Deck 16: Reporting Research Results

Question 1

A researcher wants to acknowledge that his study would have been improved if he used an experimental design instead of a quasi-experimental design. This information should appear in which section?

A) abstract
B) literature review
C) introduction
D) discussion

Answer 1

D

Question 2

Which of the following is an accurate statement about most journals' peer review process?

A) The author(s) do not know the identity of the reviewers, but the reviewers know the identity of the author(s).
B) The reviewers do not know the identity of the author(s), but the author(s) know the identity of the reviewers.
C) It is an open process so the author(s) and reviewers know the identity of the other.
D) It is an anonymous process so the author(s) and reviewers do not know the identity of the other.

Answer 2

D

Question 3

Most social science research reports are directed to ______.

A) the general public
B) teachers
C) other social scientists
D) lawmakers

Answer 3

C

Question 4

Which of the following acts of plagiarism appears to be the least common?

A) plagiarizing a few sentences
B) purchasing a paper
C) plagiarizing a table
D) plagiarizing a few paragraphs

Question 5

Bellah's model of "social science as public philosophy" is reflected in which of the following statements? Social scientists should ______.

A) maintain a rigid distinction between facts and values
B) admit values only into the formulation of research problems
C) focus explicit attention on achieving a more just society
D) reinterpret the role of political figures as in part being social scientists

Question 6

Whyte's model of participatory action research suggests which of the following?

A) Social scientists' primary focus should be on bringing their research findings into the political arena.
B) Some persons being studied should be active participants in designing the research.
C) Participant observation is the only valid method of data collection.
D) Social scientists should leave research in organization settings up to the organization's members.

Question 7

A researcher conducts a study of racial tensions in a correctional setting. During the study, the researcher explores how different stakeholders in a prison construct their beliefs about race relations. The research exemplifies which of the following?

A) the constructivist paradigm
B) covert participation
C) participatory action research
D) social science as public philosophy

Question 8

The rejection rate in top academic journals is over ______.

A) 70%
B) 50%
C) 20%

Question 9

The advisory committee for a student's thesis project ______.

A) should include only members with the same area of expertise
B) should solve for the student most of the problems that arise in carrying out the research
C) can benefit from inclusion of a representative from the setting being studied
D) will work as a collective, without a special role for the chair

Question 10

A researcher who was commissioned to write a report by an organization now feels pressure to produce a final report that meets the funding organization's expectations. This is an example of the ______.

A) constructivist paradigm
B) social science as public philosophy
C) hired gun problem
D) participatory action research

Question 11

All the following are accurate statements about the findings of Torre and Fine's participatory action research project on inmate participation in college programs EXCEPT ______.

A) those who had not participated in the program were four times more likely to be returned to custody than those who had participated
B) the benefits of program participation extended to the inmates' children
C) the cost-benefit analysis of the program indicated that the initial cost of the program outweighed the savings based on decreased recidivism rates for those who attended the program
D) the participants believed that they had benefitted from the program

Question 12

All the following are recommended practices for group projects EXCEPT ______.

A) to clearly define the responsibilities of each group member
B) to cultivate an environment in which group members assist each other
C) to designate one individual as the final editor
D) to never inform the professor about issues within the group

Question 13

What is the primary goal of evaluation research?

A) to shape social policy
B) to advance scientific knowledge
C) to organize social action
D) to earn a degree

Question 14

A discussion section does which of the following?

A) recites the literature and relationship of study findings to the literature
B) summarizes the evidence with respect to the theoretical framework of the study
C) summarizes study methods in order to lay the basis for the conclusion section
D) concludes the report by acknowledging all those who contributed to its completion

Question 15

Which section of a paper is most important for replications?

A) abstract
B) literature review
C) method
D) discussion

Question 16

Which section of a journal article will present the specific problem under study and describe the research strategy?

A) abstract
B) introduction
C) methods
D) results

Question 17

The notion that there should be a strict separation between the determination of empirical facts and the value judgment of these facts as satisfactory or unsatisfactory is related to which goal of research?

A) shaping social policy
B) advancing scientific knowledge
C) organizing social action
D) earning a degree

Question 18

"Reverse outlining" when preparing a research report means which of the following?

A) outlining a draft of the report paragraph by paragraph
B) writing the executive summary after completing the report
C) shifting back matter into the body of the report
D) outlining the first draft of the report from the end to the beginning and then reading it in that order

Question 19

The research design of Torre and Fine's participatory action research project on inmate participation in college programs involved ______.

A) quantitative and experimental
B) qualitative and quasi-experimental
C) mixed-methods and quasi-experimental
D) mixed-methods and no experimental

Question 20

An ethical research report should include all but which of the following?

