Question 1

The text gives as an example of a research problem "the cause of drug addiction." The difficulty with this research problem, as stated, is:
A)it cannot be resolved through observation.
B)it is not sufficiently specific.
C)it is a nonempirical issue.
D)it is a nonconceptual issue.

Accepted Answer

The problem "the cause of drug addiction" is too broad and lacks specificity, making it difficult to address comprehensively in a single study. Research problems need to be narrowly defined to be effectively investigated.

Question 2

Research on Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS)was delayed in the early 1980s because:
A)AIDS victims did not seek medical care until they were very ill.
B)the Reagan Administration was cutting social programs.
C)the disease first appeared in groups for whom they powers-that-be felt little sympathy.
D)both the Reagan Administration was cutting social programs, and the disease first appeared in groups for whom they powers-that-be felt little sympathy.

Accepted Answer

Research on AIDS was delayed in the early 1980s due to a combination of factors, including budget cuts to social programs by the Reagan Administration and societal indifference or hostility towards the groups initially most affected by the disease, such as the LGBTQ+ community, injecting drug users, and sex workers. These factors contributed to a lack of urgency and resources devoted to understanding and combating the disease.

Question 3

Prior research is a fruitful source of research problems because:
A)it does not involve the intrusion of values into research.
B)it is not shaped by political considerations.
C)all research projects have limitations and leave some research questions unanswered.
D)it is not based on personal interest or other biasing influences.

Accepted Answer

Prior research often has limitations and leaves certain questions unanswered, which can inspire new research projects to address these gaps. This is why it is considered a fruitful source of research problems.

Question 4

In a literature review, a systematic search is conducted for which kinds of information
A)theoretical and conceptual issues
B)measurement issues and operational definitions
C)sampling strategies
D)all of the answers represent information sought in a literature review.

Accepted Answer

In a literature review, a systematic search is conducted to gather information on theoretical and conceptual issues, measurement issues and operational definitions, and sampling strategies, among other topics. This comprehensive approach helps in understanding the existing body of knowledge on a subject, identifying gaps, and setting the groundwork for new research.

Question 5

In addition to the behavior or characteristics of clients, human service practice research has also focused on this area as an important source of research problems:
A)the personal experience of clients in getting help.
B)the mode and process of human service practice itself.
C)deviant child management practices.
D)differences between cultures.

Accepted Answer

Human service practice research focuses on the mode and process of human service practice itself as an important source of research problems, examining how services are delivered and the effectiveness of these methods.

Question 6

One social researcher was interested in conducting research on battered women because she had been abused by her husband. This most clearly exemplifies selecting a research problem based on:
A)personal interest.
B)testing theory.
C)program evaluation.
D)human service practice.

Accepted Answer

The researcher's personal experience with abuse is the driving factor behind her interest in studying battered women, indicating that her choice of research problem is based on personal interest.

Question 7

Which of the following would be LEAST LIKELY to be classified as a research problem selected on the basis of program evaluation
A)a needs assessment conducted for a social agency to determine the number of clients in need of the agency's services
B)a study conducted for a court system to determine which inmates would be the least riskiest to parole
C)a study conducted to determine whether the propositions of exchange theory could predict which marriages would fail
D)a study conducted by a teenage pregnancy prevention program to determine whether counseling sessions are effective

Accepted Answer

Option C is least likely to be classified as a research problem selected on the basis of program evaluation because it focuses on testing a theory (exchange theory) rather than evaluating the effectiveness or needs of a specific program, which is the primary focus of program evaluation.

Question 8

Which of the following is NOT one of the factors mentioned in the text that can influence the allocation of research funds
A)the existence of a powerful interest group that can push for research on a particular problem
B)public awareness of and concern about the problem
C)the amount of publicity about the condition
D)the occurrence of an ecological fallacy in relation to a unit of analysis

Accepted Answer

The occurrence of an ecological fallacy in relation to a unit of analysis is not mentioned as a factor influencing the allocation of research funds. Factors like interest groups, public awareness, and publicity are typically mentioned as influencing research funding, whereas an ecological fallacy, which involves making inferences about individuals based on aggregate data, does not directly relate to funding decisions.

Question 9

Which of the following would BEST illustrate the use of prior research as a source of a research topic
A)a research project developed to test a theory of inter-group conflict
B)a research project that will assess the availability of counseling services to clients in a mental health agency
C)a research project that will evaluate the effectiveness of various methods of reducing prejudice among children
D)a research project that will use a sample of urban minority children to replicate a study that found abuse prevention training to be effective with suburban white children

Accepted Answer

Replicating a study with a different population (urban minority children vs. suburban white children) directly illustrates the use of prior research as a source for a new research topic.

Question 10

When a research topic is selected on the basis of personal interest in a particular problem, the main purpose of the research should be to:
A)satisfy the researcher's personal curiosity.
B)advance scientific knowledge.
C)incorporate one's values into the research.
D)conduct applied rather than basic research.

Accepted Answer

Selecting a research topic based on personal interest does not limit the purpose of research to merely satisfying personal curiosity or incorporating personal values. The primary aim should be to contribute to the broader body of knowledge within the field, hence advancing scientific knowledge. This goal ensures the research has a wider impact and relevance beyond the researcher's individual interests.

Question 11

When the text refers to the "politics" of research problem selection, it is referring to:
A)research funded by the government.
B)how access to power and resources influences what problems are researched.
C)cases where particular research problems have been promoted by politicians.
D)the debates and controversies among research when they select a particular research design.

