HP Advanced Techniques & Methods 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which research method is BEST suited for generating a hypothesis about a poorly understood phenomenon?
- Randomized controlled trial
- Systematic meta-analysis
- Exploratory qualitative inquiry (Correct answer)
- Double-blind experiment
Correct answer: Exploratory qualitative inquiry
Exploratory qualitative inquiry is designed to generate hypotheses and surface themes when little prior knowledge exists.
Question 2: In a formal annotated bibliography, each annotation should primarily do which of the following?
- Restate the abstract verbatim
- Summarize content and evaluate its relevance to your research (Correct answer)
- List every chapter heading
- Provide a full reprint of key passages
Correct answer: Summarize content and evaluate its relevance to your research
An annotation summarizes the source and critically evaluates how it contributes to the research question.
Question 3: A student uses the same archival photograph in two separate honors papers without additional citation. This is an example of:
- Fair use application
- Self-plagiarism (Correct answer)
- Proper source recycling
- Creative commons compliance
Correct answer: Self-plagiarism
Reusing one's own previously submitted work without disclosure is self-plagiarism, which violates academic integrity.
Question 4: Which logical fallacy occurs when a conclusion assumes the truth of what it is trying to prove?
- Ad hominem
- Straw man
- Circular reasoning (Correct answer)
- False dichotomy
Correct answer: Circular reasoning
Circular reasoning (begging the question) embeds the conclusion within the premise itself.
Question 5: When conducting a literature review, the PRIMARY purpose of synthesizing sources is to:
- Demonstrate the number of sources consulted
- Show how different works relate, agree, or conflict around a central theme (Correct answer)
- Summarize each article independently
- Alphabetize references by author
Correct answer: Show how different works relate, agree, or conflict around a central theme
Synthesis weaves sources together around themes or debates rather than treating each source in isolation.
Question 6: Which of the following BEST describes triangulation in research?
- Using three statistical tests on the same dataset
- Using multiple methods or data sources to cross-validate findings (Correct answer)
- Interviewing three participants for reliability
- Drawing a triangle to visualize data relationships
Correct answer: Using multiple methods or data sources to cross-validate findings
Triangulation strengthens research validity by cross-checking results through multiple independent methods or data sources.
Question 7: An honors thesis introduction should accomplish all of the following EXCEPT:
- Establish the research gap
- State the research question or thesis
- Present detailed statistical results (Correct answer)
- Provide context for why the topic matters
Correct answer: Present detailed statistical results
Detailed statistical results belong in the results/findings section, not the introduction.
HP Advanced Techniques & Methods 2
Which research method is BEST suited for generating a hypothesis about a poorly understood phenomenon?