Question 1

An investigator should reconsider his hypothesis when the results are contrary to what was expected.He can do this by
A) rewriting the hypothesis section in the body of the report.
B) stating in the conclusion that the original theory is wrong.
C) alerting the reader to internal validity problems in the study.
D) offering tentative explanations for the observed results in the discussion section of the study.
E) rewriting the related literature section of the report.

Accepted Answer

Option D is the best choice as it allows the investigator to offer explanations for the observed results while acknowledging the need for further research to confirm these explanations. It also shows that the investigator is open to revising their initial hypothesis based on empirical evidence. Options A, B, and E are incorrect as they do not address the need to reconsider the hypothesis based on the results, and option C is not applicable as it pertains to an issue with internal validity rather than the hypothesis.

Question 2

If the results of a study do not agree with the hypothesis, the researcher should
A) repeat the study before reporting results.
B) report the results as legitimate findings.
C) reword the hypothesis to reflect the results.
D) abandon that particular hypothesis.

Accepted Answer

The researcher should report the results as legitimate findings, regardless of whether or not they agree with the hypothesis. This transparency is necessary for the scientific community to have a better understanding of the phenomenon being studied, and it also allows for further investigation and potential refinement of the original hypothesis.

Question 3

An investigator found no significant correlation between the grades that teachers earned in education courses and the principals' ratings of those teachers.The investigator should conclude
A) principals are unable to recognize good teaching.
B) education courses have no influence on teacher performance.
C) grades in education courses are unrelated to teacher success.
D) grades in education courses are related to teacher success, but the present measuring instruments are inadequate for showing this relationship.
E) None of these is true.

Accepted Answer

The answer of An investigator found no significant correlation between...

Question 4

Which of the following would be the most appropriate research title?
A) An exploration of the successful interview for graduating college seniors
B) The relation of self-image and job experience to job interview success for graduating college seniors
C) The relation between successful job interviews and the interviewee's self-image and job experience
D) All of these are appropriate research titles.

Accepted Answer

Choice B is the most appropriate research title because it is the most specific and accurately reflects the focus of the study. It clearly identifies the factors being examined (self-image and job experience) and the outcome being measured (job interview success). Choice A is too broad and does not specify what factors are being examined. Choice C is similar to Choice B, but phrased in a slightly less clear way. Choice D is incorrect because not all of the titles are equally appropriate.

Question 5

As compared with journal articles, papers prepared for presentation at professional meetings are
A) longer with more details of related research and study.
B) less likely to be geared to a particular audience.
C) more formal.
D) less formal.
E) b and c

Accepted Answer

Papers prepared for presentation at professional meetings are typically less formal than journal articles as they are often presented orally to a more diverse audience. However, they may not necessarily contain more details or related research and study than journal articles.

Question 6

A null hypothesis could be retained because
A) it is false.
B) internal validity threats interfered.
C) the instruments used were too sensitive.
D) statistical power was too strong.

Accepted Answer

The null hypothesis could be retained because internal validity threats interfered, which means that factors other than the independent variable could have influenced the results of the study.

Question 7

Researchers found no significant relationship between color combinations in a classroom and the time on task of the students.The researchers can conclude that
A) there is no relation between the color of a classroom and students' performance.
B) they did not find the appropriate color combination for the study.
C) their measurement of time on task may have some reliability problems.
D) Any of these are true.
E) None of these is true.

Accepted Answer

The conclusion that researchers can draw from their findings is limited to the specific relationship they studied: the impact of color combinations in a classroom on students' time on task. It does not extend to broader claims about the relationship between classroom color and student performance, the appropriateness of the color combinations chosen for the study, or the reliability of their measurement method.

Question 8

The purpose of the discussion section of a research paper is to
A) relate the findings of the study to theory and research in the area.
B) point out the implications of the results.
C) state how the findings may be applied in practice.
D) All of these are true.