Accepted Answer

The term "politics" in the context of research problem selection refers to the influence of power dynamics and resource allocation on determining which research problems are prioritized or deemed worthy of investigation. This encompasses how societal, institutional, and funding priorities shape the research agenda.

Question 12

According to the text, human service professionals can play an important role in the political issues surrounding the selection of research problems by:
A)removing politics as an issue in the funding of research.
B)making sure that only human service practitioners conduct the research that affects their clients.
C)making sure that problem selection in research is based largely or solely on human service practice concerns.
D)serving as advocates for the inclusion on the societal research agenda of problems relevant to their clients.

Accepted Answer

Human service professionals can advocate for the inclusion of problems relevant to their clients on the societal research agenda, ensuring that these issues receive attention and potentially funding for research. This role involves highlighting the importance of certain issues based on their professional experience and the needs of their clients, rather than removing politics from research funding or restricting research conduct to practitioners only.

Question 13

The text states that only concepts that are can be used in the research process.
A)measurable
B)abstract
C)practice-oriented
D)unique

Accepted Answer

Measurable concepts are necessary in research to ensure that they can be quantified and analyzed.

Question 14

Based upon a review of the literature, a researcher should:
A)follow approaches that have failed to show any significant results or strong relationships in the past.
B)learn from other's experiences and avoid pitfalls in earlier research.
C)avoid sampling procedures that have been widely used in previous studies.
D)avoid the replication of previous research.

Accepted Answer

Learning from others' experiences and avoiding pitfalls in earlier research is crucial for advancing knowledge and improving research methodologies. It helps in refining research questions, choosing appropriate methodologies, and avoiding known mistakes, thereby contributing to more robust and reliable research outcomes.

Question 15

Which of the following is NOT included in the text as a possible source of research problems
A)personal interest
B)testing theory
C)prior research
D)units of analysis

Accepted Answer

Units of analysis are not typically listed as a source of research problems but rather as a component of research design, focusing on what or who is being studied.

Question 16

Which of the following best illustrates the source of the research problems for researchers at the Office of the Inspector General (OIG)of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)described in Research in Practice 4.1
A)Personal interest.
B)Prior research.
C)Policy implementation.
D)Conceptual development.

Accepted Answer

Research problems for researchers at the Office of the Inspector General (OIG) of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) often stem from the need to evaluate and improve policy implementation, as their work is directly related to overseeing and ensuring the effectiveness, efficiency, and integrity of HHS programs.

Question 17

Identifying and properly defining the concepts that will be the focus of a research study is called:
A)conceptual development.
B)inductive reasoning.
C)theory verification.
D)propositional development.

Accepted Answer

Conceptual development involves identifying and properly defining the concepts that will be the focus of a research study, ensuring clarity and precision in how these concepts are understood and investigated.

Question 18

Since 1970, there has been a growing amount of social science research on spouse abuse. Among the reason(s)for this increase is/are that:
A)the amount of spouse abuse has grown substantially.
B)more women have chosen to pursue careers as social science researchers.
C)the women's movement has failed as an important political force for change.
D)all the other answers represent reasons for the increase.

Accepted Answer

The increase in social science research on spouse abuse is partly due to more women entering the field as researchers, which has brought more attention to issues affecting women, such as spouse abuse.

Question 19

The review of the literature in research typically has which of the following goals
A)to learn how others have delineated similar problems.
B)to help narrow the focus of the research project.
C)to ensure that the research project does not unnecessarily duplicate what others have done.
D)all of the answers represent goals of a literature review.

Accepted Answer

The review of the literature in research serves multiple purposes: it helps researchers understand how similar problems have been defined and approached by others, narrows the focus of the research by identifying gaps or specific areas that need further investigation, and ensures that the research project is original by revealing what has already been done in the field.

Question 20

In regard to theories, the text states that nearly all research should, at a minimum:
A)include some novel theoretical development.
B)have some implications for verifying existing theory.
C)focus on more than one theory.
D)provide a nomothetic explanation.

Accepted Answer

The text implies that research should at least contribute to verifying existing theory, as this is a fundamental aspect of scientific inquiry, helping to validate or refine theoretical frameworks.

Quiz 4: Issues in Problem Formulation

The text gives as an example of a research problem "the cause of drug addiction." The difficulty with this research problem, as stated, is:

Research on Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) was delayed in the early 1980s because:

Prior research is a fruitful source of research problems because:

In a literature review, a systematic search is conducted for which kinds of information

In addition to the behavior or characteristics of clients, human service practice research has also focused on this area as an important source of research problems:

One social researcher was interested in conducting research on battered women because she had been abused by her husband. This most clearly exemplifies selecting a research problem based on:

Which of the following would be LEAST LIKELY to be classified as a research problem selected on the basis of program evaluation

Which of the following is NOT one of the factors mentioned in the text that can influence the allocation of research funds

Which of the following would BEST illustrate the use of prior research as a source of a research topic

When a research topic is selected on the basis of personal interest in a particular problem, the main purpose of the research should be to:

When the text refers to the "politics" of research problem selection, it is referring to:

According to the text, human service professionals can play an important role in the political issues surrounding the selection of research problems by:

The text states that only concepts that are can be used in the research process.

Based upon a review of the literature, a researcher should:

Which of the following is NOT included in the text as a possible source of research problems

Which of the following best illustrates the source of the research problems for researchers at the Office of the Inspector General (OIG) of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) described in Research in Practice 4.1

Identifying and properly defining the concepts that will be the focus of a research study is called:

Since 1970, there has been a growing amount of social science research on spouse abuse. Among the reason(s) for this increase is/are that:

The review of the literature in research typically has which of the following goals

In regard to theories, the text states that nearly all research should, at a minimum: