COUC 515 Quiz: Methods, Program Evaluation, and
Designs Exam 2026/2027 Questions & Answers with
Rationales | Liberty University
SECTION 1 — RESEARCH FOUNDATIONS AND THE SCIENTIFIC METHOD
1. What is the primary purpose of scientific inquiry in counseling
research?
A. To confirm the counselor's personal beliefs
B. To systematically develop and evaluate knowledge
C. To eliminate the need for clinical judgment
D. To replace counseling theory
Answer: B
Rationale: Scientific inquiry uses systematic procedures to develop,
test, and refine knowledge. It complements rather than replaces clinical
judgment.
2. Which characteristic is most essential to empirical research?
A. Personal opinion
B. Anecdotal evidence
C. Systematic observation and evidence
D. The researcher's intuition
Answer: C
Rationale: Empirical research relies on systematic observation or
measurement of evidence rather than intuition or unsupported
opinion.
,3. Which step normally follows identification of a research problem?
A. Selecting participants randomly
B. Reviewing relevant literature
C. Reporting the results
D. Conducting statistical analysis
Answer: B
Rationale: A literature review helps researchers understand what is
already known and identify gaps that the study may address.
4. A research question primarily serves to:
A. Specify what the researcher intends to investigate
B. Guarantee a significant result
C. Determine the final sample size
D. Replace the literature review
Answer: A
Rationale: A research question defines the issue or relationship the
investigation is designed to address.
5. What is a hypothesis?
A. A confirmed scientific law
B. A tentative, testable prediction
C. A summary of research findings
D. A sampling procedure
Answer: B
,Rationale: A hypothesis is a testable prediction concerning expected
relationships or differences among variables.
6. Which hypothesis predicts that two variables are related without
specifying the direction?
A. Nondirectional hypothesis
B. Directional hypothesis
C. Null hypothesis
D. Statistical hypothesis
Answer: A
Rationale: A nondirectional hypothesis predicts a relationship or
difference but does not specify whether it will be positive or negative.
7. Which hypothesis predicts that an intervention will improve
counseling outcomes?
A. Nondirectional hypothesis
B. Directional hypothesis
C. Null hypothesis
D. Descriptive hypothesis
Answer: B
Rationale: The prediction specifies the expected direction—
improvement—making it directional.
8. What does the null hypothesis generally state?
, A. A relationship definitely exists
B. The researcher is correct
C. No statistically meaningful relationship or difference exists
D. The intervention must succeed
Answer: C
Rationale: The null hypothesis generally proposes that there is no
population relationship or difference of interest.
9. Which source provides a synthesis of previous research on a topic?
A. Literature review
B. Raw dataset
C. Consent form
D. Sampling frame
Answer: A
Rationale: A literature review synthesizes relevant prior scholarship
and helps establish the context for a study.
10. What is evidence-based practice?
A. Practice based exclusively on tradition
B. Practice integrating the best available evidence with professional
expertise and client considerations
C. Practice based only on statistical significance
D. Practice based exclusively on client preference
Answer: B
Designs Exam 2026/2027 Questions & Answers with
Rationales | Liberty University
SECTION 1 — RESEARCH FOUNDATIONS AND THE SCIENTIFIC METHOD
1. What is the primary purpose of scientific inquiry in counseling
research?
A. To confirm the counselor's personal beliefs
B. To systematically develop and evaluate knowledge
C. To eliminate the need for clinical judgment
D. To replace counseling theory
Answer: B
Rationale: Scientific inquiry uses systematic procedures to develop,
test, and refine knowledge. It complements rather than replaces clinical
judgment.
2. Which characteristic is most essential to empirical research?
A. Personal opinion
B. Anecdotal evidence
C. Systematic observation and evidence
D. The researcher's intuition
Answer: C
Rationale: Empirical research relies on systematic observation or
measurement of evidence rather than intuition or unsupported
opinion.
,3. Which step normally follows identification of a research problem?
A. Selecting participants randomly
B. Reviewing relevant literature
C. Reporting the results
D. Conducting statistical analysis
Answer: B
Rationale: A literature review helps researchers understand what is
already known and identify gaps that the study may address.
4. A research question primarily serves to:
A. Specify what the researcher intends to investigate
B. Guarantee a significant result
C. Determine the final sample size
D. Replace the literature review
Answer: A
Rationale: A research question defines the issue or relationship the
investigation is designed to address.
5. What is a hypothesis?
A. A confirmed scientific law
B. A tentative, testable prediction
C. A summary of research findings
D. A sampling procedure
Answer: B
,Rationale: A hypothesis is a testable prediction concerning expected
relationships or differences among variables.
6. Which hypothesis predicts that two variables are related without
specifying the direction?
A. Nondirectional hypothesis
B. Directional hypothesis
C. Null hypothesis
D. Statistical hypothesis
Answer: A
Rationale: A nondirectional hypothesis predicts a relationship or
difference but does not specify whether it will be positive or negative.
7. Which hypothesis predicts that an intervention will improve
counseling outcomes?
A. Nondirectional hypothesis
B. Directional hypothesis
C. Null hypothesis
D. Descriptive hypothesis
Answer: B
Rationale: The prediction specifies the expected direction—
improvement—making it directional.
8. What does the null hypothesis generally state?
, A. A relationship definitely exists
B. The researcher is correct
C. No statistically meaningful relationship or difference exists
D. The intervention must succeed
Answer: C
Rationale: The null hypothesis generally proposes that there is no
population relationship or difference of interest.
9. Which source provides a synthesis of previous research on a topic?
A. Literature review
B. Raw dataset
C. Consent form
D. Sampling frame
Answer: A
Rationale: A literature review synthesizes relevant prior scholarship
and helps establish the context for a study.
10. What is evidence-based practice?
A. Practice based exclusively on tradition
B. Practice integrating the best available evidence with professional
expertise and client considerations
C. Practice based only on statistical significance
D. Practice based exclusively on client preference
Answer: B
