CPCE Research & Program Evaluation Exam Prep 2026/2027 |
Questions & Correct Answers | Graded A+
1. What do threats to validity in research refer to?
Methods for collecting qualitative data
Factors that can compromise the accuracy of study conclusions
Types of research designs
Statistical techniques for data analysis
2. Describe the significance of random sampling in enhancing research
outcomes.
Random sampling enhances the representativeness of the sample,
which improves the generalizability of the research findings.
Random sampling limits the diversity of the sample, making results less
applicable.
Random sampling is only important for qualitative research.
Random sampling guarantees accurate results without bias.
3. What are demand characteristics in an experiment?
Biases introduced by participants dropping out of the study.
When measurement tools change over the course of a study.
When a participant's behavior is influenced by their understanding
of the experiment's purpose.
When researchers inadvertently signal their expectations to
participants.
,4. What are the four levels of measurement in research?
Descriptive, inferential, correlational
Nominal, ordinal, interval, ratio
Primary, secondary, tertiary
Qualitative, quantitative, mixed-methods
5. Which of the following best describes ethnography?
An examination of historical artifacts to understand societal norms.
A statistical analysis of demographic data within a specific cultural
group.
A systematic review of literature related to cultural practices and
traditions.
A qualitative research method focused on immersing in and
studying a particular culture.
6. What is the role of statistics in science?
Statistics are used to ensure that data collected in an experiment are
accurate and reliable.
Statistics are used to assemble data into a form that will create results
in an experiment.
Statistics are used to determine whether the observed results of an
experiment represent meaningful mathematical differences.
Statistics are used to prove that a theory is true, in a way that will be
accepted by other scientists.
7. What do hypotheses in research provide?
, Statistical analysis
Research designs
Sampling methods
Testable predictions
8. Describe the difference between directional and nondirectional alternative
hypotheses.
A directional hypothesis is used only in qualitative research, while a
nondirectional hypothesis is used in quantitative research.
A directional hypothesis is broader in scope than a nondirectional
hypothesis.
A directional hypothesis is always accepted, while a nondirectional
hypothesis is always rejected.
A directional hypothesis predicts a specific difference, while a
nondirectional hypothesis indicates that a difference exists without
specifying the direction.
9. Researchers must use parametric statistics when:
data are measured using an ordinal scale.
manual data entry is not possible.
qualitative analysis needs to be conducted.
data are measured using a nominal scale.
a normal distribution can be assumed.
10. In a study examining the effects of a new drug, how would statistical analysis
be utilized to assess the drug's effectiveness?
To ensure that the research questions are unbiased.
, To design the study and select the sample population.
To collect qualitative feedback from participants about the drug.
To test hypotheses about the drug's effects and determine if the
results are statistically significant.
11. Describe how statistical analysis contributes to the validity of research
findings.
Statistical analysis helps ensure that conclusions drawn from data
are reliable and can be generalized to a larger population.
Statistical analysis only focuses on the collection of data.
Statistical analysis is primarily concerned with qualitative data.
Statistical analysis is irrelevant to the validity of research findings.
12. Describe how threats to validity can impact the conclusions drawn from a
research study.
Threats to validity only affect the sample size of the study.
Threats to validity enhance the reliability of statistical analysis.
Threats to validity can lead to incorrect conclusions by introducing
bias or errors in the data interpretation.
Threats to validity ensure that the research questions are well-
formulated.
13. Which of the following is true regarding external validity?
Threats to external validity suggest the changes in dependent
variable weren't actually caused by the independent variable
Threats to external validity suggest the results may not generalize
across contexts
Questions & Correct Answers | Graded A+
1. What do threats to validity in research refer to?
Methods for collecting qualitative data
Factors that can compromise the accuracy of study conclusions
Types of research designs
Statistical techniques for data analysis
2. Describe the significance of random sampling in enhancing research
outcomes.
Random sampling enhances the representativeness of the sample,
which improves the generalizability of the research findings.
Random sampling limits the diversity of the sample, making results less
applicable.
Random sampling is only important for qualitative research.
Random sampling guarantees accurate results without bias.
3. What are demand characteristics in an experiment?
Biases introduced by participants dropping out of the study.
When measurement tools change over the course of a study.
When a participant's behavior is influenced by their understanding
of the experiment's purpose.
When researchers inadvertently signal their expectations to
participants.
,4. What are the four levels of measurement in research?
Descriptive, inferential, correlational
Nominal, ordinal, interval, ratio
Primary, secondary, tertiary
Qualitative, quantitative, mixed-methods
5. Which of the following best describes ethnography?
An examination of historical artifacts to understand societal norms.
A statistical analysis of demographic data within a specific cultural
group.
A systematic review of literature related to cultural practices and
traditions.
A qualitative research method focused on immersing in and
studying a particular culture.
6. What is the role of statistics in science?
Statistics are used to ensure that data collected in an experiment are
accurate and reliable.
Statistics are used to assemble data into a form that will create results
in an experiment.
Statistics are used to determine whether the observed results of an
experiment represent meaningful mathematical differences.
Statistics are used to prove that a theory is true, in a way that will be
accepted by other scientists.
7. What do hypotheses in research provide?
, Statistical analysis
Research designs
Sampling methods
Testable predictions
8. Describe the difference between directional and nondirectional alternative
hypotheses.
A directional hypothesis is used only in qualitative research, while a
nondirectional hypothesis is used in quantitative research.
A directional hypothesis is broader in scope than a nondirectional
hypothesis.
A directional hypothesis is always accepted, while a nondirectional
hypothesis is always rejected.
A directional hypothesis predicts a specific difference, while a
nondirectional hypothesis indicates that a difference exists without
specifying the direction.
9. Researchers must use parametric statistics when:
data are measured using an ordinal scale.
manual data entry is not possible.
qualitative analysis needs to be conducted.
data are measured using a nominal scale.
a normal distribution can be assumed.
10. In a study examining the effects of a new drug, how would statistical analysis
be utilized to assess the drug's effectiveness?
To ensure that the research questions are unbiased.
, To design the study and select the sample population.
To collect qualitative feedback from participants about the drug.
To test hypotheses about the drug's effects and determine if the
results are statistically significant.
11. Describe how statistical analysis contributes to the validity of research
findings.
Statistical analysis helps ensure that conclusions drawn from data
are reliable and can be generalized to a larger population.
Statistical analysis only focuses on the collection of data.
Statistical analysis is primarily concerned with qualitative data.
Statistical analysis is irrelevant to the validity of research findings.
12. Describe how threats to validity can impact the conclusions drawn from a
research study.
Threats to validity only affect the sample size of the study.
Threats to validity enhance the reliability of statistical analysis.
Threats to validity can lead to incorrect conclusions by introducing
bias or errors in the data interpretation.
Threats to validity ensure that the research questions are well-
formulated.
13. Which of the following is true regarding external validity?
Threats to external validity suggest the changes in dependent
variable weren't actually caused by the independent variable
Threats to external validity suggest the results may not generalize
across contexts
