Module 1 - Heppner (Chapters 1 and 5)

Question 1

Five step process of selecting a research topic and developing the idea into a testable hypothesis:

Answer 1

1. Identifying research topic
2. Specifying research questions and hypotheses
3. Formulating operational definitions
4. Identifying research variables
5. Collecting and analyzing data

Question 2

When identifying a research topic, the task is to identify some general topic that may contribute to the professions _______________ in a meaningful way and simultaneously stimulate and motivate students to __________________________________

Answer 2

knowledge base, explore and learn more about the topic

Question 3

Most inexperienced researchers in counseling need to learn more about the _________________________ and ______________ of current research efforts

Answer 3

body of knowledge, direction

Question 4

Strategies for identifying research topics

Answer 4

1. General review of counseling topics
2. Read literature review articles and handbooks
3. Explore topics through funding agency websites
4. Talk with faculty and peers about topics
5. Attend conference presentations
6. Consult with advisor
7. Take notes of observations, reflections, and ideas
8. Critique existing lines of research
9. Consider own interest, values, and motivation

Question 5

A necessary first step in identifying possible research topics is to start collecting ____________ about previous research

Answer 5

information

Question 6

While reading and thinking about previous research in counseling, it is important to keep in mind at least four issues

Answer 6

1. The utility of research in answering real-life applied questions that address important societal needs
2. Your particular interests
3. A way to build on previous research
4. The role of theory

Question 7

One of the most basic reasons for conducting research is to develop ______________________ that in one way or another can help people by addressing pressing societal needs

Answer 7

knowledge bases

Question 8

In order for the counseling profession to be of value to the larger society, our research must address ________________________ in society

Answer 8

important issues and problems

Question 9

A great deal of research in counseling involves extending the _______________ of previous research

Answer 9

results

Question 10

It is essential to focus on investigating a few constructs only, and not to try to do too much in developing an ___________________

Answer 10

“original contribution”

Question 11

Testing theory can be an important contribution to the counseling field because it helps ________ our theories, especially because many theories have not been tested on _____________________

Answer 11

refine, diverse populations

Question 12

A great deal of research has examined the persuasion or _________________________ process within counseling

Answer 12

social influence

Question 13

Another theoretical perspective that is influencing counseling research is the ____________ model of psychotherapy

Answer 13

contextual

Question 14

Sometimes a new model or theory is developed by _____________ different bodies of research

Answer 14

integrating

Question 15

Sometimes research will test and extend competing theories or different _______________________________ phenomena.

Answer 15

conceptualizations of the same

Question 16

Sometimes theory and research from one topic can be extended to __________________

Answer 16

another topic

Question 17

Another strategy in identifying research topics is to examine any theories, whether they are found within the _________________ or outside the _______________, that might be helpful to the work of counselors

Answer 17

the counseling literature, the counseling literature

Question 18

It is often useful for students to use a ______________ of strategies as they enter the world of research

Answer 18

combination

Question 19

The purpose of research is to…

Answer 19

• Answer questions
• Address presenting societal problems
• Refine theories of interest to counseling
• Add to the existing knowledge in the field

Question 20

After identifying a possible research topic, it is important that you become _______________ about the previous research on that topic

Answer 20

knowledgeable

Question 21

When examining previous studies, pay particular attention to the ____________ section in those studies

Answer 21

discussion

Question 22

After reading multiple articles, attend more closely to the _____________ that have been used in the previous research

Answer 22

constructs

Question 23

___________________ are key elements in developing a topic area and in essence are questions that explore the relations among or between constructs

Answer 23

Research questions

Question 24

A research hypothesis is more specific than a research question because it states the ____________ relationship between the constructs

Answer 24

expected

Question 25

Research questions and hypotheses are often deduced from ____________

Answer 25

theory

Question 26

Researchers can make serious errors by proceeding to select participants and assessment instruments without ever ___________ their research questions or hypotheses and exactly what they are looking for in their research

Answer 26

clarifying

Question 27

Three general categories of research questions or hypotheses

Answer 27

1. Descriptive 2. Difference 3. Relationship

Question 28

_______________ questions describe the variables of interest with questions such as how much, how often, what percentage, what is, etc.

Answer 28

Descriptive

Question 29

____________ questions compare between groups of people or within individual participants

Answer 29

Difference

Question 30

_____________ questions examine how two or more constructs are associated with each other

Answer 30

Relationship

Question 31

A research question asks a question about the ______________ between two or more constructs that can be measured in some way.

Answer 31

relationships

Question 32

The function of a testable research question or hypothesis not only identifies the topic but also specific ____________ of interest within that topic

Answer 32

constructs

Question 33

After the initial development of the research question or hypothesis, it is crucial that all __________ or constructs in the question be defined concretely so that the research idea can be empirically tested

Answer 33

terms

Question 34

Each construct must be operationally defined, which means specifying the activities or ___________ necessary to measure it in this particular experiment.

Answer 34

operations

Question 35

Relationship questions tend to use ________________ statistics or more complex regression analyses

Answer 35

correlational

Question 36

Different operational definitions sometimes lead to very different ______________

Answer 36

results

Question 37

_________________ definitions often undergo revision as knowledge accumulates and researchers become more sophisticated

Answer 37

Operational

Question 38

The ____________ variable is the variable that is manipulated or controlled in a study

Answer 38

independent

Question 39

The ___________ variable is caused by the manipulation of the independent variable

Answer 39

dependent

Question 40

Usually an experiment involves two of more levels of the independent variable, sometimes referred to as _____________

Answer 40

conditions

Question 41

To examine the effects of the ____________ of the independent variable, concomitant changes in another variable, the dependent variable, are observed

Answer 41

manipulation

Question 42

In an experimental study, changes in the ___________ variable are supposed to depend on or be influenced by changes or variations in the independent variable

Answer 42

dependent

Question 43

In a true experimental design we infer that a change (if one exists) in the dependent variable was caused by the ____________ of the independent variable

Answer 43

manipulation

Question 44

The terms independent variable and dependent variable have __________ implications

Answer 44

causal

Question 45

The ___________ variables in a regression equation are sometimes referred to as independent variables

Answer 45

predictor

Question 46

The ___________ variable is sometimes referred to as a dependent variable

Answer 46

criterion

Question 47

Once the constructs referenced in the research question or hypothesis have been operationally defined and the design of the study determined, the researcher collects ________

Answer 47

data

Question 48

Steps in data collection process

Answer 48

- Defining the target population - Creating a participant pool - Selecting participants - Determining the number of participants

Question 49

Data collection decisions also depend on the ____________ of the experiment

Answer 49

design

Question 50

Once the data are collected, sense must be made of them. Data usually consists of numbers that _________ characteristics of the participants.

Answer 50

index

Question 51

The data is summarized and analyzed with the express purpose of ____________ the research question or hypothesis

Answer 51

testing

Question 52

The data are examined to determine whether the hypothesized ____________ indeed exists

Answer 52

relationship

Question 53

Always think about how various alternative methods will affect your ability to shed light on the original question. Will a course of action _________ or _________ the original research question

Answer 53

obscure, clarify

Question 54

A research hypothesis should be _________, well-defined, and clearly articulated.

Answer 54

specific

Question 55

All research studies have ____________ of one kind or another

Answer 55

limitations

Question 56

The __________ hypothesis suggests that all research studies have some type of flaw or weakness

Answer 56

bubble

Question 57

Most often our knowledge bases in counseling are increased by adding ______ or ______ more pieces of information per study, with each study building on the previous research in some relatively small way.

Answer 57

one, two