Question 1

A research technique that combines features of both longitudinal and cross-sectional designs - testing cohorts of individuals but also retesting them over time - is referred to as______ a design.
A) cross-sequential
B) qualitative
C) repeated cross-sectional
D) grouped longitudinal

Accepted Answer

Cross-sequential design combines elements of both longitudinal and cross-sectional studies by examining multiple cohorts over time, allowing researchers to assess age-related changes within and between different groups.

Question 2

Which of the following is NOT a weakness of observation as a major method of data collection?
A) reactivity
B) typically dominated by one participant
C) can be expensive
D) data analysis can be time consuming.

Accepted Answer

Observation as a method of data collection is not typically dominated by one participant. Instead, it involves observing behaviors and events in their natural setting, often involving multiple participants or subjects. The other options (reactivity, expense, and time-consuming data analysis) are recognized weaknesses of observational methods.

Question 3

Qualitative research can be described in the following way:
A) it is objective, involves multiple methods, and focuses on people in subcultures
B) it is opinionated, involves two specific methods, and focuses on cultures, not people
C) it is emotional, involves historical methods, and focuses on people with odd cultural
Practices
D) it is interpretive, involves multiple methods, and focuses on people in their natural environment

Accepted Answer

Qualitative research is interpretive, uses various methods to collect data (e.g., interviews, observations, document analysis), and aims to understand how people experience and make sense of their world, often within their natural environments.

Question 4

Which of the following could be considered a limitation of qualitative research?
A) because it is typically conducted in an artificial laboratory setting the findings may not apply to the real world
B) results from qualitative research are overly objective - not allowing for interpretation of individual participants perspectives
C) it is not particularly useful for generating theoretical ideas
D) different researchers may provide different interpretations of the same data

Accepted Answer

Qualitative research involves interpreting non-numerical data, such as text, images, or video. This interpretive aspect means that different researchers might analyze the same data and come to different conclusions, reflecting the subjective nature of this research method. This subjectivity is considered a limitation because it can lead to inconsistencies in how data is understood and reported.

Question 5

Qualitative research is interpretive, which involves
A) extracting information from non-numerical data.
B) using objective measurements.
C) quantifying non-numerical data.
D) using only rating scales

Accepted Answer

Qualitative research focuses on interpreting and understanding non-numerical data, such as texts, interviews, or observations, to gain insights into concepts, thoughts, or experiences.

Question 6

______observation is done in the real world, while ______observation is done in a controlled environment.
A) Laboratory; naturalistic
B) Event; time-sampling
C) Participant; complete
D) Naturalistic; laboratory

Accepted Answer

Naturalistic observation is conducted in the real-world settings without any manipulation by the observer, while laboratory observation is conducted in a controlled environment where variables can be manipulated and observed.

Question 7

_______research is primarily descriptive and useful in theory generation while_______ research is more useful in testing hypotheses.
A) Quantitative; qualitative
B) Qualitative; quantitative
C) Experimental; correlational
D) Cross-sectional; longitudinal

Accepted Answer

Qualitative research is primarily descriptive and useful in generating theories, while quantitative research is more useful in testing hypotheses through statistical analysis.

Question 8

Suppose a researcher used a cross-sectional research design and found that older adults tend to be more socially conservative than younger adults. He concludes that as we get older we tend to become more conservative in our thinking. Which of the following is a potential problem with this conclusion?
A) the researcher cannot establish causation because this is a qualitative study
B) the problem of attrition has not been addressed
C) an age-cohort effect could explain these findings
D) The problem of accurately measuring age

Accepted Answer

The potential problem with the researcher's conclusion is the age-cohort effect, which suggests that the observed differences in social conservatism between older and younger adults might be due to the different experiences and environments each age group has encountered, rather than a change that occurs with aging. This effect highlights the importance of considering generational differences when interpreting cross-sectional data.

Question 9

________are a paper and pencil self report method of collecting attitude and opinion information, while ______are a face to face self report method for collecting the same information.
A) Questionnaires; interviews
B) Tests; interviews
C) Interviews; questionnaires
D) Questionnaires; focus groups

Accepted Answer

Questionnaires are indeed a paper and pencil (or online) method for collecting self-reported attitudes and opinions, while interviews involve direct, face-to-face interaction to gather similar information.

Question 10

Which of the following is a strength of a face to face interview over a paper and pencil questionnaire?
A) high measurement validity
B) high reactivity
C) opportunity for clearing up ambiguity in responses
D) less expensive

Accepted Answer

Face-to-face interviews allow the interviewer to clarify questions or answers, ensuring that the respondent fully understands the question and that their responses are accurately captured. This direct interaction can help in clearing up any ambiguity in responses, which is a significant advantage over paper and pencil questionnaires where such immediate clarification is not possible.

Question 11

Which of the following methods of data collection is used to measure personality, aptitude, achievement, or performance?
A) observation
B) focus groups
C) tests
D) secondary data

Accepted Answer

Tests are specifically designed to measure aspects such as personality, aptitude, achievement, or performance, making them the correct method of data collection for these purposes.

