CRP Fundamentals & Core Principles 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which type of research design is BEST suited when a researcher wants to establish a cause-and-effect relationship between two variables?
- Cross-sectional survey
- Experimental design (Correct answer)
- Ethnographic study
- Grounded theory
Correct answer: Experimental design
Experimental designs use random assignment and controlled manipulation to establish causal relationships between variables.
Question 2: In a double-blind study, who is unaware of the treatment assignment?
- Only the participants
- Only the researchers
- Both participants and researchers (Correct answer)
- Neither participants nor researchers
Correct answer: Both participants and researchers
In a double-blind study, both participants and the researchers assessing outcomes are unaware of treatment assignments to minimize bias.
Question 3: A researcher measures annual income in exact dollar amounts. This variable is measured at which scale?
- Nominal
- Ordinal
- Interval
- Ratio (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Ratio
Ratio scale has a true zero point (no income = $0) and allows meaningful ratios, making income a ratio-level variable.
Question 4: What is the PRIMARY purpose of a literature review in the research process?
- To collect primary data from participants
- To identify gaps and build a theoretical foundation (Correct answer)
- To statistically analyze existing datasets
- To recruit qualified research subjects
Correct answer: To identify gaps and build a theoretical foundation
A literature review synthesizes existing knowledge, identifies research gaps, and provides the theoretical framework for new research.
Question 5: When researchers generalize findings from a sample to a broader population, they are engaging in which type of reasoning?
- Deductive reasoning
- Abductive reasoning
- Inductive reasoning (Correct answer)
- Analogical reasoning
Correct answer: Inductive reasoning
Inductive reasoning moves from specific observations (sample) to broader generalizations (population).
Question 6: Which term describes the degree to which a measurement instrument consistently produces the same results under the same conditions?
- Validity
- Reliability (Correct answer)
- Precision
- Sensitivity
Correct answer: Reliability
Reliability refers to the consistency or repeatability of a measurement tool across multiple administrations.
Question 7: A research team collects data on political party affiliation (Democrat, Republican, Independent). This is an example of which measurement scale?
- Nominal (Correct answer)
- Ordinal
- Interval
- Ratio
Correct answer: Nominal
Party affiliation is a nominal variable because categories are mutually exclusive labels with no inherent order or numerical meaning.
CRP Fundamentals & Core Principles 2
Which type of research design is BEST suited when a researcher wants to establish a cause-and-effect relationship between two variables?