Deck 2: The Scientific Approach in Education

Question 1

Which one of the following terms is not a construct?

A) Anxiety
B) Intelligence
C) Reading score
D) Achievement motivation
E) Arithmetic readiness

Answer 1

C

Question 2

Which of the following represents an operational definition of intelligence?

A) The ability to solve problems
B) The ability to adapt to new situations
C) The scores made on the Stanford-Binet test
D) The knowledge that one has acquired through life experiences

Answer 2

C

Question 3

Which of the following is a categorical variable?

A) Achievement motivation
B) Scholastic aptitude
C) National origin
D) Social maturity

Answer 3

C

Question 4

Exhibit 2-2: Examine the following list of research titles, then determine whether the italicized part of each title is an independent variable, a dependent variable, or a variable but impossible to determine whether independent or dependent.
Refer to Exhibit 2-2.The relationship between social maturity and popularity among peers in high school.

A) an independent variable.
B) a dependent variable.
C) a variable but impossible to determine whether a or

Question 5

Exhibit 2-1: Based on the title of the following research studies, classify each according to the research method employed in the study.
Refer to Exhibit 2-1.The relationship between social class and academic achievement.

A) survey
B) historical
C) ex post facto
D) experimental
E) qualitative

Question 6

Exhibit 2-1: Based on the title of the following research studies, classify each according to the research method employed in the study.
Refer to Exhibit 2-1.An observational study of drug consumption in a natural setting.

A) survey
B) historical
C) ex post facto
D) experimental
E) qualitative

Question 7

Exhibit 2-1: Based on the title of the following research studies, classify each according to the research method employed in the study.
Refer to Exhibit 2-1.Role and career problems of the Chicago public school teacher.

A) survey
B) historical
C) ex post facto
D) experimental
E) qualitative

Question 8

The main difference between the experimental and ex post facto methods of research is the

A) time span of study.
B) setting of the research.
C) manipulation of the independent variable.
D) statistical design of the study.

Question 9

Exhibit 2-1: Based on the title of the following research studies, classify each according to the research method employed in the study.
Refer to Exhibit 2-1.Effect of parental divorce on the school achievement of children.

A) survey
B) historical
C) ex post facto
D) experimental
E) qualitative

Question 10

Exhibit 2-1: Based on the title of the following research studies, classify each according to the research method employed in the study.
Refer to Exhibit 2-1.The effect of sociometric grouping upon learning in a second grade classroom.

A) survey
B) historical
C) ex post facto
D) experimental
E) qualitative

Question 11

Exhibit 2-2: Examine the following list of research titles, then determine whether the italicized part of each title is an independent variable, a dependent variable, or a variable but impossible to determine whether independent or dependent.
Refer to Exhibit 2-2.The effect of the use of instructional technology on college algebra achievement.

A) an independent variable.
B) a dependent variable.
C) a variable but impossible to determine whether a or

Question 12

Which one of the following is a continuous variable?

A) Problem-solving ability
B) Scholastic aptitude
C) Verbal reasoning
D) a and b
E) a, b, and c

Question 13

Study A investigated the effect of intelligence on the speed of completion of a problem-solving task.Study B investigated the effect of an early stimulating environment on the intelligence of children.The variable intelligence is the

A) independent variable in Study A and the dependent variable in Study B.
B) dependent variable in Study A and the independent variable in Study B.
C) independent variable in both Study A and Study B.
D) dependent variable in both Study A and Study B.

Question 14

Exhibit 2-1: Based on the title of the following research studies, classify each according to the research method employed in the study.
Refer to Exhibit 2-1.Walter White and Atlanta NAACP's fight for equal schools 1916-1917.

A) survey
B) historical
C) ex post facto
D) experimental
E) qualitative

Question 15

A study investigated the effect of kindergarten experience on the amount of anxiety shown by first graders in the classroom.In this study the dependent variable was

A) anxiety.
B) grade level.
C) kindergarten experience.
D) school success.