Question 12

In a longitudinal study of a behavior, a researcher would
A) select groups of participants from each age group and study each group at one time.
B) observe and participate in the behavior in question.
C) measure the degree to which the behavior changed when a factor thought to influence it also changes.
D) study one group of similarly aged people multiple times over a long period of time.

Accepted Answer

In a longitudinal study, researchers follow the same group of participants over a period of time to observe changes or developments in their behavior or characteristics. This allows for the observation of long-term effects and changes within the same individuals, making option D the correct choice.

Question 13

Focus groups are useful in which of the following types of research?
A) experimental
B) qualitative
C) quantitative
D) correlational

Accepted Answer

Focus groups are a qualitative research method used to gather insights and opinions from participants through guided discussions, making them suitable for exploratory and interpretive studies rather than for experimental, quantitative, or correlational research.

Question 14

_________data is data that was left behind by another research or collected for some other purpose.
A) Primary
B) Interview
C) Secondary
D) Observation

Accepted Answer

Secondary data refers to data that was originally collected by someone else for a different purpose, but is being used by a researcher for a new study.

Question 15

A researcher decides to measure the development of moral reasoning from early to late childhood. At a single point in time she tests 20 four-year olds, 20 six-year olds, and 20 eight-year olds by presenting each with the same moral dilemma and recording their responses on a questionnaire. She then compares the performance of the three groups. The researcher is using a type of design referred to as:
A) longitudinal
B) cross-sectional
C) cohort-sequential
D) qualitative

Accepted Answer

The researcher is using a cross-sectional design, which involves comparing different groups of people at one point in time to see how they differ. In this case, the groups are children of different ages.

Question 16

The cohort-sequential design is an alternative developmental design
A) where different age groups are tested longitudinally
B) where one age group is tested longitudinally
C) where different age groups are tested once
D) where one age group is tested once

Accepted Answer

The cohort-sequential design involves testing different age groups longitudinally, allowing researchers to disentangle age effects from cohort effects by following multiple cohorts over time.

Question 17

Qualitative researchers use many methods in part to
A) find one that produces the expected outcome.
B) make the process more like an experiment.
C) provide a better understanding of the phenomenon being investigated.
D) verify their quantitative observations.

Accepted Answer

Qualitative research aims to provide a deep understanding of a phenomenon, context, or behavior from the perspective of those experiencing it. Using various methods allows researchers to explore different aspects and dimensions of the subject matter, enriching the insights and interpretations they can derive.

Question 18

Which of the following is a weakness of using tests at a method of data collection?
A) expense
B) reactivity
C) biased questions
D) all of the above

Accepted Answer

Tests as a method of data collection can have several weaknesses, including the expense associated with administering them, the potential for reactivity (where the act of testing influences the behavior or responses of the participants), and the possibility of including biased questions that can skew the results.

Question 19

For his senior thesis, Jacob is studying the development of motor coordination in monkeys from birth to old age, but only has one semester to collect his data. What kind of descriptive research design should he use?
A) longitudinal
B) experimental
C) cross sectional
D) historical

Accepted Answer

Cross-sectional research design is most suitable for Jacob's study because it allows him to collect data from monkeys of different ages at a single point in time, fitting his one-semester timeframe.

Question 20

Which of the following methods of data collection is subject to reactivity?
A) questionnaires
B) interviews
C) focus groups
D) all of the above

Accepted Answer

All of the methods listed (questionnaires, interviews, and focus groups) can be subject to reactivity, which is a change in behavior or responses of participants due to the awareness of being observed or studied.

Quiz 2: Research Approaches and Methods of Data Collection

A research technique that combines features of both longitudinal and cross-sectional designs - testing cohorts of individuals but also retesting them over time - is referred to as______ a design.

Which of the following is NOT a weakness of observation as a major method of data collection?

Qualitative research can be described in the following way:

Which of the following could be considered a limitation of qualitative research?

Qualitative research is interpretive, which involves

observation is done in the real world, while observation is done in a controlled environment.

_research is primarily descriptive and useful in theory generation while_ research is more useful in testing hypotheses.

__are a paper and pencil self report method of collecting attitude and opinion information, while are a face to face self report method for collecting the same information.

Which of the following is a strength of a face to face interview over a paper and pencil questionnaire?

Which of the following methods of data collection is used to measure personality, aptitude, achievement, or performance?

In a longitudinal study of a behavior, a researcher would

Focus groups are useful in which of the following types of research?

_________data is data that was left behind by another research or collected for some other purpose.

The cohort-sequential design is an alternative developmental design

Qualitative researchers use many methods in part to

Which of the following is a weakness of using tests at a method of data collection?

For his senior thesis, Jacob is studying the development of motor coordination in monkeys from birth to old age, but only has one semester to collect his data. What kind of descriptive research design should he use?

Which of the following methods of data collection is subject to reactivity?