Mertler InstructorResource
IntroductiontoEducationalResearch Chapter2
MultipleChoice:45questions
Directions:Chooseallthatapply.
Correctresponsesaremarkedwithanasterisk(*).
1.AccordingtoChapter2,howmanystepsarethereintheeducationalresearchprocess?
a.Six
b.Seven
*c.Eight
d.Nine
Cognitivedomain:Knowledge
Answerlocation:OverviewoftheEducationalResearchProcess(Introduction)
Questiontype:MC
2.Theeducationalresearchprocessis
*a.cyclical.
b.linear.
c.divergent.
d.redundant.
Cognitivedomain:Knowledge
Answerlocation:OverviewoftheEducationalResearchProcess(Introduction) Questiontype:MC
3.Whichofthefollowingmayinfluenceandguidesubsequentstudies?
*a.Outcomes
*b.Results
c.Researchparadigms
d.Researchtimelines
Cognitivedomain:Knowledge
Answerlocation:OverviewoftheEducationalResearchProcess(Introduction) Questiontype:MC
4.Decidingexactlywhattostudyisthe
*a.firststepintheeducationalresearchprocess.
b.secondstepintheeducationalresearchprocess.
c.thirdstepintheeducationalresearchprocess.
d.laststepintheeducationalresearchprocess.
Cognitivedomain:Comprehension
Answerlocation:IdentifyingandLimitingaResearchTopicorProblem
Questiontype:MC
5.Topicsforeducationalresearchshouldbeofinteresttotheresearcherbecause a.heorshehasexperiencein/relatedtotheresearchtopicarea.
*b.conductingaresearchstudyisasubstantialinvestment.
c.familiartopicsareeasiesttomanage.
d.conductingaresearchstudyisnotasubstantialinvestment.
Mertler InstructorResource
IntroductiontoEducationalResearch Chapter2
Cognitivedomain:Comprehension
Answerlocation:IdentifyingandLimitingaResearchTopicorProblem Questiontype:MC
6.Thereisnothingmoreimportantintermsofidentifyinganinitialtopicforresearchthan a.afeasibletimeline.
b.areasonablebudget.
c.researchertraining.
*d.anexistingneed.
Cognitivedomain:Knowledge
Answerlocation:IdentifyingandLimitingaResearchTopicorProblem Questiontype:MC
7.Priorresearchonatopicmayillustratewhichofthefollowingforanewstudy?
a.Afeasibletimeline
b.Areasonablebudget
c.Researchertraining
*d.Anexistingneed
Cognitivedomain:Knowledge
Answerlocation:IdentifyingandLimitingaResearchTopicorProblem Questiontype:MC
8.Toverifythattheresearchtopicisagenuineproblem,
a.theresearchermustprovidearationaleforeachstepintheresearchprocess.
b.theresearchermustcarefullyfolloweachstepintheresearchprocess.
*c.theresearchermustprovidearationaleforthestudybasedontheliterature.
d.Bothaandc
Cognitivedomain:Comprehension
Answerlocation:IdentifyingandLimitingaResearchTopicorProblem Questiontype:MC
9.Theidentification,specification,andarticulationoftheresearchproblememergesfrom a.theresearcher’sexpertise.
b.followingthestepsintheprocessofconductingeducationalresearch.
c.primarysources.
*d.theliteraturereview.
Cognitivedomain:Comprehension
Answerlocation:IdentifyingandLimitingaResearchTopicorProblem Questiontype:MC
10.Whichofthefollowingcanbehelpfulforconductinganeducationalresearchstudy?
a.Consideringthestudy’smanageabilityandtimecommitmentinvolved
b.Exposuretoandfamiliaritywithvariousresearchdesigns
*c.Bothaandb
d.Noneoftheabove
Cognitivedomain:Knowledge
Mertler InstructorResource
IntroductiontoEducationalResearch Chapter2
Answerlocation:IdentifyingandLimitingaResearchTopicorProblem Questiontype:MC
11.Whichofthefollowingguidestheresearchstudy?
