Question 1

Out of respect for participants, focus groups do not last longer than:
A) 15 minutes.
B) 30 minutes.
C) 60 minutes.
D) 90 minutes.

Accepted Answer

Focus groups typically last around 60 to 90 minutes to ensure participants remain engaged and comfortable, while allowing enough time for in-depth discussion.

Question 2

Dr. Malkin assembled a group of 10 individuals to hold a focus group on veteran affairs and access to medical care. Dr. Malkin assembled a focus group because he needed a high volume of information quickly for a grant he is writing. The focus group was facilitated by a(n) _____ to assist in any dialogue or disagreements among the participants.
A) administrator
B) panel
C) judge
D) moderator

Accepted Answer

A moderator is typically used to facilitate a focus group discussion and ensure that all participants have an opportunity to speak and contribute their thoughts and experiences. A moderator can also help to keep the discussion on track and address any conflicts or disagreements that may arise. Administrators, judges, and panels may also be involved in certain types of focus groups, but in the case described in the question, a moderator would be the most appropriate choice.

Question 3

Natalie has a degree in statistics and has a special interest in program evaluation. She has been instructed to visually represent a set of findings provided to her from a recent program evaluation. Most likely she will visually represent these data with:
A) regression lines.
B) bar graphs.
C) cluster lines.
D) pictographs.

Accepted Answer

Bar graphs are commonly used to visually represent data in program evaluation. They are easy to read and compare data across different categories or groups. Regression lines, cluster lines, and pictographs are less commonly used for program evaluation visualizations.

Question 4

Michel is interviewing for a research-assistant position. This particular research lab conducts mainly focus groups and part of the lab assistant job description noted that the assistant may need to act a moderator. Preferable skills for such a position would include a thorough understanding of the focus group's topic, a strong foundation in research methods, and an understanding of:
A) random assignment.
B) hypothetical scenarios.
C) individual perspectives.
D) groups dynamics or the processes of a social group.

Accepted Answer

Understanding group dynamics or the processes of a social group would be crucial for someone who may need to act as a moderator for focus groups. This includes being able to facilitate discussion, manage conflicting viewpoints, and keep the group on track to achieve the research objectives. While A, B, and C may also be helpful skills, they are not as directly related to the job duties described in the question.

Question 5

Dr. Tonil has identified key themes from transcription of his focus groups last week. As a qualitative researcher Dr. Tonil conducted a(n) ________________ in order to identify key themes.
A) factor analysis
B) ANOVA
C) content analysis
D) cluster analysis

Accepted Answer

Content analysis is a method used in qualitative research to analyze data and identify patterns or themes. It involves systematically coding and categorizing data from interviews, focus groups, or other forms of text data. In this case, Dr. Tonil used content analysis to identify key themes from the transcription of his focus groups. Factor analysis, ANOVA, and cluster analysis are quantitative methods that are not typically used for identifying themes in qualitative data.

Question 6

Dr. Whitt has completed several steps in the program evaluation process. Dr. Whitt has identified the stakeholders in the program evaluation, described the program itself, and established goals for the evaluation. Identify which step he is missing.
A) conducted cluster analysis
B) meeting with stakeholders
C) developing an evaluation plan
D) hold a focus group

Accepted Answer

After identifying stakeholders, describing the program, and establishing goals, the next step in the program evaluation process is to develop an evaluation plan. This plan will outline the specific methods and tools that will be used to collect and analyze data to assess program effectiveness. Conducting a cluster analysis and holding a focus group may be part of the evaluation plan, but they are not the next step in the process. Meeting with stakeholders may have already been completed.

Question 7

Dr. Robert Ira received the finalized transcription from the focus group session last week. As a qualitative researcher Dr. Robert must conduct a _____ of participant responses to each question, which allows research to identify key themes.
A) factor analysis
B) trend analysis
C) content analysis
D) one-way ANOVA

Accepted Answer

Content analysis is the best choice for Dr. Robert as it involves analyzing qualitative data by systematically categorizing and coding information to identify recurring themes or patterns in the data. It helps in identifying the most common responses to each question and allows for deeper understanding of participant perspectives. Factor analysis and trend analysis are more commonly used with quantitative data, while one-way ANOVA is used to compare means of two or more groups.

