1. Mrs. Smith is writing her daily observations of a student and writes, without interpretation, that the student is not completing
the class work and is constantly speaking out of turn. Which of the following objectives does she appear to be using?
a. prediction
b. description
c. explanation
d. exploration
2. Which of the following is a form of research typically conducted by teachers, counselors, and other professionals to answer
questions they have and to specifically help them solve local problems?
a. action research
b. basic research
c. predictive research
d. orientational research
4. The development of a solid foundation of reliable knowledge typically is built from which type of research?
a. basic research
b. action research
c. evaluation research
d. orientational research
5. Which form of reasoning is the process of drawing a specific conclusion from a set of premises?
a. rationalism
b. deductive reasoning
c. inductive reasoning
d. probabilistic
6. The idea that when selecting between two different theories with equal explanatory value, one should select the theory that is
the most simple, concise, and succinct is known as ____________.
a. criterion of falsifiability
b. critical theory
c. guide of simplicity
d. rule of parsimony
7. Research that is done to examine the findings of someone else using the "same variables but different people" is which of
the following?
a. exploration
b. hypothesis
c. replication
d. empiricism
9. According to your text, what are the five key objectives of science?
a. prediction, summary, conclusion, explanation, description
b. influence, prediction, questions, exploration, answers
c. exploration, description, explanation, prediction, influence
d. questions, answers, prediction, explanation, summary
10. A researcher designs an experiment to test how variables interact to influence how well children learn spelling words. In this
case, the main purpose of the study was:
a. Explanation
b. Description
c. Influence
d. Prediction
11. There is a set of churches in the U.S. where part of the service involves snake handling. The researcher wants to find out
why the people attending these churches do this and how they feel and think about it. In this case, the primary purpose of the
study is:
a. Exploration
b. Description
c. Influence
d. Prediction
12. Which of the following is not a characteristic of a good theory or explanation?
a. It is parsimonious
b. It is testable
c. It is general enough to apply to more than one place, situation, or person
d. All of the above are characteristics of good theories
14. What general type of research is focused on collecting information to help a researcher advance an ideological or political
position?
a. Evaluation research
b. Basic research
c. Action research
d. Orientational research
15. Which “scientific method” follows these steps: 1) observation/data, 2) patterns, 3) theory?
a. Inductive
b. Deductive
c. Imductive
d. Top down
16. Rene Descartes is associated with which of the following approached to knowledge generation?
a. Empiricism
b. Rationalism
c. Expert opinion
d. None of the above
19. Which scientific method focuses on testing hypotheses developed from theories?
a. Deductive method
b. Inductive method
c. Hypothesis method
d. Pattern method
20. Which scientific method often focuses on generating new hypotheses and theories?
a. Deductive method
b. Inductive method
c. Hypothesis method
d. Pattern method
Answers:
1. b
2. a
3. b
4. a
5. b
6. d
7. c
8. d
9. c
10. a
11. a
12. d
13. d
14. d
15. a
16. b
17. a
18. b
19. a
20. b
21. d
Action Research
Multiple Choice Questions for Objective 1
1 The word action in the phrase "action research" refers to [Hint]
. the use made of the findings.
the fact that the teacher is the researcher.
the process of collecting data.
the process of analyzing data.
7 Individuals who engage in action research are most concerned with [Hint]
. supporting the way things are being done.
publishing results.
proving a hypothesis.
improvement.
Your Answer: Results enable the researchers to evaluate the performance of others.
2. Which of the following research questions is BEST answered using action research?
Your Answer: How can I improve the interaction of students of different ethnicity in my
class?
3. Teachers are advised to predict the results of student attitudinal questionnaires because
6. The part of the action research spiral that differentiates this research methodology from
other kinds of research is
Your Answer: the process continues even after the data are collected and analyzed, and
actions are taken based on findings.
8. Which of the following is true of action research data analysis?
Your Answer: All quantitative data from one instrument must be collected before they are
analyzed.
9. Which of the following research questions should NOT be answered using action research
methods?
Your Answer: What issues concerning school uniforms do parents of children in this
school need more information about in order to decide whether they
would support a mandatory uniform policy?
Correct Answer: Is parent attitude toward school uniforms related to their socioeconomic
status?
2. A teacher conducts an action research study of the problem-solving methods used by students in
her ninth-grade Algebra I classes. Which of the following can she assume on the basis of her
study?
Your Answer: Results apply only to students in her ninth-grade Algebra I classes.
3. Many universities will not allow action research studies to satisfy dissertation or thesis
requirements. This is most likely because
Your Answer: the student is not expected to engage in all steps of the research process in
action research.
Correct Answer: the results are not of broad relevance.
1. Which of the following would LEAST likely be a data source for an action research study of
teachers' questioning techniques in social studies classes?
2. In conducting an action research study of students' organizational skills during class in a particular school,
which of the following would NOT likely provide useful data?
3. Which of the following research questions is BEST answered using action research?
Your Answer: teachers do not have the necessary skills to conduct research
across multiple settings.
Correct Answer: it is designed to answer questions about improving practice in a
particular setting.
Your Answer: All professionals need and want feedback on their performance.
Correct Answer: Results enable the researchers to evaluate the performance of
others.
Your Answer: Results apply only to students in Algebra I classes at her school.
Correct Answer: Results apply only to students in her ninth-grade Algebra I classes.
9. Which of the following would LEAST likely be a data source for an action research study
of teachers' questioning techniques in social studies classes?
Your Answer: it gives them a point of comparison against which to judge actual
responses.
Your Answer: the tendency of researchers to analyze the data using multiple
statistical methods to ensure that their conclusions are valid.
Correct Answer: the point at which new data collection is unlikely to yield
information substantially different than that already collected.
13. The part of the action research spiral that differentiates this research methodology from
other kinds of research is
Your Answer: All qualitative data must be collected before they are analyzed.
Correct Answer: All quantitative data from one instrument must be collected before
they are analyzed.
16. In conducting an action research study of students' organizational skills during class in a
particular school, which of the following would NOT likely provide useful data?
17. Many universities will not allow action research studies to satisfy dissertation or thesis
requirements. This is most likely because
Your Answer: the student is not expected to engage in all steps of the research
process in action research.
Correct Answer: the results are not of broad relevance.
18. Which of the following research questions should NOT be answered using action
research methods?
20. Individuals who engage in action research are most concerned with