Assignment 1

Question 1
a) A researcher is interested in the relationship between the use of e-learning by primary
school students and their performance in examinations
i. Formulate the main research question. [2 marks]
ii. Explain the difference between a research hypothesis and a null hypothesis.
[2 marks]
iii. Formulate the research hypothesis. [2 marks]
iv. Specify the null hypothesis [1 mark]
v. Indicate the independent variable(s) and dependent variable(s). [2 marks]

b) The researcher in a) above contacts the local primary school and selects 200
students from the register to participate in his research.
i. What is the target population? [1 mark]
ii. What is the study population? [1 mark]
iii. What is the sampling frame? [1 mark]
iv. What is the sample? [1 mark]

Question 2
A researcher would want to survey the opinions of university lecturers and
students on the use of e-learning. The university has a population of 300 (30
lecturers and 270 students). To collect data the researcher decides to give a
questionnaire to the first 20 students to leave at the end of the day.

(a) Give 2 reasons why this method is likely to produce biased results. [2
marks]

(b) Explain briefly how the researcher could select a sample of 20 from the
population using
(i) a systematic sample, [5
marks]
(ii) a stratified sample. [5
marks]

Question 3
What are the factors that one should consider when deciding on a data collection method to
adopt for his study? [5 marks]

Assignment 2
1. Which of the following features are considered as critical in qualitative research?
a. Collecting data with the help of standardized research tools.
b. Design sampling with probability sample techniques.
c. Collecting data with bottom-up empirical evidence.
d. Gathering data with top-down schematic evidence.

2. Which one of the following is true?

The quantitative researcher …
a. often makes use of observation.
b. states hypotheses quite early in the research process.
c. does a literature study (control) only right at the end.
d. describes a phenomenon in depth as it occurs in everyday life.

3. How is random sampling helpful?

a. Reasonably accurate
b. An economical method of data collection
c. Free from personal biases
d. All of the above

4. Which one of the following is true?

The qualitative researcher …
a. often makes use of observation.
b. states hypotheses quite early in the research process.
c. uses a fixed research design.
d. analyses data by means of statistics.

5. A research intends to explore the result of possible factors for the organization of
effective mid-day meal interventions. Which research method will be most appropriate
for this study?
a. Descriptive survey method
b. Historical method
c. Quasi-experimental
d. Experimental method

6. Research that investigates disciplinary problems at school with the aim of

formulating new rules and regulations is an example of ….
a. basic research.
b. applied research.
c. theory-building research.
d. None of the above.

7. In order to pursue the research, which of the following is priorly required?

a. Developing a research design
b. Formulating a research question
c. Deciding about the data analysis procedure
d. Formulating a research hypothesis

8. Which of the following are not ethical principles when conducting educational
research?
(i) For the sake of research, respondents are often misled regarding what the real goal of the
research is.
(ii) Respondents may end their participation before the research project has been completed.
(iii) Respondents have to know what the aim of the research is and how the results will be
used.
(iv) Concealed video cameras are used for research because they enhance the validity of the
research results.
a. (i) and (iv)
b. (i) and (ii)
c. (i) and (iii)
d. (ii) and (iii)

9. A researcher is interested in studying the prospects of a particular political party in

an urban area. So, what tool should he prefer for the study?
a. Rating Scale
b. Interview
c. Questionnaire
d. Schedule

10. In experimental research …

(i) the independent variable is manipulated.
(ii) the test persons are randomly assigned to different groups.
(iii) statistical methods are used.
(iv) hypotheses are usually tested.
a. (i) and (ii) are true.
b. (ii) and (iii) are true.
c. (ii), (iii) and (iv) are true.
d. All of the above are true

11. The conclusions/findings of which type of research cannot be generalized to other

situations?
a. Casual Comparative Research
b. Historical Research
c. Descriptive Research
d. Experimental Research

12. Study the following statements:

(i) A theory on job satisfaction attempts to explain and predict job satisfaction.
(ii) Theories are generally testable in practice.
(iii) Researchers should reject all paradigms in order to be able to do their research
objectively.
(iv) Scientific theory rejects all hypotheses.
a. All of the above are correct.
b. (i), (ii) and (iii) are correct.
c. (i) and (ii) are correct.
d. (ii) and (iii) are correct.

13. A research problem is feasible only when

a. It has utility and relevance
b. It is new and adds something to knowledge
c. It is researchable
d. All of the above

14. Which one of the following statements is incorrect?

a. In qualitative research, the research design emerges during data collection.
b. In qualitative research, the educational researcher aims to understand an educational
phenomenon.
c. In quantitative research, the educational researcher often aims to test cause-and-
effect relationships.
d. In quantitative research, unstructured interviews are often used to collect data.