Question 8

Dr. Trenton Ira received the finalized transcription from the focus group session last week. As a qualitative researcher Dr. Trenton must conduct a content analysis of participant responses to each question, which allows research to identify:
A) mean response rates.
B) troublesome questions.
C) unclear questions.
D) key themes.

Accepted Answer

Content analysis is a research method used to identify key themes or patterns in qualitative data such as interview or focus group transcripts. It does not involve calculating mean response rates or identifying troublesome or unclear questions.

Question 9

Word clouds are a visual representation of a set of data frequencies from a qualitative assessment and larger words typically indicate:
A) higher frequency of use.
B) lower frequency of use.
C) minimal frequency of use.
D) marginal use.

Accepted Answer

Word clouds are created by analyzing the frequency of words in a set of data, and larger words represent higher frequency of use.

Question 10

Many researchers try to keep focus groups to_____ participants to optimize individual member participation and to make the moderation manageable.
A) 4 to 6
B) 6 to 9
C) 6 to 12
D) 12 to 18

Accepted Answer

Focus groups are typically kept to 6 to 12 participants to ensure everyone has a chance to participate and the moderator can effectively manage the discussion.

Question 11

Focus groups have a number of advantages, including a high volume of content, a quick and efficient process, and to the ability to:
A) coerce participation.
B) generalize to other populations.
C) handle large groups of people.
D) analyze group member interaction.

Accepted Answer

Focus groups are designed to analyze group member interaction, which can provide valuable insights into beliefs, attitudes, and behaviors. While focus groups can generate a high volume of content, and the process is generally efficient, they are not necessarily suitable for coercing participation or handling large groups of people. It can also be challenging to generalize the results of a focus group to other populations, as the findings are highly context-specific.

Question 12

In many disciplines it is common for students to apply for postdoctoral fellowships in order to further their education in a specific field of study. This type of fellowship is important in strengthening and elaborating on a planned sequence of related studies known as:
A) programmatic research.
B) outcomes evaluations.
C) case studies.
D) pilot testing.

Accepted Answer

Postdoctoral fellowships are typically used to further a specific programmatic research sequence, which is a planned and structured sequence of studies designed to answer specific research questions. Postdoctoral fellows use these fellowships to develop specialized skills and knowledge within their field of study in order to make significant contributions to their discipline. Outcomes evaluations, case studies, and pilot testing may be part of programmatic research, but they are not the primary focus of postdoctoral fellowships.

Question 13

Dr. Carnes requested grant funding support the use a variety of methods to answer research questions about anxiety disorders. The use of multiple methods is referred to as:
A) methodological pluralism.
B) mundane realism.
C) mixed design.
D) double-blind procedure.

Accepted Answer

The use of multiple methods in research is known as methodological pluralism, as it involves the incorporation of various methods and techniques to answer research questions. Mundane realism refers to the degree of similarity between a research setting and the real world. Mixed design refers to a research design that incorporates both quantitative and qualitative methods. Double-blind procedure refers to a research method in which neither the participant nor the researcher knows the group assignment to minimize bias.

Question 14

All of the following are within the purview of a moderator's job during a focus group, EXCEPT:
A) clarifying meaning.
B) asking follow-up questions.
C) compelling participants to speak.
D) eliciting additional information.

Accepted Answer

It is not within a moderator's job to compel participants to speak. Their role is to facilitate discussion and encourage participation, but they cannot force individuals to contribute if they are hesitant or unwilling.

Question 15

Marcia is interviewing for a research-assistant position. This particular research lab conducts mainly focus groups and part of the lab assistant job description noted that the assistant may need to act a moderator. Preferable skills for such a position would include a thorough understanding of the focus group's topic, _____, and an understanding of group dynamics or the processes of a social group.
A) a strong foundation in research methods
B) a strong foundation in sociology
C) a strong foundation in philosophy
D) a strong foundation in theology

Accepted Answer

A strong foundation in research methods is the most relevant skill for conducting focus groups and acting as a moderator. While some knowledge of social dynamics may be helpful, it is not as essential as a solid understanding of research methods. Sociology, philosophy, and theology are not directly relevant to this particular job description.