Question 16

Exhibit 2-2: Examine the following list of research titles, then determine whether the italicized part of each title is an independent variable, a dependent variable, or a variable but impossible to determine whether independent or dependent.
Refer to Exhibit 2-2.The relationship between teacher expectation and the achievement of students

A) an independent variable.
B) a dependent variable.
C) a variable but impossible to determine whether a or

Question 17

Exhibit 2-1: Based on the title of the following research studies, classify each according to the research method employed in the study.
Refer to Exhibit 2-1.Origins of the terms "major" and "minor" in American higher education.

A) survey
B) historical
C) ex post facto
D) experimental
E) qualitative

Question 18

Exhibit 2-2: Examine the following list of research titles, then determine whether the italicized part of each title is an independent variable, a dependent variable, or a variable but impossible to determine whether independent or dependent.
Refer to Exhibit 2-2.The effect of computer-assisted instruction on the reading achievement of elementary school students.

A) an independent variable.
B) a dependent variable.
C) a variable but impossible to determine whether a or

Question 19

In which one of the following types of studies is classification of variables as absolutely independent or dependent not possible?

A) Experimental research
B) Correlational research
C) Longitudinal research
D) Ex post facto

Question 20

Exhibit 2-1: Based on the title of the following research studies, classify each according to the research method employed in the study.
Refer to Exhibit 2-1.Effect of questioning techniques on student's learning.

A) survey
B) historical
C) ex post facto
D) experimental
E) qualitative

Question 21

Exhibit 2-2: Examine the following list of research titles, then determine whether the italicized part of each title is an independent variable, a dependent variable, or a variable but impossible to determine whether independent or dependent.
Refer to Exhibit 2-2.Relationship of locus of control and self-esteem and academic achievement.

A) an independent variable.
B) a dependent variable.
C) a variable but impossible to determine whether a or

Question 22

Exhibit 2-2: Examine the following list of research titles, then determine whether the italicized part of each title is an independent variable, a dependent variable, or a variable but impossible to determine whether independent or dependent.
Refer to Exhibit 2-2.The effect of social reinforcement on shaping children's judgments.

A) an independent variable.
B) a dependent variable.
C) a variable but impossible to determine whether a or

Question 23

A study has been designed to investigate the effect of homogeneous grouping on the school performance and self-concept of elementary school children.In this study

A) homogeneous grouping and self-concept are the independent variables.
B) homogeneous grouping and elementary school level are the independent variables.
C) school performance and self-concept are the dependent variables.
D) homogeneous grouping is the only independent variable and school performance is the only dependent variable.

Question 24

The effect of wait time on verbal behavior of kindergarten children was investigated.In this study the dependent variable was

A) wait time.
B) verbal behavior
C) kindergarten experience.
D) kindergarten children.

Question 25

Research on the human genome would be classified as

A) applied research.
B) basic research.
C) qualitative research.
D) descriptive research.

Question 26

Exhibit 2-3: In a study designed to investigate the effect of self-recitation on recall, an investigator asked two groups of 10-year-olds to memorize a number of statements.The subjects of Group I were told to read the statements repeatedly.The subjects of Group II were told to read the statements repeatedly and also to spend some of their time to test their recall by self-recitation.Later, both groups were given a test of memory for the statements.Statistical analysis of the scores showed that the subjects of Group II obtained significantly higher scores than those of Group I.
Refer to Exhibit 2-3.The memory test scores in this study were

A) the dependent variable.
B) the independent variable.
C) a constant.

Question 27

Exhibit 2-3: In a study designed to investigate the effect of self-recitation on recall, an investigator asked two groups of 10-year-olds to memorize a number of statements.The subjects of Group I were told to read the statements repeatedly.The subjects of Group II were told to read the statements repeatedly and also to spend some of their time to test their recall by self-recitation.Later, both groups were given a test of memory for the statements.Statistical analysis of the scores showed that the subjects of Group II obtained significantly higher scores than those of Group I.
Refer to Exhibit 2-3.The operational definition of recall was

A) the ability to recollect learned statements.
B) the scores on the memory test.
C) not included in the summary.
D) the ability to reproduce the statements accurately.

