Educational Research Foundations

Question 1

What is Educational Research?

Answer 1

it is the scientific field of study that examines education and learning processes and the human attributes, interactions, organizations, and institutions that shape educational outcomes

Question 2

What is evidence used for?

Answer 2

Evidence is used to support or refute a theory or concept.

Question 3

By studying educational research, students develop____________skills.

Answer 3

critical thinking

Question 4

An important critical thinking question to ask regarding research studies is what efforts were taken to reduce the effects of ________, as prejudice can seriously hinder the results and validity of the study

Answer 4

bias

Question 5

Educational research studies present ___________ for readers to consume and evaluate with critical thinking skills.

Answer 5

evidence

Question 6

What is the best way to learn essential details of a research study?

Answer 6

critical thinking skills

Question 7

What is a factor that could affect the results of a study?

Answer 7

bias

Question 8

Research is about producing clear and defensible results also referred to as _________________.

Answer 8

evidence

Question 9

What are the 5 types of educational research?

Answer 9

1. Basic
2. Evaluation
3. Action
4. Orientational
5. Applied

Question 10

_____________ is aimed at generating fundamental knowledge and theoretical understanding about primary human functions and other natural processes.

Answer 10

Basic Research

Question 11

Who is the audience for Basic Research?

Answer 11

Other researchers

Question 12

What is an example of basic research?

Answer 12

The effect of priming in memory.
Ex:
Assume that a researcher asks a volunteer to name a fruit and the volunteer responds with “pineapple.” Then on the second trial, the researcher asks the volunteer to either name another type of fruit or to name a type of dog. Researchers want to see which response volunteers can provide more quickly. Results may show that when initially asked to name a fruit, the volunteers’ memories become primed and they can name another type of fruit faster than they can name a type of dog. Priming is thought to occur because the first exposure activates the complex of neurons in long-term memory, where the concept is being stored.

Question 13

What type of research is used in Basic Research?

Answer 13

Quantitative

Question 14

_____________focuses on answering real-world, practical questions in order to provide relatively immediate solutions.

Answer 14

Applied Research

Question 15

_______________studies often lead to intervention programs aimed at improving societal conditions.

Answer 15

Applied Research

Question 16

_______________ research (or put more simply, evaluation) specifically involves determining the worth, merit, or quality of a specific program.

Answer 16

Evaluation

Question 17

Evaluation is customarily subdivided into what two types according to the purpose of the evaluation:

Answer 17

Formative evaluation is concerned with developing judgments of how a program can be improved and aids developers and staff in designing and implementing programs.

Summative evaluation focuses on cultivating judgments of a program’s effectiveness and any decisions regarding continuation. It is especially helpful for policy makers to appraise previous future-funding decisions and determine upcoming decisions.

Question 18

Basic Research is solution based, true or false?

Answer 18

False-it is knowledge driven

Question 19

Applied Research is solution based, true or false?

Answer 19

True, it seeks to provide a practical solution to a defined problem

Question 20

_____________research is on the Applied end of the spectrum, but how does it differ from Applied?

Answer 20

Orientatational

The focus is on real-world questions and applications. However, it is specifically focused on reducing inequality and giving voice to the disadvantaged.

Question 21

____________research is focused on addressing and solving specific problems that local practitioners confront in their schools and communities, conducting research directly within the classroom or work environment.

Answer 21

Action

Question 22

If an educator wants to develop an action research program in an elementary school, what kind of issue would most benefit from action research?

a. Rise in rate of obesity among the children participating in school lunches
b. Shortage of teachers for the upcoming school year
c. Overcrowding of teacher parking lot

Answer 22

A. Correct! Given the specific scope of the issue, action research could provide vital insight and strategies that the educator could present to supervisors and school board members.

Question 23

Consumers of research can evaluate the strength of a study’s evidence by using __________.

Answer 23

Critical Thinking

Question 24

Which of the following is not usually found in a research study’s abstract:

A. Conflicting studies

B. Purpose or goal

C. Methods used

D. Concise results

Answer 24

A. Conflicting Studies

Question 25

The ultimate goal of exploratory research is to provide what for researchers? A. Understanding B. Speculation C. Confusion D. Uncertainty

Answer 25

A. Understanding

Question 26

Applied research (e.g., action research) seeks to answer questions in a __________setting.