Accepted Answer

The discussion section of a research paper serves multiple purposes, including relating the findings to theory and research in the area, pointing out the implications of the results, and stating how the findings may be applied in practice. Therefore, all of the choices are correct.

Question 9

When writing a quantitative research report it is recommended that it be written
A) in a narrative, informal manner.
B) in a convincing and argumentative style.
C) in a creative and innovative format.
D) according to the prescribed format.

Accepted Answer

It is recommended that quantitative research reports follow a prescribed format to ensure consistency and clarity in reporting the research findings. This format typically includes sections such as an abstract, introduction, literature review, methodology, results, discussion, and conclusion. Following this format also makes it easier for readers to locate the information they need and to compare the study with others in the same field.

Question 10

The results section of a research report is different from the conclusion section of the report because the results section
A) suggests which conclusions are statistically significant, while the conclusion section reports the outcome of the original hypotheses.
B) reports the outcomes of the data analysis, while the conclusion section suggests inferences based on the results.
C) reports the significance of the conclusions, and the conclusions are predicted outcomes of the original hypotheses.
D) None of these is true-the results and conclusion sections are the same.

Accepted Answer

The results section focuses on reporting the outcomes of data analysis, such as descriptive statistics and inferential statistics, while the conclusion section interprets the results and suggests inferences based on them. The conclusion section may also mention the outcomes of the original hypotheses, but its main focus is on the implications and significance of the results. Therefore, choice B is the best answer.

Question 11

Which of the following indicates the usual order of the sections in the text of a thesis or dissertation?
A) Introduction, methods, results, discussion, conclusions
B) Discussion, introduction, methods, results, conclusions
C) Introduction, results, method, conclusions, discussion
D) Introduction, discussion, methods, results, conclusions

Accepted Answer

The usual order of sections in a thesis or dissertation is Introduction, methods, results, discussion, and conclusions. This is because it follows a logical flow of introducing the topic, explaining the methods used to study it, presenting the findings, discussing the implications of the results, and drawing overall conclusions. Option A is the only one that follows this order.

Question 12

By reading this section of a research report, a reader should be able to judge the population external validity of that study.
A) statement of the problem
B) hypothesis
C) sampling
D) review of literature

Accepted Answer

Sampling is directly related to population external validity. It describes how participants were selected and whether they are representative of the population being studied. Information about the sample can help readers assess the extent to which the findings can be generalized to other populations.

Question 13

In a study examining the relationship between guided imagery and successful resolution of test anxiety, researchers found a significant difference on an anxiety scale between high school-aged groups who received and did not receive a guided imagery treatment.The researchers should title their report
A) "Relieving Test Anxiety Through Guided Imagery."
B) "Guided Imagery and Test Anxiety in High School."
C) "The Relationship of Guided Imagery and High School Test Anxiety."
D) Any of these is true.

Accepted Answer

The title "The Relationship of Guided Imagery and High School Test Anxiety" accurately reflects the study's focus on examining the relationship between guided imagery and test anxiety among high school students, as indicated by the significant difference found in the anxiety scale between groups.

Question 14

Which of the following would be the most acceptable title for a research report on the effect of alcohol use on achievement in college?
A) "A Study of the Difference Between the Grade-point Average of Alcohol Users and Abstainers in a Large Midwestern University"
B) "Alcohol and Students"
C) "The Abuse of Alcohol by Today's Students"
D) "Alcohol, the Curse of Today's Student!"
E) "Relationship Between Alcohol Consumption and Academic Achievement in College"

Accepted Answer

This title accurately reflects the focus of the research and uses neutral language to describe the relationship between alcohol use and academic achievement. The other options either use sensational or negative language or are too general to accurately convey the scope of the research.

Question 15

When the results of a study are statistically significant, this means that the results
A) were what was predicted by the null hypothesis.
B) were surprising and did not correspond to theory.
C) have practical implications.
D) are necessarily meaningful and useful.
E) are unlikely to be due to mere chance.