Question 28

Exhibit 2-2: Examine the following list of research titles, then determine whether the italicized part of each title is an independent variable, a dependent variable, or a variable but impossible to determine whether independent or dependent.
Refer to Exhibit 2-2.The effects of mastery and aptitude on learning and retention.

A) an independent variable.
B) a dependent variable.
C) a variable but impossible to determine whether a or

Question 29

Operational definitions are used in research in order to

A) enrich the scientific language.
B) bridge the gap between theory and observation.
C) increase the probability that experiments will succeed.
D) convey the general nature of the phenomenon being investigated.
E) make educational research more easily understood by laymen.

Question 30

Exhibit 2-2: Examine the following list of research titles, then determine whether the italicized part of each title is an independent variable, a dependent variable, or a variable but impossible to determine whether independent or dependent.
Refer to Exhibit 2-2.The relationship between study methods and academic performance.

A) an independent variable.
B) a dependent variable.
C) a variable but impossible to determine whether a or

Question 31

Which one of the following is a categorical variable?

A) Achievement
B) Learning
C) Gender
D) Scholastic aptitude

Question 32

Exhibit 2-4: Choose the research methodology that would be most appropriate for investigating each of the following research questions.
Refer to Exhibit 2-4.Do students who are exposed to multimedia technology in a high school physics class exhibit greater mastery of the subject than do those students who are not exposed?

A) Ex post facto
B) Correlational
C) Experimental
D) Historical
E) Survey

Question 33

Exhibit 2-2: Examine the following list of research titles, then determine whether the italicized part of each title is an independent variable, a dependent variable, or a variable but impossible to determine whether independent or dependent.
Refer to Exhibit 2-2.The influence of advance organizers on learning the subsequently presented materials.

A) an independent variable.
B) a dependent variable.
C) a variable but impossible to determine whether a or

Question 34

The main difference between a true- and a quasi-experiment is whether the independent variable can be

A) operationalized.
B) measured.
C) analyzed.
D) randomized.

Question 35

"The concept attitude refers to a tendency to respond to a particular object with a positive or negative orientation." This is an example of a(n)

A) hypothesis.
B) judgment.
C) constitutive definition.
D) operational definition.

Question 36

Exhibit 2-3: In a study designed to investigate the effect of self-recitation on recall, an investigator asked two groups of 10-year-olds to memorize a number of statements.The subjects of Group I were told to read the statements repeatedly.The subjects of Group II were told to read the statements repeatedly and also to spend some of their time to test their recall by self-recitation.Later, both groups were given a test of memory for the statements.Statistical analysis of the scores showed that the subjects of Group II obtained significantly higher scores than those of Group I.
Refer to Exhibit 2-3.In this study the method of memorizing that the subjects were told to use was the

A) independent variable
B) dependent variable.

Question 37

Exhibit 2-3: In a study designed to investigate the effect of self-recitation on recall, an investigator asked two groups of 10-year-olds to memorize a number of statements.The subjects of Group I were told to read the statements repeatedly.The subjects of Group II were told to read the statements repeatedly and also to spend some of their time to test their recall by self-recitation.Later, both groups were given a test of memory for the statements.Statistical analysis of the scores showed that the subjects of Group II obtained significantly higher scores than those of Group I.
Refer to Exhibit 2-3.This study presents an example of

A) survey research.
B) qualitative research.
C) descriptive research.
D) causal-comparative research.
E) experimental research.

Question 38

An educator has designed a study in which ways of improving students' self-esteem is being investigated.This study is an example of

A) basic research.
B) applied research.
C) phenomenologic research.
D) causal research.

