Deck 9: Methods of Data Collection

Question 1

State the two "cardinal rules" of educational research mentioned in this chapter.

Answer 1

not answered

Question 2

Kyle is moderating a discussion that involves a small group of people who were brought together to discuss school district finances. Kyle is conducting a:

A) Closed interview group
B) Focus group
C) Laboratory observation
D) Focus event group

Answer 2

B

Question 3

Explain how the fundamental principle of mixed research can be applied to methods of data collection and provide an example.

Answer 3

not answered

Question 4

Observation done in a setting arranged by an experimenter is called:

A) Focus groups
B) Naturalistic observation
C) Laboratory observation
D) Informal conversational interviews

Question 5

When an observation is initiated when specific incidents occur and continues after the incident, the researcher is using:

A) Event sampling
B) Time-interval sampling
C) Random sampling
D) Qualitative sampling

Question 6

List at least five commonly used interviewing probes.

Question 7

Bill is conducting an interview. He asks questions a in the natural course of conversation and in no predetermined order. He is conducting a(n):

A) Standardized open-ended interview
B) Closed quantitative interview
C) Interview guide approach interview
D) Informal conversational interview

Question 8

Define and explain the characteristics of each of the six methods of data collection.

Question 9

Explain the key characteristics of the four different types of interviews.

Question 10

Interviews where the exact wording and sequence of questions are determined in advance, but the responses are open-ended are called:

A) Standardized open-ended interviews
B) Closed quantitative interviews
C) The interview guide approach
D) The informal conversational interviews

Question 11

For his research project, Terry has specified the topics and issues he will cover in the interview but he is able to ask the questions in any order. It appears Terry is using:

A) A standardized open-ended interview
B) A closed quantitative interview
C) The interview guide approach
D) An informal conversational interview

Question 12

Explain the difference between method of data collection and research method.

Question 13

Explain the concept of standardization.

Question 14

The role of the group moderator in a focus group is to:

A) Steer group discussions in a particular way
B) Take verbatim notes during the discussion
C) Probe responses
D) Collect quantitative data

Question 15

Kelly is observing second graders throughout the school day. This type of data collection is called:

A) Focus groups
B) Naturalistic observation
C) Laboratory observation
D) Informal conversational observation

Question 16

Interviews where the question and response categories are determined ahead of time are called:

A) Standardized open-ended interviews
B) Closed quantitative interviews
C) The interview guide approach
D) The informal conversational interviews

Question 17

List the six major methods of data collection.

Question 18

Describe the four roles the researcher can take in qualitative interviewing.

Question 19

When a moderator leads a small group of people in the discussion of a topic or issue, this is called:

A) A focus group
B) An interview
C) A questionnaire
D) A secondary data collection

Question 20

When the occurrence of behaviors or events during a specific time interval (e.g., during the first 10 minutes of each class) is examined, this is called:

A) Event sampling
B) Time-interval sampling
C) Random sampling
D) Time sampling

Question 21

When taking field notes, it is a good idea to:

A) Correct and edit them as soon as possible
B) Wait for a long time before you correct and edit them
C) Use time sampling techniques
D) Throw them out after you have read them.

Question 22

Observation that attempts to examine all potentially relevant phenomena is known as:

A) Laboratory observation
B) Nonparticipatory observation
C) Quantitative observation
D) Qualitative observation

Question 23

When a researcher is a complete observer, he or she:

A) Spends a limited amount of time observing group members who know he or she is observing
B) Is a participant in the setting more than an observer
C) Observes as an outsider without letting others know he or she is doing research
D) Participates in a setting without letting people know he or she is a researcher

Question 24

The technique for physically obtaining data to be analyzed in a research study is known as The:

A) Research method
B) Method of data collection
C) Research frame
D) Fundamental principle of mixed research.

Question 25

When a researcher is a complete participant in a qualitative study, he or she:

A) Participates without revealing his or her identity to other participants in the setting
B) Does not participate, but only observes the activities of the other participants
C) Tells the other participants that he or she is a researcher
D) Participates in the setting, but tells others he or she is a researcher

Question 26

Open-ended questions provide primarily _____ data.

A) Confirmatory
B) Qualitative
C) Quantitative
D) Hypothesis testing

Question 27

During Lucy's research study, third graders must work together to build a bridge from wooden sticks. She then analyzes the bridges according to design principles. Lucy is using:

A) Secondary data
B) Constructed data
C) Existing data
D) Naturalistic observation data

Question 28

Which of the following is an example of secondary/existing data?

A) Results of a questionnaire developed for a study
B) Results of a standardized tests from your study
C) Personal documents
D) Achievement scores from your experimental study

Question 29

Time-interval sampling is used in which type of observation?

A) Quantitative
B) Qualitative
C) Photo sampling
D) Event sampling

Question 30

The difference between quantitatively-oriented and qualitatively-oriented observation is that:

A) Qualitative observation only examines specific behaviors that are predetermined
B) Quantitative observation involves observing all relevant phenomena in a setting
C) Qualitative observation involves the attempt to observe all potentially relevant phenomena occurring in a setting
D) Qualitative observation is usually done in laboratories

Question 31

Probes can be used more freely in _____.

