Descriptive Research (Survey Research)

Chapter 6
Gay, Mills, & Airasian
Reinforcing Your Understanding

(1) Which of the following sampling methods is most often used in survey research?
a. stratified
b. snowball
c. homogenous
d. cluster

(2) When analyzing descriptive survey data one suggested strategy is to report
a. raw data by participant
b. percentage of response
c. item by item descriptive statistics
d. inferential statistics by item

(3) According to your textbook if you were to receive a 60% response rate after a first
mailing of a survey you should
a. analyze your data, your sample of responses is representative.
b. Send out another mailing to your sample to increase your response rate.
c. Start with an entirely new sample, your response rate is too low.
d. Consider your survey complete for the first sample and select a second sample.

(4) According to your text one of the drawbacks of interview studies is that
a: Interview data is less accurate than survey data.
b. The depth of response is too shallow.
c. Getting enough participants
d. interviews are time consuming.

(5) Krista investigates the perceived benefits of students who participate in a program of
college success before their matriculation into the community and technical college. This
type of research can be best described as:
a. a school survey
b. opinion poll
c: developmental survey.
d. follow-up survey

(6) Of the following, which is an example of a survey research topic?

a: Are there differences between the groups’ performance based upon our treatment
variable?
b. Does SES predict academic achievement at large state universities?
c. Are there differences in spatial ability based upon gender?
d. How do teachers in the state feel about the proposed modified school year?

(7) The first step in a quantitative survey is

a: Select an appropriate sample.
b. Review the literature.
c. Identify a problem to study.
d. Examine the research context.

Copyleft G. Andrew Page, 2007 1

Consider the questionnaire items below as you answer the following questions.
1. Gender M F
2. Educational Level: Less than high school degree___HS degree or GED—BS or
BA___post graduate degree_____
3. Annual salary $__________
4. Number of children in your home________
5. Rate your agreement that David Reaume is a good researcher.

SA A U D SD
6. Why do you think that David Reaume is a lousy researcher?
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________

(8) The item that will provide the most reliable data in the above questionnaire:
a. item 1
b. item 2
c. item 4
d. item 6.

(9) Data collected from item 1 will be ____________level data.

a. nominal
b. ordinal
c. interval
d. ratio

(10) Item 5 is an example of a(n) _______________type of item.

a. open response
b. Likert
c. Semantic differential
d. Checklist

(11) The most biased item is likely:

a. item 2
b. item 4
c. item 4
d. item 6

(12) Participants are most likely to find __________________the most sensitive item.

a. item 1
b. item 2
c. item 3
d. item 4.

Copyleft G. Andrew Page, 2007 2