Question 39

Exhibit 2-3: In a study designed to investigate the effect of self-recitation on recall, an investigator asked two groups of 10-year-olds to memorize a number of statements.The subjects of Group I were told to read the statements repeatedly.The subjects of Group II were told to read the statements repeatedly and also to spend some of their time to test their recall by self-recitation.Later, both groups were given a test of memory for the statements.Statistical analysis of the scores showed that the subjects of Group II obtained significantly higher scores than those of Group I.
Refer to Exhibit 2-3.The result of this study

A) proved the benefit of self-recitation.
B) proved that recall is a function of self-recitation.
C) provided tentative evidence on the relationship between self-recitation and recall.
D) provided support for theories of learning.

Question 40

Exhibit 2-2: Examine the following list of research titles, then determine whether the italicized part of each title is an independent variable, a dependent variable, or a variable but impossible to determine whether independent or dependent.
Refer to Exhibit 2-2.The effect of teacher approval on students' attentive behavior.

A) an independent variable.
B) a dependent variable.
C) a variable but impossible to determine whether a or

Question 41

Exhibit 2-4: Choose the research methodology that would be most appropriate for investigating each of the following research questions.
Refer to Exhibit 2-4.How do graduating seniors from Central State University assess the quality of their undergraduate education?

A) Ex post facto
B) Correlational
C) Experimental
D) Historical
E) Survey

Question 42

A teacher designed a study to investigate the effect of using computer exercises to teach second grade math concepts.This research could be described as

A) basic, experimental, and qualitative.
B) applied, experimental, and quantitative.
C) basic, nonexperimental, and quantitative.
D) applied, nonexperimental, and qualitative.

Question 43

Study A investigated the effect of level of anxiety on students' speed of learning nonsense syllables.Study B investigated the effect of students' intelligence on their level of anxiety.The variable anxiety is the

A) dependent variable in Study A, and the independent variable in Study B.
B) independent variable in Study A, and the dependent variable in Study B.
C) independent variable in both Study A and Study B.
D) dependent variable in both Study A and Study B.

Question 44

Experimental research, in contrast with nonexperimental research, focuses on

A) cause-and-effect relationships.
B) descriptions of phenomena.
C) prediction of phenomena.
D) naturalistic inquiry into relationships.

Question 45

Exhibit 2-5: Indicate whether the following characteristics are most typical of qualitative research or quantitative research.
Refer to Exhibit 2-5.Requires subjective observation.

A) qualitative
B) quantitative

Question 46

Exhibit 2-5: Indicate whether the following characteristics are most typical of qualitative research or quantitative research.
Refer to Exhibit 2-5.Emphasizes the context of the inquiry.

A) qualitative
B) quantitative

Question 47

Exhibit 2-6: A researcher carried out an experiment with her freshman psychology students to answer the question: "Does college students' rate of learning a series of cognitive tasks differ in regard to gender and type of motivation (intrinsic or extrinsic)?"
Refer to Exhibit 2-6.What is the manipulated independent variable?

A) gender
B) type of motivation
C) college students
D) rate of learning task
E) freshman psychology students

Question 48

Which of the following best describes the meaning of a construct?

A) Provable assumption
B) Verifiable proposition
C) Testable theorem
D) Unobservable trait
E) Abstract hypothesis

Question 49

Exhibit 2-4: Choose the research methodology that would be most appropriate for investigating each of the following research questions.
Refer to Exhibit 2-4.How were young women educated in the South in the mid-nineteenth century?

A) Ex post facto
B) Correlational
C) Experimental
D) Historical
E) Survey

Question 50

A researcher who wants to investigate the claim that drinking moderate amounts of red wine will promote a healthy heart would most likely use the ____ method.

A) survey
B) ex post facto
C) experimental
D) quasi-experimental
E) correlational

Question 51

Exhibit 2-4: Choose the research methodology that would be most appropriate for investigating each of the following research questions.
Refer to Exhibit 2-4.Does extending wait-time between teacher questions and calling students' names influence students' achievement of high-level cognitive objectives?

A) Ex post facto
B) Correlational
C) Experimental
D) Historical
E) Survey

Question 52

Exhibit 2-5: Indicate whether the following characteristics are most typical of qualitative research or quantitative research.
Refer to Exhibit 2-5.Emphasizes hypothesis-testing.

