MIDTERM EXAMINATION
Spring 2010
STA630- Research Methods (Session - 2)
Marks: 47
Question No: 1 ( Marks: 1 ) - Please choose one
On which of the following, Scientific knowledge mostly relies?
► Identification of events
► Logical understanding
► Prior knowledge
► All of the given options

Question No: 2 ( Marks: 1 ) - Please choose one
All of the following are true statements about action research EXCEPT;
►Data are systematically analyzed.
► Data are collected systematically.
► Results are generalizable.
►Results are used to improve practice.

Question No: 3 ( Marks: 1 ) - Please choose one
Which of the following research questions is BEST answered using action research?
►How can I improve the interaction of students of different ethnicity in my class?
►What factors influence student interaction in multiethnic classes?
►Is there a difference between male and female acceptance of others in multiethnic classes?
►How do students from Asian countries adjust to classroom practices in U.S. schools?

Question No: 4 ( Marks: 1 ) - Please choose one
Which of the following is true about the relationship between theory building and data collection?
►When studies come out as expected, inductive support for the theory is gained.
►If an experiment fails, discarding the experiment is an example of affirming the consequent.
►When a hypothesis is not supported, virtually nothing has been learned about the theory.
►A good theory will be inclusive enough to explain every possible research outcome.

Question No: 5 ( Marks: 1 ) - Please choose one
Which of the following can best be described as a categorical variable?
►Age
►Annual income
►Grade point average
►Religion

Question No: 6 ( Marks: 1 ) - Please choose one
Which of the following is not a role of hypothesis?
►Guides the direction of the study
►Identifies relevant and irrelevant facts
►Provides framework for organizing the conclusions
►Determine feasibility of conducting the study

Question No: 7 ( Marks: 1 ) - Please choose one
Which of the following functions is performed by theoretical framework?
►Elaborates the relationship among the variables.
►Explains the logic underlying these relationships.
►Describes the nature, and direction of the relationships.
►All of the given options.

Question No: 8 ( Marks: 1 ) - Please choose one
Theoretical framework is trying to develop a ________ model of our study.
►Functional
►Conceptual
►Operational
►Practical

Question No: 9 ( Marks: 1 ) - Please choose one
What is the first step in the research process?
►Problem definition
►Define broad problem area
►Theoretical framework
►Preliminary data collection

Question No: 10 ( Marks: 1 ) - Please choose one
What should the business researcher be aware of when signing a confidentiality agreement?
►Any clause which limits the length of a questionnaire.
►Any clause which allows the company to comment on findings that will be published.
►Any clause which increases the level of access for the researcher.
►Any clause which guarantees the anonymity of research participants.

Question No: 11 ( Marks: 1 ) - Please choose one
All of the following are part of the ethics code for animal research, except;
► The researcher must be an expert about the species being studied.
► Procedures using reinforcement are preferred over those using punishment.
► Animal studies that are purely educational in purpose cannot be done.
► If the animal must be killed at the end of the study, a painless procedure must be used.

Question No: 12 ( Marks: 1 ) - Please choose one
Which of the following is not an example of deception?
► A part of the truth is not communicated to the respondent.
► To observe code of ethics.
► To leak out information regarding any confidential matter.
► To create bias between respondents before the survey.

Question No: 13 ( Marks: 1 ) - Please choose one
Which of the following BEST describes an assessment that examines students' ability to conduct a chemistry experiment in the lab?
► Aptitude
► Interest inventory
► Performance assessment
► Standardized test

Question No: 14 ( Marks: 1 ) - Please choose one
If a study is 'reliable', this means that:
► It was conducted by a reputable researcher who can be trusted.
► The measurements devised for concepts are stable on different occasions.
► The findings can be generalized to other social settings.
► The methods are stated clearly enough for the research to be replicated.

Question No: 15 ( Marks: 1 ) - Please choose one
A measure has high internal consistency reliability when:
► Multiple observers make the same ratings using the measure.
► Participants score at the high end of the scale every time they complete the measure.
► Multiple observers obtain the same score every time they use the measure.
► Each of the items correlates with other items on the measure.

Question No: 16 ( Marks: 1 ) - Please choose one
Mr. Ali has described in great detail the major steps he will follow in conducting his study. This information is likely found in which section of his research plan?


