Practical Research 2 – Inquiry, Quantitative & Experimental Methods

Fifty question-and-answer flashcards covering inquiry, the research process, qualitative vs. quantitative approaches, experimental designs, survey methods, and ethical considerations for Practical Research 2.

What is the primary aim of inquiry?

A. A quest for truth, information, or knowledge through questioning.

B. The final stage of data analysis in quantitative research.

C. A method used to disseminate research findings to the public.

D. The process of building a theoretical framework for a study.

How does inquiry contribute to knowledge creation?

A. It primarily involves repeating existing knowledge.

B. It mainly validates old theories without new contributions.

C. It generates a new body of knowledge and transmits it from person to person.

D. It focuses solely on the collection of quantitative data.

Which type of cognitive strategies does inquiry mainly employ?

A. Primarily employs lower-order recall strategies.

B. Mainly employs higher-order thinking strategies.

C. Exclusively uses rote memorization techniques.

D. Focuses on simple question-answer formats.

Give one way inquiry helps learners academically.

A. It primarily provides opportunities for memorizing facts.

B. It develops information literacy skills.

C. It teaches students to avoid critical thinking.

D. It only supports short-term retention of data.

Name two other benefits of inquiry besides information literacy.

A. Better short-term recall and limited creative output.

B. Opportunities for solitary work and superficial understanding.

C. Better long-term retention of information and opportunities for creative synergy.

D. Emphasis on personal opinions over factual data.

How can inquiry guide our direction of learning?

A. By strictly adhering to predefined research questions.

B. By determining what we want to investigate and evaluate in a wide range of resources.

C. By limiting sources to only peer-reviewed academic journals.

D. By relying solely on expert opinions without personal investigation.

Mention one workplace or community benefit of inquiry.

A. It encourages competitive rather than collaborative work environments.

B. It limits engagement to theoretical problems only.

C. It provides opportunities to engage in interesting studies that solve real problems.

D. It often leads to the avoidance of complex societal issues.

State the overall purpose of the research process.

A. To learn how to become lifelong learners through systematic investigation.

B. To quickly find an answer to any question without deep analysis.

C. To memorize a specific set of facts for immediate application.

D. To only confirm existing biases and beliefs.

Which three major tasks belong to Phase 1 (Conceptualization) of research?

A. Collecting data, analyzing data, and writing the report.

B. Identifying the research problem, writing the RRL, and building a theoretical or conceptual framework.

C. Sharing findings, publishing results, and receiving feedback.

D. Choosing design, defining population, and selecting data-collection methods.

What key activities occur in Phase 2 (Design and Planning)?

A. Collecting the research data and interpreting findings.

B. Identifying the research problem and writing the RRL.

C. Choosing the research design and methodology, defining the population and locale, and selecting data-collection methods.

D. Analyzing data using statistical treatment and writing the research report.

What is the main focus of Phase 3 (Empirical Phase)?

A. Building a theoretical framework.

B. Presenting research findings.

C. Collecting the research data.

D. Analyzing and interpreting data.

What happens during Phase 4 (Analytical Phase) of research?

A. Designing data collection instruments.

B. Analyzing and interpreting data using statistical treatment and writing the research report.

C. Selecting the research participants.

D. Proposing the research problem.

What is the objective of Phase 5 (Dissemination Phase)?

A. Developing the research questions.

B. Selecting a suitable theoretical framework.

C. Sharing or publishing the research findings.

D. Conducting the literature review.

Who proposed the Theory of Connected Experiences?

A. Lev Vygotsky.

B. Jerome Bruner.

C. John Dewey.

D. Jean Piaget.

What key idea about learning did John Dewey emphasize?

A. The concept of innate knowledge.

B. Continuity of experience in education.

C. The importance of strict memorization.

D. That learning is primarily an individual, isolated process.

Which psychologist developed the Zone of Proximal Development?

A. John Dewey.

B. Jean Piaget.

C. Lev Vygotsky.

D. Albert Bandura.

What instructional technique grows directly out of the ZPD concept?

