Deck 2: Overview of the Educational Research Process

Question 1

Which of the following is true regarding data analysis?

A) It does not differ by methodology.
B) It occurs at different points in the process.
C) It occurs after data have been collected.
D) It is always objective.

Answer 1

B

Question 2

Topics for educational research should be of interest to the researcher because ______.

A) he or she has experience in/related to the research topic area
B) conducting a research study is a substantial investment
C) familiar topics are easiest to manage
D) conducting a research study is not a substantial investment

Answer 2

B

Question 3

The educational research process is ______.

A) cyclical
B) linear
C) divergent
D) redundant

Answer 3

A

Question 4

Types of related literature to review include ______.

A) primary and secondary sources
B) primary and final sources
C) initial and final sources
D) initial and secondary sources

Question 5

The identification, specification, and articulation of the research problem emerges from ______.

A) the researcher's expertise
B) following the steps in the process of conducting educational research
C) primary sources
D) the literature review

Question 6

Deciding exactly what to study is the ______.

A) first step in the educational research process
B) second step in the educational research process
C) third step in the educational research process
D) last step in the educational research process

Question 7

Researchers collect data through various formats; field notes and policy manuals are ______.

A) interviews and existing documents
B) existing documents and observations
C) observations and existing documents
D) existing documents and interviews

Question 8

What are the three broad categories of data collection suggested by Fraenkel and Wallen (2003)?

A) observation, interviews, and polling
B) observation, interviews, and existing documents
C) existing documents, polling, and review
D) interviews, polling, and review

Question 9

Which of the following is one of the criteria used to evaluate existing literature?

A) the subjectivity of the published research
B) if has been subjected to personal review
C) if it is a secondary or tertiary source
D) if it is empirical or opinion-based

Question 10

Prior research on a topic may illustrate which of the following for a new study?

A) a feasible timeline
B) a reasonable budget
C) researcher training
D) an existing need

Question 11

There is nothing more important in terms of identifying an initial topic for research than ______.

A) a feasible timeline
B) a reasonable budget
C) researcher training
D) an existing need

Question 12

Quantitative data analysis is ______, whereas qualitative data analysis is highly ______.

A) objective; subjective
B) controlled; free
C) subjective; objective
D) free; controlled

Question 13

Which of the following is true about data collected in the research study?

A) Data are costly for the researcher to purchase.
B) They must match the research questions.
C) They typically require transformation.
D) Data must be made available to the public.

Question 14

Which is true of the educational research process?

A) The outcomes of one study rarely, if ever, impact other studies.
B) It is linear.
C) It is rarely cyclical.
D) The conclusions of one study can impact the literature review of another.

Question 15

How many steps are there in the educational research process?

A) six
B) seven
C) eight
D) nine

Question 16

When compiling and synthesizing literature, it is important to remember that ______.

A) all research topics are similar in most ways
B) all research topics are similar in many ways
C) all research topics are different
D) research topics generally overlap despite their differences

Question 17

What is Step 4 in the educational research process?

A) writing a literature review
B) formally stating and refining research question(s)
C) developing a research plan
D) stating the findings as determined through data analyses

Question 18

How many research questions should you have?

A) one or more
B) only one
C) more than one
D) at least two

Question 19

Which of the following is necessary to begin developing a research plan?

A) to determine the most easily studied topic
B) to develop research questions
C) to specify how a study will be conducted
D) to determine a journal for publication

Question 20

Which of the following can be helpful for conducting an educational research study?

A) considering the study's manageability and time commitment involved
B) knowledge of one research design
C) colleagues who can assist you
D) time off from other commitments

Question 21

How the research study will actually be conducted is known as the ______.

A) executive plan
B) research plan
C) research method
D) executive method

Question 22

The basic goal of nearly all research studies is to ______.

A) find answers to questions
B) be published
C) ask questions about students
D) convince others

Question 23

"______" can be loosely defined as any existing source of information that sheds light on the topic under investigation.

A) Reproducible literature
B) Related literature
C) Reiterated literature
D) Recycled literature

Question 24

In ______ research studies, data analysis, typically, begins during data collection, continues throughout the remainder of the process of collecting data, and is completed following data collection.

A) qualitative
B) quantitative
C) mixed-methods
D) survey-based

Question 25

Often, collection of ______ requires the least amount of time.

A) surveys
B) observation
C) interviews
D) existing data

Question 26

Which of the following is a method of data collection?

A) article analyses
B) observation
C) counting
D) personal review

Question 27

There is likely nothing more important in terms of identifying an initial research topic than an existing ______.

A) hypothesis
B) need
C) study
D) journal article

Question 28

The majority of evidence that includes the justification and rationale for why a research topic is worthy of being studied will be found in the ______.

A) body of related research literature
B) conclusion
C) results
D) introduction

Question 29

Researchers collect data through various formats; questionnaires and student portfolios are ______.

A) interviews and existing documents
B) existing documents and observations
C) observations and existing documents
D) existing documents and interviews

Question 30

Which of the following will help a researcher specify exactly how a study will be conducted?

A) How will the quality of data be ensured?
B) Where can this be published?
C) Do I (the researcher) have an interest in this particular topic?
D) How a study will be conducted cannot be determined prior to conducting the research study.

Question 31

Which section of an educational research reports do readers sometimes "skip ahead" and read?

