NES Research & Evidence-Based Practice 3

Question 1

Which term describes the degree to which research findings can be applied to other settings, populations, or times?

Accepted Answer

Generalizability

Answer

Generalizability (also called external validity) refers to how well research results apply beyond the original study's specific context.

Question 2

A teacher systematically collects and analyzes data from her own classroom to improve instruction. This is an example of:

Accepted Answer

Action research

Answer

Action research is practitioner-led inquiry conducted within one's own educational setting to solve immediate problems.

Question 3

What is the primary purpose of using a control group in an experiment?

Accepted Answer

To provide a baseline for comparison

Answer

A control group provides a baseline so researchers can determine whether observed changes result from the intervention rather than other factors.

Question 4

Which data collection method would BEST capture the depth of a student's reasoning about a math problem?

Accepted Answer

Think-aloud protocol

Answer

A think-aloud protocol has students verbalize their thought processes, providing rich qualitative insight into reasoning strategies.

Question 5

Interrater reliability is important in research because it ensures that:

Accepted Answer

Different observers produce consistent results when rating the same behavior

Answer

Interrater reliability measures the consistency of scores across different observers, reducing subjectivity in qualitative or observational data.

NES Test Practice Test