Master Quantitative Data Analysis Techniques for PhD Research

Question 1

In data analysis, normality of data refers to:

Accepted Answer

The data conforms to a bell-shaped (Gaussian) distribution

Answer

The mean, median, and mode of the data are identical

Answer

The data contains no outliers or extreme values

Answer

The data is presented in a continuous format

Question 2

Which variable type is measured on a categorical scale?

Accepted Answer

Nominal

Answer

Interval

Answer

Ratio

Answer

Ordinal

Question 3

What is the primary purpose of conducting a power analysis?

Accepted Answer

To determine the appropriate sample size for a given statistical test

Answer

To evaluate the reliability of a research instrument

Answer

To test the validity of a research hypothesis

Answer

To verify that the data is normally distributed

Question 4

Which of the following is the primary objective of data cleaning?

Accepted Answer

Identifying and correcting errors and inconsistencies in data

Answer

Transforming data into a format suitable for analysis

Answer

Generating descriptive statistics from the data

Answer

Performing inferential statistical tests on the data

Question 5

In regression analysis, the variable being predicted is referred to as the:

Accepted Answer

Dependent variable

Answer

Independent variable

Answer

Control variable

Answer

Mediating variable

Question 6

Which of the following software programs is commonly used for quantitative data analysis?

Accepted Answer

SPSS

Answer

NVivo

Answer

ATLAS.ti

Answer

MAXQDA

Question 7

Which of the following is a type of quantitative data analysis technique that involves summarizing and describing a dataset?

Accepted Answer

Descriptive statistics

Answer

Inferential statistics

Answer

Qualitative analysis

Answer

Regression analysis

Question 8

A p-value of 0.05 generally indicates that:

Accepted Answer

There is a 5% probability of rejecting the null hypothesis when it is actually true (Type I error)

Answer

There is a 95% probability of accepting the null hypothesis when it is actually false (Type II error)

Answer

The results are statistically significant

Answer

The results are not statistically significant

Question 9

A research hypothesis is:

Accepted Answer

A tentative statement that predicts a relationship between variables

Answer

A null statement about a population parameter

Answer

A statement of fact

Answer

A prediction about the outcome of a study

Question 10

What is the primary purpose of a scatterplot in data analysis?

Accepted Answer

To visualize the relationship between two variables

Answer

To identify outliers

Answer

To calculate the mean and standard deviation

Answer

To perform statistical tests

Question 11

Which of the following statistical tests is used to determine if there is a significant difference between the means of two independent groups?

Accepted Answer

t-test

Answer

ANOVA

Answer

Regression analysis

Answer

Factor analysis

Question 12

What is the main objective of regression analysis?

Accepted Answer

To predict the value of a dependent variable based on one or more independent variables

Answer

To identify the factors that influence a dependent variable

Answer

To test the relationship between two or more variables

Answer

To reduce the dimensionality of data

Question 13

What are the essential elements of a research proposal for a quantitative research study?

Accepted Answer

Introduction, literature review, research questions, methodology, data analysis plan, ethical considerations

Answer

Literature review, research questions, methodology, data analysis plan, discussion

Answer

Introduction, research questions, methodology, results, discussion

Answer

Introduction, literature review, methodology, data analysis plan, discussion

Question 14

Which of the following is a fundamental assumption of parametric statistical tests?

Accepted Answer

The data is normally distributed.

Answer

The data is ordinal or continuous.

Answer

The sample size is large.

Answer

The population variance is known.

Question 15

What is the primary purpose of a scatterplot?

Accepted Answer

To visually illustrate the relationship between two variables.

Answer

To statistically test the significance of a relationship.

Answer

To predict the value of one variable based on another.

Answer

To detect outliers.

Question 16

Which of the following is a type of regression analysis used to predict a continuous outcome variable based on one or more predictor variables?

Accepted Answer

Linear regression

Answer

Logistic regression

Answer

Factor analysis

Answer

Discriminant analysis

Question 17

What is the main goal of factor analysis?

Accepted Answer

To reduce the number of variables in a dataset by identifying underlying patterns.