15. Which one is called non-probability sampling?

a. Quota sampling
b. Cluster sampling
c. Systematic sampling
d. Stratified random sampling

16. Which one of the following statements is incorrect?

a. If a researcher is interested in the relationship between learners’ marks at the end of Grade
12 and their achievements at the end of their first year at university, a quantitative approach is
suitable.
b. Researchers sometimes identify topics of research by observing learners at school.
c. A research proposal is a small-scale attempt to test a data collection method for possible
problems.
d. Hypotheses can be identified by means of literature studies.

17. Which one among the following statements is correct in context to research?
a) Research refers to a series of systematic activity or activities undertaken to find out the
solution to a problem.
b) It is a systematic, logical and unbiased process wherein verification of hypotheses, data
analysis, interpretation and formation of principles can be done.
c) It is an intellectual inquiry or quest towards truth,
d) It enhances knowledge.
Select the correct answer from the codes given below:
a. a), b), c) and d)
b. a), b) and c)
c. b), c) and d)
d. a), c) and d)

18. Which of the following are correct regarding a research proposal for a dissertation
of limited scope?
(i) The student indicates the problem that he/she intends to investigate.
(ii) The student indicates the envisaged data collection methods.
(iii) The student indicates the envisaged approach (quantitative or qualitative).
a. All of the above are correct.
b. (i) and (ii) are correct.
c. (i) and (iii) are correct.
d. (ii) and (iii) are correct

19. Which technique is generally followed when the population is finite?

a. Systematic Sampling Technique
b. Purposive Sampling Technique
c. Area Sampling Technique
d. None of the above

20. Which of the following statements is incorrect?

a. In qualitative research, a literature control often follows after the data have been collected.
b. In quantitative research, a literature control generally follows after the data have been
collected.
c. In quantitative research, a pilot study is always conducted, for example to test an
instrument.
d. In qualitative research, narratives are used to write the research report.
21. Which one among the following variables cannot be expressed in quantitative
terms?
a. Numerical Aptitude
b. Marital Status
c. Socio-economic Status
d. Professional Attitude

22. Which of the following statements is incorrect?

A literature study is undertaken because it …
a. helps the researcher to identify a suitable topic for investigation.
b. provides insight into the research paradigm that underlies a problem.
c. provides the researcher with experience in working with library catalogues.
d. reveals how much research has already been done on the topic.

23. Inferring about the whole population on on the basis of the observations made on a
small part is called
a. deductive inference
b. inductive inference
c. objective inference
d. pseudo-inference

24. Study the following statements and then indicate which one/s is/are correct:
(i) A newspaper report on violence in schools may give rise to a research project.
(ii) Observing how learners in your classroom learn can be used to identify a research topic.
(iii) Reading publications on previous research projects can stimulate new research
endeavours.
(iv) Theories on interesting topics (e.g. job satisfaction) can be a source of new research
projects.
a. All of the above are correct.
b. (ii), (iii) and (iv) are correct.
c. (iii) and (iv) are correct.
d. Only (iv) is correct.

25. A hypothesis is a
a. Tentative statement whose validity is still to be tested
b. Supposition which is based on the past experiences
c. Statement of fact
d. All of the above

26. Which of the following is not important when selecting a research topic in
education?
a. availability of resources to investigate the topic
b. whether the results are of interest to other educators
c. whether the topic is relevant to the field of education
d. whether the researcher can use a computer to do data analysis
27. The advantage of sampling is
a. time-saving
b. capital-saving
c. increased accurary
d. Both 'A' and 'B'

28. “Are more females than males employed at Unisa?”

Is this a researchable problem?
a. Yes, because it is relevant to today’s emphasis on employment equity.
b. Yes, because the resources to investigate the problem are available.
c. No, because it can be answered with a simple “yes” or “no”.
d. No, because there will always be more males than females at academic institutions.

29. Tippit table is

a. A table of random digits
b. Used in statistical investigations
c. Used in sampling methods
d. All of the above

30. “ Should corporal punishment be used in schools?”

Is this a researchable problem?
a. Yes, because it is relevant to today’s problems regarding discipline at school.
b. Yes, because the resources to investigate the problem are available.
c. No, because it involves a comparison.
d. No, because values are involved.

