Question 1

When stating the problem in a research proposal

Accepted Answer

A)   state the problem precisely and intelligently for someone who is sophisticated but uninformed about the problem.
B)   elaborately present the background for the problem.
C)   concentrate on the justification for the study.
D)   assume the reader is completely knowledgeable about the problem. A

Question 2

Which of the following would not be included as a methodological limitation in the procedures section of a quantitative research proposal?

Accepted Answer

A)   sample size
B)   selection of subjects
C)   hypothesis statement
D)   use of a pretest
E)   data-gathering instrument C

Question 3

Explain the difference between anonymity and confidentiality in a research study.

Accepted Answer

Anonymity refers to the process of protecting the identity of individuals in the study.Confidentiality refers to the process of keeping the information obtained from an individual during a study secret and private.

Question 4

Exhibit 20-1: Choose the correlation statistic appropriate to use with the level of measurement specified in the following statements.
-Refer to Exhibit 20-1.A correlation statistic used with nominal level data is

Accepted Answer

A)   Spearman's rho.
B)   Phi coefficient.
C)   Pearson's r
D)   Fisher's z.

Question 5

In order to give informed consent, potential participants must be told all of the following except the

Accepted Answer

A)   purpose of the study.
B)   procedure to be followed.
C)   risks that may be involved.
D)   sponsor of the project.
E)   obligations of the subject and the researcher.

Question 6

Which of the following should not be done in the review of literature?

Accepted Answer

A)   Relate pertinent studies
B)   Organize by topic
C)   Present a series of abstracts
D)   Discuss the theoretical background of the study

Question 7

Where does the writer make the greatest use of authority as a source of knowledge?

Accepted Answer

A)   Design
B)   Instrumentation
C)   Review of the literature
D)   Sampling
E)   Statement of the problem

Question 8

In what part of the proposal should the writer attempt to link previous research to the current problem?

Accepted Answer

A)   Design
B)   Methods
C)   Review of the literature
D)   Sampling
E)   Statement of the problem

Question 9

The statement of the problem should be introduced

Accepted Answer

A)   after the related research has drawn a picture of the problem.
B)   after the theoretical foundation of the problem has been established.
C)   in the section describing the design.
D)   in the first section of the proposal.
E)   in the section dealing with the significance of the problem.

Question 10

Exhibit 20-2: Identify the common weakness of research proposals that is illustrated in each of the following statements or questions.
-Refer to Exhibit 20-2.School principals are interviewed to determine the impact of "No Child Left Behind" on student performance in mathematics.

Accepted Answer

A)   The problem lacks practical or theoretical significance.
B)   The hypothesis or question is too broadly stated.
C)   The procedures are lacking in detail.
D)   Relevant variables are not considered.
E)   The design is not appropriate for answering the research question.

Question 11

Exhibit 20-2: Identify the common weakness of research proposals that is illustrated in each of the following statements or questions.
-Refer to Exhibit 20-2.The study comparing the effectiveness of two methods of teaching reading did not look at the influence of students' gender or their verbal aptitude on achievement.

Accepted Answer

A)   The problem lacks practical or theoretical significance.
B)   The hypothesis or question is too broadly stated.
C)   The procedures are lacking in detail.
D)   Relevant variables are not considered.
E)   The design is not appropriate for answering the research question.

Question 12

The major purpose of the National Research Act of 1974 is that it

Accepted Answer

A)   gives individuals the right to refuse to participate in research projects.
B)   protects the privacy of students' educational records.
C)   requires that all research on human subjects be reviewed and approved by an authorized board.
D)   protects subjects from questions that might invade their privacy.

Question 13

Describe the components of informed consent and the purpose of such consent.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Describe the components of informed consent and...

Question 14

In the review of the literature, the author should

Accepted Answer

A)   discuss past findings and their implications.
B)   identify gaps in previous research.
C)   include results contrary to his/her hypothesis.
D)   a and b
E)   All of these are true.

Question 15

Describe the commonalities and differences between a quantitative and a qualitative research proposal.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Describe the commonalities and differences between a...

Question 16

The authors of the text maintain that using a null hypothesis instead of a research hypothesis as the basis of a research is

Accepted Answer

A)   appropriate because it enables one to establish the existence of a zero relationship.
B)   appropriate because the statistical hypothesis to be tested will be a null hypothesis.
C)   inappropriate because it doesn't allow one to develop the deductive logic of the study.
D)   inappropriate because null hypotheses are seldom true in populations.

Question 17

The institutional review board exists to

Accepted Answer

A)   approve the statistical procedures proposed by the research proposal.
B)   approve the budget specified in the proposal to guard against misappropriation of research funds.
C)   determine if research participants are at risk under federal regulations.
D)   discipline researchers who violate any of the above procedures.
E)   All of these are true.

Question 18

The institutional review board serves to

Accepted Answer

A)   censure researchers who are unethical.
B)   decide if subjects are at risk under federal guidelines.
C)   disperse grant money for studies.
D)   review the statistical procedures of a study.
E)   All of these are true.

Question 19

One would be least criticized if one

Accepted Answer

A)   did not include a means of testing every hypothesis in the study.
B)   used a chi-square test with interval data.
C)   used an F-test when a t-test would have done.
D)   used an F-test when both independent and dependent variables were nominal data.

Question 20

Exhibit 20-3: Choose the appropriate label to apply to the information provided below.
-Refer to Exhibit 20-3.The mean reading readiness score of all first grade students in Springfield schools.

Accepted Answer

A)  Population 
B)  Parameter 
C)  Sample
D)  Statistic

Exam 20: Guidelines for Writing Research Proposals