Research midterm multiple choice
Which of the following does NOT describe action research?
A. It is a systematic inquiry conducted by teachers, administrators, counselors, or others with a vested
interest in the teaching and learning process.
B. It depends exclusively on the collection and analysis of numerical data (e.g., test scores, opinion
ratings, attitude scales).
C. It is research that is done by teachers for themselves.
D. It focuses specifically on the unique characteristics of the population with whom a practice is
employed or with whom some action must be taken. - ANSWER- B. It depends exclusively on the
collection and analysis of numerical data (e.g., test scores, opinion ratings, attitude scales).
Which of the following is NOT true about qualitative research methods?
a. Begins with specific observations and concludes with broader generalizations and theories
b. Begins with specific observations (data), notes any patterns in those data, formulates one or more
tentative hypotheses, and finally develops general conclusions and theories
c. The purpose may be to provide a "thick description" of what is going on in the particular setting being
studied.
d. Employs deductive reasoning - ANSWER- d. Employs deductive reasoning
Action research is considered important because it addresses which of the following issues?
a. The gap between educational theory and practice
b. The improvement of educational practice through reflective thinking
c. Teacher empowerment through teacher decision making
d. All of the above - ANSWER- d. All of the above
Which of the following qualitative research designs should be used for in-depth studies of individual
programs, activities, people, or groups?
a. Grounded theory research
b. Phenomenological studies
c. Ethnographic research
, d. Case studies - ANSWER- d. Case studies
Suppose a reading teacher wanted to determine whether students performed better when taught using
phonics approach versus a whole language approach. He randomly assigns half of his classes to be
taught using phonics and the other half to be taught using whole language. The independent variable
would be which of the following?
a. The whole language approach
b. Type of instruction
c. Dependent upon to which group a student is assigned
d. The teacher - ANSWER- b. Type of instruction
Which of the following qualitative research designs should be used to describe social interactions
between people in group settings?
a. Grounded theory research
b. Case studies
c. Phenomenological studies
d. Ethnographic research - ANSWER- d. Ethnographic research
Which of the following statements is NOT true about collaborative action research (CAR)?
a. CAR can lead to more systemic improvements in education.
b. CAR is conducted by 2 or more practitioners in a setting
c. One weakness of CAR is the competing perspectives of the collaborators. Ideally, all collaborators
should agree about everything
d. Administrators can be an important part of CAR. - ANSWER- c. One weakness of CAR is the competing
perspectives of the collaborators. Ideally, all collaborators should agree about everything
Which of the following statements is true about traditional research in education?
a. Is generally done by teachers for themselves
b. Almost always uses qualitative approaches
c. Researchers in education are studying people, settings, or programs with which they are seldom
personally involved
Which of the following does NOT describe action research?
A. It is a systematic inquiry conducted by teachers, administrators, counselors, or others with a vested
interest in the teaching and learning process.
B. It depends exclusively on the collection and analysis of numerical data (e.g., test scores, opinion
ratings, attitude scales).
C. It is research that is done by teachers for themselves.
D. It focuses specifically on the unique characteristics of the population with whom a practice is
employed or with whom some action must be taken. - ANSWER- B. It depends exclusively on the
collection and analysis of numerical data (e.g., test scores, opinion ratings, attitude scales).
Which of the following is NOT true about qualitative research methods?
a. Begins with specific observations and concludes with broader generalizations and theories
b. Begins with specific observations (data), notes any patterns in those data, formulates one or more
tentative hypotheses, and finally develops general conclusions and theories
c. The purpose may be to provide a "thick description" of what is going on in the particular setting being
studied.
d. Employs deductive reasoning - ANSWER- d. Employs deductive reasoning
Action research is considered important because it addresses which of the following issues?
a. The gap between educational theory and practice
b. The improvement of educational practice through reflective thinking
c. Teacher empowerment through teacher decision making
d. All of the above - ANSWER- d. All of the above
Which of the following qualitative research designs should be used for in-depth studies of individual
programs, activities, people, or groups?
a. Grounded theory research
b. Phenomenological studies
c. Ethnographic research
, d. Case studies - ANSWER- d. Case studies
Suppose a reading teacher wanted to determine whether students performed better when taught using
phonics approach versus a whole language approach. He randomly assigns half of his classes to be
taught using phonics and the other half to be taught using whole language. The independent variable
would be which of the following?
a. The whole language approach
b. Type of instruction
c. Dependent upon to which group a student is assigned
d. The teacher - ANSWER- b. Type of instruction
Which of the following qualitative research designs should be used to describe social interactions
between people in group settings?
a. Grounded theory research
b. Case studies
c. Phenomenological studies
d. Ethnographic research - ANSWER- d. Ethnographic research
Which of the following statements is NOT true about collaborative action research (CAR)?
a. CAR can lead to more systemic improvements in education.
b. CAR is conducted by 2 or more practitioners in a setting
c. One weakness of CAR is the competing perspectives of the collaborators. Ideally, all collaborators
should agree about everything
d. Administrators can be an important part of CAR. - ANSWER- c. One weakness of CAR is the competing
perspectives of the collaborators. Ideally, all collaborators should agree about everything
Which of the following statements is true about traditional research in education?
a. Is generally done by teachers for themselves
b. Almost always uses qualitative approaches
c. Researchers in education are studying people, settings, or programs with which they are seldom
personally involved