► Introduction
► Participants
► Methodology
► Data Analysis

Question No: 17 ( Marks: 1 ) - Please choose one
Which of the following is NOT a necessary component of survey research?
► Triangulation of data
► Literature review
► Data analysis
► Validity

Question No: 18 ( Marks: 1 ) - Please choose one
What should the researcher do if they have achieved a low response rate?


► Copy responses and paste them again.
► Abandon the research project entirely.
► Recognize and accept the possible limitations of a low response rate.
► Fill in some more questionnaires themselves.

Question No: 19 ( Marks: 1 ) - Please choose one
Which of the following is not an advantage of the self-completion questionnaire over the structured interview?
► It is cheaper to administer.
► It is quicker to administer.
► It is easier to prompt the interviewee.
► It is easier to remove interviewer effects.

Question No: 20 ( Marks: 1 ) - Please choose one
Cover letter must include all of the following information, except:

► How was the respondent selected?
► Importance of research topic which is going to be conducted
► Motivation for the respondent
► Data collecting tools

Question No: 21 ( Marks: 1 ) - Please choose one
The most critical area of an article to read is;
► Introduction
► Abstract
► Results section
► Limitations

Question No: 22 ( Marks: 1 ) - Please choose one
Moving up the ladder of the abstraction, concepts become _________.
► Wider In Scope
► Specific
► Measurable
► None of the given options

Question No: 23 ( Marks: 1 ) - Please choose one
Extrapolation in theory refers to:
► Making generalization on the basis of the present findings
► Limited scope of the research
► Accurately measuring the particular phenomenon at hand
► None of the given options

Question No: 24 ( Marks: 1 ) - Please choose one
Dividing a variable in concrete and observable indicators is called:

► Theory building
► Operationalization
► Propositions
► None of the given options

Question No: 25 ( Marks: 1 ) - Please choose one
Peer review refers to:


► Before publishing the review of the article by the contemporary experts
► A group of friends reviewing the article
► Reviewing one's article critically
► Critical literature review before publishing

Question No: 26 ( Marks: 1 ) - Please choose one
Which of the following is an example of categorical variable?
► Age
► Grade point average
► Gender
► Motivation

Question No: 27 ( Marks: 1 ) - Please choose one
Which of the following is elaborative exploratory pilot study?


► Focus group discussion
► Literature review
► Document analysis
► Survey

Question No: 28 ( Marks: 1 ) - Please choose one
Which of the following is the characteristic/s of Hypotheses in qualitative research studies?
► Hypotheses are very specific and stated prior to beginning the study.
► Hypotheses are never used.
► Hypotheses are often generated as the data are collected, interpreted, and analyzed.
► Hypotheses are deductively tested

Question No: 29 ( Marks: 1 ) - Please choose one
Which of the following is true about the ethics in research context?
► Ethics means to avoid plagiarism
► Ethics in the research is applied at all stages
► Goals of the research should be informed to the respondents
► All of the given options

Question No: 30 ( Marks: 1 ) - Please choose one
The degree to which the measurement questions provide ample coverage of the investigative questions usually refers to:


► Face and Content Validity
► Content and Criterion Validity
► Criterion and Predictive Validity
► None of the given options

Question No: 31 ( Marks: 1 ) - Please choose one
Personal interviews that are conducted in the shopping plazas are example of:
► Mail interviews
► Mall intercept interviews
► Shopping interview
► None of the given options

Question No: 32 ( Marks: 1 ) - Please choose one
Which of the following are the sources concepts?
► Personal experiences
► Creativity
► Observation
► All of the given options

Question No: 33 ( Marks: 1 ) - Please choose one
Why is the statement "What are the effects of extracurricular activities on children” not a good statement of a quantitative research question?
► Because the study would be too difficult to do given all the different extracurricular activities.
► Because the statement was not specific enough to provide an understanding of the actual variables being investigated.
► Because there are not enough school age children engaged in extracurricular activities to conduct the study.
► Because there is no connection between extracurricular activities and learning development.

Question No: 34 ( Marks: 1 ) - Please choose one
Which of the following terms represents the most general, broad concept?

Sponsored Links

► Apple
► Fruit
► Vegetation
► None of the given option

Question No: 35 ( Marks: 3 )
What do we mean by total design effort? And why it is necessary?



Question No: 36 ( Marks: 5 )
What is the difference between confidentiality and anonymity?

Question No: 37 ( Marks: 5 )
Why are the basic research design issues important to consider before conducting the study and even as early as at the time of formulating the research question?