Quantitative Research Methods: A Comprehensive Guide for PhD Students

Question 1

Under which conditions is an experiment most appropriate for research?

Accepted Answer

When the researcher has full control over the independent variable

Answer

When the researcher intends to generalize results to a large population

Answer

When the researcher requires qualitative data

Answer

When the research question is predominantly exploratory

Question 2

What is the fundamental distinction between a true experiment and a quasi-experiment?

Accepted Answer

Quasi-experiments lack random assignment to experimental conditions

Answer

Quasi-experiments have no control group

Answer

Quasi-experiments are inherently more expensive than true experiments

Answer

Quasi-experiments can only be conducted with small sample sizes

Question 3

What is the main objective of an informed consent form?

Accepted Answer

To ensure that participants fully comprehend the potential risks and benefits of participation

Answer

To obtain participants' permission to use their data for research purposes

Answer

To protect researchers from potential legal liability

Answer

To provide participants with a copy of the final research findings

Question 4

Which of the following is NOT recognized as a type of measurement scale?

Accepted Answer

Qualitative

Answer

Nominal

Answer

Ordinal

Answer

Interval

Question 5

Which type of quantitative research method is most appropriate when the researcher has **limited control** over the variables of interest?

Accepted Answer

Quasi-experiment

Answer

Survey

Answer

Experiment

Answer

Meta-analysis

Question 6

What is the **primary purpose** of a power analysis in quantitative research?

Accepted Answer

To determine the minimum sample size needed to achieve statistical significance

Answer

To ensure that the data is normally distributed

Answer

To identify potential confounding variables

Answer

To analyze the results of the study

Question 7

What is the **role** of a dependent variable in an experiment?

Accepted Answer

The variable that is measured to assess the effect of the manipulation

Answer

The variable that is manipulated by the researcher

Answer

The variable that is not affected by the manipulation

Answer

The variable that is used to control for biases

Question 8

Which of the following statistical tests is used to compare the **means** of two independent groups?

Accepted Answer

t-test

Answer

ANOVA

Answer

Chi-square test

Answer

Correlation analysis

Question 9

What is a major advantage of using quantitative research methods?

Accepted Answer

Collecting large datasets.

Answer

Adapting to a wide range of research questions.

Answer

Ideal for exploratory research.

Answer

Eliminating researcher bias.

Question 10

Identify the main advantage of using surveys as a research method.

Accepted Answer

They allow researchers to collect data from a large number of people in a relatively short amount of time.

Answer

They can provide in-depth information about individual participants' experiences and perspectives.

Answer

They are always the most cost-effective method.

Answer

They can be used to measure relationships between variables.

Question 11

Explain the difference between a dependent variable and an independent variable in quantitative research.

Accepted Answer

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

Answer

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

Answer

There is no difference between a dependent variable and an independent variable.

Question 12

What is the main purpose of conducting a pilot study before carrying out a larger research project?

Accepted Answer

To refine the research design and data collection methods.

Answer

To generate publishable results.

Answer

To secure funding for the main study.

Answer

To test the feasibility of the research question.

Question 13

Identify the type of sampling method that involves selecting participants randomly from a list of all members of the population.

Accepted Answer

Random sampling

Answer

Convenience sampling

Answer

Quota sampling

Answer

Snowball sampling

Question 14

What is the difference between the mean and the median of a set of data?

Accepted Answer

The mean is the average of all the data points, while the median is the value that appears in the middle when the data is arranged in order.

Answer

The median is the average of all the data points, while the mean is the value that appears in the middle when the data is arranged in order.

Answer

The mean and the median are always the same value.

Answer

The mean is always higher than the median.

Question 15

What is the ethical principle that requires researchers to obtain informed consent from participants before involving them in research?

Accepted Answer

Autonomy

Answer

Beneficence

Answer

Justice

Answer

Non-maleficence

Question 16

Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of a well-formulated research question?

Accepted Answer

It is overly broad.

Answer

It is specific.

Answer

It is testable.

Answer

It is relevant to the research topic.

Question 17

Which sampling method involves randomly selecting a sample from a population?

Accepted Answer

Probability sampling

Answer

Quota sampling

Answer

Snowball sampling

Answer

Convenience sampling

Question 18

Which type of research design is used to establish a causal relationship between variables?

Accepted Answer

Experiment

Answer

Survey

Answer

Quasi-experiment

Question 19

Which of the following is a measure of the reliability of a measurement instrument?

Accepted Answer

Cronbach's alpha

Answer

External validity

Answer

Sensitivity

Answer

Specificity

Question 20

Which type of statistical analysis is used to compare the means of two independent groups?

Accepted Answer

t-test

Answer

ANOVA

Answer

Chi-square test

Question 21

Which of the following is a limitation of quantitative research?

Accepted Answer

The results may not be applicable to a wider population.

Answer

It is objective and unbiased.

Answer

It provides rich, detailed data.

Question 22

Which type of quantitative research method is used to collect data from a large sample of people?

Accepted Answer

Survey

Answer

Observation

Answer

Experiment

Answer

Case study