CPI CPI Research Methods & Academic Writing 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the primary purpose of a literature review in academic research?
- To summarize and synthesize existing scholarship relevant to the research topic (Correct answer)
- To collect original data from study participants
- To analyze statistical findings from experiments
- To outline the researcher's personal opinions on a topic
Correct answer: To summarize and synthesize existing scholarship relevant to the research topic
A literature review synthesizes prior scholarship to establish context, identify gaps, and justify the current study.
Question 2: Which research design integrates both quantitative and qualitative data collection?
- Mixed-methods research (Correct answer)
- Experimental research
- Descriptive research
- Correlational research
Correct answer: Mixed-methods research
Mixed-methods research combines numerical data and narrative data to provide a more comprehensive understanding of a phenomenon.
Question 3: What does it mean for a journal article to be 'peer-reviewed'?
- It has been evaluated by experts in the field before publication (Correct answer)
- It was written by multiple authors simultaneously
- It has been cited more than 100 times
- It was published by a university press
Correct answer: It has been evaluated by experts in the field before publication
Peer review means independent scholars in the discipline critically evaluated the manuscript before it was accepted for publication.
Question 4: Which citation style is most widely used in education and social science research?
- APA (American Psychological Association) (Correct answer)
- MLA (Modern Language Association)
- Chicago/Turabian
- IEEE
Correct answer: APA (American Psychological Association)
APA style is the standard format for research papers in education, psychology, and most social sciences.
Question 5: Which type of research variable is deliberately manipulated by the researcher?
- Independent variable (Correct answer)
- Dependent variable
- Extraneous variable
- Confounding variable
Correct answer: Independent variable
The independent variable is the factor the researcher changes or controls to observe its effect on outcomes.
Question 6: For which type of study is Institutional Review Board (IRB) approval required?
- Research involving human subjects (Correct answer)
- Literature reviews of published articles
- Statistical analysis of public census data
- Review of historical documents
Correct answer: Research involving human subjects
IRB approval is required whenever research involves human participants to protect their rights, welfare, and privacy.
CPI CPI Research Methods & Academic Writing 1
What is the primary purpose of a literature review in academic research?