31. Which of the following is a step of research design?

a. Defining the problem and formulating a hypothesis
b. Collecting data
c. Drawing inferences from the data
d. All of the above

32. “How do the educators at a school experience the lack of discipline at the school?” Is
this a researchable problem?
(i) No, because values are involved.
(ii) No, because there will be no interpretation of data to solve the problem.
(iii) Yes, because the results will be of interest to other educators.
(iv) Yes, because it adheres to all the requirements of a researchable problem.
a. (i) and (ii) are correct.
b. (iii) and (iv) are correct.
c. Only (i) is correct.
d. All of the above are correct.

33. A researcher divides the whole population in different parts and then fixes the no. of
units from each of the parts that are to be included in the sample. The method of
sampling used by him is
a. Stratified random sampling
b. Cluster sampling
c. Quota sampling
d. All of the above

34. Qualitative research problems are identified by the fact that …

a. the researcher has to adopt a more philosophical mode of operation.
b. they focus on variables.
c. they focus on the relationship between two constructs.
d. the researcher will need numbers to find answers for them.

35. The Data of research is, generally

a. Qualitative only
b. Quantitative only
c. Both 'A' and 'B'
d. Neither 'A' nor 'B'

36. Which of the following is incorrect?

a. Exploratory research generally uses qualitative methods.
b. Descriptive research can use both quantitative and qualitative methods.
c. Correlation research generally uses qualitative methods.
d. Participatory action research can use both quantitative and qualitative methods.

37. In order to study the relationship of family size to income a researcher classifies his
population into different income slabs and then takes a random sample from each slab.
Which technique of sampling does he adopt?
a. Cluster sampling
b. Random sampling
c. Stratified random sampling
d. Systematic sampling

38. Which of the following is incorrect?

Participatory action research …
a. seeks to empower participants.
b. involves social action.
c. involves the people who are being studied as co-researchers.
d. aims to describe a topic of interest.

39. A formal document that presents the research objectives, design of achieving these
objectives, and the expected outcomes/deliverables of the study is called
a. Research design
b. Research proposal
c. Research hypothesis
d. Research report

40. A research proposal …

a. explains the results of a research project.
b. demonstrates the research plan of a project.
c. includes recommendations for the improvement of education practice.
d. does not include a bibliography.

41. SPSS is an acronym of the following?

a. Statistical Predictions for Social Sciences.
b. Sexual Preferences for the Sixties and Seventies.
c. Statistical Package for the Social Sciences.
d. Sexual Performance and SAD Syndrome.

42. Which of the following is/are (a) possible source/s for the identification of research
problems?
(i) observation of reality
(ii) theory
(iii) previous research
(iv) curiosity
a. (ii) and (iii).
b. (iii) only.
c. (ii) only.
d. All of the above are possible sources.

43. Final stage in the Research Process is

a. Problem formulation
b. Data collection
c. Data Analysis
d. Report Writing

44. Study the following statements

(i) Quantitative studies refer to a more intensive examination of phenomena.
(ii) Qualitative studies typically refer to the characteristics of a population.
a. Only (i) is correct.
b. Only (ii) is correct.
c. Both are correct.
d. Both are incorrect.

45. What is the major attribute of Correlation Analysis?

a. Association among variables
b. Difference among variables
c. Regression among variables
d. Variations among variables

46. Which one of the following is not an element of a research proposal?

a. introduction
b. research objectives
c. data analysis
d. review of literature

47. What are the core elements of a dissertation?

a. Introduction; Data Collection; Data Analysis; Conclusions and Recommendations
b. Executive Summary; Literature Review; Data Gathered; Conclusions; Bibliography
c. Research Plan; Research Data; Analysis; References
d. Introduction; Literature Review; Research Methodology; Results; Discussions and
Conclusions

48. The following are ethical issues to consider when conducting educational research:
(i) harm to subjects
(ii) deception of subjects
(iii) competence of the researcher
a. All the above are correct.
b. All the above are incorrect.
c. Only (i) and (ii) are correct.
d. Only (ii) and (iii) are correct.

49. Pie charts are used to show

a. How is one part related to other parts?
b. How various sections share in the whole?
c. How is one whole related to another whole?
d. How are various parts related to the whole?

50. Study the following statements

(i) Random sampling is a method of drawing a sample from a population so that each
member of the population has an equal chance of being selected.
(ii) In stratified random sampling, the population is divided into sub-groups.
a. Both of the above are correct.
b. Both of the above statements are incorrect.
c. Only (i) is correct.
d. Only (ii) is correct.