*a.Carefullywordingtheresearchquestion(s)
b.Carefullymanagingthestatedtimeline
c.Carefullymanagingthestatedoutline
d.Carefullyfollowingalldirectionsforconductingaresearchstudy
Cognitivedomain:Comprehension
Answerlocation:FormallyStatingandRefiningResearchQuestions
Questiontype:MC
12.Inaresearchstudy,whatmustmatchthedatacollectedbytheresearcher?
a.Timeallottedfordatacollection
*b.Theresearchquestion
c.Timeallottedfordataanalysis
d.Alloftheabove
Cognitivedomain:Comprehension
Answerlocation:FormallyStatingandRefiningResearchQuestions
Questiontype:MC
13.“Relatedliterature”isimportantforresearchstudiesbecause
a.thisiswhattheresearcherwillreview.
b.thisiswhattheresearcherwillcite.
c.thisiswhattheresearcherwillsynthesize.
*d.Alloftheabove.
Cognitivedomain:Comprehension
Answerlocation:ReviewingExistingLiteratureRelatedtotheProblem Questiontype:MC
14.Thecriteriaforjudgingsourcesofliteratureareimportantbecause
*a.theyserveasanoverallguidefortheresearchertoevaluategoodpractice.
b.theyprovideaverydetailedguidefortheresearchertoevaluaterelevance.
c.Bothaandb
d.Noneoftheabove
Cognitivedomain:Comprehension
Answerlocation:ReviewingExistingLiteratureRelatedtotheProblem Questiontype:MC
15.Typesofrelatedliteraturetoreviewinclude
*a.primarysources.
*b.secondarysources.
c.interpretivesources.
d.Alloftheabove.
Cognitivedomain:Knowledge
Answerlocation:ReviewingExistingLiteratureRelatedtotheProblem
Mertler InstructorResource
IntroductiontoEducationalResearch Chapter2
Questiontype:MC
16.Whencompilingandsynthesizingliterature,itisimportanttorememberthat a.allresearchtopicsaresimilarinmostways. b.allresearchtopicsaresimilarinmanyways.
*c.allresearchtopicsaredifferent.
d.Noneoftheabove
Cognitivedomain:Comprehension
Answerlocation:WritingaLiteratureReview
Questiontype:MC
17.The“magicformula”forwritingaliteraturereviewincludes a.asoundresearchdesign.
b.bestpracticesineducationalresearch.
c.onlyprimarysourcesofliterature.
*d.Noneoftheabove.
Cognitivedomain:Comprehension
Answerlocation:WritingaLiteratureReview
Questiontype:MC
18.WhichofthefollowingisNOTnecessarytobegindevelopingaresearchplan?
a.Tospecifytheresearchproblem
b.Todevelopresearchquestions
*c.Tospecifyhowastudywillbeconducted
d.Noneoftheabove
Cognitivedomain:Comprehension
Answerlocation:DevelopingaResearchPlan
Questiontype:MC
19.Itisimportantforresearcherstoknow____________because_______________
*a.whatdatawillbecollected;theresearcherisresponsibleforallaspectsofthestudy.
*b.howandwhendatawillbecollected;theresearchermakesthesedecisions.
c.alltheparticipantsinthestudy;theresearcherisresponsibleforallaspectsofthestudy.
d.Noneoftheabove
Cognitivedomain:Application
Answerlocation:DevelopingaResearchPlan
Questiontype:MC
20.Datacollectedintheresearchstudy
a.arecostlyfortheresearchertopurchase.
*b.mustmatchtheresearchquestions.
c.typicallyrequiretransformation.
d.Noneoftheabove
Cognitivedomain:Comprehension
Answerlocation:DevelopingaResearchPlan
Questiontype:MC
Mertler InstructorResource
IntroductiontoEducationalResearch Chapter2
21.Researcherscollectdatathroughvariousformats;fieldnotesandpolicymanualsare a.interviewsandexistingdocuments.
b.existingdocumentsandobservations.
