IFSTA Research and Development 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A fire department wants to compare response time data from the past five years. Which research method is most appropriate?
- Experimental design
- Longitudinal trend analysis (Correct answer)
- Focus group interviews
- Randomized controlled trial
Correct answer: Longitudinal trend analysis
Longitudinal trend analysis examines data collected over an extended time period to identify patterns or changes.
Question 2: Under the National Fire Academy's research framework, what is the correct order of steps in the research process?
- Collect data → Define problem → Analyze → Report findings
- Define problem → Review literature → Design study → Collect data → Analyze → Report (Correct answer)
- Design study → Define problem → Collect data → Report findings → Analyze
- Review literature → Collect data → Define problem → Analyze → Design study
Correct answer: Define problem → Review literature → Design study → Collect data → Analyze → Report
The research process follows a logical sequence beginning with problem definition and ending with reporting findings.
Question 3: Which of the following best describes 'action research' in the fire service context?
- Research conducted during active emergency incidents
- Practitioner-led inquiry aimed at solving a specific organizational problem (Correct answer)
- Research funded by federal action grants
- Laboratory testing of firefighting equipment under simulated conditions
Correct answer: Practitioner-led inquiry aimed at solving a specific organizational problem
Action research is conducted by practitioners within their own organization to address and improve a specific issue.
Question 4: A researcher reports that p < 0.05 in a study on SCBA donning times. What does this indicate?
- The sample size was less than 5% of the population
- There is less than a 5% probability the results occurred by chance (Correct answer)
- The results are 5% better than the control group
- The study had a 95% response rate
Correct answer: There is less than a 5% probability the results occurred by chance
A p-value less than 0.05 indicates statistical significance, meaning results are unlikely due to random chance.
Question 5: What is the key distinction between qualitative and quantitative research methods in fire service studies?
- Qualitative uses numbers; quantitative uses words and themes
- Quantitative measures numerical data; qualitative explores meanings and experiences (Correct answer)
- Qualitative is always more reliable than quantitative
- Quantitative research requires larger budgets than qualitative
Correct answer: Quantitative measures numerical data; qualitative explores meanings and experiences
Quantitative research measures variables numerically while qualitative research explores perceptions, experiences, and meanings.
Question 6: When a fire department submits an EFO (Executive Fire Officer) applied research project, the ARP must adhere to which organization's format?
- NFPA
- IAFC
- National Fire Academy (NFA) (Correct answer)
- DHS/FEMA
Correct answer: National Fire Academy (NFA)
EFO Applied Research Projects follow the National Fire Academy's prescribed format and submission requirements.
Question 7: In a fire service survey, a Likert scale is used to measure:
- Exact numerical values such as response times in seconds
- The geographic distribution of fire incidents
- Respondents' attitudes, opinions, or agreement levels (Correct answer)
- Demographic characteristics like age and rank
Correct answer: Respondents' attitudes, opinions, or agreement levels
Likert scales capture the degree of agreement or attitude along a continuum, typically from strongly disagree to strongly agree.
IFSTA Research and Development 3
A fire department wants to compare response time data from the past five years.
Which research method is most appropriate?