RSE4801 ASSIGNMENT 1 COMPLETE ANSWERS
STUDY GUIDE 2025/2026 VERIFIED QUESTIONS AND
CORRECT SOLUTIONS || 100% GUARANTEED PASS
<LATEST VERSION>
Topic 1: Foundations of Educational Research
1. QUESTION: What is the primary purpose of educational research?
ANSWER: To systematically investigate educational issues, generate new knowledge, and
improve educational practices and policies.
2. QUESTION: Define 'epistemology' in the context of research.
ANSWER: Epistemology is the theory of knowledge, concerned with the nature, sources,
and limits of knowledge. It asks, "How do we know what we know?"
3. QUESTION: What is the key difference between basic and applied research?
ANSWER: Basic research aims to expand fundamental knowledge for its own sake, while
applied research seeks to solve practical, real-world problems.
4. QUESTION: What does 'ontology' refer to?
ANSWER: Ontology is the study of the nature of reality and existence (e.g., is reality
objective and singular, or subjective and multiple?).
,5. QUESTION: Which research paradigm is associated with a positivist worldview?
ANSWER: The quantitative research paradigm.
6. QUESTION: What is the main goal of an interpretivist/constructivist researcher?
ANSWER: To understand the multiple, subjective realities and meanings that people
construct in their lived experiences.
7. QUESTION: Define 'axiology' and its role in research.
ANSWER: Axiology is the study of values and ethics. In research, it addresses the role of
the researcher's values and the ethical considerations inherent in the research process.
8. QUESTION: What is a 'research problem'?
ANSWER: A clear, precise statement about an area of concern, a condition to be improved,
or a difficulty that needs to be eliminated, which forms the basis for the research.
9. QUESTION: What are the key components of a good research topic?
ANSWER: It should be feasible, clear, significant, ethical, and original (FCSEO).
10. QUESTION: Why is a literature review crucial in the early stages of research?
ANSWER: It helps to identify gaps in existing knowledge, avoids duplication of work, and
provides a theoretical foundation for the research.
Topic 2: Research Paradigms and Methodologies
, 11. QUESTION: What is a research paradigm?
ANSWER: A framework that guides how research should be conducted, based on shared
beliefs about ontology, epistemology, and methodology.
12. QUESTION: The statement "reality is objective and can be measured" aligns with
which paradigm?
ANSWER: Positivism/Post-positivism.
13. QUESTION: Which paradigm emphasizes collaboration and change for marginalized
groups?
ANSWER: The transformative paradigm (e.g., critical theory, feminist theory).
14. QUESTION: What is the primary methodology within the constructivist paradigm?
ANSWER: Qualitative methodology.
15. QUESTION: What is the main difference between methodology and methods?
ANSWER: Methodology is the overall strategy and rationale (the "why"), while methods
are the specific techniques for data collection and analysis (the "how").
16. QUESTION: A mixed-methods approach combines what two elements?
ANSWER: Quantitative and qualitative approaches within a single study.
17. QUESTION: What is pragmatism as a research paradigm?
ANSWER: Pragmatism focuses on the research problem and uses the most appropriate
methods to address it, valuing practical consequences and solutions.
STUDY GUIDE 2025/2026 VERIFIED QUESTIONS AND
CORRECT SOLUTIONS || 100% GUARANTEED PASS
<LATEST VERSION>
Topic 1: Foundations of Educational Research
1. QUESTION: What is the primary purpose of educational research?
ANSWER: To systematically investigate educational issues, generate new knowledge, and
improve educational practices and policies.
2. QUESTION: Define 'epistemology' in the context of research.
ANSWER: Epistemology is the theory of knowledge, concerned with the nature, sources,
and limits of knowledge. It asks, "How do we know what we know?"
3. QUESTION: What is the key difference between basic and applied research?
ANSWER: Basic research aims to expand fundamental knowledge for its own sake, while
applied research seeks to solve practical, real-world problems.
4. QUESTION: What does 'ontology' refer to?
ANSWER: Ontology is the study of the nature of reality and existence (e.g., is reality
objective and singular, or subjective and multiple?).
,5. QUESTION: Which research paradigm is associated with a positivist worldview?
ANSWER: The quantitative research paradigm.
6. QUESTION: What is the main goal of an interpretivist/constructivist researcher?
ANSWER: To understand the multiple, subjective realities and meanings that people
construct in their lived experiences.
7. QUESTION: Define 'axiology' and its role in research.
ANSWER: Axiology is the study of values and ethics. In research, it addresses the role of
the researcher's values and the ethical considerations inherent in the research process.
8. QUESTION: What is a 'research problem'?
ANSWER: A clear, precise statement about an area of concern, a condition to be improved,
or a difficulty that needs to be eliminated, which forms the basis for the research.
9. QUESTION: What are the key components of a good research topic?
ANSWER: It should be feasible, clear, significant, ethical, and original (FCSEO).
10. QUESTION: Why is a literature review crucial in the early stages of research?
ANSWER: It helps to identify gaps in existing knowledge, avoids duplication of work, and
provides a theoretical foundation for the research.
Topic 2: Research Paradigms and Methodologies
, 11. QUESTION: What is a research paradigm?
ANSWER: A framework that guides how research should be conducted, based on shared
beliefs about ontology, epistemology, and methodology.
12. QUESTION: The statement "reality is objective and can be measured" aligns with
which paradigm?
ANSWER: Positivism/Post-positivism.
13. QUESTION: Which paradigm emphasizes collaboration and change for marginalized
groups?
ANSWER: The transformative paradigm (e.g., critical theory, feminist theory).
14. QUESTION: What is the primary methodology within the constructivist paradigm?
ANSWER: Qualitative methodology.
15. QUESTION: What is the main difference between methodology and methods?
ANSWER: Methodology is the overall strategy and rationale (the "why"), while methods
are the specific techniques for data collection and analysis (the "how").
16. QUESTION: A mixed-methods approach combines what two elements?
ANSWER: Quantitative and qualitative approaches within a single study.
17. QUESTION: What is pragmatism as a research paradigm?
ANSWER: Pragmatism focuses on the research problem and uses the most appropriate
methods to address it, valuing practical consequences and solutions.