*c.observationsandexistingdocuments.
d.existingdocumentsandinterviews.
Cognitivedomain:Comprehension
Answerlocation:ImplementingtheResearchPlanandCollectingData
Questiontype:MC
22.Researcherscollectdatathroughvariousformats;attendancerecordsandjournalsare a.interviewsandexistingdocuments.
*b.existingdocumentsandobservations.
c.observationsandexistingdocuments.
d.existingdocumentsandinterviews.
Cognitivedomain:Comprehension
Answerlocation:ImplementingtheResearchPlanandCollectingData
Questiontype:MC
23.Researcherscollectdatathroughvariousformats;questionnairesandstudent portfoliosare
*a.interviewsandexistingdocuments.
b.existingdocumentsandobservations.
c.observationsandexistingdocuments.
d.existingdocumentsandinterviews.
Cognitivedomain:Comprehension
Answerlocation:ImplementingtheResearchPlanandCollectingData
Questiontype:MC
24.Thefirst—andarguablythemostcritical—decisionforanyeducationalresearchstudy is____________.
a.exactly when tobeginthestudy
b.exactly when toendthestudy
*c.exactly what tostudy
d.exactly how toselectparticipants
Cognitivedomain:Comprehension
Answerlocation:IdentifyingandLimitingaResearchTopicorProblem
Questiontype:MC
25.Thereislikelynothingmoreimportantintermsofidentifyinganinitialresearchtopic thananexisting_________.
a.hypothesis
*b.need
c.study
d.journalarticle
Cognitivedomain:Comprehension
Mertler InstructorResource
IntroductiontoEducationalResearch Chapter2
Answerlocation:IdentifyingandLimitingaResearchTopicorProblem Questiontype:MC
26.The majority ofevidencethatincludesthejustificationandrationaleforwhyaresearch topicisworthyofbeingstudiedwillbefoundinthe____________.
*a.bodyofrelatedresearchliterature
b.conclusion
c.results
d.introduction
Cognitivedomain:Comprehension
Answerlocation:IdentifyingandLimitingaResearchTopicorProblem Questiontype:MC
27.Thebasicgoalofnearlyallresearchstudiesisto a.findanswerstoquestions.
b.helpexplainandunderstandsomeeducationalphenomenon.
c.askquestionsaboutstudents.
*d.Bothaandb
Cognitivedomain:Comprehension
Answerlocation:IdentifyingandLimitingaResearchTopicorProblem Questiontype:MC
28.Oncetheresearchtopicorproblemhasbeenclearlyidentified,thenextstepisto a.conductaliteraturereview.
b.identifypotentialexpenses.
c.writeahypothesisorhypotheses.
*d.formallystateoneormoreresearchquestions.
Cognitivedomain:Application
Answerlocation:FormallyStatingandRefiningResearchQuestion(s) Questiontype:MC
29.“____________”canbelooselydefinedasanyexistingsourceofinformationthatsheds lightonthetopicunderinvestigation.
a.Reproducibleliterature
*b.Relatedliterature
c.Reiteratedliterature
d.Recycledliterature
Cognitivedomain:Knowledge
Answerlocation:ReviewingExistingLiteratureRelatedtotheProblem Questiontype:MC
30.Review-relatedliteratureisacriticalpartofanyresearchstudybecauseitcaninform somanyaspects,including
a.developmentoftheresearchquestions.
b.determinationofresearchdesignsandmethodologies.
c.thespecificationoftheproblem.
Mertler InstructorResource
IntroductiontoEducationalResearch Chapter2
*d.Alloftheabove.
Cognitivedomain:Comprehension
Answerlocation:ReviewingExistingLiteratureRelatedtotheProblem
Questiontype:MC
31.Whichofthefollowingprovidethenecessarygroundworktobegindevelopingaplanto conductaneducationalresearchstudy?
