Question 1

What is the correct term for the 'diary perspective' on research?

Accepted Answer

The 'diary perspective' on research refers to a longitudinal approach, where data is collected over a period of time to observe changes and developments.

Question 2

What is meant by 'reliability' in research?

Accepted Answer

Reliability refers to the consistency and reproducibility of research findings. It ensures that the findings can be replicated by other researchers under similar conditions.

Question 3

"Michaela is a manager of an IT firm interviewing her own employees about outsourcing. She suspects many of them have been telling her what they think she wants to hear." This is an example of ________.

Accepted Answer

Participant Bias occurs when participants in a study or interview provide responses they believe the interviewer wants to hear, rather than their true thoughts or feelings.

Question 4

"Ranj gives out his employee satisfaction survey to his participants the day after bonuses have been announced for all staff." What threat to the validity of his data does this pose?

Accepted Answer

The announcement of bonuses is an external event that could influence the participants' responses, posing a history threat to the validity of the data.

Question 5

Valid research actually measures what it claims to be about.

Accepted Answer

Validity in research refers to the extent to which a study accurately reflects or assesses the specific concept that the researcher is attempting to measure.

Question 6

Generalisability only causes researchers a problem if they claim their results have external validity.

Accepted Answer

Generalisability is a concern when researchers claim external validity because it involves applying findings from a study to broader contexts or populations beyond the study sample. If a study lacks external validity, its results may not be generalisable.

Question 7

What is meant by the term 'logic leaps' in research?

Accepted Answer

Logic leaps refer to making conclusions or assumptions without sufficient evidence or reasoning, often skipping necessary steps in the logical process.

Question 8

Ethical considerations in research design mean you should always take the most ideal data collection opportunity.

Accepted Answer

Ethical considerations require researchers to prioritize the well-being and rights of participants, which may not always align with the most ideal data collection opportunity.

Question 9

Your research findings show that teenagers replace their mobile phones more frequently than any other age group. You conclude that teenagers are the highest spending mobile phone consumers. What have you done wrong here?

Accepted Answer

The conclusion assumes that replacing phones frequently directly correlates to being the highest spending consumers, which is an unsubstantiated causal relationship without further evidence.

Question 10

Reliability and validity are crucial in establishing the credibility of research findings.

Accepted Answer

Reliability ensures consistency in research results, while validity ensures the accuracy and truthfulness of the findings. Both are essential for credible and trustworthy research.

Quiz 5: Formulating the Research Design