A. Rote memorization.

B. Scaffolding.

C. Independent learning.

D. Direct instruction.

Name Jerome Bruner’s three modes of learner perception.

A. Visual, Auditory, Kinesthetic.

B. Concrete, Abstract, Symbolic.

C. Enactive (action), Iconic (images), and Symbolic (language/research).

D. Intuitive, Analytical, Reflective.

Define research in a single phrase.

A. A quick search for facts.

B. A systematic and intensive process of carrying out scientific analysis to generate knowledge.

C. An informal discussion among peers.

D. The act of forming an opinion without evidence.

List two primary aims of research.

A. To merely confirm biases and avoid new information.

B. To produce new knowledge and validate or utilize existing knowledge.

C. To strictly follow traditional methods without innovation.

D. To only support personal beliefs without empirical evidence.

Give three characteristics that good research should possess.

A. Vague, biased, and inconsistent.

B. Clear, objective, systematic.

C. Subjective, anecdotal, and speculative.

D. Untimely, irrelevant, and complex.

Differentiate inquiry from research in depth.

A. Inquiry and research are identical concepts.

B. Inquiry is a broad term for any question, research is limited to science.

C. Inquiry is the first level quest for knowledge; research is a deeper, more extensive, systematic quest.

D. Research is a personal reflection, while inquiry is a formal study.

What is a hypothesis?

A. A final conclusion of a study.

B. A statistical theorem.

C. A tentative explanation or prediction that can be tested by research.

D. A definitive statement of fact.

Define quantitative research in one sentence.

A. A research approach that seeks deep understanding of human experiences through non-numerical data.

B. A research approach that collects numerical data to establish relationships and test hypotheses objectively.

C. A method used exclusively for historical studies.

D. A study that primarily relies on anecdotal evidence.

What is the core goal of qualitative research?

A. To generate statistical models for predictions.

B. To establish cause-and-effect relationships between variables.

C. To gain a deeper understanding of human behavior and experiences.

D. To measure variables with numerical precision.

Name two common qualitative data-collection methods.

A. Surveys and experiments.

B. Interviews and content analysis.

C. Statistical modeling and hypothesis testing.

D. Controlled observations and numerical assessments.

Identify the philosophical root of qualitative research.

A. Positivism.

B. Rationalism.

C. Constructivism.

D. Empiricism.

Identify the philosophical root of quantitative research.

A. Constructivism.

B. Interpretivism.

C. Positivism.

D. Phenomenology.

What is the main purpose of experimental research?

A. To explore historical events.

B. To examine cause-and-effect relationships between variables.

C. To describe phenomena without intervention.

D. To gather opinions and perceptions from a large sample.

How does a quasi-experimental design differ from a true experiment?

A. It uses only observation, no intervention.

B. It includes random assignment to groups and a control group.

C. It lacks either a control group or random assignment of subjects.

D. It only involves a single group of participants.

State one requirement for a true-experimental design.

A. Manipulation of the predictor variable without control.

B. Lack of any dependent variables.

C. Random assignment of subjects to experimental and control groups.

D. Reliance on pre-existing groups only.

Describe the Pre-Test–Post-Test Control Group design.

A. Only the experimental group takes a pre-test and post-test.

B. Both groups take a pre-test; only the experimental group receives treatment; both take a post-test.

C. Neither group takes a pre-test, only a post-test.

D. Only the control group receives a treatment.

What is unique about the Solomon Four-Group design?

A. It uses only one group for both pre-test and post-test.

B. It introduces a placebo effect for all participants.

C. It combines pre-tested and non-pre-tested groups to control for testing effects.

D. It relies solely on self-report measures.

Explain a Non-Equivalent Control Group design.

A. It involves random assignment to groups and multiple interventions.

B. Similar to pre-test–post-test but without random assignment to groups.

C. It's a design where only a post-test is administered.

D. It always includes a placebo condition for the control group.

What characterizes a Time Series design?