*a.Specificationoftheresearchproblem,developmentofresearchquestions,anda thoroughreviewoftheexistingbodyofliterature
b.Specificationoftheresearchproblemanddevelopmentofresearchquestions
c.Specificationoftheresearchproblemandathoroughreviewoftheexistingbodyof literature
d.Determiningone’sowninterestswithinthefieldofeducation
Cognitivedomain:Knowledge
Answerlocation:DevelopingaResearchPlan
Questiontype:MC
32.Whichofthefollowingwillhelparesearcherspecifyexactly how astudywillbe conducted?
*a.Howwillthequalityofdatabeensured?
*b.Willthedatabequalitative,quantitative,orboth?
c.DoI(theresearcher)haveaninterestinthisparticulartopic?
d.Howastudywillbeconductedcannotbedeterminedpriortoconductingtheresearch study.
Cognitivedomain:Comprehension
Answerlocation:DevelopingaResearchPlan
Questiontype:MC
33.____________datacanbecollectedthroughtheuseoffieldnotes,journals,oreven videotaping.
a.Questionnaire
b.Examination
*c.Observational
d.Existing
Cognitivedomain:Knowledge
Answerlocation:ImplementingtheResearchPlanandCollectingData
Questiontype:MC
34.____________canbeusedtoaskindividualsabouttheirpersonalopinionsorperspectives onsomeaspectoftheeducationalprocessunderinvestigation.
a.Questionnaires
b.Ratingscales
c.Surveys
*d.Bothaandc
Cognitivedomain:Knowledge
Answerlocation:ImplementingtheResearchPlanandCollectingData
Mertler InstructorResource
IntroductiontoEducationalResearch Chapter2
Questiontype:MC
35.____________mightincludeattendancerecords,minutesoffacultymeetings,policy manuals,andstudentportfolios.
a.Constantdata
b.Observations
c.Questionnaires
*d.Existingdocuments
Cognitivedomain:Knowledge
Answerlocation:ImplementingtheResearchPlanandCollectingData
Questiontype:MC
36.In____________researchstudies,dataanalysistypicallyoccursfollowingthecompletion of all datacollection.
a.qualitative
*b.quantitative
c.mixed-methods
d.Bothaandb
Cognitivedomain:Comprehension
Answerlocation:AnalyzingtheData
Questiontype:MC
37.____________analysisofdataisaveryobjectiveprocess,and____________analysisofdatais ahighlysubjectiveprocess.
a.Qualitative;quantitative
b.Ethnographic;phenomenological
c.Phenomenological;ethnographic
*d.Quantitative;qualitative
Cognitivedomain:Analysis
Answerlocation:AnalyzingtheData
Questiontype:MC
38.In____________researchstudies,dataanalysis,typically,begins during datacollection, continuesthroughoutthe remainder oftheprocessofcollectingdata,andiscompleted following datacollection.
*a.qualitative
b.quantitative
c.mixed-methods
d.Bothaandb
Cognitivedomain:Comprehension
Answerlocation:AnalyzingtheData
Questiontype:MC
39.Oncethedataanalysishasbeencompleted,theresearcherhastheresponsibilityof formallyandsuccinctlystatingthe____________,whichprovidestheanswerstotheoriginally statedresearchquestion(s).
Mertler InstructorResource
IntroductiontoEducationalResearch Chapter2
a.results
b.findings
c.conclusions
d.Alloftheabove
Cognitivedomain:Knowledge
Answerlocation:StatingFindings,Conclusions,andRecommendationsinaWritten ResearchReport
Questiontype:MC
40.Howtheresearchstudywillactuallybeconductedisknownasthe____________.
a.executiveplan
b.researchplan
*c.researchmethod
d.executivemethod
Cognitivedomain:Knowledge
Answerlocation:Chapter2Summary
Questiontype:MC
41.Whichofthefollowingisamethodofdatacollection?
a.Articleanalyses
*b.Observation
c.Counting
d.Noneoftheabove
Cognitivedomain:Application
Answerlocation:Chapter2Summary
Questiontype:MC
42.Analysisofdatain____________studiesinvolvesbothkindsofdataanalysisand essentiallymergestheresults.
