypothesis
2
Copyright © 2023, 2019, 2016, 2012 by Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.
a
@Aplusstuvia
, 2. Makes it clear that the results are not disputable
3. Indicates whether or not the research hypothesis was supported [correct]
4. Is brief in the explanation
[Feedback for Answer Choice 1]
The goal of good research is not to prove your hypothesis, but to better understand a
phenomenon or to provide a richer description of a situation.
[Feedback for Answer Choice 2]
All research has limitations, and it is important to make this reality clear when
presenting conclusions.
[Feedback for Correct Answer 3]
It is always important to explain whether or not the research hypothesis was supported.
Remember, just because a hypothesis may prove to be inconsistent with the
conclusion, does not mean the research was not important!
[Feedback for Answer Choice 4]
There is no limit for the length of a discussion of conclusions. It is simply important that
the researcher is clear and thorough.
@
Learning Outcome 1.2: Explain why researchers would use quantitative, qualitative,
mixed methods, or action research designs to address a specific research problem.
[Q1]
A
Of the following research goals, which approach most likely uses mixed-methods
research?
1. Comparing numeric test results across groups to understand the effects of a
particular instructional approach
pl
2. Exploring teachers’ use of formative quizzes within three second-language
classrooms
3. Conducting interviews with participants after completing an instrument to assess
us
instructional approaches to explain the results [correct]
4. Describing the relation between students’ math attitudes and their math achievement
[Feedback for Answer Choice 1]
stu
This comparison would only utilize quantitative methods.
[Feedback for Answer Choice 2]
While this topic could certainly be explored using mixed methods research, more
information is needed.
[Feedback for Correct Answer 3]
vi
3
Copyright © 2023, 2019, 2016, 2012 by Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.
a
@Aplusstuvia
