Test Bank for Understanding Research
Methods 10th Edition, by Mildred L. Patten,
Michelle Newhart
1
,Part A Introduction to Research Methods
Topic 1 Knowledge and Research Methods
1. What makes scientific knowledge different from other types of knowledge?
a. it is definite where other knowledge is uncertain
b. it is based in numbers instead of stories
c. it is collected systematically to minimize bias
d. there is no significant difference from other types of knowledge
Part: A
Topic: 1
Answer: c
2. In addition to making many decisions about how to conduct research, which of these must a
researcher also do when engaged in a research study?
a. document the decisions made
b. include a random sample
c. have a control group
d. prove that the hypothesis is right
Part: A
Topic: 1
Answer: a
3. Which of these statements captures the nature of scientific knowledge?
a. it often reflects the researchers’ personal opinions
b. it is not possible to generate through research in the social sciences
c. it is built from an accumulation of research findings from many studies
d. once it is established, it never changes
Part: A
Topic: 1
Answer: c
Topic 2 Empirical Research
4. Which of these is true of the empirical approach to knowledge?
a. it is used primarily in science, not everyday living
b. it is used primarily in everyday living, not in science
c. it is based on observation or experience
d. it is knowledge gained only from quantitative or experimental methods
Part: A
Topic: 2
Answer: c
2
, 5. Knowledge that is acquired based on observation, direct or indirect, or in other words, on
experience, is called:
a. theoretical
b. personal
c. empirical
d. qualitative
Part: A
Topic: 2
Answer: c
6. Researchers must plan to match their approach with their research question, in part because
research ideas are translated into:
a. observations
b. measures
c. biases
d. samples
Part: A
Topic: 2
Answer: b
7. Which type of research results are not reduced to numbers?
a. quantitative
b. qualitative
Part: A
Topic: 2
Correct answer: b
Topic 3 The Role of Theory in Research
8. Based on Topic 3, The Role of Theory in Research, which of these represent the relationship
between theory and research:
a. theory is completed before research
b. research is completed before theory
c. research and theory are independent
d. research and theory are interdependent
Part: A
Topic: 3
Correct answer: d
9. A unified explanation of observations is called:
a. correlation
3
Methods 10th Edition, by Mildred L. Patten,
Michelle Newhart
1
,Part A Introduction to Research Methods
Topic 1 Knowledge and Research Methods
1. What makes scientific knowledge different from other types of knowledge?
a. it is definite where other knowledge is uncertain
b. it is based in numbers instead of stories
c. it is collected systematically to minimize bias
d. there is no significant difference from other types of knowledge
Part: A
Topic: 1
Answer: c
2. In addition to making many decisions about how to conduct research, which of these must a
researcher also do when engaged in a research study?
a. document the decisions made
b. include a random sample
c. have a control group
d. prove that the hypothesis is right
Part: A
Topic: 1
Answer: a
3. Which of these statements captures the nature of scientific knowledge?
a. it often reflects the researchers’ personal opinions
b. it is not possible to generate through research in the social sciences
c. it is built from an accumulation of research findings from many studies
d. once it is established, it never changes
Part: A
Topic: 1
Answer: c
Topic 2 Empirical Research
4. Which of these is true of the empirical approach to knowledge?
a. it is used primarily in science, not everyday living
b. it is used primarily in everyday living, not in science
c. it is based on observation or experience
d. it is knowledge gained only from quantitative or experimental methods
Part: A
Topic: 2
Answer: c
2
, 5. Knowledge that is acquired based on observation, direct or indirect, or in other words, on
experience, is called:
a. theoretical
b. personal
c. empirical
d. qualitative
Part: A
Topic: 2
Answer: c
6. Researchers must plan to match their approach with their research question, in part because
research ideas are translated into:
a. observations
b. measures
c. biases
d. samples
Part: A
Topic: 2
Answer: b
7. Which type of research results are not reduced to numbers?
a. quantitative
b. qualitative
Part: A
Topic: 2
Correct answer: b
Topic 3 The Role of Theory in Research
8. Based on Topic 3, The Role of Theory in Research, which of these represent the relationship
between theory and research:
a. theory is completed before research
b. research is completed before theory
c. research and theory are independent
d. research and theory are interdependent
Part: A
Topic: 3
Correct answer: d
9. A unified explanation of observations is called:
a. correlation
3