a.immersion
*b.mixed-methods
c.dual
d.engagement
Cognitivedomain:Comprehension
Answerlocation:Chapter2Summary
Questiontype:MC
43.Thepurposebehindstatingconclusionsandrecommendationsistotaketheanswersto theresearchquestionsandcontextualizethemwithrespectto____________.
a.oppositefieldsofstudy
b.systemsofeducationintheirparticularstate
c.thelocalcommunity
*d.thebroaderfieldofeducation
Cognitivedomain:Analysis
Answerlocation:Chapter2Summary
Questiontype:MC
Mertler InstructorResource
IntroductiontoEducationalResearch Chapter2
44.____________dataanalysisinvolvesstatisticaltechniquesandistypicallyaccomplished usingstatisticalanalysissoftware.
*a.Quantitative
b.Qualitative
c.Mixed-methods
d.Bothaandb
Cognitivedomain:Knowledge
Answerlocation:Chapter2Summary
Questiontype:MC
45.____________dataanalysisisaninductiveprocessthatmustbefacilitatedinthemindof theresearcher.
a.Quantitative
*b.Qualitative
c.Mixed-methods
d.Bothaandb
Cognitivedomain:Knowledge
Answerlocation:Chapter2Summary
Questiontype:MC
True/False:15questions
Directions:Selecttheaccurateresponse.
Correctresponsesaremarkedwithanasterisk(*).
1.Futureresearchalwaysmakesacontributiontothebodyofresearchinaparticularfield ofstudy.
a.True
*b.False
Cognitivedomain:Comprehension
Answerlocation:IdentifyingandLimitingaResearchTopicorProblem
Questiontype:TF
2.Ifaresearcherwishestoexamineexistingrecordsordocuments,heorshemayoptto administeraquestionnairetotheparticipants.
a.True
*b.False
Cognitivedomain:Application
Answerlocation:ImplementingtheResearchPlanandCollectingData
Questiontype:TF
3.Ifaresearcherwishestocollectinterviewdata,heorshemayopttovideotapethe participants.
a.True
Mertler InstructorResource
IntroductiontoEducationalResearch Chapter2
*b.False
Cognitivedomain:Application
Answerlocation:ImplementingtheResearchPlanandCollectingData
Questiontype:TF
4.Ifaresearcherwishestoexamineexistingdocumentsorrecords,heorshemayanalyze surveysfromthepastyear.
a.True
*b.False
Cognitivedomain:Application
Answerlocation:ImplementingtheResearchPlanandCollectingData
Questiontype:TF
5.Ifaresearcherwishestoobserveparticipants,heorshemayuseachecklistfordata collection.
*a.True
b.False
Cognitivedomain:Application
Answerlocation:ImplementingtheResearchPlanandCollectingData
Questiontype:TF
6.Ifaresearcherwishestocollectinterviewdata,heorshemayuseachecklistfordata collection.
a.True
*b.False
Cognitivedomain:Application
Answerlocation:ImplementingtheResearchPlanandCollectingData
Questiontype:TF
7.Surveys,checklists,interviews,andquestionnairesaredifferenttypesofobservational data.
a.True
*b.False
Cognitivedomain:Application
Answerlocation:ImplementingtheResearchPlanandCollectingData
Questiontype:TF
8.Existingdocumentsconsistofstudentportfolios,minutesoffacultymeetings,and researcherjournals.
a.True
*b.False
Cognitivedomain:Application
Answerlocation:ImplementingtheResearchPlanandCollectingData
Questiontype:TF
Mertler InstructorResource IntroductiontoEducationalResearch Chapter2
9.Aspectsofonestudy(e.g.,conclusions,methods,literaturereview,etc.)shouldnever influenceandguidesubsequentstudies.
a.True
*b.False
Cognitivedomain:Comprehension
Answerlocation:Introduction
Questiontype:TF
10.Personalinterestisahugefactorindecidingonaninitialtopicforeducationalresearch.
