Deck 4: Understanding Research Philosophy

Question 1

Questions about the nature of reality are questions of ontology.

Answer 1

True

Question 2

Decisions about which methodology is most appropriate (which is the best fit) for the project are made in light of the aim of the project, what is it that the project is to accomplish, what knowledge the project is designed to develop or create.

Answer 2

True

Question 3

The philosophical framework functionalism relates to the way in which society is structured.

Answer 3

True

Question 4

Each step in the research process, as designed by the researcher, should fit with, the purpose and focus of the research.

Question 5

Positivism, Constructivism and Interpretivism are all fundamental philosophical frameworks in social research.

Question 6

Feminism is a philosophical framework.

Question 7

Embedded in each statement of methodology are assumptions about the nature of reality.

Question 8

The methodological pyramid details or outlines the research process.

Question 9

Critical theory calls for a critical engagement with society and the way in which the structures in society privilege some groups over others.

Question 10

Questions about the nature of knowledge and the means of knowledge creation are epistemological questions.

Question 11

Every aspect of the research project, as it is designed by the researcher, should fit with the philosophical framework within which the research project is situated.

Question 12

Feminism is also an intellectual and political movement that seeks justice and quality for women.

Question 13

The five basic elements of the research process are theoretical perspective, epistemology, ontology, methodology and methods.

Question 14

Constructivists hold that individuals and groups construct in part their own realities.

Question 15

There is no debate over the nature of reality.

Question 16

Our choice and use of particular methodologies and methods relate to the assumptions about reality that we bring to our work and consequently to our theoretical perspective.

Question 17

Positivists perceive reality as being singular, objective and apart from human consciousness.

Question 18

Positivists perceive reality as being multiple and unique to each individual.

Question 19

Ontology relates to the nature of reality, to the study of the nature of being.

Question 20

Interpretivism holds that all knowledge is a matter of interpretation.

Question 21

Every research project is underpinned by:

A) A couple of staples or a very strong paper clip.
B) A philosophical framework which evidences the world view within which the research is situated.
C) The model of the research process.
D) The four frameworks approach to the research project.

Question 22

In the methodological pyramid:

A) Explains how to use the different methodologies in the research project.
B) Demonstrates the key parameters of the different methodologies.
C) The fundamental philosophies support the research methodologies which in turn support the data collection methods.
D) Is the fundamental philosophical framework of the research project.

Question 23

The researcher must be able to justify all of the decisions made in relation to:

A) The budget for the research.
C) The research.
B) The time s/he gives to the research.
D) The final presentation of the research.

Question 24

Theory is of the most fundamental importance in research.

Question 25

All research is embedded in theory.

Question 26

Questions of epistemology are:

A) Quite difficult questions to answer.
B) Questions about the nature of knowledge and the means of knowledge creation.
C) Questions related to the science of social science research.
D) Questions related to the letters that are written in relation to the research.

Question 27

Positivism holds that:

A) It is important to be positive throughout the experience of the research project.
B) The researcher should be positive that they have the knowledge necessary to carry out the research.
C) There is one objective reality; reality is singular and separate from consciousness.
D) All knowledge is a matter of interpretation.

Question 28

Concepts are the building blocks of:

A) The four frameworks approach.
C) The language of research.
B) Ethics in research.
D) Theory.

Question 29

Interpretivism holds that:

A) It is vital that the data gathered by interpreted.
B) All knowledge is a matter of interpretation.
C) Data interpretation is a specific skill.
D) There is one objective reality.

Question 30

There are two types of data that can be collected for any research project, quantitative and qualitative data.

Question 31

The issue of fit in the context of the research project means that:

A) All the different aspects of the research project should fit together.
B) That the research project should fit with all of the other assignments the student is required to complete.
C) That the researcher should be able to fit the research into their schedule.
D) That the data collection methods should fit into the time allowed for data gathering.

Question 32

The five basic elements of the research process are:

A) The aim, the objectives, the literature review, the methodology and the methods.
B) The researcher, the population, the sample, the sampling method and the data.
C) The researcher diary, the ethics of the research, the four frameworks approach, data and data analysis.
D) Theoretical perspective, ontology, epistemology, methodology and methods.

Question 33

The epistemological positions we are concerned with are:

A) Positivism, constructionism and interpretivism.
B) Quantitative and qualitative.
C) Detailed in the model of the research process.
D) Too numerous to list here.

Question 34

All research is about the generation of knowledge.

Question 35

Social constructionsim holds that:

A) Social phenomena develop in social contexts and that individuals and groups create in part their own realities.
B) There is one objective reality.
C) The research project is socially constructed by the researcher.
D) There is one reality; it is singular and separate from consciousness.

Question 36

Positivism, Constructivism and Interpretivism are:

A) Data gathering methods.
C) Data management techniques.
B) Data analysis techniques.
D) Fundamental philosophical frameworks

Question 37

All research is about the generation of information.

Question 38

All research carried out in an academic setting is embedded in theory.

Question 39

Questions of ontology are :

A) Quite difficult questions to answer.
B) Questions about the methodology to be used in the research project.
C) Questions about the data gathering methods to be used.
D) Questions about the nature of reality.

Question 40

Survey, Case Study and Grounded Theory are:

A) Fundamental philisophical frameworks
C) Data gathering methods.
B) Research methodologies.
D) Data management techniques.

Question 41

The theoretical framework is created from:

A) Theory relevant to the research project.
B) Data relevant to the research project.
C) Ideas relevant to the research project.
D) Statistics relevant to the research project.

Question 42

Name five of the philosophical frameworks commonly used in social research.

Question 43

The researcher makes a contribution to knowledge by:

A) Knitting their research into the body of knowledge in the area within which they have situated the research project.
B) Completing the research project.
C) Using the four frameworks approach to the research project.
D) Learning the model of the research process off by heart.

Question 44

Within a framework of positivism reality is:

A) Singular, objectives and apart from participants.
B) Multiple.
C) Social constructed.
D) Variously interpreted.

Question 45

At all stages through the research, you should be clear as to the relevance of what you are doing to the:

A) Tasks you set yourself each day.
C) Aim of your research.
B) College or University.
D) Global business community.

Question 46

All research is about the generation of:

A) Money.
C) Numerical data.
B) Statistics.
D) Knowledge.

Question 47

Quantitative data is data in the form of:

A) Visual images.
C) Impressions and understandings.
B) Maps, drawings and cartoons.
D) Numbers, numerical data.

Question 48

Every theory is made up of a number of:

A) Statistics
C) Numbers.
B) Concepts.
D) Conceptual frameworks.

Question 49

The conceptual framework is contained in:

A) The literature review.
C) The research statement or question.
B) The data analysis.
D) The conclusions and recommendations.

Question 50

Observation, Questionnaires, Interviews and Focus Groups are all :

A) Data gathering methods
C) Fundamental philosophies.
B) Data management techniques
D) Elements of the theoretical framework.

Question 51

Qualitative data is:

A) Numerical data.
B) Non numerical data, data that represent feelings, thoughts, ideas, understandings.
C) Data in the form of graphs and charts.
D) Data in the form of numbers.

Question 52

The theoretical debate is:

A) Somewhat tedious.
B) Long and laborious.
C) Conducted by and among all the theorists (researchers) working in the field.
D) Conducted by senior academics.

Question 53

When beginning the process of developing a research proposal, what are the questions you must ask yourself?

Question 54

Define positivism, social constructionism and interpretivism.