Question 1

The largest proportion of a journal article is devoted to
A) problem and hypothesis.
B) literature review.
C) methodology.
D) results and discussion.

Accepted Answer

The largest proportion of a journal article is usually devoted to presenting the results and discussing their implications. While problem and hypothesis, literature review, and methodology are all important sections of a research article, they typically take up less space than the results and discussion.

Question 2

In developing a title for a research report, the researcher should
A) avoid emotion laden words
B) include operational definitions of the variables
C) use such terms as "a comparison of" or "an investigation into" at the beginning
D) All of these are true.

Accepted Answer

The answer of In developing a title for a research...

Question 3

Which of the following is primarily a question of professional ethics?
A) Are the conclusions justified by the evidence in the study?
B) Are the relationships to be investigated logically implied by the hypothesis?
C) Could the difference between groups have been a function of chance?
D) Is the population involved in the study precisely described?
E) Is evidence that does not agree with the hypothesis omitted?

Accepted Answer

Professional ethics dictate that evidence that does not support the hypothesis should not be omitted or misrepresented in any way. This ensures that the findings of a study are accurate and unbiased.

Question 4

The following statement would likely be included in which section of a quantitative research article: The subjects were randomly assigned to one of the two treatments groups and a pretest was administered.
A) Introduction
B) Methods
C) Results
D) Discussion

Accepted Answer

This statement details the methodology used in the study, specifically the random assignment of subjects to treatment groups and the administration of a pretest. This information would typically be found in the Methods section of a quantitative research article.

Question 5

Exhibit 19-1.A researcher wished to determine if there was a difference in the college aptitude examination scores of traditional and nontraditional undergraduate students.The researcher selected p = .05 as the level for rejecting the null hypothesis.The researcher obtained a mean score of 52 for nontraditional students and a mean score of 40 for the traditional students.Statistical analysis indicated that the difference in means was significant at the .05 level.
-Refer to Exhibit 19-1.The null hypothesis for this study would be
A) retained.
B) rejected.
C) ignored.
D) verified.

Accepted Answer

The null hypothesis for this study would be that there is no difference in the college aptitude examination scores of traditional and nontraditional undergraduate students. Since the statistical analysis indicated a significant difference in means at the .05 level, the null hypothesis would be rejected.

Question 6

The following statement would likely be included in which section of a quantitative research article: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of using word processing on writing quality of seventh graders.
A) Introduction
B) Methods
C) Results
D) Discussion

Accepted Answer

This statement presents the overall aim of the research and is typically included in the Introduction section of a research article.

Question 7

Which of the following questions is primarily a question of deductive reasoning?
A) Are the conclusions justified by the evidence in the study?
B) Are the relationships to be investigated logically implied by the hypothesis?
C) Could the difference between groups have been a function of chance?
D) Is the population involved in the study precisely described?
E) Is evidence that does not agree with the hypothesis omitted?

Accepted Answer

The question is asking about whether the hypothesis logically implies certain relationships, which is a question of deductive reasoning.

Question 8

Which of the following is primarily a question of statistics?
A) Are the conclusions justified by the evidence in the study?
B) Are the relationships to be investigated logically implied by the hypothesis?
C) Could the difference between groups have been a function of chance?
D) Is the population involved in the study precisely described?
E) Is evidence that does not agree with the hypothesis omitted?

Accepted Answer

This question pertains to the statistical concept of significance testing, which assesses the likelihood that the observed difference between groups is due to chance rather than a true difference in the population.

Question 9

Exhibit 19-1.A researcher wished to determine if there was a difference in the college aptitude examination scores of traditional and nontraditional undergraduate students.The researcher selected p = .05 as the level for rejecting the null hypothesis.The researcher obtained a mean score of 52 for nontraditional students and a mean score of 40 for the traditional students.Statistical analysis indicated that the difference in means was significant at the .05 level.
-Refer to Exhibit 19-1.How would the statistical significance be interpreted?
A) Traditional and nontraditional students are drawn from the same population in terms of college aptitude.
B) There are 5 chances in 100 that the two groups were drawn from different populations in terms of their college aptitude.
C) There are 5 chances in 100 that the two groups were drawn from the same population in terms of their college aptitude.
D) For every nontraditional student, there are 5 chances in 100 that she/he will score higher than a traditional student.

Accepted Answer

The statistical significance means that the probability of obtaining a difference in means as extreme as the observed difference, assuming the null hypothesis (no difference in population means), is only 5%. This implies that there is a 95% chance that the two groups were drawn from different populations in terms of their college aptitude. Therefore, option C correctly interprets the significance level. Options A, B, and D are incorrect.

