Test Bank For Practical Research: Design and Process 13th Edition
Chapter 1: The Nature, Tools, and Ethics of Research
Chapter 1: The Nature, Tools, and Ethics of Research
Chapter 1 Learning Outcome Quizzes
Learning Objective 1.1. Distinguish between (a) common uses of the term
research that reflect misconceptions about what research involves and (b) the
true nature of research in academic and other institutional settings.
[Q1]
People use the term research to describe many processes that would not be considered
“true” research. Which one of the following activities is essential for all forms of research
as the book defines the term?
1. Reporting what previous researchers have discovered about a topic.
2. Locating relevant information in one or more published sources.
3. Exposing participants to a new treatment or experience.
4. Interpreting the data collected. [correct]
[Feedback for Answer Choice 1]
Beginning in the middle school grades, many children learn how to write “research
reports.” However, simply reporting other people’s findings does not constitute research
as the book defines the term.
[Feedback for Answer Choice 2]
In the book’s words, this activity is simply “rummaging around” for information that might
initially be hard to find.
[Feedback for Answer Choice 3]
This activity characterizes experimental research (to be discussed in Chapter 7) but is
not an element of many other kinds of research.
[Feedback for Correct Answer 4]
Yes, in true research, the researcher interprets the data by imposing meaning on them
and drawing one or more conclusions from them.
[Q2]
Which one of the following questions is the best example of a research question that
might drive a research study?
1. Are television commercials for automobile insurance more effective if they make
viewers laugh? [correct]
2. What is the best way to objectively assess the humorous content of a commercial for
car insurance?
1
,Test Bank For Practical Research: Design and Process 13th Edition
Chapter 1: The Nature, Tools, and Ethics of Research
3. How can I recruit good actors to play roles in a simulated automobile accident?
4. Which car insurance companies report the highest profit margins?
[Feedback for Correct Answer 1]
Yes, this question presumably involves collecting, analyzing, and interpreting new data.
[Feedback for Answer Choice 2]
This question might be better characterized as a methodological one that a researcher
needs to address prior to conducting a study.
[Feedback for Answer Choice 3]
This question is better answered by an experienced talent agent than by a researcher.
[Feedback for Answer Choice 4]
Answering this question simply involves rummaging around for information that has
presumably already been reported elsewhere.
[Q3]
In what key way are assumptions and hypotheses different in a research project?
1. Assumptions are typically rather abstract and vague. Hypotheses tend to be more
concrete and specific.
2. Assumptions are typically fairly concrete and specific. Hypotheses tend to be more
abstract and vague; they are often difficult to pin down in terms of their precise
meanings.
3. Assumptions are certain “givens” that a researcher takes for granted as being true.
Hypotheses are more speculative; they may or may not be true. [correct]
4. Assumptions are somewhat speculative in nature; they may or may not be true.
Hypotheses tend to be certain “givens” that a researcher takes for granted.
[Feedback for Answer Choice 1]
Many assumptions can easily be pinned down in concrete terms.
[Feedback for Answer Choice 2]
Hypotheses must be concrete and specific enough that they can be tested and either
supported or disconfirmed by data collected in a research study.
[Feedback for Correct Answer 3]
Yes, this is an accurate statement about the difference between the two concepts.
[Feedback for Answer Choice 4]
The reverse is actually true.
[Q4]
2
,Test Bank For Practical Research: Design and Process 13th Edition
Chapter 1: The Nature, Tools, and Ethics of Research
A researcher wants to find out what particular characteristics of poetry are likely to
evoke strong emotional reactions in people. In addressing this topic, the researcher
plans to present five poems by five different poets and interview people about the ways
in which each poem makes them feel. What kind of research study is this most likely to
be?
1. A mixed-methods study
2. A quantitative study
3. An action research study
4. A qualitative study [correct]
[Feedback for Answer Choice 1]
Quantitative data—numbers of one sort or another—are unlikely to play much of a role
in this study.
[Feedback for Answer Choice 2]
Quantitative data—numbers of one sort or another—are unlikely to play much of a role
in this study.
[Feedback for Answer Choice 3]
Action research is conducted as a means of identifying and ultimately implementing
some activity that is likely to benefit one or more individuals over the short and/or long
run. No such activity is planned in this situation.
[Feedback for Correct Answer 4]
Yes, the researcher will have to evaluate various qualities of each poem and also
evaluate the content of participants’ responses with some degree of subjectivity.
