Deck 8: Understanding Research Methods, Populations and Sampling

Question 1

Saturation point is reached when the researcher, though continuing to explore the phenomenon with participants in the research, no longer hears any new thoughts, feelings, attitudes, emotions, intentions, etc. This is saturation point, the researcher is 'saturated' with knowledge on the topic and continuing to engage participants would not be useful, necessary, or ethically sound, as engaging further participants in the research will not add in any way to the knowledge generated.

Answer 1

True

Question 2

The researcher designing the research project decides on and defines the parameters of the population of the study.

Answer 2

True

Question 3

Participant observation is the same as observation, with one major difference, the researcher is a participant in the action s/he is observing.

Answer 3

True

Question 4

Ethnography is a data gathering method.

Question 5

It is often the case that the entire population of the research is too big, and as a result beyond the scope of the researcher. In such situations, the researcher clearly defines the population of the research, and then selects from that population a sample to study.

Question 6

Participant observation is a data gathering method.

Question 7

There are two kinds of sampling, probability and non probability sampling.

Question 8

Projective techniques are a data gathering method.

Question 9

Some research is carried out using entire populations and some is carried out using sample populations or samples of populations.

Question 10

The emphasis in non-probability sampling is on the capacity of a relatively small number of cases to clearly and comprehensively illustrate the phenomenon under investigation.

Question 11

Field diaries are a means of gathering data.

Question 12

The sample is a small sub-set of the population.

Question 13

The key issue in sampling is that of representation. The concept of representation relates to the degree to which a sample drawn from a population can be said to be representative of the population.

Question 14

If the sampling method used is appropriate, the response rate is irrelevant.

Question 15

The researcher might be working with a population with cultural issues, language issues, or with literacy issues. Any or all of these will have an impact of the design of data gathering technique.

Question 16

Researchers are very pragmatic when it comes to research methods. They use whatever method of data collection is most appropriate, whatever data collection method will work best.

Question 17

When using a sample of a population in a research project, the researcher must clearly describe the sample. Then s/he must explain why that sample was selected and clearly describe the sampling method, the means by which that sample was selected.

Question 18

The term 'research methods' means data collection methods or data gathering techniques; data collection methods are the means by which researchers gather the data required for the research project.

Question 19

Decisions with regard to whether to work with an entire population or a sample of the population are made based on the size of the population, the time available for the research, and the requirements of the research.

Question 20

The researcher must know what kinds of data are needed and where the data are to be found, before decisions can be made about how to gather that data.

Question 21

Covert observation is observation carried out covertly or secretly.

Question 22

In probability sampling the sample is drawn from a list known as:

A)The sample list.
B)The sampling list.
C)The complete sampling list.
D)The sampling frame.

Question 23

Research conducted on an entire population is known as:

A)A census
B)A survey
C)A case study
D)An experiment.

Question 24

The methodological framework contains an account of:

A)The literature read for the research project.
B)The contents of the research diary.
C)The problems the researcher encountered while carrying out the research,
D)All of the ways and means by which the research was carried out.

Question 25

Data Collection methods, research populations and samples and sampling methods are fundamental elements of:

A)The conceptual framework.
B)The theoretical framework.
C)The methodological framework.
D)The analytical framework.

Question 26

Data gathering methods are:

A)Elements of the theoretical framework.
B)The means by which data is gathered for the research project.
C)The means by which the data is analysed for the research project.
D)The first thing to be decided on when undertaking a research project.

Question 27

Visual methods involves the analysis of visual images. Any kind of visual images can be used, maps, charts, photographs, drawings, paintings, cartoons, videos and films and so on. The researcher can gather visual images or s/he can create visual images, or they can ask participants in the research to give visual images to the research project or to create visual images for the research project.

Question 28

Simple random sampling:

A)Is not sophisticated enough for an academic research project.
B)Does not involve the use of a sampling frame.
C)Is the same as cluster sampling.
D)Is a probability sampling technique.

Question 29

The researcher must decide whether to work with the entire population of the study or to work with a:

A)Segment of the population.
B)Section of the population.
C)Sample of the population.
D)Slice of the population

Question 30

The population of the study is:

A)All of the individual, items or units which will be drawn on to produce data collection within the study.
B)Everyone involved in the study.
C)The collection of literature used in the study.
D)The researcher and the research supervisor.

