Question 1

All of the following titles for the discussion section are mentioned in the text as likely to be found in research literature. The only EXCEPTION is:&#10;A) Discussion and Conclusions.&#10;B) Discussion and Limitations.&#10;C) Summary and Implications.&#10;D) Implications and Consequences.

Accepted Answer

While the other three options are commonly used in research literature as titles for the discussion section, "Implications and Consequences" is not mentioned as a likely option.

Question 2

It is a good idea for researchers to include a brief summary at the beginning of the discussion section in their research report. The features of the study listed below are usually summarized there, EXCEPT:

A) Purposes of the study.
B) Hypotheses of the study.
C) Methodology of the study.
D) Results of the study.

C

Accepted Answer

The methodology of the study is typically detailed in its own section of a research report and is not usually summarized at the beginning of the discussion section. The discussion section focuses on interpreting the results, how they relate to the hypotheses, the purposes of the study, and the implications of the findings, rather than summarizing the methods used.

Question 3

It is customary for researchers to acknowledge methodological limitations of their study in a research report. All of the following statements about this issue are correct, EXCEPT:&#10;A) The most common types of limitations are weaknesses in reviewing previous research.&#10;B) Weaknesses can be discussed anywhere in a research report.&#10;C) It is important to know the limitations for assessing the validity of the study results.&#10;D) Sometimes, the study's strengths are discussed along with its limitations.

Accepted Answer

The statement "The most common types of limitations are weaknesses in reviewing previous research" is incorrect. While limitations related to the review of previous research may be a common type of limitation, it is not necessarily the most common.

Question 4

Which one of the following is true about the discussion of previous research in a research report?&#10;A) Literature cited in the introduction should not be cited again in the discussion section.&#10;B) It is important to discuss how the current study adds to the existing literature.&#10;C) It is unnecessary to discuss any discrepancies between the study results and the findings in previous studies.&#10;D) New literature should be cited in the discussion section of every research report.

Accepted Answer

It is important to discuss how the current study adds to the existing literature. This demonstrates the significance of the current study and highlights its contribution to the field. The other options are incorrect. Literature cited in the introduction may be cited again in the discussion section to support the study's findings. It is necessary to discuss any discrepancies between the study results and the findings in previous studies to address potential limitations and highlight the need for further research. While new literature may be cited in the discussion section, it is not a requirement for every research report.

Question 5

All of the following guidelines about the topics to include in a discussion section are correct, EXCEPT:&#10;A) If the study has implications for practicing professionals, such implications should be discussed in specific terms.&#10;B) If a study tests a theory, it is important to discuss what the study results mean for the theory that it tested.&#10;C) Suggestions for future research often refer to overcoming the current study's limitations.&#10;D) Suggestions for future research should include a detailed and specific plan for a subsequent study.

Accepted Answer

Suggestions for future research should provide general ideas for future studies, but should not include detailed plans for subsequent research as this is beyond the scope of the current study. It is not necessary to provide a detailed plan for a future study, but rather to suggest possible directions for future research based on the limitations of the current study.

Question 6

Speculations are generally acceptable in a discussion section of a research report. The researchers are likely to speculate on the following topics, EXCEPT:&#10;A) What the results might have been if a different sampling strategy were adopted&#8230;&#10;B) What the results might have been if a different measure of the dependent variable were used&#8230;&#10;C) What the results might have been if a different co-author were selected&#8230;&#10;D) What some possible explanations might be for the results obtained in the study&#8230;

Accepted Answer

Speculating on the potential results if a different co-author were selected is not relevant or appropriate to the discussion section of a research report.

Question 7

It is important that, in a discussion section, the researchers clearly distinguish between ___ and the conclusions based on ___.&#10;A) their speculation; the data&#10;B) their speculation; alternative facts&#10;C) alternative facts; prototypical facts&#10;D) the statistical analyses; the data

Accepted Answer

In a discussion section, researchers must differentiate between their speculation and the conclusions that are directly supported by the data. This ensures clarity and integrity in presenting research findings.

Deck 13: Evaluating Discussion Sections