A) qualitative
B) quantitative

Question 53

Exhibit 2-6: A researcher carried out an experiment with her freshman psychology students to answer the question: "Does college students' rate of learning a series of cognitive tasks differ in regard to gender and type of motivation (intrinsic or extrinsic)?"
Refer to Exhibit 2-6.What is the dependent variable?

A) gender
B) type of motivation
C) college students
D) rate of learning task
E) freshman psychology students

Question 54

Exhibit 2-6: A researcher carried out an experiment with her freshman psychology students to answer the question: "Does college students' rate of learning a series of cognitive tasks differ in regard to gender and type of motivation (intrinsic or extrinsic)?"
Refer to Exhibit 2-6.What is the population?

A) gender
B) type of motivation
C) college students
D) rate of learning task
E) freshman psychology students

Question 55

Which of the following represents the usual sequence of steps in the quantitative research process?

A) Reviewing the literature; formulating a problem; defining the variables operationally; developing measuring instruments; gathering data.
B) Stating the hypothesis; reviewing the literature; stating operational definitions of the variables; developing measuring instruments; gathering data.
C) Stating a problem; reviewing the literature; stating a hypothesis; constructing operational definitions of variables; developing measuring instruments; gathering data.
D) Reviewing the literature; identifying the variables; stating a problem; gathering data.

Question 56

Exhibit 2-5: Indicate whether the following characteristics are most typical of qualitative research or quantitative research.
Refer to Exhibit 2-5.Uses statistics to analyze the data.

A) qualitative
B) quantitative

Question 57

Exhibit 2-4: Choose the research methodology that would be most appropriate for investigating each of the following research questions.
Refer to Exhibit 2-4.What is the effect of residing in a one-parent home versus a two-parent home on a child's academic achievement?

A) Ex post facto
B) Correlational
C) Experimental
D) Historical
E) Survey

Question 58

Exhibit 2-4: Choose the research methodology that would be most appropriate for investigating each of the following research questions.
For which of the following questions would qualitative methodology be most appropriate?

A) How do taxpayers in the community feel about the Released-Time Religious Education Program for the elementary schools' fourth graders?
B) What is the effect of increased parental involvement on achievement in the elementary school?
C) How is the policy of inclusion working in the elementary schools of the community?
D) Is there a relationship between scores on a non-cognitive questionnaire and students' academic achievement?

Question 59

Which of the following illustrates an operational definition?

A) Creativity defined as ratings of drawing by three professors of art education
B) Achievement defined as scores obtained on the Iowa Test of Basic Skills
C) Creativity defined as divergent thinking
D) Math anxiety defined as scores on a math anxiety scale
E) a, b, and d

Question 60

Exhibit 2-4: Choose the research methodology that would be most appropriate for investigating each of the following research questions.
Refer to Exhibit 2-4.Do students who score well on a foreign language placement test also perform well in the language class?

A) Ex post facto
B) Correlational
C) Experimental
D) Historical
E) Survey

Question 61

Which of the following types of research would an investigator likely use to study the internal operations of a school board?

A) Survey
B) Document analysis
C) Grounded theory
D) Phenomenological study
E) Case study

Question 62

For which of the following research problems would the ex post facto method be most appropriate?

A) How many students in the senior class are taking advanced placement (AP) classes?
B) Do students like the selection of AP classes offered?
C) Do students who take AP classes in high school earn better grades in college?
D) Which is the most popular AP class?

Question 63

Exhibit 2-9: Label the following variables as continuous or categorical.
Refer to Exhibit 2-9.Whether a students is enrolled in a French class or not.

A) continuous
B) categorical.

Question 64

Exhibit 2-8: Choose the research methodology that would be most appropriate to investigate each of the following questions.
Refer to Exhibit 2-8.How do autistic children use facilitated communication in their daily lives?

A) qualitative
B) experimental
C) ex post facto
D) survey
E) correlational

Question 65

Exhibit 2-7: Choose the research methodology that would be most appropriate to investigate each of the following questions.
Refer to Exhibit 2-7.How does a new mentoring program contribute to the effectiveness of beginning teachers at Rogers Elementary School?

