Question 1

There is a linear sequence of activities that investigators follow when planning and implementing a study; these tasks build on one another and do not allow for reengagement with previous steps.

Accepted Answer

Research methodology often involves an iterative process where investigators may revisit and revise earlier steps based on new insights, findings, or challenges encountered during the study.

Question 2

All quantitative studies should have a research hypothesis.

Accepted Answer

Not all quantitative studies require a research hypothesis. Descriptive studies, for example, aim to accurately describe characteristics of a population or phenomenon without testing a specific hypothesis.

Question 3

In order to ensure ethical research, a panel of individuals external to the institution in which a study is taking place must conduct the ethical review in order to ensure independence.

Accepted Answer

Ethical reviews can be conducted by an institution's own internal review board (IRB) or ethics committee, which is designed to ensure ethical standards are met within research projects. External review can enhance independence but is not a requirement for ethical research.

Question 4

A qualitative investigator's interpretation of a study's findings can be a highly creative process in which the researcher's theoretical background and knowledge of the subjects and their life contexts comes into play.

Accepted Answer

Qualitative research involves interpreting data through a lens shaped by the researcher's theoretical perspectives, knowledge of the subject matter, and understanding of the participants' social and cultural contexts, making it a creative and subjective process.

Question 5

An attitude of skepticism in the scientific community is viewed as counter-productive, as it indicates a resistance toward research and knowledge production.

Accepted Answer

Skepticism in the scientific community is considered essential as it drives questioning, critical analysis, and the rigorous testing of hypotheses, leading to more robust and reliable scientific knowledge.

Question 6

Ethical review is a process utilized for all studies involving human or animal experiments. It has multiple objectives. Which of the following is not one of them?&#10;A) To protect subjects from harm&#10;B) To ensure that experimental control studies do not withhold treatment if it is hypothesized to be of benefit to the subjects&#10;C) To ensure that subjects' efforts and any risks involved are warranted by the study's importance&#10;D) To ensure subjects freely give informed consent to participate

Accepted Answer

The primary goal of ethical review is to protect subjects from harm, ensure that the risks are justified by the potential benefits, and that subjects give informed consent. It does not specifically aim to ensure that control studies do not withhold treatment hypothesized to be beneficial, as control studies often require a comparison between a treatment group and a control group to determine the efficacy of the treatment.

Question 7

When selecting a research methodology, an investigator will determine many of the characteristics of the study. Which of the following is not part of the research methodology?&#10;A) Research design&#10;B) Ethical approvals&#10;C) Sampling approach&#10;D) Data collection approach

Accepted Answer

Ethical approvals are not part of the research methodology itself but are a necessary step in the research process to ensure the study is conducted ethically. Research methodology focuses on the design, sampling, and data collection aspects of a study.

Question 8

Which of the following sections would not be included in the findings of a study?&#10;A) A statement of alternative explanations to the ones offered and specification that there were no problems in the data set (or explanation if there were)&#10;B) Analysis of the outcomes with respect to prior studies and within the existing background literature&#10;C) A statement of replicability, to promote the rigor of a study&#10;D) Specification of the degree of confidence that should be placed in the findings

Accepted Answer

The findings of a study typically include the results and their interpretation, alternative explanations, and the degree of confidence in the findings. A statement of replicability is more appropriate for the methodology section, where the procedures of the study are described in detail to allow for replication by other researchers.

Question 9

What is the definition of communality with regard to conducting research?&#10;A) A recognition that research studies should be done in a naturalistic setting (within the community) to promote the validity of the findings&#10;B) A scientific movement where there is an increased focus on interdisciplinary developed research&#10;C) An obligation for practitioners to share in the responsibility for generating knowledge relevant to the field&#10;D) A context wherein research takes place within a community of scientists who critique and evaluate a study's findings in light of the existing body of literature

Accepted Answer

Communality in research refers to the collaborative nature of the scientific community, where research findings are shared, critiqued, and evaluated by peers. This process helps in validating the research and ensuring it contributes meaningfully to the existing body of knowledge.

Question 10

Research studies are disseminated to the public for expanding knowledge; two characteristics related to this are their verifiability and replicability. Which of the following statements is false regarding these two measures?

A) Verifiability requires the provision of sufficient explanation so that others can understand exactly what was done and how the conclusions of the study were generated.
B) Replicability requires the provision of sufficient explanation so that others can repeat the study to see if the same results are obtained.
C) Both are specific only to quantitative studies.
D) Both are characteristics that should be demonstrated when creating a sound research study.

Accepted Answer

Verifiability and replicability are not specific only to quantitative studies; they are important in qualitative studies as well, ensuring the integrity and reliability of research across different methodologies.

Question 11

Match the following characteristics of sound research with their respective attributes (some items may be used more than once).

-Knowledge may be systematically linked to a phenomenon, being explained through a process of making observations of a phenomenon, then empirically examining those observations.