A) identification of the research sponsors
B) a description of every change made in the research plans "after the fact"
C) acknowledgment of staff who made major contributions
D) suggestion of productive directions for future researchers

Question 21

Refer to the following table showing the results of a community survey.
$\begin{array}{|l|l|l|l|l|l|}\hline & \begin{array}{l}\text { Strongly } \\\text { Agree }\end{array} & \text { Agree } & \text { Undecided } & \text { Disagree } & \begin{array}{l}\text { Strongly } \\\text { Disagree }\end{array} \\\hline \begin{array}{l}\text { I support } \\\text { tougher } \\\text { enforcement. }\end{array} & 7 \% & 4 \% & 48 \% & 31 \% & 10 \% \\\hline \begin{array}{l}\text { I support } \\\text { juvenile } \\\text { curfews. }\end{array} & 40 \% & 31 \% & 13 \% & 12 \% & 4 \% \\\hline \begin{array}{l}\text { I support } \\\text { additional } \\\text { police stops. }\end{array} & 8 \% & 13 \% & 1 \% & 37 \% & 41 \% \\\hline\end{array}$

-This table is a ______.

A) frequency distribution
B) combined frequency display
C) subtable
D) compressed cross-tabular display

Question 22

Refer to the following table showing the results of a community survey.
$\begin{array}{|l|l|l|l|l|l|}\hline & \begin{array}{l}\text { Strongly } \\\text { Agree }\end{array} & \text { Agree } & \text { Undecided } & \text { Disagree } & \begin{array}{l}\text { Strongly } \\\text { Disagree }\end{array} \\\hline \begin{array}{l}\text { I support } \\\text { tougher } \\\text { enforcement. }\end{array} & 7 \% & 4 \% & 48 \% & 31 \% & 10 \% \\\hline \begin{array}{l}\text { I support } \\\text { juvenile } \\\text { curfews. }\end{array} & 40 \% & 31 \% & 13 \% & 12 \% & 4 \% \\\hline \begin{array}{l}\text { I support } \\\text { additional } \\\text { police stops. }\end{array} & 8 \% & 13 \% & 1 \% & 37 \% & 41 \% \\\hline\end{array}$

-Which of the following statements is NOT consistent with the data displayed in this table?

A) The use of tougher enforcement would receive more support than the other possibilities.
B) The least popular alternative is additional police stops.
C) Of those who strongly agree, 74% support tougher enforcement.
D) Seventy-one percent support juvenile curfews.

Question 23

Refer to the following table showing the results of a community survey.
$\begin{array}{|l|l|l|l|l|l|}\hline & \begin{array}{l}\text { Strongly } \\\text { Agree }\end{array} & \text { Agree } & \text { Undecided } & \text { Disagree } & \begin{array}{l}\text { Strongly } \\\text { Disagree }\end{array} \\\hline \begin{array}{l}\text { I support } \\\text { tougher } \\\text { enforcement. }\end{array} & 7 \% & 4 \% & 48 \% & 31 \% & 10 \% \\\hline \begin{array}{l}\text { I support } \\\text { juvenile } \\\text { curfews. }\end{array} & 40 \% & 31 \% & 13 \% & 12 \% & 4 \% \\\hline \begin{array}{l}\text { I support } \\\text { additional } \\\text { police stops. }\end{array} & 8 \% & 13 \% & 1 \% & 37 \% & 41 \% \\\hline\end{array}$

-Which of the following statements is consistent with the data displayed in the table?

A) Nine percent of the respondents strongly disagreed with the three statements.
B) Most respondents are undecided about their agreement with the three statements.
C) Fourteen percent of respondents who agree would support tougher enforcement.
D) Forty percent of respondents would strongly support juvenile curfews.

Question 24

Refer to the following table showing the association between traumatic experiences and social class.
$\begin{array}{|l|l|l|l|l|}\hline & \begin{array}{l}\text { Experienced } \\\text { Social Class } \\\text { Trauma }\end{array} & \begin{array}{l}\text { Violent } \\\text { Crime Sex } \\\text { Abuse }\end{array} & \begin{array}{l}\text { Military- } \\\text { Related }\end{array} & \begin{array}{l}\text { Domestic } \\\text { Violence }\end{array} \\\hline \text { Low } & 40 \% & 12 \% & 27 \% & 34 \% \\\hline \text { Middle } & 12 \% & 15 \% & 22 \% & 21 \% \\\hline \text { Upper } & 19 \% & 14 \% & 12 \% & 19 \% \\\hline\end{array}$

-This table is a ______.

