Question 1

Action researchers engage in research aimed at improving people's lives.

Accepted Answer

Action research is a type of research that involves actively engaging with participants to improve a situation or solve a problem. The main aim of action research is to bring about practical change and to improve people's lives. Therefore, the statement is true.

Question 2

Triangulation is a process by which a researcher uses multiple methods to ensure that he or she has a good "fix" on a problem.

Accepted Answer

Triangulation involves using multiple methods, such as interviews, observations, and surveys, to cross-check and verify research findings in order to increase the validity and reliability of the results.

Question 3

There is always one best perspective from which to study human communication.

Accepted Answer

There is no one perspective that is best for studying human communication as communication is a complex and multifaceted phenomenon that can be studied from various perspectives including linguistic, cultural, psychological, sociological, and more. Each perspective provides a unique lens through which to understand communication and no one perspective can fully capture the complexity and richness of human communication.

Question 4

Basically, surveys present a series of specific, predetermined questions to a predetermined group of respondents.

Accepted Answer

Surveys typically have a set of standardized questions that are given to a targeted group of individuals to gather information on a specific topic or issue.

Question 5

A "pilot" study is a follow-up study done after an initial study.

Accepted Answer

A "pilot" study is a preliminary study conducted to evaluate feasibility, time, cost, risk, and adverse events involved in a research project, before proceeding to a full-scale study.

Question 6

Social scientists assume that human behavior and thought can be measured objectively.

Accepted Answer

Social scientists use various research methods to objectively observe, measure and analyze human behavior and thought. These methods include surveys, experiments, observational studies, and statistical analysis.

Question 7

Approaches such as ______ assume that it is respondents' subjective views of the world that are of interest but combine that research focus with quantitative, computational approaches to record and assess these views.

Accepted Answer

Q-methodology combines the focus on individuals' subjective views with quantitative methods to analyze those views, making it distinct in capturing and quantifying subjective opinions.

Question 8

The interpretive perspective seeks to understand how humans make sense of events in their lives.

Accepted Answer

The interpretive perspective does indeed focus on understanding how humans interpret and make sense of events in their lives.

Question 9

Research participants may not see a researcher's questions as important to them.

Accepted Answer

Research participants may not see the questions asked by the researcher as personally relevant or important to them. This can affect their level of engagement and participation in the study.

Question 10

When researchers use multiple methods providing multiple perspectives, it is called ______.

Accepted Answer

Triangulation involves using multiple methods to provide different perspectives on a research question or topic. This method can increase the validity and reliability of research findings.

Question 11

Focus groups bring together a small group of people in order to elicit their reactions in their own words to a message, issue, or product.

Accepted Answer

This statement is true. Focus groups typically consist of 6-10 individuals and are conducted in order to gather qualitative feedback and insights.

Question 12

Which of the following research approaches is most likely to involve statistical analysis?

Accepted Answer

Content analysis involves systematically categorizing and quantifying the content of communication, which often requires statistical analysis to summarize and analyze data. Dramatistic, critical, and rhetorical analyses involve more interpretive and qualitative approaches to research.

Question 13

In communication research, a large sample is always better than a small sample.

Accepted Answer

A large sample can provide more generalizable results, but it's not always better. The appropriateness of the sample size depends on the research goals, method, and the population being studied. A small, well-chosen sample can be more effective for in-depth qualitative research.

Question 14

Generally, quantitative methods and statistics provide greater insight into human communication than qualitative methods.

Accepted Answer

Quantitative methods and statistics are valuable for understanding patterns and generalizations across large groups, but qualitative methods offer deeper insights into the complexities, nuances, and meanings of human communication, which cannot always be captured through numerical data alone.

Question 15

Focus groups depend on bringing together large groups of people.

Accepted Answer

Focus groups typically involve small groups of people (usually between 6-12 participants) who are brought together to provide feedback or opinions on a specific topic or product.

Question 16

Critical analysis of communication starts from a basic assumption that communication maintains and promotes power structures in society.

Accepted Answer

Critical analysis of communication is based on the notion that communication is not neutral and that it reinforces power structures in society. This approach argues that language, symbols, and media representations are used to maintain existing power relations and perpetuate inequalities. This perspective encourages an examination of the ways communication is used to reinforce or challenge dominant ideologies, and seeks to empower marginalized voices and perspectives.

Question 17

ICA, in this course, should be understood as the:

Accepted Answer

ICA stands for International Communication Association, as it is the most widely recognized and well-established academic organization in the field of communication.

Question 18

Research must always be done for a specific purpose.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Research must always be done for a...

Question 19

Researchers using survey or experimental methods typically will want to assume that the results of their research will apply to people who are similar to the study participants but not in the study.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Researchers using survey or experimental methods typically...

Question 20

As a general rule, researchers should always distance themselves from research participants.

Accepted Answer

While maintaining professional boundaries is important, the level of distance or engagement with research participants can vary depending on the research methodology and goals. For example, qualitative research often requires close interaction to understand participants' perspectives deeply.

Quiz 1: Getting Started: Possibilities and Decisions