Question 10

A retained null hypothesis means that
A) there is no relationship between the variables
B) there is no evidence for either the truth or falsity of the hypothesis
C) the researcher's hypothesis is proven to be incorrect
D) the null hypothesis is certainly true

Accepted Answer

When a null hypothesis is retained, it means that there is not enough evidence to reject it. This does not mean that the null hypothesis is certainly true, and it also does not prove the researcher's hypothesis to be incorrect. It simply means that, based on the data and statistical testing, there is not enough evidence to support the alternative hypothesis over the null hypothesis.

Question 11

The following statement would likely be included in which section of a quantitative research article: The ANOVA revealed a significant difference among groups, F(2,70) = 5.92, p < .001.
A) Introduction
B) Methods
C) Results
D) Discussion

Accepted Answer

This statement is reporting the results of the study, specifically referencing the statistical analysis performed (ANOVA) and the significance level (p < .001). Therefore, it would typically be included in the results section of a quantitative research article.

Question 12

Indicate which of the following is true related to presentation of a research study.
A) It may be assumed that the readers will arrive at the same conclusions as the writer.
B) Using the hypothesis as the framework around which to organize the presentation and analysis of data is a useful strategy.
C) Personal anecdotes, humorous asides, etc., should be used whenever possible to enliven a research report.
D) It should be assumed by researchers that readers will deduce the implications of the results themselves.

Accepted Answer

Using the hypothesis as the framework around which to organize the presentation and analysis of data is a useful strategy. This helps to maintain focus and clarity throughout the report.

Option A is incorrect because it is not safe to assume that the readers will arrive at the same conclusion as the writer. The readers may have different interpretations of the data presented.

Option C is incorrect because personal anecdotes and humorous asides detract from the seriousness of the research study and may make it appear unprofessional.

Option D is incorrect because it is the researcher's responsibility to clearly explain and interpret the implications of the results for the readers.

Question 13

The results of an experimental study were statistically significant (p<.01).The researcher rejected the null hypothesis and accepted the alternative.In reality, there was no difference between the groups.The researcher
A) made a Type I error.
B) made a Type II error.
C) made a correct decision .
D) rejected a false null hypothesis.

Accepted Answer

The researcher made a Type I error, which means they rejected the null hypothesis (no difference between groups) when it was actually true. A Type I error occurs when the significance level (alpha) is set too high, leading to a higher probability of rejecting the null hypothesis when it is actually true.

Question 14

Exhibit 19-1.A researcher wished to determine if there was a difference in the college aptitude examination scores of traditional and nontraditional undergraduate students.The researcher selected p = .05 as the level for rejecting the null hypothesis.The researcher obtained a mean score of 52 for nontraditional students and a mean score of 40 for the traditional students.Statistical analysis indicated that the difference in means was significant at the .05 level.
-Refer to Exhibit 19-1.What result would be reported?
A) Nontraditional students are better college students.
B) Nontraditional students have higher motivation, and this increases their college skills.
C) Traditional college students are not as experienced, so they have a lower score.
D) Nontraditional college students had a significantly higher score on the college aptitude examination than did traditional college students.

Accepted Answer

The result that should be reported is that nontraditional college students had a significantly higher score on the college aptitude examination than did traditional college students. This is the only conclusion that can be drawn from the statistical analysis. The other options are not supported by the data and are speculative.

Question 15

The following is a list of some of the components that are covered in a research report.Match the questions below with the component it is directed toward.
-Are there sufficient controls for internal and external validity?
A)Statement of the problem 
B)Related literature 
C)Subjects 
D)Methods
E)Analysis 
F)Results
G)Discussion
H)Conclusions

Accepted Answer

The question is related to the methods section, which outlines the procedures and controls for the study to ensure internal and external validity.

Answer: B 
 The question is related to the related literature section, which discusses prior research on the topic and may address potential limitations or gaps in the literature.

Answer: C 
 The question is related to the subjects section, which discusses the characteristics of the participants in the study and may address potential sources of bias.

Answer: D 
 The question is related to the methods section, which outlines the procedures and controls for the study to ensure internal and external validity.

Answer: E 
 The question is related to the analysis section, which presents the statistical procedures used to analyze the data and may discuss potential sources of error or bias.

Answer: F 
 The question is related to the results section, which presents the findings of the study and may discuss limitations or implications of the results.

Answer: G 
 The question is related to the discussion section, which interprets the findings of the study and may address potential sources of error or bias.

Answer: H 
 The question is related to the conclusions section, which summarizes the main findings of the study and may discuss implications for future research or practice.