Answer 26

Real-World

Question 27

________or________ is the philosophical idea that reason is the primary source of knowledge.

Answer 27

Reasoning or rationalism

Question 28

What is empirical observation?

Answer 28

derived from experience or experiment

Question 29

By always making sure that the __________are true and the argument forms are valid, deductive reasoning can serve a person well.

Answer 29

Premises | 1 : a statement or idea taken to be true and on which an argument or reasoning may be based.

Question 30

Unlike deductive assumptions, _____________________ holds that the foundational premises act as helpful but not decisive reasons toward acceptance of a conclusion.

Answer 30

inductive reasoning

Question 31

What is probabilistic form of reasoning?

Answer 31

What is probable to occur, not what will necessarily occur (However, they open themselves up to a risk of being wrong).

Question 32

Deductive reasoning holds that in order for a conclusion to be true, ___________________ must first be true.

Answer 32

the premise(s)

Question 33

If someone is using inductive reasoning to conclude something will happen based on many previous observations, they are using _____________________________form of reasoning.

Answer 33

probabilistic (based on or adapted to a theory of probability; subject to or involving chance variation).

Question 34

What is a problem with induction reasoning?

Answer 34

the future might not resemble the past

Question 35

____________only provides statements of probability, not certainty.

Answer 35

Induction

Question 36

What is phenomena?

Answer 36

a fact or situation that is observed to exist or happen, especially one whose cause or explanation is in question.

Question 37

What 3 factors do researchers study that are related to educational issues:

Answer 37

Psychological factors-Examining characteristics of individuals and individual-level phenomena (example: learning disabilities) Social psychological factors-Examining how individuals interact and relate to one another and how groups and individuals affect one another (example: middle school cliques) Sociological factors-Examining how groups form and change; documenting the characteristics of groups; studying intergroup relations; and studying group-level phenomena, such as cultural, social, political, familial, and economic institutions (example: high school student government relations)

Question 38

A good researcher tries to collect and assemble high-quality __________and expects other researchers to do the same.

Answer 38

Evidence

Question 39

All of the following describe a dynamic of science, except __________. A. critical B. progressive C. compelling D. illogical

Answer 39

D. illogical

Question 40

Science is a dynamic process including countless activities. Several of the key features of science are:

Answer 40

* making observations, * generating and testing hypotheses (educated guesses), * generating and testing theories (explanations), and * attempting to predict and positively influence the world.

Question 41

Exploratory method is a ____________approach to research. It starts with ____________on the wheel.

Answer 41

bottom up | observation/data

Question 42

This exploratory method is sometimes called the ________________merthod because it moves from the particular to the general.

Answer 42

inductive | particular equals observation and general equals theory

Question 43

What order does Theory, Observation, and Hypotheses go in Exploratory Research?

Answer 43

Observation Hypotheses Theory

Question 44

What order does Theory, Observation, and Hypotheses go in Confirmatory Research?

Answer 44

Theory Hypotheses Observation

Question 45

This confirmatory method is sometimes called the____________method because it moves from the general to the particular.

Answer 45

deductive

Question 46

It is vital to realize these two methods are not mutually exclusive, but rather mutually _____________.

Answer 46

beneficial

Question 47

Essentially, the ____________scientific method focuses on theory discovery, generation, and construction; the ______________ scientific method focuses on theory testing or justification.

Answer 47

exploratory | confirmatory

Question 48

The principle of evidence is...

Answer 48

in the face of replication, strong evidence rather than proof is all that can be obtained, because researchers always leave open the possibility that future researchers will devise new theories and new conclusions.

Question 49

A theory can also be thought of as an...

Answer 49

explanation

Question 50

__________________ research is a major approach to research with the specific purpose of answering research questions that lend themselves to study through the collection of numerical data (e.g., rating scales, GPA, frequency of events).

Answer 50

Quantitative

Question 51

Typically, quantitative research follows the ________________scientific method, which is a bottom down approach and begins with theory.

Answer 51

confirmatory

Question 52

What are the most common objectives of quantitative research?

Answer 52

description, prediction, control, and explanation

Question 53

Quantitative researchers most often follow which scientific method to test hypotheses? Investigative Exploratory Confirmatory

Answer 53

Confirmatory

Question 54

Researchers choosing a quantitative research approach collect which type of data to test hypotheses? Numerical data Anecdotal data Drawings and journaling

Answer 54

Numerical

Question 55

In order to focus in on a single or select few factors of a given situation, quantitative researchers use a narrow or wide-angle lens?

