WGU D024 ACTUAL EXAM PAPER 2026
QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS GRADED A+
◍ hypothesis testing.
Answer: test specific hypotheses about populations based on their sample
data
◍ limitations of action research.
Answer: - often involves a small-scale study that produces a limited and
delimited amount of information and knowledge- produces small-scale
results that are difficult to generalize to different and larger contexts- has
less scienfitic objectivity compared to regular education science- is often
based on weaker research designs compared to regular education science-
does not lend itself to making strong designs compared to regular education
science- does not lend itself to making strong statements of cause and effect-
lacks rigor in terms of traditional measurements and research validity
criteria- presents difficulties for institutional review boards (IRBs) who
evaluate the ethical practice of research, because multiple people might be
involved and the researcher cannot foresee many possible actions due to the
study's fluid nature and continual development
◍ Epistemology (quantitative).
Answer: scientific realism, search for truth, justification by empirical
confirmation of hypothesis, universal scientific standards
◍ parallel.
Answer: - samples for quantitative and qualitative components are
DIFFERENT but drawn from SAME POPULATIONex. students of one 4th
grade class for quantitative, and students of another 4th grade class for
qualitative phase
◍ mixed methods sampling designs.
, Answer: based on two criteria:time orientation (two types)sample
relationship (4 types)which equals 8 mixed method sampling designs
◍ research purpose.
Answer: the researcher's intent or objective in conducting their particular
study
◍ dynamics of science.
Answer: 1. science is broadly progressive - knowledge is accumulated and
extended using current theories and results2. science is compelling- research
is open to attractive new ideas, theories, and complementary interpretations
that show promise3. science is critical- findings are rigorously evaluated by
experts and peers for major flaws, errors or lack of defensibility4. science is
never-ending- there are always new studies, results or theories, and
researchers creatively seeking to discover or explain
◍ holistic perspective.
Answer: the whole phenomenon under study is understood as a complex
system that is more than the sum of its parts. The focus is on complex
interdependencies and system dynamics that cannot meaningfully be
reduced to a few discrete variables and linear, cause-effect relationships
◍ deception.
Answer: - researcher MISLEADS/WITHHOLDS INFORMATION FROM
PARTICIPANT about nature of study- this technically violates principle of
informed consent, but ethical standards recognize that is has to be used in
some studies
◍ Research Systematic Process and Methods.
Answer: 1. Examine prior research (lit reviews)2. Design studies3. Collect
and analyze data4. Report FindingsMethods involve:tools, analysis, data,
and participantsHow these all react creates the BIG PICTURE
◍ General norms and practices of good researchers.
Answer: - selection of educational and social problems in need of attention-
collection of empirical data - open discussion of findings, integrity, honesty,
, competence, systematic inquiry, and empathic neutrality- respect toward
research participants- a healthy skepticism toward results and explanations-
a sense of curiosity and openness to discovery- the active search for
negative evidence (e.g. instances that do not fit your emerging or current
explanation of a phenomenon)- the careful examination of alternative
explanations for the findings- an adherence to the principle of evidence
◍ Manipulation (definition).
Answer: used only in experimental research, an intervention studied by the
experimenter
◍ research literature.
Answer: is the set of published research studies on a particular topicvarious
studies with the same result = CONFIDENCE*Don't trust a single research
study as the final word on a topic!*
◍ summative evaulation.
Answer: focuses on cultivating judgements of a programs effectiveness and
any decisions regarding continuation.**is especially helpful for
policymakers to appraise previous future-funding decisions and make future
ones.
◍ sequential validity (mixed research).
Answer: the degree to which a mixed researcher appropriately address
and/or builds on findings from earlier qualitative and quantitative phases
◍ observation natures (comparing all 4 types to research).
Answer: QUAN: study behavior under controlled conditions; isolate the
causal effect of single variablesQUAL: study groups and individuals in
natural settings; attempt to understand insiders views, meanings, and
perspectivesMM: study multiple contexts, perspectives, or conditions; study
multiple factors as they operate togetherA: study behaviors and people in
real-world settings before, during, and after the implementation of specific
intervention action
◍ monoanalysis.
, Answer: if you only use one type of data analysis (only quantitative or only
qualitative)
◍ Sampling (definition).
Answer: The process of drawing a sample from a population
◍ action phase of AR cycle.
Answer: a needs assessment or an exploratory and descriptive study of the
different people and positions in the researcher's system,
◍ weakness minimization validity (mixed research).
Answer: the degree researcher combines qualitative and quantitative
approaches with non-overlapping weaknesses
◍ one-way analysis of variance (one way ANOVA).
Answer: used to compare two or more group means
◍ extraneous variables.
Answer: variables other than the independent variable of interest (e.g.
teaching approach) that may be related to the outcome.ex. perhaps an
observed relationship between coffee drinking (IV) and cancer (DV) is
actually due to smoking cigarettessometimes called: alternative explanations
or rival hypotheses
◍ Qualitative view of reality.
Answer: reality is socially constructed
◍ random selection.
Answer: means random sampling- systematic sampling- stratified sampling-
cluster samplingGOAL: making generalizations from a sample to a
population
◍ independent variable.
Answer: presumed to cause a change to occur in another variableex. amount
of studying (IV) affects test scores (DV)
◍ strengths of qualitative research.
