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A collection of questions and answers from a final exam for edf 5481, likely a course in educational research methods. It covers various research methodologies, including experimental, correlational, causal-comparative, and mixed-methods research. The document offers insights into key concepts and principles within these research approaches, providing a valuable resource for students preparing for similar exams.
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Why are control groups necessary in certain experiments? --------- CORRECT ANSWER-----------------To make it easier to estimate the influence of the independent variable Loss of subjects in a given experiment constitutes a probable threat to the internal validity of the study if: ---------CORRECT ANSWER-----------------a greater number are lost from one group than from the other(s) Which of the following can be present in an experimental study? --------- CORRECT ANSWER-----------------Random assignment and random selection Random assignment without random selection Random selection without random assignment Experimental research is the most powerful research method for: --------- CORRECT ANSWER-----------------determining cause and effect A major problem with experimental research in education is that: --------- CORRECT ANSWER-----------------the researcher may not have sufficient control over treatments
To do an experimental study of the effects of TV viewing, a researcher must: ---------CORRECT ANSWER-----------------arrange for some subjects to view more TV than others An important difference between experimental and nonexperimental research is that the independent variable in experimental research is: ------- --CORRECT ANSWER-----------------manipulated The primary defect of the one-shot case study is: ---------CORRECT ANSWER-----------------there is no way to tell whether the treatment had any effect The feature that best characterizes experimental research is the: --------- CORRECT ANSWER-----------------systematic variation of conditions One difference between the experimental and other methods in research has to do with the: ---------CORRECT ANSWER-----------------control of variables A regression line is used to: ---------CORRECT ANSWER----------------- estimate the score on one variable from the score on another variable Which is a probable threat to the internal validity of a correlational study? -- -------CORRECT ANSWER-----------------instrument decay
In which of the following would one be most likely to find a correlation coefficient of zero or close to zero? ---------CORRECT ANSWER--------------- --Shoe sizes of adult males correlated with their salaries Which of the following is not possible in causal-comparative research? ------ ---CORRECT ANSWER-----------------Random assignment to treatment or comparison groups A pitfall in most causal-comparative research studies is: ---------CORRECT ANSWER-----------------failure to define comparison groups carefully enough In a causal-comparative study, groups should be compared on: --------- CORRECT ANSWER-----------------those variables suggested by the researcher's rationale Evaluating specific threats to internal validity in a causal-comparative study involves all of the following except: ---------CORRECT ANSWER--------------- --determining whether each factor is controlled by random assignment The most threats to the internal validity of a causal-comparative study occur in: ---------CORRECT ANSWER-----------------studies exploring consequences of an intervention Causal-comparative studies are conducted when experimentation is: --------
Select which type of research is the most appropriate for the following question: Does alcoholism in a parent affect a child's self-esteem? --------- CORRECT ANSWER-----------------Causal-comparative research Mixed-method research refers to use of both: ---------CORRECT ANSWER- ----------------Quantitative and qualitative methods Select which type of research is the most appropriate for the following question: What are the characteristics of schools that have high morale? --- ------CORRECT ANSWER-----------------Ethnographic research Knowledge that is based on expert opinion: ---------CORRECT ANSWER---- -------------is limited by the expert's experience Select which type of research is the most appropriate for the following question: Do older college students have higher achievement? --------- CORRECT ANSWER-----------------Correlational research Select which type of research is the most appropriate for the following question: Do teachers of high school biology courses discuss ethical issues as a part of the biology curriculum? ---------CORRECT ANSWER-------------- ---Survey research The essential characteristic of the scientific method is: ---------CORRECT ANSWER-----------------its public nature
Which of the following statements can be checked by means of scientific inquiry? ---------CORRECT ANSWER-----------------The accident rate of driver education graduates is lower than the accident rate of those who have not had driver education. In conducting research, which of the following steps should generally be taken first? ---------CORRECT ANSWER-----------------Formulation of the problem to be solved Which of the following definitions of the term "aggressive behavior" is operational? ---------CORRECT ANSWER-----------------An "aggression" score on the XYZ behavior scale Justification for a study is generally based on the study's contribution: ------- --CORRECT ANSWER-----------------to general knowledge to professional practice to theory Which of the following is the most frequent error made by graduate students in education in formulating statements of the research problem? -- -------CORRECT ANSWER-----------------Selecting a problem that is too broad or too narrow Which of the following factors should not influence the decision when one is selecting a topic or problem for research? ---------CORRECT ANSWER------ -----------Will I be able to prove that my previously held beliefs are true?
