CRP Research Design & Methodology 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A researcher wants to study whether a new drug reduces blood pressure but cannot randomly assign participants due to ethical constraints. Which design is most appropriate?
- Randomized controlled trial
- Quasi-experimental design (Correct answer)
- Pure observational study
- Case study design
Correct answer: Quasi-experimental design
Quasi-experimental designs allow causal inference when random assignment is not possible by using comparison groups without randomization.
Question 2: Which sampling method is most appropriate when the population has distinct subgroups and the researcher wants proportional representation from each?
- Simple random sampling
- Cluster sampling
- Stratified random sampling (Correct answer)
- Convenience sampling
Correct answer: Stratified random sampling
Stratified random sampling divides the population into subgroups (strata) and samples proportionally from each, ensuring representation.
Question 3: In a longitudinal study tracking children's reading ability over 10 years, what is the primary concern with attrition?
- Increased statistical power
- Selection bias in the remaining sample (Correct answer)
- Reduced study cost
- Improved data quality
Correct answer: Selection bias in the remaining sample
Attrition can create selection bias if those who drop out differ systematically from those who remain, threatening internal validity.
Question 4: A survey question asks: 'Don't you agree that the current policy is harmful?' This is an example of:
- Double-barreled question
- Leading question (Correct answer)
- Loaded question
- Ambiguous question
Correct answer: Leading question
A leading question is phrased to suggest a desired answer, biasing respondents toward a particular response.
Question 5: Which research design is best suited to generating hypotheses rather than testing them?
- Confirmatory research design
- Exploratory research design (Correct answer)
- Explanatory research design
- Experimental design
Correct answer: Exploratory research design
Exploratory research is designed to investigate new or poorly understood phenomena and generate hypotheses for future testing.
Question 6: A researcher measures participants' income using ordinal categories (low, medium, high). What statistical analysis is most appropriate for comparing two groups?
- Independent samples t-test
- Mann-Whitney U test (Correct answer)
- Pearson correlation
- ANOVA
Correct answer: Mann-Whitney U test
The Mann-Whitney U test is a non-parametric alternative to the t-test appropriate for ordinal data.
Question 7: What does 'ecological validity' refer to in research methodology?
- The study's ability to measure environmental variables
- The degree to which findings generalize to real-world settings (Correct answer)
- The use of natural ecosystems as study sites
- The internal consistency of ecological measures
Correct answer: The degree to which findings generalize to real-world settings
Ecological validity refers to the extent to which research findings can be applied to and reflect real-world situations outside the laboratory.
CRP Research Design & Methodology 2
A researcher wants to study whether a new drug reduces blood pressure but cannot randomly assign participants due to ethical constraints.
Which design is most appropriate?