A) cross-tabulation
B) combined frequency display
C) subtable
D) compressed cross-tabular display

Question 25

Refer to the following table showing the association between traumatic experiences and social class.
$\begin{array}{|l|l|l|l|l|}\hline & \begin{array}{l}\text { Experienced } \\\text { Social Class } \\\text { Trauma }\end{array} & \begin{array}{l}\text { Violent } \\\text { Crime Sex } \\\text { Abuse }\end{array} & \begin{array}{l}\text { Military- } \\\text { Related }\end{array} & \begin{array}{l}\text { Domestic } \\\text { Violence }\end{array} \\\hline \text { Low } & 40 \% & 12 \% & 27 \% & 34 \% \\\hline \text { Middle } & 12 \% & 15 \% & 22 \% & 21 \% \\\hline \text { Upper } & 19 \% & 14 \% & 12 \% & 19 \% \\\hline\end{array}$

-Which of the following statements is consistent with the data displayed in this table?

A) The experience of sex abuse has a positive monotonic association with social class.
B) The lower class was the modal class category.
C) There is a negative association between social class and the experience of domestic violence.
D) Military-related violence was the least common type of traumatic experience.

Question 26

Refer to the following table showing the association between traumatic experiences and social class.
$\begin{array}{|l|l|l|l|l|}\hline & \begin{array}{l}\text { Experienced } \\\text { Social Class } \\\text { Trauma }\end{array} & \begin{array}{l}\text { Violent } \\\text { Crime Sex } \\\text { Abuse }\end{array} & \begin{array}{l}\text { Military- } \\\text { Related }\end{array} & \begin{array}{l}\text { Domestic } \\\text { Violence }\end{array} \\\hline \text { Low } & 40 \% & 12 \% & 27 \% & 34 \% \\\hline \text { Middle } & 12 \% & 15 \% & 22 \% & 21 \% \\\hline \text { Upper } & 19 \% & 14 \% & 12 \% & 19 \% \\\hline\end{array}$

-Which of the following statements is NOT consistent with the data displayed in this table?

A) The experience of military-related abuse has a negative monotonic association with social class.
B) Eighty-one percent of upper-class respondents have not been victims of domestic violence.
C) Middle-class respondents are more likely to experience a violent crime than sex abuse, military-related abuse, or domestic violence.
D) The most likely victims of domestic violence are respondents from the lowest social class.

Question 27

Refer to the following table showing the results of a high school survey.
$\begin{array}{|l|l|l|l|l|}\hline & \text { Often } & \text { Sometimes } & \text { Never } & \text { Total } \\\hline \begin{array}{l}\text { I use } \\\text { alcohol. }\end{array} & 48 \% & 42 \% & 10 \% & 100 \% \\\hline \begin{array}{l}\text { I use } \\\text { marijuana. }\end{array} & 12 \% & 80 \% & 8 \% & 100 \% \\\hline \begin{array}{l}\text { I use other } \\\text { drugs. }\end{array} & 5 \% & 10 \% & 85 \% & 100 \% \\\hline\end{array}$

-This table is a ______.

A) cross-tabulation
B) combined frequency display
C) subtable
D) compressed cross-tabular display

Question 28

Refer to the following table showing the results of a high school survey.
$\begin{array}{|l|l|l|l|l|}\hline & \text { Often } & \text { Sometimes } & \text { Never } & \text { Total } \\\hline \begin{array}{l}\text { I use } \\\text { alcohol. }\end{array} & 48 \% & 42 \% & 10 \% & 100 \% \\\hline \begin{array}{l}\text { I use } \\\text { marijuana. }\end{array} & 12 \% & 80 \% & 8 \% & 100 \% \\\hline \begin{array}{l}\text { I use other } \\\text { drugs. }\end{array} & 5 \% & 10 \% & 85 \% & 100 \% \\\hline\end{array}$

-Which of the following statements is NOT consistent with the data displayed in this table?

A) Most juveniles have tried alcohol and marijuana.
B) Few juveniles have tried other drugs.
C) Only 10% of respondents have never used alcohol.
D) Sixty-five percent of respondents often use alcohol, marijuana, and other drugs.

Question 29

A researcher conducts a study on terrorist movements within the United States. Upon completing his research, he petitions Congress to present his information before them. This researcher's primary goal most likely is to do which of the following?

A) advance scientific knowledge
B) shape social policy
C) organize social action
D) obtain an academic degree

Question 30

A graduate student conducts a study on the attack patterns of al Qaeda terrorists around the world. This work is not initially published, but instead used for his dissertation. This student's primary goal most likely is to ______.

A) advance scientific knowledge
B) shape social policy
C) organize social action
D) obtain an academic degree

Question 31

Which of the following is an accurate statement about references?

A) Only sources cited multiple times need to appear in the reference page.
B) All citations in the manuscript must appear in the reference list, and all references must be cited in the text.
C) The reference list should contain a list of all citations found during a literature search regardless of whether it is used in the paper.
D) The reference list is optional.

Question 32

A researcher conducts a theoretical study of terrorist motivations, consulting the work of other major researchers in the field. The research is published in two separate academic journals. This researcher's primary goal most likely is to ______.

