Chapter 1 Test Item File
Sarah A. Marrs
Educational Research:
R
U
Fundamentals, Principles, and
SE
Methods
Eighth Edition
IS
O
N
James H. McMillan
N
O
C
ED
M
, Table of Contents
Chapter 1: Introduction to Research in Education.....................................................1
Learning Outcome Quizzes...........................................................................1
Application Exercises..................................................................................15
Test Items................................................................................................... 20
Test Answer Key.........................................................................................28
R
U
SE
IS
O
N
N
O
C
ED
M
Copyright © 2022 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
, Chapter 1: Introduction to Research in Education
Chapter 1 Learning Outcome Quizzes
Learning Outcome 1.1: Know how the purpose of research, finding the signal, is
influenced by noise that distorts what is reported.
[Q1]
Considering the signal and noise metaphor from Chapter 1, which of the following
represents “signal?”
R
1. Error
U
2. Deviation
3. True information [correct]
SE
4. Randomness
[Feedback for Answer Choice 1]
IS
Recall that the noise is composed of factors that drown out, distort, or dilute the signal.
Error serves to distract and is therefore considered noise.
O
[Feedback for Answer Choice 2]
N
Recall that the noise is composed of factors that drown out, distort, or dilute the signal.
Deviations cause difficulty for researchers and are considered noise.
N
[Feedback for Correct Answer 4]
O
The signal is what is correct, actual, and true. True information certainly falls into this
category.
C
[Feedback for Answer Choice 4]
ED
Recall that the noise is composed of factors that drown out, distort, or dilute the signal.
There is always the possibility that the results of a study are simply due to randomness,
which is why study replication is important.
M
[Q2]
Considering the signal and noise metaphor from Chapter 1, which of the following
represents “noise?”
1. Reality
2. Randomness [correct]
3. Actual relationship
1
Copyright © 2022 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
, 4. Accurate understanding
[Feedback for Answer Choice 1]
Recall that the signal is what is correct, actual, and true. When this definition is
considered, reality would be classified as “signal” and not “noise.”
[Feedback for Correct Answer 2]
Recall that “noise” is composed of factors that drown out, distort, or dilute the signal.
Randomness is always a possible reason for the occurrence of a set of data, and
therefore should be considered noise.
R
[Feedback for Answer Choice 3]
U
Recall that the signal is what is correct, actual, and true. When this definition is
considered, actual relationships would be classified as “signal” and not “noise.”
SE
[Feedback for Answer Choice 4]
Recall that the signal is what is correct, actual, and true. When this definition is
considered, accurate understanding would be classified as “signal” and not “noise.”
[Q3] IS
O
Which of the following represents the components of an observed finding?
N
1. Signal plus Noise [correct]
2. Signal
N
3. Noise
O
4. Either signal or noise
[Feedback for Correct Answer 1]
C
Observed findings in educational research are always the result of signal and noise.
ED
There are always variables that will be accurate and there will always be distractors. A
good researcher understands how to amplify the signal and drown out the noise.
[Feedback for Answer Choice 2]
M
Signal refers to what is correct, actual, and true, but this is not all that is included when
collecting data in educational research.
[Feedback for Answer Choice 3]
Noise refers to factors that drown out, distort, or dilute the signal. Therefore, observed
findings certainly do not consist of pure noise.
2
Copyright © 2022 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Sarah A. Marrs
Educational Research:
R
U
Fundamentals, Principles, and
SE
Methods
Eighth Edition
IS
O
N
James H. McMillan
N
O
C
ED
M
, Table of Contents
Chapter 1: Introduction to Research in Education.....................................................1
Learning Outcome Quizzes...........................................................................1
Application Exercises..................................................................................15
Test Items................................................................................................... 20
Test Answer Key.........................................................................................28
R
U
SE
IS
O
N
N
O
C
ED
M
Copyright © 2022 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
, Chapter 1: Introduction to Research in Education
Chapter 1 Learning Outcome Quizzes
Learning Outcome 1.1: Know how the purpose of research, finding the signal, is
influenced by noise that distorts what is reported.
[Q1]
Considering the signal and noise metaphor from Chapter 1, which of the following
represents “signal?”
R
1. Error
U
2. Deviation
3. True information [correct]
SE
4. Randomness
[Feedback for Answer Choice 1]
IS
Recall that the noise is composed of factors that drown out, distort, or dilute the signal.
Error serves to distract and is therefore considered noise.
O
[Feedback for Answer Choice 2]
N
Recall that the noise is composed of factors that drown out, distort, or dilute the signal.
Deviations cause difficulty for researchers and are considered noise.
N
[Feedback for Correct Answer 4]
O
The signal is what is correct, actual, and true. True information certainly falls into this
category.
C
[Feedback for Answer Choice 4]
ED
Recall that the noise is composed of factors that drown out, distort, or dilute the signal.
There is always the possibility that the results of a study are simply due to randomness,
which is why study replication is important.
M
[Q2]
Considering the signal and noise metaphor from Chapter 1, which of the following
represents “noise?”
1. Reality
2. Randomness [correct]
3. Actual relationship
1
Copyright © 2022 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
, 4. Accurate understanding
[Feedback for Answer Choice 1]
Recall that the signal is what is correct, actual, and true. When this definition is
considered, reality would be classified as “signal” and not “noise.”
[Feedback for Correct Answer 2]
Recall that “noise” is composed of factors that drown out, distort, or dilute the signal.
Randomness is always a possible reason for the occurrence of a set of data, and
therefore should be considered noise.
R
[Feedback for Answer Choice 3]
U
Recall that the signal is what is correct, actual, and true. When this definition is
considered, actual relationships would be classified as “signal” and not “noise.”
SE
[Feedback for Answer Choice 4]
Recall that the signal is what is correct, actual, and true. When this definition is
considered, accurate understanding would be classified as “signal” and not “noise.”
[Q3] IS
O
Which of the following represents the components of an observed finding?
N
1. Signal plus Noise [correct]
2. Signal
N
3. Noise
O
4. Either signal or noise
[Feedback for Correct Answer 1]
C
Observed findings in educational research are always the result of signal and noise.
ED
There are always variables that will be accurate and there will always be distractors. A
good researcher understands how to amplify the signal and drown out the noise.
[Feedback for Answer Choice 2]
M
Signal refers to what is correct, actual, and true, but this is not all that is included when
collecting data in educational research.
[Feedback for Answer Choice 3]
Noise refers to factors that drown out, distort, or dilute the signal. Therefore, observed
findings certainly do not consist of pure noise.
2
Copyright © 2022 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
