CRS Research Design & Methodology 2

Question 1

A researcher wants to establish that a training program CAUSES improved employee performance. Which design best supports this causal claim?

Accepted Answer

Randomized controlled experiment

Answer

Randomized controlled experiments with random assignment to treatment and control groups are the gold standard for establishing causation.

Question 2

Which type of validity refers to whether a study's findings can be generalized to other populations, settings, and times?

Accepted Answer

External validity

Answer

External validity concerns the generalizability of research findings beyond the specific study sample and context.

Question 3

In a quasi-experimental design, what is the PRIMARY difference from a true experiment?

Accepted Answer

Participants are not randomly assigned to conditions

Answer

Quasi-experiments lack random assignment, making it harder to rule out confounding variables compared to true experiments.

Question 4

A research study measures the same participants at ages 20, 30, and 40. This is an example of:

Accepted Answer

Longitudinal design

Answer

A longitudinal design follows the same participants over an extended period to observe changes.

Question 5

Which research approach is best suited for generating hypotheses rather than testing them?

Accepted Answer

Exploratory research

Answer

Exploratory research is used to investigate understudied areas and generate hypotheses for future testing.

(CRS) Certified Research Specialist Practice Test