CRS Research Design & Methodology 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A researcher studies burnout by interviewing 10 nurses in depth over six months. Which methodology does this best represent?
- Randomized controlled trial
- Meta-analysis
- Ethnography (Correct answer)
- Systematic review
Correct answer: Ethnography
Ethnography involves prolonged immersive observation and interviews to understand participants' lived experiences within their context.
Question 2: The primary purpose of a pilot study is to:
- Publish preliminary findings immediately
- Test and refine procedures before the main study (Correct answer)
- Replace the need for a full sample
- Establish statistical significance
Correct answer: Test and refine procedures before the main study
A pilot study is a small-scale preliminary study conducted to evaluate feasibility, refine instruments, and identify problems.
Question 3: Which threat to internal validity occurs when participants drop out of a study in a non-random pattern?
- Maturation
- Regression to the mean
- Attrition (mortality) (Correct answer)
- Instrumentation
Correct answer: Attrition (mortality)
Attrition or experimental mortality occurs when dropout rates differ between groups, potentially biasing results.
Question 4: Grounded theory differs from other qualitative methods primarily because it:
- Focuses on numerical data
- Aims to develop theory from collected data (Correct answer)
- Requires a pre-specified hypothesis
- Uses only structured interviews
Correct answer: Aims to develop theory from collected data
Grounded theory is a systematic methodology that builds theory inductively from systematically gathered and analyzed data.
Question 5: A researcher assigns odd-numbered participants to the experimental group and even-numbered participants to the control group. This is best described as:
- Simple random assignment
- Systematic assignment (Correct answer)
- Stratified random assignment
- Convenience assignment
Correct answer: Systematic assignment
Systematic assignment uses a non-random rule (like alternating numbers), making it quasi-experimental rather than truly random.
Question 6: In mixed-methods research, 'triangulation' refers to:
- Using three research sites only
- Using multiple data sources or methods to validate findings (Correct answer)
- Applying three statistical tests to the same data
- Selecting a three-person research team
Correct answer: Using multiple data sources or methods to validate findings
Triangulation uses multiple methods or data sources to cross-validate findings and increase confidence in conclusions.
Question 7: Which research design is most appropriate when studying a rare phenomenon that only affects a small, specific population?
- Large-scale survey
- Case study (Correct answer)
- Meta-analysis
- Randomized experiment
Correct answer: Case study
Case studies allow in-depth investigation of rare or unique phenomena where large samples are impossible to obtain.
CRS Research Design & Methodology 3
A researcher studies burnout by interviewing 10 nurses in depth over six months.
Which methodology does this best represent?