A) Interviews
B) Questionnaires
C) Observations
D) Documents

Question 32

The overall design and strategy that the researcher will use is known as the:

A) Event sampling
B) Observational frame
C) Research method
D) Method of data collection

Question 33

One problem that qualitative researchers have is that:

A) People are reluctant to show their "backstage behavior"
B) People are reluctant to show their "frontstage behavior"
C) They need computers to do time-interval sampling
D) They need data standardized collection instruments to record variables

Question 34

A type of secondary or existing data would be _______.

A) Focus group transcripts
B) Interview transcripts
C) Archived research data
D) Visual observation data

Question 35

Observation that is done in a controlled setting set up by the researcher is which of the following?

A) Laboratory observation
B) Naturalistic observation
C) Participatory observation
D) Qualitative observation

Question 36

Observation that is done in real-world settings is called which of the following?

A) Laboratory observation
B) Naturalistic observation
C) Quantitative observation
D) Reactive observation

Question 37

When a researcher is an observer-as-participant, he or she:

A) Spends a limited amount of time observing group members who know he or she is observing
B) Is a participant in the setting more than an observer
C) Does not tell participants that he or she is a researcher
D) Participates in a setting without letting people know he or she is a researcher

Question 38

When a researcher is a participant-as-observer, he or she:

A) Participates without revealing his or her identity to other participants in the setting
B) Does not participate, but only observes the activities of the other participants
C) Tells the other participants that he or she is a researcher and only observes
D) Participates in the setting, and tells others he or she is a researcher

Question 39

Standardized observation is associated with:

A) Participatory observation
B) Naturalistic observation
C) Quantitative observation
D) Qualitative observation

Question 40

When people change their behavior when they are being observed, this is known as:

A) Event sampling
B) Time-interval sampling
C) The think-aloud technique
D) Reactivity

Question 41

Dr. Black's research involves videotapes of elementary school students' interactions on the playground. His method of data collection could best be described as:

A) Open-ended interview
B) Visual data
C) Laboratory observation
D) Official documents

Question 42

Anything written, photographed, or recorded by an organization that a researcher decides to use as data is known as:

A) Source data
B) Secondary data
C) Official documents
D) Company records

Question 43

A researcher is examining the following items to understand life at a specific community in the past: journal entries, ship manifests, records from religious archives, suits of armor. The major method of data collection used here is called:

A) Secondary or existing data
B) Personal documents
C) Official documents
D) Physical data

Question 44

A spontaneous, loosely-structured interview is called a ____.

A) Standardized open-ended interview
B) Photo interview
C) Informal off-record discussion
D) Informal conversational interview

Question 45

As part of his graduate assistantship Brian is in a classroom counting the number of times the teacher praises students' behavior. This is an example of:

A) Naturalistic observation
B) Laboratory observation
C) Time sampling
D) Qualitative observation

Question 46

Dr. James decided to study a group of individuals and prepares by spending a year getting to know the members of the group and living among them. Her method of data collection is most likely to involve:

A) Qualitative observation (e.g., participant-as-observer)
B) Photo interviewing
C) Event sampling
D) Time-interval sampling

Question 47

What people say and do only with their closest friends is called (by Goffman) which of the following?

A) Frontstage behavior
B) Backstage behavior
C) Friendship behavior
D) Interactive behavior

Question 48

Phil has spent a limited amount of time observing school counselors who he told that he was observing. Phil was a:

A) Complete participant
B) Participant-as-observer
C) Observer-as-participant
D) Complete observer

Question 49

When an interview takes place at an unexpected time or place and it is impossible to record the interview, what should a researcher do in order to ensure that as little information as possible is lost?

A) Ask the interviewee to write down everything he or she remembers about the encounter
B) Take field notes, if possible, and write down everything you can remember about the encounter as soon as possible after the encounter
C) Take field notes and write down everything that is important about the encounter only after you have checked with the interviewee about their thoughts about the encounter
D) Make a point of never agreeing to speak to project participants if you do not have a recorder available

Question 50

We describe objects or data produced by participants during a research study as:

A) Visual data
B) Personal documents
C) Constructed data
D) Physical data

Question 51

After completing a study of a group of elderly travelers, Dr. Howard got to know several of them on a personal level through continued contact and extensive personal interaction. He found that several of the impressions he had during the study were not really accurate. This is likely an example of which two research concepts?