*a.True
b.False
Cognitivedomain:Comprehension
Answerlocation:IdentifyingandLimitingaResearchTopicorProblem Questiontype:TF
11.Akeyfactorinidentifyingatopicforaresearchstudyisverifyingwhetherthepotential topicis,infact,agenuineproblem.
*a.True
b.False
Cognitivedomain:Comprehension
Answerlocation:IdentifyingandLimitingaResearchTopicorProblem Questiontype:TF
12.Researchershavearesponsibilitytoprovidearationaleforwhyaparticulartopicor problemisworthyofbeingstudied.
*a.True
b.False
Cognitivedomain:Comprehension
Answerlocation:EducationalResearch—WhatItIsandWhatItIsNot Questiontype:TF
13.Theliteraturereviewshouldhavelittleinfluenceontheidentification,specification, andarticulationoftheresearchproblem.
a.True
*b.False
Cognitivedomain:Comprehension
Answerlocation:IdentifyingandLimitingaResearchTopicorProblem Questiontype:TF
14.Compilingandsynthesizingliteraturerelatedtoagiventopicisastraightforward process.
True
*b.False
Cognitivedomain:Comprehension
Answerlocation:WritingaLiteratureReview Questiontype:TF
15.QualitativeanalysesareNOTconductedviaacomputerized(i.e.,“nonhuman”)process.
*a.True
b.False
Cognitivedomain:Comprehension
Answerlocation:AnalyzingtheData
Questiontype:TF
ShortAnswer:7questions
1.Explaintherationalefororderingthestepsintheeducationalresearchprocess. Eachstepintheeducationalresearchprocessmustlogicallyflowfromonetothenext,with eachsubsequentstepbuildingonthepreviousoneandallthatprecede.Forexample,good researchquestionsarenecessaryforknowingwhatliteraturetoreview;developinga researchplanisthenextlogicalstep,whichisbasedontheresearchquestionsandinsight gleanedfromtheliteraturereview.Next,researcherswillimplementtheplanbycollecting andanalyzingdata.Finally,theresearcheroffersconclusionsandmakesrecommendations basedondataanalysis.Ifthesestepsareutilizedoutofcontext,theresultsand recommendationswillvaryandcouldbelessaccurate/informedthanwhenthestepsare utilizedcumulativelyinorder.
Cognitivedomain:Comprehension
Answerlocation:IdentifyingandLimitingaResearchTopicorProblem
Questiontype:SA
2.Summarizetheprocessofquantitativedataanalysis.
Quantitativedataareanalyzedafteralldatahavebeencollected;researchersmustthen organizethedataandanalyzeeachtypeappropriatelythroughtheuseofvarioustypesof software(e.g.,SPSS,Excel,StatCrunch,etc.).Becausetheprocessutilizesdataintheformof numbers,itisanobjectiveprocessthatshouldyieldidenticalresultsregardlessofthe personconductinganalyses.However,datainterpretationwilldifferamongresearchers,as differentindividualshavedifferentexperiences,knowledge,andunderstandingofthetopic understudyaswellasthefactorsthataffectedtheresults.
Cognitivedomain:Application
Answerlocation:AnalyzingtheData
Questiontype:SA
3.Summarizetheprocessofqualitativedataanalysis. Dataanalysisoftenbeginsduringqualitativedatacollection,continuesuntilthestudyends, anddataarethenanalyzedholistically;often,additionaldataarecollectedthatwere unplannedyetarenecessarytofullyaddresstheresearchquestion(s).Dataanalysisoccurs throughpolyangulation,whichiscategorizationbasedonlogicalanalysis;thisprimarily requiresthehumanmind,althoughvarioustypesofsoftwareareavailableforcoding assistance.Becausetheprocessutilizesdataintheformofwords,itisasubjectiveprocess thatyieldsresultsaffectedbythepersonconductinganalyses.
Cognitivedomain:Application
IntroductiontoEducationalResearch Chapter2
Answerlocation:AnalyzingtheData
Questiontype:SA
4.Summarizetheprocessofmixed-methodsdataanalysis.