[Q5]
A researcher conducts a telephone survey in which people are asked which one of
three candidates for a government office they are likely to vote for. What kind of
research study is this most likely to be?
1. A mixed-methods study
2. A quantitative study [correct]
3. An action research study
4. A qualitative study
[Feedback for Answer Choice 1]
The researcher will only be ascertaining certain numbers or percentages of people
voting for a particular candidate.
[Feedback for Correct Answer 2]
3
, Test Bank For Practical Research: Design and Process 13th Edition
Chapter 1: The Nature, Tools, and Ethics of Research
Yes, the researcher is collecting quantitative data—in this case, the numbers of people
who will probably be voting for each candidate.
[Feedback for Answer Choice 3]
Action research is conducted as a means of identifying and ultimately implementing
some activity that is likely to benefit one or more individuals over the short and/or long
run. No such activity is planned in this situation.
[Feedback for Answer Choice 4]
The researcher will only be ascertaining certain numbers or percentages of people
voting for a particular candidate.
Learning Objective 1.2. Distinguish among different philosophical orientations
that might underlie various kinds of research endeavors.
[Q1]
Which one of the following alternatives best describes a pragmatist orientation in
research?
1. “Reality” is largely a body of knowledge and understandings that researchers and
other individuals personally or socially create.
2. Certain absolute truths about a phenomenon may exist, but people’s self-
constructed perceptions of reality are also worthy of study. [correct]
3. People can have differing perceptions of and feelings about seemingly very similar
experiences.
4. Cause-and-effect relationships can never be shown to be definitely true, but a
researcher can convincingly demonstrate that they are highly likely to be true.
[Feedback for Answer Choice 1]
This alternative better describes a constructivist orientation.
[Feedback for Correct Answer 2]
Yes, a pragmatist orientation is characterized by the belief that both actual cause-and-
effect relationships and people’s personal, subjective experiences and beliefs are
legitimate focuses of study.
[Feedback for Answer Choice 3]
This alternative better describes a phenomenological orientation.
[Feedback for Answer Choice 4]
This alternative better describes a postpositivist orientation.
[Q2]
Which one of the following alternatives best describes a transformativist orientation in
research?
4
Chapter 1: The Nature, Tools, and Ethics of Research
Chapter 1: The Nature, Tools, and Ethics of Research
Chapter 1 Learning Outcome Quizzes
Learning Objective 1.1. Distinguish between (a) common uses of the term
research that reflect misconceptions about what research involves and (b) the
true nature of research in academic and other institutional settings.
[Q1]
People use the term research to describe many processes that would not be considered
“true” research. Which one of the following activities is essential for all forms of research
as the book defines the term?
1. Reporting what previous researchers have discovered about a topic.
2. Locating relevant information in one or more published sources.
3. Exposing participants to a new treatment or experience.
4. Interpreting the data collected. [correct]
[Feedback for Answer Choice 1]
Beginning in the middle school grades, many children learn how to write “research
reports.” However, simply reporting other people’s findings does not constitute research
as the book defines the term.
[Feedback for Answer Choice 2]
In the book’s words, this activity is simply “rummaging around” for information that might
initially be hard to find.
[Feedback for Answer Choice 3]
This activity characterizes experimental research (to be discussed in Chapter 7) but is
not an element of many other kinds of research.
[Feedback for Correct Answer 4]
Yes, in true research, the researcher interprets the data by imposing meaning on them
and drawing one or more conclusions from them.
[Q2]
Which one of the following questions is the best example of a research question that
might drive a research study?
1. Are television commercials for automobile insurance more effective if they make
viewers laugh? [correct]
2. What is the best way to objectively assess the humorous content of a commercial for
car insurance?
1
,Test Bank For Practical Research: Design and Process 13th Edition
Chapter 1: The Nature, Tools, and Ethics of Research
3. How can I recruit good actors to play roles in a simulated automobile accident?
4. Which car insurance companies report the highest profit margins?
[Feedback for Correct Answer 1]
Yes, this question presumably involves collecting, analyzing, and interpreting new data.
[Feedback for Answer Choice 2]
This question might be better characterized as a methodological one that a researcher
needs to address prior to conducting a study.
[Feedback for Answer Choice 3]
This question is better answered by an experienced talent agent than by a researcher.
