CRP Data Collection & Analysis 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A double-barreled survey question asks respondents about two issues simultaneously. What is the primary problem this creates?
- It increases the length of the survey unnecessarily
- It is impossible to determine which issue the response addresses (Correct answer)
- It violates IRB guidelines for survey research
- It reduces the reading level required of participants
Correct answer: It is impossible to determine which issue the response addresses
Double-barreled questions prevent clear interpretation because a single response could reflect the respondent's view on either or both issues asked.
Question 2: In regression analysis, multicollinearity occurs when:
- The dependent variable is measured on a nominal scale
- Two or more independent variables are highly correlated with each other (Correct answer)
- The residuals are not normally distributed
- The sample size is too small for the number of predictors
Correct answer: Two or more independent variables are highly correlated with each other
Multicollinearity arises when predictor variables share high correlations, making it difficult to isolate the unique effect of each variable.
Question 3: Which sampling approach would be most appropriate when the researcher wants to ensure proportional representation of subgroups within the sample?
- Simple random sampling
- Convenience sampling
- Stratified random sampling (Correct answer)
- Snowball sampling
Correct answer: Stratified random sampling
Stratified random sampling divides the population into subgroups (strata) and samples proportionally from each, ensuring representation of all groups.
Question 4: The Hawthorne effect in research refers to:
- A statistical artifact caused by regression to the mean
- Changes in participant behavior due to awareness of being observed (Correct answer)
- Bias introduced by leading questions in interviews
- Errors arising from instrument calibration failures
Correct answer: Changes in participant behavior due to awareness of being observed
The Hawthorne effect describes how participants alter their behavior simply because they know they are being studied or watched.
Question 5: A p-value of 0.03 means that:
- There is a 3% probability that the alternative hypothesis is true
- There is a 3% probability of observing results this extreme if the null hypothesis is true (Correct answer)
- The effect size is 3% larger than expected
- The study has 97% statistical power
Correct answer: There is a 3% probability of observing results this extreme if the null hypothesis is true
A p-value represents the probability of obtaining results as extreme as observed, assuming the null hypothesis is true.
Question 6: Triangulation in mixed-methods research primarily serves to:
- Reduce the total cost of data collection
- Enhance credibility by corroborating findings across multiple data sources (Correct answer)
- Simplify analysis by focusing on a single data type
- Satisfy IRB requirements for multi-site studies
Correct answer: Enhance credibility by corroborating findings across multiple data sources
Triangulation strengthens research credibility by using multiple methods, sources, or investigators to cross-check and validate findings.
Question 7: In a Likert scale question asking respondents to rate from 'Strongly Disagree' to 'Strongly Agree,' the data produced is typically treated as:
- Nominal data
- Ordinal data (Correct answer)
- Ratio data
- Continuous data
Correct answer: Ordinal data
Likert scale responses are ordinal because they have a meaningful order but the intervals between categories cannot be assumed to be equal.
CRP Data Collection & Analysis 3
A double-barreled survey question asks respondents about two issues simultaneously.
What is the primary problem this creates?