A) qualitative, ethnography
B) quantitative, ex post facto
C) qualitative, case study
D) quantitative, correlational
E) quantitative, survey

Question 66

Exhibit 2-9: Label the following variables as continuous or categorical.
Refer to Exhibit 2-9.Native French speaker.

A) continuous
B) categorical.

Question 67

Exhibit 2-7: Choose the research methodology that would be most appropriate to investigate each of the following questions.
Refer to Exhibit 2-7.From a list of extracurricular activities, which do high school students rate as most important?

A) qualitative, ethnography
B) quantitative, ex post facto
C) qualitative, case study
D) quantitative, correlational
E) quantitative, survey

Question 68

Exhibit 2-7: Choose the research methodology that would be most appropriate to investigate each of the following questions.
Refer to Exhibit 2-7.What effect does the gender of a counselor have on how he or she is received by counselees?

A) qualitative, ethnography
B) quantitative, ex post facto
C) qualitative, case study
D) quantitative, correlational
E) quantitative, survey

Question 69

A qualitative researcher would view the concept of learning disability as

A) value-laden
B) value-free.
C) theory-free.
D) value-specific.

Question 70

Exhibit 2-8: Choose the research methodology that would be most appropriate to investigate each of the following questions.
Refer to Exhibit 2-8.What is the relationship between gender and performance on standardized math tests?

A) qualitative
B) experimental
C) ex post facto
D) survey
E) correlational

Question 71

Exhibit 2-9: Label the following variables as continuous or categorical.
Refer to Exhibit 2-9.Aptitude for learning foreign language.

A) continuous
B) categorical.

Question 72

A fundamental difference between quantitative and qualitative research is that

A) qualitative studies focus more on numeric descriptions.
B) qualitative studies emphasize pre-determined operational definitions.
C) qualitative studies are value-free.
D) qualitative studies are flexible and naturalistic.

Question 73

Exhibit 2-8: Choose the research methodology that would be most appropriate to investigate each of the following questions.
Refer to Exhibit 2-8.What is the relationship between high school students' scores on the SAT and the ACT?

A) qualitative
B) experimental
C) ex post facto
D) survey
E) correlational

Question 74

Exhibit 2-7: Choose the research methodology that would be most appropriate to investigate each of the following questions.
Refer to Exhibit 2-7.Do students who have a high score on a reading test also have a high score on a writing test?

A) qualitative, ethnography
B) quantitative, ex post facto
C) qualitative, case study
D) quantitative, correlational
E) quantitative, survey

Question 75

Over the years Professor Brown has noticed when returning test papers that the nearer students sit to the front of the lecture hall the higher their test scores tend to be.Which research method is he applying?

A) Case study
B) Correlational
C) Experimental
D) Basic interpretive
E) Ex post facto

Question 76

Which of the following is a qualitative research problem?

A) What is the effect of a computer-based SAT prep class on minority students' performance on the SAT?
B) Do SAT prep classes improve SAT scores?
C) How do teachers in inner-city high schools control student behavior in the classroom?
D) What is the relationship between high school size and the extent of parental involvement in school activities?

Question 77

Quantitative and qualitative research have different philosophical assumptions.Quantitative research is most closely associated with ____, while qualitative research is associated with ____.

A) phenomenology, positivism
B) positivism, phenomenology

Question 78

An investigator can reasonably conclude that changes in one variable produced changes in a second variable only with the ____ research method.

A) naturalistic observation
B) case study
C) correlational
D) experimental

Question 79

Exhibit 2-9: Label the following variables as continuous or categorical.
Refer to Exhibit 2-9.Fluency in French.

A) continuous
B) categorical.

Question 80

Exhibit 2-8: Choose the research methodology that would be most appropriate to investigate each of the following questions.
Refer to Exhibit 2-8.Do parents support the charter school movement in this community?

A) qualitative
B) experimental
C) ex post facto
D) survey
E) correlational