Inessence,theanalysisofdatainmixed-methodsresearchstudiescapitalizesonthebestof bothquantitativeandqualitativedataanalysis.Whilethetechniquesformixed-methods analysisareidenticaltothoseinpurelyquantitativeorqualitativestudies,theresearcher mustalsomergealldatacollectedtoformcomprehensiveresults.“Byengaginginthis process,theresearchergainsabetterunderstandingofhowqualitativedataand subsequentanalysescaninformquantitativedataanalyses,andviceversa.”
Cognitivedomain:Application
Answerlocation:AnalyzingtheData
Questiontype:SA
5.Explainwhy“carefullywordingaresearchquestion”isacriticalaspectofconducting educationalresearch.
Carefullywordingaresearchquestionisacriticalaspectofconductingeducational researchbecausetheresearchquestioniswhatguidestheremainderofthestudy.
Cognitivedomain:Analysis
Answerlocation:EducationalResearch—WhatItIsandWhatItIsNot
Questiontype:SA
6.Thetextstates,“Caremustbetakentoensurethatthe[research]questionisactually answerablebydatatheresearcherisabletocollect.”Explainwhythisisimportant. Failuretodosomayresultinthecollectionofinaccuratedata,orperhapsdatathatdonot paralleloralignwiththeresearchquestion.Incasessuchasthese,unfortunately,youdo notfindoutaboutthemisalignmentuntiltheendofthestudy—whenitistoolateto restateyourresearchquestion.
Cognitivedomain:Analysis
Answerlocation:FormallyStatingandRefiningResearchQuestion(s)
Questiontype:SA
7.Thetextstates,“Caremustbetakentoevaluatetheexistingliteratureagainstseveral criteria.”Provideatleasttwoofthesecriteria.
(Answerswillvary)
Thecriteriainclude,butarenotlimitedto,thefollowing:theobjectivityofthepublished research(and/ortheextenttowhichanauthorhasclearlyidentifiedandexplainedany potentialbias),thespecificationoflimitationsinherentinthestudy,whethertheresearch constitutesa primary (i.e.,writtenbytheindividualwhoactuallyconductedtheresearch) or secondary (i.e.,someone’sinterpretationofanother’sresearch)source,whetherthe researchis empirical oropinionbased,andwhetherithasbeensubjecttoaprocessofpeer review.
Cognitivedomain:Knowledge
Answerlocation:ReviewingExistingLiteratureRelatedtotheProblem
Questiontype:SA
Essay:5questions
1.Discussthereason(s)whystatingfindings,conclusions,andrecommendationsina writtenreportisnotasimpleprocess.
Eachresearchstudyisunique,andalthoughallstudiescontainthesamegeneral components,thosecomponentspossessveryuniquecharacteristicsthatdonotapplytoall studies.Additionally,eachstudycontainsadistinctivepopulation.Furthermore,thereare multiplewaystomeasureanyonevariable,andthecombinationofmeasurementsutilized inanyonestudyisentirelyunique(withtheexceptionofreplicationstudies).Forthese reasons,findingsineachstudydifferfromfindingsinotherstudiesevenifthe variables/researchquestion(s)arethesame.Thus,consideringtheconcludingremarks andmakingrecommendationsforfuturestudieswillalwaysvary,asthesearebasedon findingsthatdifferacrossresearchstudies.
Cognitivedomain:Analysis
Answerlocation:StatingFindings,Conclusions,andRecommendationsinaWrittenReport
Questiontype:ESS
2.Outlinetheresearcher’sroleinstatingfindings,conclusions,andrecommendationsina writtenreport.
Theresearcher’sroleinstatingfindings,conclusions,andrecommendationsinawritten reportiscentraltocompletingthestudy’smission.First,theresearcherpresentsthe study’sresultsintheformofdataandexplainswhattheymeantothereader.Next,the researcheraddscontextualinformationpertainingtothestudyandfurtherexplainsthe resultsinlightoftheseconsiderations.Finally,theresearchermakesrecommendations regardingareasofconcernorideasforfutureresearchstudies.Theseresultinconclusions andrecommendationsthatarebasedonthestudy’sfindingsandhavebeenthoughtfully interpretedbytheoneindividualmostknowledgeableaboutthestudy—theresearcher.