Answer 55

narrow

Question 56

Which of the following is an example of a statement reflecting probabilistic cause? “Students who study two hours each day are more likely to make good grades than students who do not study two hours each day.” “Students who study two hours each day will make good grades.”

Answer 56

“Students who study two hours each day are more likely to make good grades than students who do not study two hours each day.”

Question 57

What is an independent variable?

Answer 57

One that is presumed to cause a change

Question 58

Researches manipulate independent variables in a study. True or False?

Answer 58

True

Question 59

A dependent variable is influenced by the independent variable. True or False?

Answer 59

True

Question 60

How do researchers measure changes to variables?

Answer 60

Either Categorical by arranging into categories or Quantitative varying in degrees or amounts

Question 61

There can be other factors that influence the dependent variable but not ones you want to study. What are those referred to as?

Answer 61

Extraneous Variables

Question 62

When is Non-Experimental Research used?

Answer 62

when the research question or hypothesis can be about ONE variable rather than about the relationship between variables

Question 63

What are the strengths of a quantitative research study?

Answer 63

Generalized and can be replicated Controlled conditions Allows for objective analysis

Question 64

What are the weaknesses of a quantitative research study?

Answer 64

Data does not always provide information about the context

Question 65

What is ontology?

Answer 65

(the researcher's view of the nature of reality and truth)

Question 66

What is epistemology?

Answer 66

(the researcher's theory of how knowledge is created)

Question 67

Objectivity is of the highest priority for quantitative researchers. Myth or Fact

Answer 67

Fact

Question 68

Researchers conducting a quantitative study prefer to examine the breadth and depth of a phenomenon from a subjective point of view. Myth or Fact

Answer 68

Myth

Question 69

Quantitative research often focuses on testing specific hypotheses. Myth or Fact

Answer 69

Fact

Question 70

(apply to the epistemology, or the theory of knowledge, of quantitative research) Search for existing truths. Applies or Does Not Apply?

Answer 70

Applies

Question 71

(apply to the epistemology, or the theory of knowledge, of quantitative research) Standards of knowledge varying with individuals or groups. Applies or Does Not Apply

Answer 71

Does Not Apply

Question 72

(apply to the epistemology, or the theory of knowledge, of quantitative research) Hypothesis justification based on experience or experiment. Applies or Does Not Apply?

Answer 72

Applies

Question 73

A __________ is defined as a condition or characteristic that can assume different values or categories such as age, grade point average, test scores, and gender.

Answer 73

Variable

Question 74

A __________________ is something that does not change, but represents a single value. A single value or category of a variable can be held constant in a study.

Answer 74

Constant

Question 75

What are some examples of quantitative variables?

Answer 75

height, weight, temperature, reading performance, rate, number, etc.

Question 76

What are some examples of categorical variables?

Answer 76

race, ethnicity, marital status, political party affiliation, social class, etc.

Question 77

The independent variable is an ___________ variable because it must come before another variable if it is to produce a change in it.

Answer 77

antecedent

Question 78

A ___________variable is presumed to be influenced by one or more independent variables.

Answer 78

dependent

Question 79

Sometimes researchers call the dependent variable an _____________ variable or a response variable.

Answer 79

outcome

Question 80

Finally, ______________________variables are variables other than the independent variable of interest that may be related to the outcome.

Answer 80

extraneous

Question 81

Researchers studying eating habits of people in different cultures went to a fast food restaurant in France and the same restaurant in the United States. They observed restaurant patrons from the time they sat down until the time they left the restaurant and found that people spent less time at the table in France. The independent variable in this study is the: Country Time Restaurant

Answer 81

Country

Question 82

A researcher wants to study whether there is a relationship between students’ average grades in their first semester of college and whether they started college immediately after graduating from high school or took time off in between. In this case, going directly to college or not is a __________. Constant or Variable

Answer 82

Variable | Correct! A variable is a characteristic that can take on different values.

Question 83

A researcher studies English as a second language development in preschoolers, but includes only children whose native language is Spanish. In this case, native language is a __________. Constant or Variable?

Answer 83

Constant

Question 84

Consider the following situations and determine whether the concept is being used as a variable or whether a value of the concept is being held constant. Employment status in a study comparing working and nonworking college students Constant or Variable?

