Research Methods Overview Quiz

Multiple Choice Questions

• Multiple choice questions were presented.

What is a Theory?

• A theory is an explanation of observed patterns or regularities.
• A theory is not a common sense idea, philosophy, or worldview.
• A theory is not an epistemological position.

Qualitative Research Criteria

• Dependability is relevant when complete records of all phases of qualitative research are kept.

Quantitative Study Issues

• A quantitative study may have a problem with non-response if some members of the target population decline to participate.
• An unethical study may not be a quantitative study.

Sampling Techniques

• Snowball sampling uses social capital from a small group to generate a larger sample.
• Convenience sampling is not a sampling technique used when a larger sample is derived from a smaller group's social network.
• Simple random sampling is not a sampling technique to create a large sample based on the connections of a small group.
• Cluster sampling is not a sampling technique used when a larger sample is derived from a smaller group's social network.

Social Life

• Constructionists assume social life is negotiated, not objective, fixed, or imaginary.

Representative Sample

• A representative sample can be used to make inferences about a population.
• A representative sample is not a qualitative or quantitative sample.
• A representative sample may be collected using a non-probability approach.

Sampling for Relative Proportions

• Quota sampling is likely to be used if a sample needs to reflect population proportions.
• Snowball, convenience and simple random sampling methods are less likely to produce a sample with relative proportions.

Random Sampling

• A sample selected through a random process is a probability sample.
• Sampling error is not a sample selected through a random process.
• A non-probability sample is not a sample selected using a random process.
• A unit sample is not a sample selected using a random process.

Quantitative Research Criticism

• A criticism of quantitative research is that it may create a false sense of accuracy, and ignore causality.
• Quantitative research is not inconsistent with qualitative research.
• Quantitative research is not too subjective.

Research Direction

• Deductive research moves from theory to data, not from data to theory.
• Inductive research moves from data to theory, not from theory to data.
• Deterministic and standpoint research are not research that moves from theory to data.

Ethical Guidelines

• Confidentiality is an ethical guideline upheld by using pseudonyms in the reporting of qualitative interviews.
• Informed consent is not an ethical guideline upheld by using pseudonyms.
• Voluntary participation is not an ethical guideline upheld by using pseudonyms.
• Justice is not an ethical guideline upheld by using pseudonyms.

Positivism and Interpretivism

• Positivism tends to focus on explanation and science, while interpretivism tends to focus on explanation and interpretation.
• Interpretivism does not emphasize empathic understanding as its core focus.
• Positivism does not emphasize empathic understanding as its core focus.
• Neither positivism nor interpretivism focus solely on science or interpretation.

Research Questions

• "Does income level predict education level?" is a quantitative research question.
• An example of a qualitative research question is not included.
• Inductive and interpretivist are not examples of quantitative questions.

Research Descriptions

• Idiographic research produces rich descriptions of social life, not nomothetic, spurious, or positivistic research paradigms.

Research Timing

• Cross-sectional studies collect observations at a single point in time, not longitudinal, quasi-experimental, or natural experimental studies.

Research Ethics Timing

• Research ethics should be considered in every phase of the research project, not just before the study starts or early in the study.

Informed Consent

• Consent to participate in a research study should be obtained throughout the study.
• Consent need not be obtained before the study begins or after participation is complete to ensure ethical adherence.