CCC Research Methods & Program Evaluation 2

Question 1

In a research study, internal validity is threatened when participants in a control group seek alternative treatments on their own. This is known as:

Accepted Answer

Compensatory rivalry

Answer

Compensatory rivalry (also called the John Henry effect) occurs when control group participants work harder or seek outside help because they know they are not receiving the treatment, threatening internal validity.

Question 2

Which sampling method gives every member of a population an equal chance of being selected and is considered the gold standard for representativeness?

Accepted Answer

Simple random sampling

Answer

Simple random sampling assigns every population member an equal, independent chance of selection, minimizing selection bias and maximizing the likelihood of a representative sample.

Question 3

A counselor uses a standardized depression scale before and after a 12-week intervention. This single-group pre-test/post-test design is best classified as:

Accepted Answer

Pre-experimental design

Answer

A single-group pre-test/post-test design lacks a control group and random assignment, making it a pre-experimental design with limited ability to rule out rival explanations for change.

Question 4

Effect size in counseling research is important because it communicates:

Accepted Answer

The practical or clinical magnitude of the difference or relationship

Answer

Effect size (e.g., Cohen's d, r) quantifies the practical magnitude of a research finding, complementing statistical significance by indicating how meaningful the difference or relationship is in real-world terms.

Question 5

Which qualitative research tradition is most focused on understanding culture, shared beliefs, and behaviors within a specific social group through prolonged observation?

Accepted Answer

Ethnography

Answer

Ethnography involves immersive, prolonged fieldwork within a cultural group to understand their shared practices, beliefs, and social norms from an insider perspective.

CCC Practice Test

CCC Practice Test

CCC Research Methods & Program Evaluation 2