Answer 84

Variable

Question 85

In the most basic form of __________research, the researcher examines the correlation between two quantitative variables.

Answer 85

correlational

Question 86

_________________research involves manipulating variables in a controlled environment to isolate the causal effects of a particular variable or set of variables.

Answer 86

Experimental

Question 87

Experimental research requires _______ and_________groups for comparison; it also requires randomly assigned participants.

Answer 87

control and treatment

Question 88

______________ research does not require control or treatment groups (but they can be used), and participants are usually in existing groups that are not randomly assigned.

Answer 88

Quasi-experimental

Question 89

__________________________-research designs include correlational (studies that look at relationships between variables), predictive (studies that examine prediction of future levels of a variable), and causal-comparative methods (studies that examine how different preexisting groups vary on a variable or variables).

Answer 89

Non-experimental

Question 90

The purpose of experimental research is to determine __________________ (i.e., causal) relationships.

Answer 90

cause-and-effect

Question 91

Specifically, in experimental research, the researcher manipulates the _____________by actively intervening in the world, and then observes what happens.

Answer 91

independent variable

Question 92

Specifically, in experimental research, the researcher manipulates the independent variable by actively intervening in the world, and then observes what happens. Thus, _____________, an intervention studied by an experimenter, is the key defining characteristic of experimental research, as it is based on the activity theory of causation.

Answer 92

manipulation

Question 93

DRY MIX

Answer 93

Dependent Responding Graphed on the Y-Axis Manipulated Independent Graphed on the X-Axis

Question 94

Quantitative Research is broken down into what two categories?

Answer 94

Experimental and Non-Experimental

Question 95

________________ research requires control and treatment groups for comparison; it also requires randomly assigned participants.

Answer 95

Experimental

Question 96

______________ research designs include correlational (studies that look at relationships between variables), predictive (studies that examine prediction of future levels of a variable), and causal-comparative methods (studies that examine how different preexisting groups vary on a variable or variables).

Answer 96

Nonexperimental

Question 97

Which question can be addressed with experimental research? Do older people have more negative perceptions about online banking than younger people? Are people with insomnia likely to eat larger breakfasts than people who do not have trouble sleeping? Are children likely to approach an animal in the park if they see a trusted adult being nice to that animal? Does spending four or more hours a day playing computer games lead to attention deficit disorder?

Answer 97

Are children likely to approach an animal in the park if they see a trusted adult being nice to that animal? Correct! In experimental research, the researcher manipulates the independent variable. In this scenario, the experimenter can manipulate whether the trusted adult approaches the animal or not.

Question 98

In ____________ research, there is no manipulation of an independent variable. There also is no random assignment to groups by the researcher—as random assignment is only possible in the strongest of the experimental designs.

Answer 98

Nonexperimental

Question 99

One type of nonexperimental research is _________________ research that examines the relationship between one or more categorical independent variables and one or more quantitative dependent variables.

Answer 99

causal-comparative

Question 100

Another nonexperimental research method is called _____________research, wherein the researcher studies the relationship between one or more quantitative independent variables and one or more quantitative dependent variables; that is, in correlational research, both the independent and dependent variables are quantitative.

Answer 100

correlational

Question 101

Which of the following is a characteristic of nonexperimental research design? No manipulation of independent variables Random assignment of groups Active manipulation of independent variables

Answer 101

No manipulation of independent variables | Correct! Nonexperimental research designs include no direct manipulation of independent variables.

Question 102

Causal-comparative research is considered the best design for establishing a cause-and-effect relationship. True False

Answer 102

False | Correct! The weaker nature of causal-comparative research means it is not the best design for cause-and-effect studies.

Question 103

Which question can only be addressed with nonexperimental research? Are children living with single parents more likely to attend daycare than children who live with two parents? Are people who have perfectly symmetrical faces seen as more attractive than people who have asymmetrical faces? Do students with limited free time work harder to finish their homework than students with a lot of free time? Can a person detect what food they are eating if they are blindfolded and their sense of smell is blocked?

Answer 103

Are children living with single parents more likely to attend daycare than children who live with two parents? Correct! Nonexperimental research lacks the manipulation of an independent variable, control of extraneous variables through random assignment, or both. The experimenter cannot randomly assign participants to live with single parents or with two parents.

Question 104

Nonexperimental methods tend to be weaker or stronger for establishing definitive conclusions without the presence of manipulation?

Answer 104

Weaker