A) Complete observer/reactivity
B) Visual data/photo interviewing
C) Laboratory observer/naturalistic observer
D) Front stage behavior/backstage behavior

Question 52

An early childhood education researcher observed preschoolers playing on the playground. The children did not know why she was on the playground; they just thought she was a teacher. In this qualitative observation, the researcher was a:

A) Complete participant
B) Participant-as-observer
C) Observer-as-participant
D) Complete observer

Question 53

Holly collected data on her fellow students looking at course related material versus not course related material on their laptops during her graduate education classes. Her classmates did not know about her collecting these data. Holly was a(n):

A) Complete participant
B) Participant-as-observer
C) Observer-as-participant
D) Complete observer

Question 54

As part of her dissertation research, Betsy spent over a year living and teaching in Finland. She lived with another teacher and told the faculty and students at the school that she was studying them. Her method of data collection is known as:

A) Complete participant
B) Participant-as-observer
C) Observer-as-participant
D) Complete observer

Question 55

A researcher is observing and taking notes on the interactions of a group of boys who hang out in an inner city neighborhood. Each day the researcher simply sits and records as much as possible about what he sees and hears from his surroundings in the neighborhood. The type of data collection this researcher is doing would best be described as:

A) Event sampling
B) Time-interval sampling
C) Naturalistic observation
D) Participant-observer

Question 56

The person in an interview situation who answers the questions is known as the:

A) Interviewer
B) Interviewee
C) Leader
D) Recipient

Question 57

In educational research, what does the term "reactivity" mean?

A) Various reactions observed in participants toward each other
B) Changes that occur in people because they know they are being observed
C) Possible negative implications the conducted research could cause for participants
D) Characteristic reactions in different types of participants based on organizational socialization

Question 58

Data originally used for research purposes and used later by a different researcher for a different purpose is specifically known as:

A) Comprehensive data
B) Secondary data
C) Physical data
D) Archived Research data

Question 59

Any material thing created or left by humans that might provide information about a phenomenon of interest to a researcher.

A) Comprehensive data
B) Personal data
C) Physical data
D) Archived Research data

Question 60

Ms. Harris is an elementary school teacher. Every 15 minutes she notes whether Carl is on- or off-task. This is an example of:

A) Event sampling
B) Backstage behavior
C) Time-interval sampling
D) Visual data collection

Question 61

The use of two or more methods of data collection in a research study is known as:

A) Intramethod mixing
B) Intermethod mixing
C) The fundamental principle of mixed research.
D) Quantitative observation

Question 62

Which of the following is a component of effective interviewing?

A) Having interviewees respond with as few words as possible.
B) Allowing the interviewee to discuss whatever he or she wants to.
C) Using nonverbal behavior to indicate that you are interested in what the interviewee is saying.
D) all of the above.

Question 63

Every 30 minutes a web cam comes on in a classroom and records for three minutes in order to take a sampling of what is going on in this class. This is called time-interval sampling.

Question 64

When interviewers say almost the same things to all interviewees, we say that there was:

A) Standardization
B) Parity
C) Intermethod mixing
D) Naturalistic observation

Question 65

Which of the following is a research method?

A) Ethnography
B) Observations
C) Focus Groups
D) Tests

Question 66

The methods of data collection used in a research study should be based on the methods that are likely to effectively address the research question, rather than based on the researcher's preference.

Question 67

In an interview:

A) The interviewer should talk more than the interviewee
B) The interviewee should talk more than the interviewer
C) The interviewer and the interviewee should talk about the same amount of time
D) There should not be differences in the amount of talking done by the participants

Question 68

Primary data are original data collected as part of a study.

Question 69

A focus group is a good way to get data from a group of participants, although a frequent problem is that the participants will discuss off-task issues and will never get to the topics the researcher wishes for them to discuss.

Question 70

In qualitative interviews, the interviewer:

A) Establishes trust and rapport with the interviewee
B) Requires the interviewee to reveal information he or she does not want to
C) Must always follow a script
D) Never has a script

Question 71

If a researcher asks a question during an interview and does not understand the answer, he or she is likely to ask a question from a prepared list. The follow-up question is called a paradigm question.

Question 72

One of the cardinal rules of educational research is:

A) Standardization must always be used
B) Provide multiple sources of evidence
C) Include alternative explanations
D) Quantitative data is better than qualitative data

Question 73

Which of the following is an example of intramethod mixing?

A) Time-interval sampling and interviewing teachers about student behaviors.
B) Interviews and focus groups with teachers about effective teaching strategies.
C) Tests and questionnaires that assess student learning.
D) Counting the frequencies of children's reaction and rating the positivity of the interactions from videotapes of children's interactions.

Question 74

Which of the following is an example of a commonly used interview probe?

A) "What I hear you saying is"
B) "I know what you mean"
C) "The same thing happened to me"
D) "Let me repeat the question please".

Question 75

In interviews, the purpose of using a probe is to:

A) To improve understanding and the depth or responses
B) Establish rapport with the interviewee
C) Make the interview last longer
D) Make sure all interviews have the same number of questions

Question 76

Because interviews are a great deal like conversations, little training is required before conducting the interview.

Question 77

"Rule out alternative explanations" is:

A) The fundamental principle of mixed research
B) The first principle of interview design
C) A cardinal rule of educational research
D) An example of backstage behavior

Question 78

The idea that you should mix methods in a way that provides complementary strengths and nonoverlapping weaknesses is known as the fundamental principle of mixed research.

Question 79

A key difference between qualitative and quantitative interview questions is that quantitative questions tend to be closed-ended and qualitative tend to be open-ended.

Question 80

In qualitative interviewers, interviewers do not:

A) Ask follow-up questions as they naturally emerge
B) Use probes and prompts when clarification is needed
C) Provide evaluative information about interviewee's responses
D) Act as the repository of detailed information from the interview