Question 16

Marquez is interviewing for a research-assistant position. This particular research lab conducts mainly focus groups and part of the lab assistant job description noted that the assistant may need to act a moderator. Preferable skills for such a position would include a thorough _____, a strong foundation in research methods, and an understanding of group dynamics or the processes of a social group.
A) understanding of EMG machines
B) understanding of the focus group's topic
C) understanding of structural equation modeling
D) understanding of order effects

Accepted Answer

The job requires the assistant to conduct and moderate focus groups, so having an understanding of the focus group's topic would be essential for the position. Knowledge of EMG machines, structural equation modeling, and order effects are not relevant to this particular job description.

Question 17

Which of the following symbols represents internal consistency of a given scale or measurement?
A) $\Omega$
B) $\chi$
C) $\beta$
D) $\alpha$

Accepted Answer

The symbol α (alpha) represents Cronbach's alpha, which is a statistical tool used to measure the internal consistency or reliability of a given scale or measurement. Therefore, the correct symbol for internal consistency is choice D.

Question 18

In order to efficiently conduct a focus group, it would be in the researchers' best interest to implement:
A) restrictions.
B) limitations.
C) boundaries.
D) a protocol.

Accepted Answer

A protocol should be implemented during a focus group to ensure that the discussion stays on track and that all participants have an equal opportunity to share their opinions. This will help the researchers gather the necessary data in an organized manner. Restrictions, limitations, and boundaries may hinder the discussion and limit the amount of data collected.

Question 19

Programmatic research is integral to understanding a(n):
A) factor.
B) variable.
C) phenomenon.
D) episode.

Accepted Answer

Programmatic research refers to a systematic and comprehensive approach to research, often involving multiple studies and methodologies to gain better insight and understanding of a particular phenomenon. Therefore, programmatic research is best associated with understanding a phenomenon.

Question 20

Dr. Warner was explaining sampling procedures specific to focus groups and noted that focus groups typically use _____ in order to have a proportionate number of individuals to provide insight into a particular topic.
A) area probability sampling
B) cluster sampling
C) stratified random sampling
D) snowball sampling

Accepted Answer

Stratified random sampling is typically used in focus groups in order to ensure that there is a proportionate number of individuals from different subgroups (such as age or gender) in order to provide diverse perspectives and insights into the topic being studied. Area probability sampling and cluster sampling are typically used in larger-scale surveys, while snowball sampling is a non-probability sampling technique often used in qualitative research.

Quiz 13: Using Research in the Real World: How Do You Know If You Are Truly Helping

Out of respect for participants, focus groups do not last longer than:

Natalie has a degree in statistics and has a special interest in program evaluation. She has been instructed to visually represent a set of findings provided to her from a recent program evaluation. Most likely she will visually represent these data with:

Dr. Tonil has identified key themes from transcription of his focus groups last week. As a qualitative researcher Dr. Tonil conducted a(n) ________________ in order to identify key themes.

Dr. Whitt has completed several steps in the program evaluation process. Dr. Whitt has identified the stakeholders in the program evaluation, described the program itself, and established goals for the evaluation. Identify which step he is missing.

Dr. Robert Ira received the finalized transcription from the focus group session last week. As a qualitative researcher Dr. Robert must conduct a _____ of participant responses to each question, which allows research to identify key themes.

Dr. Trenton Ira received the finalized transcription from the focus group session last week. As a qualitative researcher Dr. Trenton must conduct a content analysis of participant responses to each question, which allows research to identify:

Word clouds are a visual representation of a set of data frequencies from a qualitative assessment and larger words typically indicate:

Many researchers try to keep focus groups to_____ participants to optimize individual member participation and to make the moderation manageable.

Focus groups have a number of advantages, including a high volume of content, a quick and efficient process, and to the ability to:

In many disciplines it is common for students to apply for postdoctoral fellowships in order to further their education in a specific field of study. This type of fellowship is important in strengthening and elaborating on a planned sequence of related studies known as:

Dr. Carnes requested grant funding support the use a variety of methods to answer research questions about anxiety disorders. The use of multiple methods is referred to as:

All of the following are within the purview of a moderator's job during a focus group, EXCEPT:

Which of the following symbols represents internal consistency of a given scale or measurement?

In order to efficiently conduct a focus group, it would be in the researchers' best interest to implement:

Programmatic research is integral to understanding a(n) :

Dr. Warner was explaining sampling procedures specific to focus groups and noted that focus groups typically use _____ in order to have a proportionate number of individuals to provide insight into a particular topic.