Deck 3: Statements of the Problem: Identifying Why a Study Is Important

Question 1

A research problem is:

A) An issue, concern, or controversy
B) A problem that needs to be anticipated by the researcher
C) An important passage that begins a study
D) The question being addressed in a study

Answer 1

A

Question 2

A researcher seeks to study the factors that contribute to binge drinking on college campuses. Which of the following would be considered a good research problem for this study?

A) When students binge drink at fraternity parties, they often humiliate and demean women attending the parties.
B) The purpose of the study is to examine the factors that contribute to binge drinking on one Midwestern university campus
C) What are the factors that contribute to binge drinking on a Midwestern college campus?
D) Binge drinking occurs on many college campuses, and it is a popular pastime at many social events.

Answer 2

A

Question 3

Which of the following is a characteristic of quantitative research problems?

A) Discovering how a process unfolds
B) Uncovering the meaning of a phenomenon
C) Explaining the effect of a treatment
D) Telling the stories of individuals' lives

Answer 3

C

Question 4

Why would a researcher mention the audience in a "statement of the problem" passage of a study?

A) Because members of the audience need to see the study's relevance
B) Because members of the audience need to use the study
C) Because members of the audience will vote to publish the study
D) Because members of the audience will participate in the study

Question 5

A researcher conducted a study to explore how 4^th-grade students experience math assessments. In the introduction of the published article, the author notes that previous research suggested only that many students experience anxiety during testing. Before you even get to the discussion of the methods used in the study, you can infer that the researcher most likely conducted a study with which of the following approaches.

A) Qualitative approach
B) Quantitative approach
C) Assessment approach
D) Evaluation approach

Question 6

As you examine a published research report, you will find the research problem located

A) In the method section of a study
B) Throughout a study
C) In the first sentence of a study
D) In the introduction to the study

Question 7

The first sentence serves a variety of important roles. Which of the roles listed below is least important for the first sentence?

A) It causes a reader to pay attention to the study
B) It elicits a response from a reader, such as an emotion
C) It promotes the importance of the introduction
D) It encourages the reader to continue to read on

Question 8

Which of the following is a characteristic of qualitative research problems?

A) Ascertaining the relationship among concepts
B) Clarifying the extent that groups differ
C) Describing the trends in a large group
D) Exploring the complexity of a case

Question 9

Which of the following statements would not be a reason for studying a research problem?

A) To fill a gap in the existing literature
B) To maintain current practices
C) To replicate past results with different participants/sites
D) To learn from people whose voices have not been heard

Question 10

Suppose you read the following statement in an introduction: "No previous research on this topic has included the voices of individuals who are currently homeless." This is an example of which element of a statement of a problem passage?

A) Audience
B) Justifying the research problem
C) Deficiency in knowledge
D) Research problem

Question 11

A researcher introduces the central idea in the title and the opening paragraph of a published study. This idea is called:

A) The big idea
B) The central phenomenon
C) The key variable
D) The research topic

Question 12

Why do authors write a statement of the problem passage as part of the introduction to their research reports?

A) To satisfy the demands of different audiences
B) To fulfill a requirement to get an article published
C) To present arguments for the importance of the study
D) To clearly state the study's purpose

Question 13

Which would be the least compelling source to justify the importance of the statement of the problem?

A) Opinions of colleagues
B) Personal experiences in the field
C) Scholarly evidence from the literature
D) Need for improved practices

Question 14

Which of the following statements makes clear that there is a problem that needs to be addressed by research?

A) A problem that is a minor concern
B) A problem that affects the lives of a few individuals
C) A problem that has mild consequences
D) A problem that arises from conflicting evidence in the literature

Question 15

Indicate whether quantitative or qualitative or both) approaches would best address the type of research problem. Place an "X" in the appropriate columns).

Question 16

Which is the last element typically found in a "statement of the problem" passage of a research study.

A) Deficiencies of past research or practical knowledge
B) The topic
C) The research problem
D) Audience

Question 17

Which is the first element typically found in a "statement of the problem" passage of a research study.

A) Audience
B) The research problem
C) The topic
D) Deficiencies of past research or practical knowledge

Question 18

Which statement best describes the research problem?

A) What the study is about
B) What the author intends to do
C) The issue or concern being addressed
D) The reason the study is important

Question 19

Suppose you read the following statement in an introduction: "School counselors who work with homeless children will be able to better attend to their needs with this understanding." This is an example of which element of a statement of a problem passage?

A) Audience
B) Deficiency in knowledge
C) Justifying the research problem
D) Research problem