[Feedback for Answer Choice 4]
Answering this question simply involves rummaging around for information that has
presumably already been reported elsewhere.
[Q3]
In what key way are assumptions and hypotheses different in a research project?
1. Assumptions are typically rather abstract and vague. Hypotheses tend to be more
concrete and specific.
2. Assumptions are typically fairly concrete and specific. Hypotheses tend to be more
abstract and vague; they are often difficult to pin down in terms of their precise
meanings.
3. Assumptions are certain “givens” that a researcher takes for granted as being true.
Hypotheses are more speculative; they may or may not be true. [correct]
4. Assumptions are somewhat speculative in nature; they may or may not be true.
Hypotheses tend to be certain “givens” that a researcher takes for granted.
[Feedback for Answer Choice 1]
Many assumptions can easily be pinned down in concrete terms.
[Feedback for Answer Choice 2]
Hypotheses must be concrete and specific enough that they can be tested and either
supported or disconfirmed by data collected in a research study.
[Feedback for Correct Answer 3]
Yes, this is an accurate statement about the difference between the two concepts.
[Feedback for Answer Choice 4]
The reverse is actually true.
[Q4]
2
,Test Bank For Practical Research: Design and Process 13th Edition
Chapter 1: The Nature, Tools, and Ethics of Research
A researcher wants to find out what particular characteristics of poetry are likely to
evoke strong emotional reactions in people. In addressing this topic, the researcher
plans to present five poems by five different poets and interview people about the ways
in which each poem makes them feel. What kind of research study is this most likely to
be?
1. A mixed-methods study
2. A quantitative study
3. An action research study
4. A qualitative study [correct]
[Feedback for Answer Choice 1]
Quantitative data—numbers of one sort or another—are unlikely to play much of a role
in this study.
[Feedback for Answer Choice 2]
Quantitative data—numbers of one sort or another—are unlikely to play much of a role
in this study.
[Feedback for Answer Choice 3]
Action research is conducted as a means of identifying and ultimately implementing
some activity that is likely to benefit one or more individuals over the short and/or long
run. No such activity is planned in this situation.
[Feedback for Correct Answer 4]
Yes, the researcher will have to evaluate various qualities of each poem and also
evaluate the content of participants’ responses with some degree of subjectivity.
[Q5]
A researcher conducts a telephone survey in which people are asked which one of
three candidates for a government office they are likely to vote for. What kind of
research study is this most likely to be?
1. A mixed-methods study
2. A quantitative study [correct]
3. An action research study
4. A qualitative study
[Feedback for Answer Choice 1]
The researcher will only be ascertaining certain numbers or percentages of people
voting for a particular candidate.
[Feedback for Correct Answer 2]
3
, Test Bank For Practical Research: Design and Process 13th Edition
Chapter 1: The Nature, Tools, and Ethics of Research
Yes, the researcher is collecting quantitative data—in this case, the numbers of people
who will probably be voting for each candidate.
[Feedback for Answer Choice 3]
Action research is conducted as a means of identifying and ultimately implementing
some activity that is likely to benefit one or more individuals over the short and/or long
run. No such activity is planned in this situation.
[Feedback for Answer Choice 4]
The researcher will only be ascertaining certain numbers or percentages of people
voting for a particular candidate.
Learning Objective 1.2. Distinguish among different philosophical orientations
that might underlie various kinds of research endeavors.
[Q1]
Which one of the following alternatives best describes a pragmatist orientation in
research?
1. “Reality” is largely a body of knowledge and understandings that researchers and
other individuals personally or socially create.
2. Certain absolute truths about a phenomenon may exist, but people’s self-
constructed perceptions of reality are also worthy of study. [correct]
3. People can have differing perceptions of and feelings about seemingly very similar
experiences.
4. Cause-and-effect relationships can never be shown to be definitely true, but a
researcher can convincingly demonstrate that they are highly likely to be true.
[Feedback for Answer Choice 1]
This alternative better describes a constructivist orientation.
[Feedback for Correct Answer 2]
Yes, a pragmatist orientation is characterized by the belief that both actual cause-and-
effect relationships and people’s personal, subjective experiences and beliefs are
legitimate focuses of study.
[Feedback for Answer Choice 3]
This alternative better describes a phenomenological orientation.
[Feedback for Answer Choice 4]
This alternative better describes a postpositivist orientation.
[Q2]
Which one of the following alternatives best describes a transformativist orientation in
research?
4
