Question 1

What is the definition of the term data?
A) a numeric value within a specified range
B) information collected on characteristics
C) a collection of numbers within a set
D) positive or negative numeric values

Accepted Answer

Data refers to information collected on characteristics, which can include various types of information, not just numeric values.

Question 2

What distinguishes data from a number or numbers?
A) Both terms are interchangeable.
B) Numbers with unit measures are data.
C) Data are numbers with attached meaning.
D) A number collected on a topic is data.

Accepted Answer

Data are distinguished from mere numbers by the attached meaning, context, or interpretation that makes them informative or useful for analysis, decision-making, or conveying information.

Question 3

What does the term raw data refer to?
A) information gathered but not processed
B) naked numbers without any units
C) data that are outside of a database
D) numeric values from multiple sources

Accepted Answer

Raw data refers to information that has been collected but not yet processed or analyzed. It is the initial data input that is later transformed and analyzed for various purposes.

Question 4

Which of the following is an observational unit?
A) each row of a data set
B) a data set within a database
C) an individual entity
D) a variable in a data set

Accepted Answer

An observational unit is an individual entity about which data is collected, such as a person, animal, or object.

Question 5

In longitudinal studies, what does the term observation refer to?
A) data for each time point
B) value for each study subject
C) each row in a data set
D) all rows for a time point

Accepted Answer

In longitudinal studies, an observation typically refers to the data collected at each time point for a study subject.

Question 6

What is a variable?
A) a data field or data column
B) a characteristic that varies
C) a row in a data set
D) a level of aggregation

Accepted Answer

A variable is a characteristic that varies among units being studied, meaning it can take on different values or attributes.

Question 7

What does the term "data set" mean?
A) a table within a database
B) collection of different data points
C) case information on set variables
D) rows and columns of data

Accepted Answer

The answer of What does the term "data set" mean?
A)...

Question 8

What factor differentiates quantitative research from qualitative research?
A) the method for data collection
B) statistical methods for analysis
C) the types of variables used
D) numbers are used as evidence

Accepted Answer

The answer of What factor differentiates quantitative research from qualitative...

Question 9

Which of the following best describes inductive research?
A) outlines a theory from observation
B) uses data to develop a theory
C) generates a hypothesis
D) tests a hypothesis using data

Accepted Answer

Inductive research involves collecting data and then developing a theory based on the patterns observed in the data.

Question 10

What does the term deductive research refer to?
A) testing a hypothesis using data
B) using data to build a theory
C) build a theory from observation
D) develop a hypothesis

Accepted Answer

Deductive research refers to the process of testing a hypothesis using data. It starts with a general theory or hypothesis and then tests it by applying it to specific cases or data.

Question 11

In research terminology, what does the word "theory" mean?
A) a hypothetical explanation of some social event
B) an idea about some aspect of the world
C) a hypothesis developed from observation or data
D) an explanation of some phenomena

Accepted Answer

The answer of In research terminology, what does the word...

Question 12

An assumption is made that adults between the ages of 18-25 have more points on their driving record than adults aged 26-60 years. Data are collected from the driving records of a random sample to test this assumption. What type of research does this signify?
A) descriptive
B) inductive
C) empirical
D) deductive

Accepted Answer

The answer of An assumption is made that adults between...

Question 13

Which of the following best describes the term "hypothesis?"
A) a theory or idea based on empirical evidence
B) a statement predicting association between two variables
C) a conclusion made based on data analysis
D) a conjecture on correlation between several variables

Accepted Answer

A hypothesis is a statement predicting the association or relationship between two variables, often formulated as a testable prediction in scientific research.

Question 14

A statistical model is developed by a team of researchers who predict the probability of a financial debt going bad after 90 days. The prediction made by the model is based on several variables such as age, education, credit score, and average savings balance of the debtor. Which is the dependent variable in this model?
A) probability of bad debt
B) age of debtor
C) education of debtor
D) average savings balance

Accepted Answer

The dependent variable is the outcome the model is predicting, which in this case is the "probability of bad debt" after 90 days. The other variables (age, education, credit score, and average savings balance) are independent variables used to predict this outcome.

Question 15

What are the components of a research circle?
A) inductive, deductive
B) descriptive, deductive, inductive
C) deductive, empirical, descriptive
D) descriptive, deductive

Accepted Answer

Research circles involve descriptive research to detail and describe the phenomena being studied, deductive research to test hypotheses and theories, and inductive research to generate new theories based on observed data.

Question 16

A telecommunications company seeks to classify its customers based on their network usage and revenue generated per customer. Which type of goal does this research fall under?
A) exploratory
B) evaluation
C) descriptive
D) explanatory

Accepted Answer

Classifying customers based on specific criteria like network usage and revenue generated is aimed at describing characteristics of the company's customer base, which aligns with the goal of descriptive research.

Question 17

Which of the following statements best describes the goal of exploratory research?
A) understand how a phenomenon works
B) identify cause and effect relationship
C) describe a pattern in the data
D) explore several variables in data

Accepted Answer

Exploratory research aims to understand how a phenomenon works by investigating it without a predefined hypothesis, allowing researchers to gain insights and familiarity with the subject.

Question 18

What is primary goal of evaluation research?
A) approve a government policy
B) gauge impact of social programs
C) assess the impact of programs
D) identify the effect of public policy

Accepted Answer

Evaluation research aims to assess the impact of programs, policies, or interventions.

Question 19

What does the term "reporting" refer to?
A) graph numeric variables
B) create tables of numbers
C) create a summary of the data
D) present numbers for analysis

Accepted Answer

The answer of What does the term "reporting" refer to?
A)...

Question 20

Which of the following defines the expression "interpret numbers?"
A) explain how numbers answer a question
B) present numbers in a chart or table
C) identify how variables are associated
D) make a decision with numbers

Accepted Answer

Interpreting numbers involves explaining how numbers answer a question or provide insight into a problem, rather than just presenting them in a visual format or identifying associations between variables.

Quiz 2: Foundational Concepts for Quantitative Research

What is the definition of the term data?

What distinguishes data from a number or numbers?

What does the term raw data refer to?

Which of the following is an observational unit?

In longitudinal studies, what does the term observation refer to?

What is a variable?

What does the term "data set" mean?

What factor differentiates quantitative research from qualitative research?

Which of the following best describes inductive research?

What does the term deductive research refer to?

In research terminology, what does the word "theory" mean?

An assumption is made that adults between the ages of 18-25 have more points on their driving record than adults aged 26-60 years. Data are collected from the driving records of a random sample to test this assumption. What type of research does this signify?

Which of the following best describes the term "hypothesis?"

What are the components of a research circle?

A telecommunications company seeks to classify its customers based on their network usage and revenue generated per customer. Which type of goal does this research fall under?

Which of the following statements best describes the goal of exploratory research?

What is primary goal of evaluation research?

What does the term "reporting" refer to?

Which of the following defines the expression "interpret numbers?"