Accepted Answer

When results of a study are statistically significant, it means that the probability of the observed results occurring by chance is low (typically less than 5%). Therefore, it is unlikely that the results are due to mere chance, which suggests that they are real and not attributable to random error.

Question 16

In the research paper, the discussion section serves as a way to
A) explain any shortcoming of the research methods.
B) suggest the practical implications of the findings.
C) tie the findings to the literature review.
D) All of these are true.
E) None of these is true.

Accepted Answer

The discussion section of a research paper serves as a way to explain any shortcomings of the research methods, suggest the practical implications of the findings, and tie the findings to the literature review. Therefore, all of these options are true.

Question 17

The most important criterion for judging the adequacy of the procedures section of a research report is to ask whether or not the reader could adequately
A) critique the effectiveness of the procedures.
B) predict the outcomes of the results section.
C) perform the procedures exactly as the researcher performed them.
D) All of these are true.

Accepted Answer

The most important criterion for judging the adequacy of the procedures section of a research report is whether the reader could replicate the study by performing the procedures exactly as the researcher did. This ensures the study's reproducibility and validity.

Question 18

After an experiment was in progress, a researcher learned that the experimental group had a more experienced teacher than did the control group.Should the researcher mention this fact in the research report?
A) Yes, any factor which might affect the internal validity of the experiment should be reported.
B) No, it is not necessary for the reader to know all the details about problems which arise during the course of a study.

Accepted Answer

It is important to report any potentially confounding factors that may have affected the results of the experiment, even if they were not initially accounted for. This allows for a more accurate interpretation of the results and helps to ensure the validity of the study.

Question 19

Research presentations at professional conventions
A) should be comprehensive since audience members probably don't have an adequate background.
B) are typically at least an hour long.
C) may focus on research in progress.
D) None of these is true.

Accepted Answer

Research presentations at professional conventions may focus on research in progress, as this allows for feedback from colleagues and potential collaboration opportunities. The length of the presentation can vary, but it is not necessarily always at least an hour long. Additionally, assuming that audience members have an inadequate background may result in a presentation that is too basic for some attendees.

Question 20

Which of the following is not necessary in the title of a research report?
A) Dependent variable
B) Independent variable
C) Operational definitions
D) Population of interest

Accepted Answer

Operational definitions are typically detailed within the body of a research report rather than in the title. The title usually highlights the key aspects of the study, such as the dependent and independent variables and the population of interest, to give a clear and concise overview of the research focus.

Quiz 21: Interpreting and Reporting Results of Quantitative Research

An investigator should reconsider his hypothesis when the results are contrary to what was expected.He can do this by

If the results of a study do not agree with the hypothesis, the researcher should

An investigator found no significant correlation between the grades that teachers earned in education courses and the principals' ratings of those teachers.The investigator should conclude

Which of the following would be the most appropriate research title?

As compared with journal articles, papers prepared for presentation at professional meetings are

A null hypothesis could be retained because

Researchers found no significant relationship between color combinations in a classroom and the time on task of the students.The researchers can conclude that

The purpose of the discussion section of a research paper is to

When writing a quantitative research report it is recommended that it be written

The results section of a research report is different from the conclusion section of the report because the results section

Which of the following indicates the usual order of the sections in the text of a thesis or dissertation?

By reading this section of a research report, a reader should be able to judge the population external validity of that study.

Which of the following would be the most acceptable title for a research report on the effect of alcohol use on achievement in college?

When the results of a study are statistically significant, this means that the results

In the research paper, the discussion section serves as a way to

The most important criterion for judging the adequacy of the procedures section of a research report is to ask whether or not the reader could adequately

After an experiment was in progress, a researcher learned that the experimental group had a more experienced teacher than did the control group.Should the researcher mention this fact in the research report?

Research presentations at professional conventions

Which of the following is not necessary in the title of a research report?