RESEARCH METHODS EXAM 3 FINAL PAPER
2026 FULL QUESTIONS AND CORRECT
ANSWERS STUDY GUIDE
◉ Principle 11: Make Sure the Questionnaire is Easy to Use from the
Beginning to the End
Answer: Ordering of Questions:
- Start with engaging, important questions.
- Place demographic questions last to maintain interest.
Contingency Questions = An item directing participants to different
follow-up questions depending on their response to the contingency
question
Questionnaire Length:
- Keep it short enough to maintain participant engagement
- Adjust based on format (e.g., mail surveys shortest, interviews can
be longer).
Response Bias:
- Reduce social desirability bias by ensuring anonymity.
,Address response sets (e.g., always agreeing, central tendency)
through varied item formats or balanced scales.
Response Set = Tendency for a participant to respond in a particular
way to a set of items
Be cautious with reverse-coded items—they can reduce reliability.
◉ Principle 12: Pilot Test the Questionnaire Until It Is Perfected
Answer: Pilot Test = Testing for proper operation of a data collection
instrument before using it in the research study
Start with colleagues/friends, then test with a sample similar to your
participants.
Use think-aloud methods to uncover confusion or unclear wording.
Think-Aloud Technique = A method that requires participants to
verbalize their thoughts as they engage in an activity
◉ Match sampling to research goals
Answer: If you only need to explore relationships (not precise
population estimates): a nonprobability convenience sample can be
acceptable.
,If you need accurate population estimates/generalization: use a
probability (random) sample.
◉ Convenience sampling (nonprobability)
Answer: Use of people who are readily available, volunteer, or are
easily recruited for inclusion in a sample
Pros: fast, cheap, easy.
Cons / Bias: volunteers, specific course enrollees, and electronic
survey responders differ from non-responders; Internet
access/comfort varies → coverage & nonresponse bias
◉ Random sampling (probability)
Answer: Selection of sample members using a statistically random
process
Use when the study requires population-level inference (e.g., polling,
prevalence estimates).
◉ Sampling (Random) Error
Answer: Differences between sample values and the true population
parameter
, ◉ Simple random sampling (SRS)
Answer: A popular and basic equal probability of selection method;
each population member has an equal chance of selection → aims for
a representative sample.
◉ Representative Sample
Answer: A sample that resembles the population
◉ Pros of random sampling
Answer: Enables direct statistical generalization from sample to
population.
Produces sampling error (random difference from true population
values) that is typically small and quantifiable—and smaller than
with nonprobability samples.
Even relatively small sample can estimate population parameters
well if selection is truly random.
◉ Implementing simple random sampling
Answer: Build a sampling frame (list of all population members)
2026 FULL QUESTIONS AND CORRECT
ANSWERS STUDY GUIDE
◉ Principle 11: Make Sure the Questionnaire is Easy to Use from the
Beginning to the End
Answer: Ordering of Questions:
- Start with engaging, important questions.
- Place demographic questions last to maintain interest.
Contingency Questions = An item directing participants to different
follow-up questions depending on their response to the contingency
question
Questionnaire Length:
- Keep it short enough to maintain participant engagement
- Adjust based on format (e.g., mail surveys shortest, interviews can
be longer).
Response Bias:
- Reduce social desirability bias by ensuring anonymity.
,Address response sets (e.g., always agreeing, central tendency)
through varied item formats or balanced scales.
Response Set = Tendency for a participant to respond in a particular
way to a set of items
Be cautious with reverse-coded items—they can reduce reliability.
◉ Principle 12: Pilot Test the Questionnaire Until It Is Perfected
Answer: Pilot Test = Testing for proper operation of a data collection
instrument before using it in the research study
Start with colleagues/friends, then test with a sample similar to your
participants.
Use think-aloud methods to uncover confusion or unclear wording.
Think-Aloud Technique = A method that requires participants to
verbalize their thoughts as they engage in an activity
◉ Match sampling to research goals
Answer: If you only need to explore relationships (not precise
population estimates): a nonprobability convenience sample can be
acceptable.
,If you need accurate population estimates/generalization: use a
probability (random) sample.
◉ Convenience sampling (nonprobability)
Answer: Use of people who are readily available, volunteer, or are
easily recruited for inclusion in a sample
Pros: fast, cheap, easy.
Cons / Bias: volunteers, specific course enrollees, and electronic
survey responders differ from non-responders; Internet
access/comfort varies → coverage & nonresponse bias
◉ Random sampling (probability)
Answer: Selection of sample members using a statistically random
process
Use when the study requires population-level inference (e.g., polling,
prevalence estimates).
◉ Sampling (Random) Error
Answer: Differences between sample values and the true population
parameter
, ◉ Simple random sampling (SRS)
Answer: A popular and basic equal probability of selection method;
each population member has an equal chance of selection → aims for
a representative sample.
◉ Representative Sample
Answer: A sample that resembles the population
◉ Pros of random sampling
Answer: Enables direct statistical generalization from sample to
population.
Produces sampling error (random difference from true population
values) that is typically small and quantifiable—and smaller than
with nonprobability samples.
Even relatively small sample can estimate population parameters
well if selection is truly random.
◉ Implementing simple random sampling
Answer: Build a sampling frame (list of all population members)
