Question 1

Kajol is reviewing the literature on teaching efficacy for his study of collective efficacy in middle school urban schools and has found some potential relationships between collective teaching efficacy research and organizational climate. Of the following, what would you suggest to Kajol regarding the inclusion of this content in his literature review?

Accepted Answer

Kajol should mention the potential relationship between collective teaching efficacy and organizational climate in his literature review and provide citations for the reader. This will demonstrate that he has considered relevant research on the topic, even if it is not his main focus.

Question 2

Which of the following is the largest educational database?

Accepted Answer

ERIC (Education Resources Information Center) is the largest educational database internationally and includes materials on education-related topics from pre-kindergarten through higher education. Education Index and Wilson Index are also educational databases, but they are not as extensive as ERIC. PsycINFO is a database that mainly focuses on psychology, not education specifically.

Question 3

What is the most important advantage of using a database (e.g., ERIC) over an internet search (e.g., Google)?

Accepted Answer

A database like ERIC is organized by humans who categorize and tag articles with subject headings, making it easier to find relevant information. In contrast, an internet search like Google relies on algorithms to rank and return results, which may not be as accurate or comprehensive.

Question 4

According to your text, what is the best way to organize the report of the literature?

Accepted Answer

Providing a meaningful summary of the studies related to main problems is the best way to organize the report of the literature as it allows for a clear understanding of the overall findings and their relevance to the research question or problem at hand. While presenting each reference by date or each major finding in turn may be useful for certain types of literature reviews, they may not provide a cohesive understanding of the literature as a whole. Similarly, organizing studies by similar findings may not be the best approach if those findings are not directly relevant to the research question.

Question 5

Chanya needs to start a library search to examine her research topic "A comparison of two types of problem-based learning strategies in postsecondary school biological science classes." Which of the following keywords will Chanya likely select in her initial search?

Accepted Answer

Chanya's research topic focuses specifically on problem-based learning strategies, so "Problem-based learning" is the most relevant keyword to use in her initial search. The other options do not directly relate to her research topic.

Question 6

Wheldon is conducting a review of the existing research on community members motivation to serve on school boards. Of the following, which represents the most important question that he should consider as he evaluates the sources?

Accepted Answer

The most important question for Wheldon to consider when evaluating sources is whether each source applies to his specific research problem, which is the motivation of community members to serve on school boards. This ensures that he is only using relevant and useful information in his review. The institution of the authors, the format of the source, and whether it is quantitative or qualitative may also be important considerations, but not as crucial as relevance to his research problem.

Question 7

Valdez conducted a meta-analysis on the effects of instructional interventions that benefit study strategies of middle school children. In his study he reported a relatively small effect of the interventions. Which of the following is a potential effect size from Valdez's study?

Accepted Answer

The question states that Valdez found a "relatively small effect of the interventions." An effect size of .21 is considered small according to Cohen's conventions for effect sizes. The other options represent moderate to large effect sizes.

Question 8

Which of the following is a common criticism of meta-analysis?

Accepted Answer

Meta-analysis may include studies of varying quality, and it is up to the researchers conducting the meta-analysis to carefully evaluate and screen the studies included to ensure they are methodologically rigorous. Poorly designed studies can skew the results of a meta-analysis and compromise their validity.

Question 9

Bora is conducting a literature review regarding the relationship between physical condition of schools and student achievement. Of the following, which source is likely the best source for his study?

Accepted Answer

The American Educational Research Journal is a reputable source that publishes peer-reviewed studies, making it a reliable and relevant source for Bora's literature review on the relationship between school conditions and student achievement.

Question 10

Candace is completing a review of research on early childhood reading interventions that have adequate efficacy data. Of the following, which represents the most important question that Candace should pose as she evaluates her sources?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Candace is completing a review of research...

Quiz 3: Reviewing the Literature