Cognitivedomain:Comprehension
Answerlocation:StatingFindings,Conclusions,andRecommendationsinaWrittenReport
Questiontype:ESS
3.Explaintheimportanceoffollowingthestepsoftheeducationalresearchprocessin order.
Theeducationalresearchprocessisareiterativeone;thismeansthatitiscyclicalinnature, witheachstepbuildingonallthatprecedeit.Ifwecompletestepsoutofcontext,the resultswillbelessvalidandaccuratethanwhenwefollowthestepsinorder.Forexample, dataanalysiscannottakeplacebeforedatacollectionorbeforestatingtheresearch question.Ifwedidthat,ourresultswouldbespuriousandentirelyinvalid.Asanother example,considertheliteraturereview.Ifweconductedthatbeforestatingtheresearch question,wemayinfactreadliteraturethatisentirelyirrelevant.Notonlydoesfollowing thestepsinordercontributetoamoreaccurateandstrongersetofresults,butitalsosaves timethatmightotherwisebewastedonfruitlessendeavors(e.g.,readingliteraturethatis unrelatedtothestudy).Therefore,thestepsoftheeducationalresearchprocessoperatein suchawaythateachprogressivestepactuallyneedsthosebeforeit.
IntroductiontoEducationalResearch Chapter2
Cognitivedomain:Comprehension
Answerlocation:StatingFindings,Conclusions,andRecommendationsinaWrittenReport
Questiontype:ESS
4.Thetextstates,“Caremustbetakentoevaluatetheexistingliteratureagainstseveral criteria.”Discussthesecriteria.
Thecriteriainclude,butarenotlimitedto,thefollowing:(a)theobjectivityofthe publishedresearch(and/ortheextenttowhichanauthorhasclearlyidentifiedand explainedanypotentialbias),(b)thespecificationoflimitationsinherentinthestudy,(c) whethertheresearchconstitutesa primary (i.e.,writtenbytheindividualwhoactually conductedtheresearch)or secondary (i.e.,someone’sinterpretationofanother’sresearch) source,(d)whethertheresearchis empirical oropinionbased,and(e)whetherithasbeen subjectedtoaprocessofpeerreview.
Cognitivedomain:Analysis
Answerlocation:ReviewingExistingLiteratureRelatedtotheProblem
Questiontype:ESS
5.Theanalysisofdataisdiscussedinthischapter.Theanalysisofonetypeofdataresults inanobjectiveprocess,andtheanalysisoftheothertypeofdataresultsinasubjective process.Thisquestionhasthreeparts:(1)identifyeachtypeofdata,(2)determine whetheritisanalyzedobjectivelyorsubjectively,and(3)explainwhy. Theanalysisofquantitativedataisahighlyobjectiveprocess.Theanalysisofqualitative dataisasubjectiveprocess.Becausetheanalysisofquantitativedataisdonethroughthe useofsomestatisticalanalysissoftwareprogram(e.g.,SPSS,Excel,StatCrunch,etc.),the subjectivityandpotentialbiasoftheresearcherdonotaffecttheresults.Inotherwords, regardlessofwhoanalyzesthedata,theresultswillbeidentical.Theanalysisofqualitative datais,bydefinitionanddesign,ahighlysubjectiveprocess.Qualitativeanalysesarenot conductedviaacomputerizedprocess.Theyareconductedexclusivelybythehumanmind. Theresearchermustread,reread,organize,condense,andsynthesizeallthequalitative datainanattempttoidentifythemes,categories,orpatternsthatemergefromthosedata. Itisnotuncommon—infact,itisquitetypical—formultipleresearcherstoarriveatvery differentresultsandconclusionsafteranalyzingevenasmallsetofqualitativedata.
Cognitivedomain:Analysis
Answerlocation:AnalyzingtheData
Questiontype:ESS