CRP Fundamentals & Core Principles 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which of the following BEST describes the concept of 'construct validity'?
- The extent to which a test measures what it claims to measure (Correct answer)
- The consistency of results across repeated testing
- The degree to which results apply to other populations
- The accuracy of data collection instruments
Correct answer: The extent to which a test measures what it claims to measure
Construct validity is the extent to which a measure accurately captures the theoretical construct it is designed to assess.
Question 2: In research ethics, the principle of 'justice' primarily refers to:
- Protecting participants from harm
- Ensuring equitable distribution of research benefits and burdens (Correct answer)
- Obtaining voluntary informed consent
- Maintaining confidentiality of data
Correct answer: Ensuring equitable distribution of research benefits and burdens
The Belmont Report defines justice as the fair distribution of research benefits and burdens across all segments of society.
Question 3: A researcher tests whether a new teaching method improves student test scores by comparing two groups. What is the dependent variable?
- The teaching method used
- The student test scores (Correct answer)
- The number of students in each group
- The duration of the study
Correct answer: The student test scores
The dependent variable is the outcome being measured — in this case, the student test scores that may be influenced by the teaching method.
Question 4: Which sampling method ensures every member of the population has an equal and known chance of being selected?
- Convenience sampling
- Purposive sampling
- Simple random sampling (Correct answer)
- Snowball sampling
Correct answer: Simple random sampling
Simple random sampling gives each population member an equal probability of selection, minimizing selection bias.
Question 5: What is a 'confounding variable' in research?
- A variable that is intentionally manipulated by the researcher
- An extraneous variable that correlates with both the independent and dependent variables (Correct answer)
- A variable used to measure the study outcome
- A variable that has no effect on the research outcome
Correct answer: An extraneous variable that correlates with both the independent and dependent variables
A confounding variable is an uncontrolled factor that correlates with both the independent and dependent variables, potentially distorting results.
Question 6: In qualitative research, 'member checking' is used to enhance which quality criterion?
- Reliability
- Generalizability
- Credibility (Correct answer)
- Objectivity
Correct answer: Credibility
Member checking involves returning findings to participants for verification, which enhances the credibility (internal validity equivalent) of qualitative research.
Question 7: The Hawthorne Effect refers to which phenomenon in research?
- Participants performing better simply because they know they are being observed (Correct answer)
- Researchers inadvertently influencing data collection
- Declining response rates over multiple surveys
- Bias introduced by leading questions
Correct answer: Participants performing better simply because they know they are being observed
The Hawthorne Effect describes the tendency for people to modify their behavior when they know they are being studied or observed.
CRP Fundamentals & Core Principles 3
Which of the following BEST describes the concept of 'construct validity'?