PRC Cheat Sheet 2026

The 30 highest-yield PRC facts, distilled from real exam questions. Print it, save it as a PDF, or study it here — free, no sign-up.

1. When conducting a chi-square test of independence, what does a significant result indicate? → The observed and expected cell frequencies differ more than chance alone explains
2. A telephone survey that calls only listed landline numbers will most likely underrepresent: → Younger adults who rely exclusively on mobile phones
3. In a telephone survey, what is the 'contact rate'? → The percentage of sampled numbers where a person was reached
4. Inter-rater reliability in the context of literature review screening refers to: → Consistency between two or more independent reviewers making screening decisions
5. What type of research method involves manipulating one variable to observe its effect on another variable? → Experimental research
6. A logic model in a grant proposal primarily communicates the relationship between: → Inputs, activities, outputs, and outcomes
7. Scope creep in a research project refers to: → Uncontrolled expansion of project objectives beyond the original plan
8. What does 'triangulation' in qualitative research involve? → Applying multiple data sources, methods, or perspectives to enhance credibility
9. Which of the following is an example of 'cherry-picking' data in a research report? → Selecting and reporting only data points that support a predetermined conclusion
10. What is the role of tables and figures in reporting research findings? → To visually represent data and simplify understanding
11. Why is it important to have a research question in a study? → To provide a clear focus for the research
12. A researcher publishes the same dataset in two separate papers without disclosure. This is an example of: → Redundant or duplicate publication
13. What is the purpose of using a sampling technique in data collection? → To select a manageable and representative subset
14. Discriminant validity is demonstrated by showing that a measure: → Does not correlate strongly with measures of unrelated constructs
15. A researcher uses existing government census records for a new study. This is an example of: → Secondary data analysis
16. A researcher presents a bar chart where the bars are sorted alphabetically by category name. What improvement would most enhance interpretability? → Sort bars by value (ascending or descending) instead of alphabetically
17. What is a 'certificate of confidentiality' in the context of research ethics? → A legal protection preventing compelled disclosure of identifiable research data
18. The concept of 'ecological validity' refers to the extent to which research findings: → Generalize to real-world settings beyond the study
19. When oversampling a small subgroup in a survey, researchers must apply post-survey weights to: → Restore the correct proportional representation in aggregate estimates
20. A researcher measures income using brackets ($0–$25k, $25k–$50k, etc.). What level of measurement is this? → Ordinal
21. Which qualitative data collection method involves a researcher immersing themselves in a community to observe behavior in its natural setting? → Ethnographic observation
22. Which participant recruitment method poses the greatest risk of self-selection bias? → Opt-in online surveys
23. How should PRC professionals evaluate outcomes in sampling techniques & participant recruitment? → Using predefined criteria aligned with professional standards and stakeholder expectations
24. In data validation, a 'range check' ensures that: → Numeric values fall within predefined acceptable boundaries
25. In a between-subjects design, each participant is exposed to: → Only one level of the independent variable
26. What distinguishes purposive sampling from probability sampling? → Purposive sampling relies on researcher judgment to select participants
27. What is the purpose of statistical analysis in research? → To summarize and make inferences from data
28. An indirect cost rate (also called facilities and administrative rate) in a grant budget represents: → Overhead costs charged by the institution for supporting research infrastructure
29. Which IRB requirement is most directly related to participant recruitment practices? → Obtaining informed consent before participation
30. A dual-axis chart (two y-axes) should be used cautiously because it can: → Create a misleading impression of correlation between unrelated variables