Question 31

Simple random sampling involves:

A)Sampling in clusters.
B)Judgemental sampling techniques.
C)Selecting a sample at random from a sampling frame.
D)A snowball sampling technique.

Question 32

The methodological framework of the research project is comprised of:

A)An account of all of the ways and means by which the research was actually carried out.
B)The theory used in the research project.
C)The aim and objectives of the research.
D)The finding and the conclusions.

Question 33

Online questionnaires are questionnaires which are administered online. Such questionnaires can be sent to respondents via e-mail, or respondents can be sent a link to the questionnaire which can be uploaded to a website, and invited to respond to the questionnaire. Response rates can be a substantial issue using online questionnaires.

Question 34

Projective techniques are used to explore people's instinctive responses to stimuli, stimuli such as, for example, advertising campaigns. Projective techniques are indirect ways of exploring attitudes.

Question 35

The basic rule of probability is that:

A)The best that can happen will probably happen.
B)The worst that can happen will probably happen.
C)Each member of the population has an equal probability of being selected for inclusion in the sample.
D)Mathamatical theories probably work.

Question 36

Online interviews can be synchronous, in real time, using a chat room or a using conferencing software or asynchronous, outside of real time, using e-mail or message boards or discussion boards and so on.

Question 37

The population can be comprised of:

A)Human beings.
B)Adult human beings.
C)Adult human beings who are relevant to the study.
D)Individuals, groups, organisations, documents, campaigns, incidents and so on.

Question 38

The population of the research is also called:

A)The people
B)The world
C)The planet
D)The Universe

Question 39

The concept of representation relates to the degree to which:

A)How well the research represents the researcher.
B)A sample selected from a population can be said to be representative of that population.
C)How well the data collection methods represent the research methodology.
D)A data collection method used in a research project can be said to be representative of all of the data collection methods used.

Question 40

One key reason why the researcher defines the population of the study is in order to:

A)Be able to write to every member of the population.
B)Limit the scope of the study.
C)Be able to telephone every member of the population.
D)Be able to demonstrate the hard work they have done on their research.

Question 41

National Lotteries use a:

A)Simple random sampling technique to compile the numbers in each game.
B)Snowball sampling technique to compile the numbers in each game.
C)Systematic sampling method to compile the numbers in each game.
D)Convenience sampling method to compile the numbers in each game.

Question 42

Observation, questionnaires, interviews, focus groups, life histories, diaries are all means of:

A)Theorising research.
B)Drawing conclusions and making recommendations.
C)Analysing data.
D)Gathering data.

Question 43

Researchers often use tables of random numbers in order to:

A)Obfuscate their research methodology.
B)Confuse participants in the research project.
C)Engage in quantitative data analysis.
D)Generate random samples.

Question 44

Simple random sampling, systematic sampling, stratified sampling and cluster sampling are all examples of :

A)Inadequate sampling methods.
B)Non-probability sampling methods.
C)Probability sampling methods.
D)Superior sampling methods.

Question 45

Give three examples of research projects without human populations.

Question 46

Quota sampling, judgemental sampling, snowball sampling and convenience sampling are all examples of:

A)Inadequate sampling methods.
B)Non-probability sampling methods.
C)Probability sampling methods.
D)Superior sampling methods.

Question 47

Give three examples of human populations of research projects.

Question 48

Data gathering methods are designed in such a way as to ensure:

A)That they can be carried out quickly and simply.
B)That they can be analysed quickly and simply.
C)That they can be administered by research assistants.
D)That they will provide the data required.

Question 49

Detail some of the typical considerations of researchers in deciding on what data collection methods to use in the research project:

Question 50

Data collection methods are the means by which:

A)Researchers gather the data required for the research project.
B)Researchers theorise their research projects.
C)Researchers select samples for their research projects.
D)Researchers select populations for their research projects.

Question 51

The data gathered must be:

A)Simple enough to analyse quickly.
B)Adequate and it must be valid.
C)Short and concise.
D)Either quantitative or qualitative.

Question 52

Researchers are very pragmatic when it comes to research methods, they use:

A)The data collection methods that they have used before.
B)The data collection methods with which they are most familiar.
C)The data collection methods their colleagues are using.
D)Whatever data collection methods are most appropriate.

Question 53

The researcher is limited only by their own imaginations and by the issue of:

A)Time, in terms of the data collection methods they use.
B)Money, in terms of the data collection methods they use.
C)Validity, in terms of the data collection methods they use.
D)Triangulation, in terms of the data collection methods they use.