Answer

To test the statistical significance of relationships between variables.

Answer

To predict the value of one variable based on another.

Answer

To detect outliers.

Question 18

Which of the following is a commonly used measure of reliability, indicating the internal consistency of a set of items?

Accepted Answer

Cronbach's alpha

Answer

Spearman's rho

Answer

Pearson's r

Answer

Kendall's tau

Question 19

Define the fundamental difference between a population and a sample.

Accepted Answer

A population encompasses the entire group of interest, while a sample is a representative subset of that population.

Answer

A population is typically smaller than a sample.

Answer

A sample is always more representative of the population than the population itself.

Answer

A population is inherently normally distributed.

Question 20

Which of the following is a type of sampling method that randomly selects individuals from a population, ensuring that each individual has an equal chance of being chosen?

Accepted Answer

Random sampling

Answer

Stratified sampling

Answer

Cluster sampling

Answer

Convenience sampling

Question 21

What is the primary purpose of a confidence interval?

Accepted Answer

To provide a range of plausible values for a population parameter, based on sample data.

Answer

To test the statistical significance of a difference between groups.

Answer

To predict the value of one variable based on another.

Answer

To identify outliers.

Question 22

Which of the following is a type of research design that involves manipulating an independent variable to observe its impact on a dependent variable, while controlling for other factors?

Accepted Answer

Experimental design

Answer

Quasi-experimental design

Answer

Non-experimental design

Answer

Mixed-methods design

Question 23

Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of quantitative research data?

Accepted Answer

Interpretive

Answer

Numerical

Answer

Objective

Answer

Generalizable

Question 24

What is the primary purpose of correlation analysis?

Accepted Answer

To determine the relationship between two variables

Answer

To predict a value based on other variables

Answer

To reduce the number of variables in a dataset

Answer

To identify underlying patterns in data

Question 25

What is the objective of factor analysis in research?

Accepted Answer

To reduce the number of variables in a dataset while retaining the most important information

Answer

To test the relationships between variables

Answer

To predict future outcomes

Answer

To describe the distribution of variables

Question 26

What is the purpose of a hypothesis test?

Accepted Answer

To make inferences about a population based on a sample

Answer

To describe the characteristics of a population

Answer

To identify patterns in data

Answer

To reduce the number of variables in a dataset

Question 27

What is the difference between descriptive and inferential statistics?

Accepted Answer

Descriptive statistics describe data, while inferential statistics make inferences

Answer

Inferential statistics describe data, while descriptive statistics make inferences

Answer

Descriptive statistics are used to test hypotheses, while inferential statistics describe data

Answer

Inferential statistics are used to test hypotheses, while descriptive statistics describe data

Question 28

Which of the following techniques is used to reduce the number of variables in a dataset while retaining the most critical information?

Accepted Answer

Factor analysis

Answer

Cluster analysis

Answer

Discriminant analysis

Answer

Logistic regression

Question 29

What is the key difference between parametric and non-parametric tests in statistics?

Accepted Answer

Parametric tests assume a normal distribution, while non-parametric tests do not.

Answer

Non-parametric tests are more accurate than parametric tests.

Answer

Parametric tests are more applicable to smaller sample sizes.

Answer

There is no difference between parametric and non-parametric tests.

Question 30

Which graphical representation is most suitable for visualizing the distribution of data?

Accepted Answer

Histogram

Answer

Scatterplot

Answer

Bar chart

Answer

Pie chart

Question 31

Differentiate between a dependent and independent variable.

Accepted Answer

The dependent variable is measured, while the independent variable is manipulated.

Answer

The independent variable is measured, while the dependent variable is manipulated.

Answer

There is no distinction between a dependent and independent variable.

Answer

Dependent variables are always continuous, whereas independent variables can be either continuous or categorical.

Question 32

Which statistical technique is most appropriate for comparing the means of two independent groups?

Accepted Answer

Analysis of variance (ANOVA)

Answer

Regression analysis

Answer

Factor analysis

Question 33

Which statistical measure is used to represent the average value of a distribution?

Accepted Answer

Mean

Answer

Median

Answer

Mode