CRS Reporting & Dissemination of Findings 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which section of a research report typically contains the researcher's interpretation of results in light of the original hypotheses?
- Abstract
- Literature Review
- Discussion (Correct answer)
- Methodology
Correct answer: Discussion
The Discussion section is where researchers interpret their results, compare them to prior literature, and address the original research hypotheses.
Question 2: When disseminating findings to a non-technical audience, which strategy is most effective?
- Use statistical jargon to demonstrate rigor
- Translate findings into plain language with real-world implications (Correct answer)
- Include all raw data tables for transparency
- Focus exclusively on methodology details
Correct answer: Translate findings into plain language with real-world implications
Translating findings into plain language and highlighting real-world implications makes research accessible and meaningful to non-technical stakeholders.
Question 3: An executive summary in a research report primarily serves to:
- Replace the full report for most readers
- Provide a brief overview for decision-makers who may not read the full report (Correct answer)
- Detail all statistical methods used
- List all references cited in the study
Correct answer: Provide a brief overview for decision-makers who may not read the full report
An executive summary condenses key findings, conclusions, and recommendations so busy decision-makers can quickly grasp the study's significance.
Question 4: A researcher discovers that a key finding contradicts their initial hypothesis. How should this be handled in the report?
- Omit the finding to preserve the hypothesis
- Report the finding and discuss possible explanations for the contradiction (Correct answer)
- Repeat the study until results align with the hypothesis
- Downplay the finding in the abstract only
Correct answer: Report the finding and discuss possible explanations for the contradiction
Reporting contradictory findings and exploring explanations upholds scientific integrity and often leads to valuable new insights.
Question 5: Which citation style is most commonly required by social science research journals in the US?
- Chicago/Turabian
- MLA
- APA (Correct answer)
- IEEE
Correct answer: APA
APA (American Psychological Association) style is the standard citation format for social science disciplines including psychology, sociology, and communication research.
Question 6: In research reporting, a 'limitation' section is included to:
- Apologize for poor methodology
- Acknowledge factors that may affect the generalizability or validity of findings (Correct answer)
- Discourage future research on the topic
- Satisfy word count requirements
Correct answer: Acknowledge factors that may affect the generalizability or validity of findings
Disclosing limitations demonstrates intellectual honesty and helps readers accurately interpret findings within their proper scope.
Question 7: Which of the following best describes a 'peer-reviewed' dissemination channel?
- A blog where researchers self-publish findings
- A journal where experts in the field evaluate submissions before publication (Correct answer)
- A press release distributed to news outlets
- A conference where attendance is open to the public
Correct answer: A journal where experts in the field evaluate submissions before publication
Peer-reviewed journals subject manuscripts to evaluation by independent subject matter experts, ensuring quality and credibility before publication.
CRS Reporting & Dissemination of Findings 2
Which section of a research report typically contains the researcher's interpretation of results in light of the original hypotheses?