The recommended sequence for reading primary sources is to read: --------- CORRECT ANSWER-----------------the most recent first Which of the following is the least effective example of search terms used to start a literature search on high school teaching methods: --------- CORRECT ANSWER-----------------effective instructional methods in American high schools Where should one look for a general summary of the research completed on "direct instruction"? ---------CORRECT ANSWER----------------- "Encyclopedia of Educational Research" A highly effective means of reducing the list of citations produced in a computer search is to: ---------CORRECT ANSWER-----------------instruct the computer to select only those fitting two or more descriptors When searching using general reference tools, the first step is to: --------- CORRECT ANSWER-----------------define the problem as precisely as possible Which of the following would not contain primary sources? --------- CORRECT ANSWER-----------------"Handbook of Research on Teaching" The Education Resources Information Center or ERIC is: ---------CORRECT ANSWER-----------------an online database of education research and information sponsored by the U.S. Department of Education
argue convincingly that the importance of the study justifies deception undeceive participants as soon as possible Which of the following does not qualify as being "exempt" from risk? --------- CORRECT ANSWER-----------------Signed questionnaires describing financial status Informed consent to serve as a subject in research requires signing a document that states: ---------CORRECT ANSWER-----------------the purpose of the study that the subject may end participation at any time the probable risks involved If a study involves risk to the participants, the researcher is not required to: ---------CORRECT ANSWER-----------------clarify all procedures to be used ahead of time Which of the following is not correct? ---------CORRECT ANSWER------------ -----The source of ideas always needs to be cited Which of the following groups are not protected by laws governing privileged communication? ---------CORRECT ANSWER----------------- Researchers Whether or not a given study has the possibility of causing harm to participants: ---------CORRECT ANSWER-----------------must be determined by a review board established by the sponsoring institution
Which of the following is likely to be of greatest value in formulating hypotheses for a scientific investigation? ---------CORRECT ANSWER------- ----------Clear indication of the variables involved Treating a variable such as "reading achievement" as a categorical variable: ---------CORRECT ANSWER-----------------Both A and B is consistent with what is known about the variable reduces the amount of information about the variable In a research investigation, constants are: ---------CORRECT ANSWER------ -----------none of the above Empirically testing a hypothesis is the process of determining: --------- CORRECT ANSWER-----------------if systematic observation confirms it Advantages of stating research questions as hypotheses include: --------- CORRECT ANSWER-----------------clarity persuasiveness efficiency When a hypothesis is confirmed, one should conclude that: --------- CORRECT ANSWER-----------------the data provide evidence favorable to the belief that the hypothesis is true
The most important feature of a table of random numbers is that: --------- CORRECT ANSWER-----------------there is no pattern to the numbers in the table In cluster random sampling: ---------CORRECT ANSWER----------------- existing groups are randomly selected In random sampling, it is necessarily true that: ---------CORRECT ANSWER-----------------each sampling unit has an equal probability of being selected Which of the following is not true of replication? ---------CORRECT ANSWER-----------------The study is repeated with the same subjects Random sampling is least effective when: ---------CORRECT ANSWER------ -----------the sample size is very small A purposive sample is used when: ---------CORRECT ANSWER----------------
How is "instrumentation" different from "instrument"? ---------CORRECT ANSWER-----------------Instrumentation includes the way in which the instrument is used A previously existing instrument: ---------CORRECT ANSWER----------------- may be inadequate for purposes of the researcher Which is an example of a subject-completed instrument? ---------CORRECT ANSWER-----------------Attitude scale Which is the most essential technique applied in studying a student's behavior? ---------CORRECT ANSWER-----------------Recording primarily the "whats" of the behavior observed Objectivity in research means: ---------CORRECT ANSWER----------------- minimizing personal bias Rapport is most essential when which data-gathering tool is used? --------- CORRECT ANSWER-----------------Interview The primary difficulty with rating scales is: ---------CORRECT ANSWER------ -----------the ambiguity of the points along the scale
Which of the following is not a means of assessing internal consistency? --- ------CORRECT ANSWER-----------------test-retest method Construct-related evidence of validity would be provided by: --------- CORRECT ANSWER-----------------favorable review by experts correlations with other variables as predicted demonstrating that scores are predictably changed by training Content-related evidence of validity would be provided by: --------- CORRECT ANSWER-----------------having experts review the test Reliability of measurement is concerned with: ---------CORRECT ANSWER- ----------------Consistency The longer the time interval between a prediction and the event to be predicted, the: ---------CORRECT ANSWER-----------------smaller are the chances of making a good prediction Internal validity often receives little attention in research proposals, perhaps because: ---------CORRECT ANSWER-----------------a study can be carried out without considering it
Which is the least-effective means of controlling data collector bias? --------- CORRECT ANSWER-----------------Using norm-referenced instruments Which threat would not apply to a correlational study? ---------CORRECT ANSWER-----------------History When the same questionnaire is scored for opinions on two or more topics, a threat to internal validity may exist because: ---------CORRECT ANSWER-----------------respondents may psych out the researcher's hypothesis Data collector characteristics may be a threat to internal validity if: --------- CORRECT ANSWER-----------------they are related to measurement of the dependent variable they are related to the independent variable more than one person collects the data in a study The threat of "subject characteristics" refers to differences among subjects on: ---------CORRECT ANSWER-----------------An extraneous variable Which of the following is a question of internal validity in experimental research? ---------CORRECT ANSWER-----------------Has maturation influenced the dependent variable?
In a normal distribution, +/-1 z-score includes about: ---------CORRECT ANSWER-----------------70% of the scores A high correlation coefficient would be obtained from a scatterplot whose points: ---------CORRECT ANSWER-----------------cluster around a line drawn from upper left to lower right If there are only a few very high scores and a large number of closely bunched low scores in a distribution: ---------CORRECT ANSWER------------- ----the mean will be higher than the median A scatterplot can be used only when: ---------CORRECT ANSWER------------ -----both variables are quantitative Which of the following sets of scores has the largest standard deviation? --- ------CORRECT ANSWER-----------------6, 11, 38, 55, 68 Establishing a 95% confidence interval enables a researcher to: --------- CORRECT ANSWER-----------------state the values that encompass the population parameters in 95% of such instances The purpose of inferential statistics is: ---------CORRECT ANSWER----------- ------to permit inferences from sample results to a population
A sample of 13 children has a mean IQ of 112 and a standard deviation of