A) data analysis
B) final conclusions
C) research questions
D) literature review

Question 32

______ data can be collected through the use of field notes, journals, or even videotaping.

A) Questionnaire
B) Examination
C) Observational
D) Existing

Question 33

The first--and arguably the most critical--decision for any educational research study is ______.

A) exactly when to begin the study
B) exactly when to end the study
C) exactly what to study
D) exactly how to select participants

Question 34

Which of the following provides the necessary groundwork to begin developing a plan to conduct an educational research study?

A) specification of the research problem, development of research questions, and a thorough review of the existing body of literature
B) specification of the research problem and development of research questions
C) specification of the research problem and a thorough review of the existing body of literature
D) determining one's own interests within the field of education

Question 35

In ______ research studies, data analysis typically occurs following the completion of all data collection.

A) qualitative
B) quantitative
C) mixed-methods
D) interview

Question 36

Researchers collect data through various formats; attendance records and journals are ______.

A) interviews and existing documents
B) existing documents and observations
C) observations and existing documents
D) existing documents and interviews

Question 37

______ analysis of data is a very objective process, and ______ analysis of data is a highly subjective process.

A) Qualitative; quantitative
B) Ethnographic; phenomenological
C) Phenomenological; ethnographic
D) Quantitative; qualitative

Question 38

Which type of data analysis capitalizes on the "best of both worlds?"

A) qualitative
B) quantitative
C) polyangulation
D) mixed methods

Question 39

______ might include attendance records, minutes of faculty meetings, policy manuals, and student portfolios.

A) Constant data
B) Observations
C) Questionnaires
D) Existing documents

Question 40

Once the research topic or problem has been clearly identified, the next step is to ______.

A) conduct a literature review
B) identify potential expenses
C) write a hypothesis or hypotheses
D) formally state one or more research questions

Question 41

There can be overlap between categories of data collection.

Question 42

Analysis of data in ______ studies involves both kinds of data analysis and essentially merges the results.

A) immersion
B) mixed-methods
C) dual
D) engagement

Question 43

It is uncommon for multiple researchers to arrive at different results and conclusions after analyzing qualitative data.

Question 44

Researchers have a responsibility to provide a rationale for why a particular topic or problem is worthy of being studied.

Question 45

The purpose behind stating conclusions and recommendations is to take the answers to the research questions and contextualize them with respect to ______.

A) opposite fields of study
B) systems of education in their particular state
C) the local community
D) the broader field of education

Question 46

Aspects of one study (e.g., conclusions, methods, literature review, etc.) should never influence and guide subsequent studies.

Question 47

In qualitative research studies, data analysis typically occurs following the completion of all data collection.

Question 48

Compiling and synthesizing literature related to a given topic is a straightforward process.

Question 49

______ data analysis involves statistical techniques and is typically accomplished using statistical analysis software.

A) Quantitative
B) Qualitative
C) Mixed-methods
D) Interview

Question 50

______ data analysis is an inductive process that must be facilitated in the mind of the researcher.

A) Quantitative
B) Qualitative
C) Mixed-methods
D) Experimental

Question 51

Surveys, checklists, interviews, and questionnaires are different types of observational data.

Question 52

The literature review should have little influence on the identification, specification, and articulation of the research problem.

Question 53

If a researcher wishes to collect observational data, he or she may opt to videotape the participants.

Question 54

Existing documents consist of student portfolios and minutes of faculty meetings.

Question 55

A key factor in identifying a topic for a research study is verifying whether the potential topic is, in fact, a genuine problem.

Question 56

Future research should likely make a contribution to the body of research in a particular field of study.

Question 57

If a researcher wishes to collect interview data, he or she may use a checklist for data collection.

Question 58

Interview data must be collected orally and in-person.

Question 59

If a researcher wishes to examine existing records or documents, he or she may opt to administer a questionnaire to the participants.

Question 60

Personal interest is a huge factor in deciding on an initial topic for educational research.

Question 61

Why isn't there a "magical formula" for writing a literature review?

Question 62

How is qualitative analysis a subjective process?

Question 63

How is quantitative data analysis an objective process?

Question 64

The text states, "Care must be taken to ensure that the [research] question is actually answerable by data the researcher is able to collect." Explain why this is important.

Question 65

Summarize the process of qualitative data analysis.

Question 66

Summarize the process of quantitative data analysis.

Question 67

Why is it important for a research study to have existing need?

Question 68

Explain why "carefully wording a research question" is a critical aspect of conducting educational research.

Question 69

Outline the researcher's role in stating findings, conclusions, and recommendations in a written report.

Question 70

The analysis of data is discussed in this chapter. The analysis of one type of data results in an objective process, and the analysis of the other type of data results in a subjective process. This question has three parts: (1) identify each type of data, (2) determine whether it is analyzed objectively or subjectively, and (3) explain why.

Question 71

Describe how and why it is important to formally state and refine the research question(s).

Question 72

What questions must the researcher answer when attempting to contextualize his or her results?

Question 73

What key questions should be asked about the research plan?

Question 74

Why does it matter that the problem at hand is, in fact, a genuine problem?

Question 75

The text states, "Care must be taken to evaluate the existing literature against several criteria." Provide at least two of these criteria.

Question 76

Summarize the process of mixed-methods data analysis.

Question 77

Why is it important for the researcher to have personal interest in the study topic?