Answer: 1. data collected in NATURALISTIC SETTINGS based on the
QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS GRADED A+
◍ hypothesis testing.
Answer: test specific hypotheses about populations based on their sample
data
◍ limitations of action research.
Answer: - often involves a small-scale study that produces a limited and
delimited amount of information and knowledge- produces small-scale
results that are difficult to generalize to different and larger contexts- has
less scienfitic objectivity compared to regular education science- is often
based on weaker research designs compared to regular education science-
does not lend itself to making strong designs compared to regular education
science- does not lend itself to making strong statements of cause and effect-
lacks rigor in terms of traditional measurements and research validity
criteria- presents difficulties for institutional review boards (IRBs) who
evaluate the ethical practice of research, because multiple people might be
involved and the researcher cannot foresee many possible actions due to the
study's fluid nature and continual development
◍ Epistemology (quantitative).
Answer: scientific realism, search for truth, justification by empirical
confirmation of hypothesis, universal scientific standards
◍ parallel.
Answer: - samples for quantitative and qualitative components are
DIFFERENT but drawn from SAME POPULATIONex. students of one 4th
grade class for quantitative, and students of another 4th grade class for
qualitative phase
◍ mixed methods sampling designs.
, Answer: based on two criteria:time orientation (two types)sample
relationship (4 types)which equals 8 mixed method sampling designs
◍ research purpose.
Answer: the researcher's intent or objective in conducting their particular
study
◍ dynamics of science.
Answer: 1. science is broadly progressive - knowledge is accumulated and
extended using current theories and results2. science is compelling- research
is open to attractive new ideas, theories, and complementary interpretations
that show promise3. science is critical- findings are rigorously evaluated by
experts and peers for major flaws, errors or lack of defensibility4. science is
never-ending- there are always new studies, results or theories, and
researchers creatively seeking to discover or explain
◍ holistic perspective.
Answer: the whole phenomenon under study is understood as a complex
system that is more than the sum of its parts. The focus is on complex
interdependencies and system dynamics that cannot meaningfully be
reduced to a few discrete variables and linear, cause-effect relationships
◍ deception.
Answer: - researcher MISLEADS/WITHHOLDS INFORMATION FROM
PARTICIPANT about nature of study- this technically violates principle of
informed consent, but ethical standards recognize that is has to be used in
some studies
◍ Research Systematic Process and Methods.
Answer: 1. Examine prior research (lit reviews)2. Design studies3. Collect
and analyze data4. Report FindingsMethods involve:tools, analysis, data,
and participantsHow these all react creates the BIG PICTURE
◍ General norms and practices of good researchers.
Answer: - selection of educational and social problems in need of attention-
collection of empirical data - open discussion of findings, integrity, honesty,
, competence, systematic inquiry, and empathic neutrality- respect toward
research participants- a healthy skepticism toward results and explanations-
a sense of curiosity and openness to discovery- the active search for
negative evidence (e.g. instances that do not fit your emerging or current
explanation of a phenomenon)- the careful examination of alternative
explanations for the findings- an adherence to the principle of evidence
◍ Manipulation (definition).
Answer: used only in experimental research, an intervention studied by the
experimenter
◍ research literature.
Answer: is the set of published research studies on a particular topicvarious
studies with the same result = CONFIDENCE*Don't trust a single research
study as the final word on a topic!*
◍ summative evaulation.
Answer: focuses on cultivating judgements of a programs effectiveness and
any decisions regarding continuation.**is especially helpful for
policymakers to appraise previous future-funding decisions and make future
ones.
◍ sequential validity (mixed research).
Answer: the degree to which a mixed researcher appropriately address
and/or builds on findings from earlier qualitative and quantitative phases
◍ observation natures (comparing all 4 types to research).
Answer: QUAN: study behavior under controlled conditions; isolate the
causal effect of single variablesQUAL: study groups and individuals in
natural settings; attempt to understand insiders views, meanings, and
perspectivesMM: study multiple contexts, perspectives, or conditions; study
multiple factors as they operate togetherA: study behaviors and people in
real-world settings before, during, and after the implementation of specific
intervention action
◍ monoanalysis.
, Answer: if you only use one type of data analysis (only quantitative or only
qualitative)
◍ Sampling (definition).
Answer: The process of drawing a sample from a population
◍ action phase of AR cycle.
Answer: a needs assessment or an exploratory and descriptive study of the
different people and positions in the researcher's system,
◍ weakness minimization validity (mixed research).
Answer: the degree researcher combines qualitative and quantitative
approaches with non-overlapping weaknesses
◍ one-way analysis of variance (one way ANOVA).
Answer: used to compare two or more group means
◍ extraneous variables.
Answer: variables other than the independent variable of interest (e.g.
teaching approach) that may be related to the outcome.ex. perhaps an
observed relationship between coffee drinking (IV) and cancer (DV) is
actually due to smoking cigarettessometimes called: alternative explanations
or rival hypotheses
◍ Qualitative view of reality.
Answer: reality is socially constructed
◍ random selection.
Answer: means random sampling- systematic sampling- stratified sampling-
cluster samplingGOAL: making generalizations from a sample to a
population
◍ independent variable.
Answer: presumed to cause a change to occur in another variableex. amount
of studying (IV) affects test scores (DV)
◍ strengths of qualitative research.
Answer: 1. data collected in NATURALISTIC SETTINGS based on the