A. A single observation point for data collection.

B. Repeated observations before and after introducing a treatment.

C. Random assignment to treatment and control groups.

D. Exclusive use of qualitative interviews.

Define non-experimental research.

A. Studies where the researcher can manipulate the predictor variable to establish causation.

B. Studies primarily focused on experimental interventions.

C. Studies where the researcher cannot manipulate the predictor variable and cannot establish true causation.

D. Research that strictly uses numerical data and statistical analysis.

What type of information do survey studies usually collect?

A. Detailed behavioral observations in natural settings.

B. Cause-and-effect relationships between variables.

C. Respondents’ attitudes, perceptions, opinions, or behaviors.

D. In-depth personal biographies of individuals.

List two strengths of survey research.

A. Limited generality and lack of confidentiality.

B. Versatility and efficiency.

C. Inability to collect opinions and high cost.

D. Difficulty in reaching a large number of respondents.

Give two ethical principles of survey research.

A. Deception and bias.

B. Lack of anonymity and pressure to participate.

C. Respect for respondents and confidentiality.

D. Manipulation of data and selective reporting.

State one key importance of quantitative research.

A. It focuses on subjective interpretations only.

B. It provides accurate measurement of variables under study.

C. It is mainly used for generating new theories without testing.

D. It emphasizes inductive reasoning over deductive reasoning.

Give one major advantage (pro) of quantitative research.

A. Results are always subjective and open to interpretation.

B. It is limited to small sample sizes.

C. Results are real and unbiased, ideal for confirming hypotheses.

D. It does not allow for statistical analysis.

Mention one common drawback (con) of quantitative research.

A. It is always quick and inexpensive to conduct.

B. It rarely requires specialized statistical knowledge.

C. It can be difficult, expensive, and time-consuming, with limited human perception.

D. It provides deep, rich insights into individual experiences.

What is the first step in writing quantitative research questions?

A. Conducting a pilot study.

B. Choosing your starting phrase or question stem.

C. Analyzing collected data.

D. Disseminating research findings.

Name one qualitative sampling technique.

A. Random sampling.

B. Stratified sampling.

C. Purposive sampling.

D. Cluster sampling.

What is the preferred sampling technique for quantitative studies?

A. Purposive sampling.

B. Convenience sampling.

C. Snowball sampling.

D. Random sampling.

How is data typically analyzed in qualitative research?

A. Using statistics, figures, or other mathematical methods.

B. Through thematic coding of verbal or textual data.

C. By conducting t-tests and ANOVAs.

D. Through regression analysis and correlation coefficients.

How is data typically analyzed in quantitative research?

A. Through thematic coding of verbal or textual data.

B. Using narrative analysis and storytelling.

C. Using statistics, figures, or other mathematical methods.

D. By conducting in-depth interviews and focus groups.

State the main focus of qualitative research.

A. The quantity, frequency, or magnitude of variables.

B. The prediction of future trends based on numerical data.

C. The quality or meaning of human experience.

D. The objective measurement of cause-and-effect relationships.

State the main focus of quantitative research.

A. The quality or meaning of human experience.

B. The quantity, frequency, or magnitude of variables.

C. The subjective interpretation of social phenomena.

D. The rich, descriptive narrative of lived experiences.

List the primary goals of quantitative research.

A. To predict, control, confirm, or test hypotheses.

B. To explore, describe, and interpret meanings.

C. To critically analyze power structures.

D. To generate new theories from observed patterns.

Why is experimental research valued for causal inference?

A. Because it focuses on numerical data exclusively.

B. Because manipulation and control allow researchers to isolate cause-and-effect relationships.

C. Because it gathers subjective perceptions from participants.

D. Because it ensures only theoretical variables are studied.

Why is experimental research valued for causal inference?

A. A researcher wants to understand the in-depth perspectives of individuals who experienced a major natural disaster. Which research approach would be most suitable?

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