Question 16

When the results of a study conflict with previous research or with well-established theory, the researcher should
A) go back and rewrite the hypothesis section of the report
B) focus on the shortcomings of the study that could have caused such a result
C) include a reconsideration of the original theory in the discussion section
D) note that the previous research and theories are probably wrong

Accepted Answer

When the results of a study conflict with previous research or established theory, it is important to include a reconsideration of the original theory in the discussion section. This allows for a critical evaluation of the existing theory and the possibility of updating or revising it based on new findings. It is not appropriate to simply rewrite the hypothesis section, focus solely on the shortcomings of the study or dismiss previous research outright.

Question 17

Indicate which of the following is true related to presentation of a research study.
A) Because the readers of a journal represent a wide range of interests and knowledge, journal articles typically have longer introductions and literature reviews than theses.
B) Colleagues at presentations are generally not up-to-date on all topics, so presentations are generally more comprehensive than journal articles.
C) In a journal article, the results and conclusion section typically constitute a smaller proportion of the article than in a thesis.
D) A paper read at a professional convention is typically briefer and less formal than a journal article.

Accepted Answer

A paper read at a professional convention is typically briefer and less formal than a journal article because it is designed to fit within time constraints and engage an audience directly.

Question 18

Exhibit 19-1.A researcher wished to determine if there was a difference in the college aptitude examination scores of traditional and nontraditional undergraduate students.The researcher selected p = .05 as the level for rejecting the null hypothesis.The researcher obtained a mean score of 52 for nontraditional students and a mean score of 40 for the traditional students.Statistical analysis indicated that the difference in means was significant at the .05 level.
-Refer to Exhibit 19-1.The null hypothesis for this study would be
A) nontraditional college students will score higher on a college aptitude test than will traditional college students.
B) traditional college students will score higher on a college aptitude test than will nontraditional college students.
C) the age of students will have a significant effect on their performance on a college aptitude test.
D) there is no significant difference in the performance of traditional and nontraditional college students on a college aptitude examination.

Accepted Answer

The null hypothesis is always a statement of no difference or no effect. In this case, the null hypothesis would be that there is no significant difference in the performance of traditional and nontraditional college students on a college aptitude examination. Option A and B are alternative hypotheses, and option C is a different hypothesis altogether.

Question 19

The mean score for the experimental group was 87.5 and 70.6 for the control group.The t test was 4.5, p < .01.One would expect to find this type of data in the __________ section of a report.
A) discussion
B) results
C) methods
D) conclusions.

Accepted Answer

The mean scores and t-test results are typical components of the results section of a report, which presents the findings of the study in a concise and objective manner. The discussion section typically interprets the results and relates them to the research questions or hypotheses, while the methods section describes the design, sample, measures, and procedures used in the study. The conclusions section summarizes the main findings and implications of the study.

Question 20

An investigator compared the effectiveness of two methods of instruction (A and B) on the math achievement of boys and girls.The mean test scores are presented below.What interpretation of these results would be justified? Method
$\begin{array}{cc}
&&&\text { Method }\
&&\mathrm{A} && \mathrm{B} \
\text { Gender }&\text { Boys }&40 && 30 \
&\text { Girls }&20 & &30
\end{array}$
A)There was a main effect for method of instruction.
B)There was a main effect for gender.
C)There was an interaction between gender and method of instruction.
D)b and c
E)All of the above are true.

Accepted Answer

There was a main effect for gender (girls scored higher than boys) and an interaction between gender and method of instruction (boys did better with method A, while girls did better with method B).

Quiz 21: Interpreting and Reporting Results of Quantitative Research

The largest proportion of a journal article is devoted to

In developing a title for a research report, the researcher should

Which of the following is primarily a question of professional ethics?

The following statement would likely be included in which section of a quantitative research article: The subjects were randomly assigned to one of the two treatments groups and a pretest was administered.

The following statement would likely be included in which section of a quantitative research article: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of using word processing on writing quality of seventh graders.

Which of the following questions is primarily a question of deductive reasoning?

Which of the following is primarily a question of statistics?

A retained null hypothesis means that

The following statement would likely be included in which section of a quantitative research article: The ANOVA revealed a significant difference among groups, F(2,70) = 5.92, p < .001.

Indicate which of the following is true related to presentation of a research study.

The results of an experimental study were statistically significant (p<.01) .The researcher rejected the null hypothesis and accepted the alternative.In reality, there was no difference between the groups.The researcher

The following is a list of some of the components that are covered in a research report.Match the questions below with the component it is directed toward. -Are there sufficient controls for internal and external validity?

When the results of a study conflict with previous research or with well-established theory, the researcher should

Indicate which of the following is true related to presentation of a research study.

The mean score for the experimental group was 87.5 and 70.6 for the control group.The t test was 4.5, p < .01.One would expect to find this type of data in the __________ section of a report.