A) advance scientific knowledge
B) shape social policy
C) organize social action
D) obtain an academic degree

Question 33

Who makes the final decision as to whether a journal manuscript will be published?

A) the journal's editor
B) the journal's assistant editor
C) the reviewers
D) the author

Question 34

Which of the following is an accurate statement about rewriting?

A) A person only needs to rewrite a paper if he or she received negative feedback on the first draft.
B) A person only needs to rewrite a paper if he or she was rushed when writing the first draft.
C) A person should always plan to rewrite the first draft of the paper.
D) When rewriting, a person only needs to check for typos and correct references.

Question 35

Which of the following is NOT a recommended principle for engaging the public through media?

A) using technical language to play up the social importance of the study
B) focusing on issues of national concern, issues that are high on the public agenda
C) developing creative and thoughtful arguments that are clearly presented
D) presenting the big picture whereby the arguments are organized and presented so that the readers can see how the various parts are interrelated

Question 36

Which of the following is considered a goal of research?

A) advance scientific knowledge
B) shape social policy
C) organize social action
D) all of these

Question 37

Which of the following is considered a feature of participatory action research?

A) planning a change
B) acting and observing the process and consequences of the change
C) reflecting on these processes and consequences
D) all of these

Question 38

Which of the following is a true statement regarding the constructivist paradigm?

A) It is based on an acceptance of belief in an external reality.
B) It emphasizes the importance of stakeholders.
C) It aims to ignore the complexity and subjectivity of the social world.
D) all of these

Question 39

Which of the following is considered a way that you can reduce the burden of report writing?

A) Draw on the research proposal and on project notes.
B) Use a word processing program on a computer.
C) Seek criticism from friends, teachers, and other research consumers.
D) all of these

Question 40

Which of the following concepts refers to outlining the sections in an already written draft of a paper or report to improve its organization in the next draft?

A) forward outlining
B) prospective outlining
C) reverse outlining
D) none of these

Question 41

A constructivist inquiry begins collecting data on claims, concerns, and issues about which there is disagreement among stakeholder groups.

Question 42

There is usually no word limits for abstracts.

Question 43

The conclusions of an applied research report are usually ignored by the commissioned organization.

Question 44

The interrater reliability among reviewers is 100%.

Question 45

A combined frequency display eliminates unnecessary percentages and deletes repetitive labels.

Question 46

It is important to maintain a full record of the research project so that questions can be answered if they arise.

Question 47

In order to maintain confidentiality, researchers should not disclose the sponsors of their research.

Question 48

A student should always draft the paper in the order the sections will appear in the paper; for example, the student should start with the introduction and end with the discussion.

Question 49

In the literature review, the author should include a discussion of every study directly and indirectly related to her research topic.

Question 50

Only sources that are cited at least three times need to appear in the references section.

Question 51

Researchers should not begin writing a report until all data have been collected.

Question 52

A research study on citation frequency in medical journals indicated that 90% of available research was cited.

Question 53

The authors allege that the best writing is produced by waiting until the last minute to begin a research report.

Question 54

A variety of formatting styles are used in criminology.

Question 55

The discussion section of a journal article should be a concise and nonevaluative summary of your research paper.

Question 56

The results section of a journal article should discuss the relevant literature in a way that relates each previous study cited to your research, not in an exhaustive historical review.

Question 57

All citations in the manuscript must appear in the reference list, and all references must be cited in the text.

Question 58

Journal articles are usually commissioned by a particular government agency, corporation, or nonprofit organization.

Question 59

An advisory committee can help the applied researcher avoid the problems of incompatible expectations for the final report and insufficient understanding of how to use the research results.

Question 60

Are the prospects of advancing scientific knowledge impaired by having a report or project goal of influencing social policy or stimulating social action?

Question 61

Think back to Sherman and Berk's experiment on the effect of mandatory arrest on domestic violence. Which of the four report goal(s) do you believe existed for this research project?

Question 62

What are the major problems that researchers confront in writing up their research?

Question 63

List the seven standard sections within a journal article.

Question 64

List two of ethical guidelines for research report writing.

Question 65

Describe participatory action research.

Question 66

Describe the journal peer-review process.

Question 67

Describe what a mixed-methods research project report should include that is unique from non-mixed-methods research reports.

Question 68

List the four broad goals of research.

Question 69

What is plagiarism?

Question 70

Identify and summarize the five key features of participatory action research according to Kemmis and McTaggart (2005).

Question 71

Discuss how and why it is important to work with committee members when working on a thesis project.

Question 72

What are several principles William Julius Wilson (1998) outlines that he considers important when engaging the public through the media when reporting research?

Question 73

Describe some steps that you can take to educate yourself in order to reduce the likelihood of committing plagiarism.

Question 74

Discuss the utility of an advisory committee when you are working on research for an applied project and report.