WGU Research Foundations (C224) EXAM (2025)
QUESTIONS AND (elaborated) WITH COMPLETE
SOLUTIONS
Non-Experimental Research Methods
Correlation and Casual Comparative
Qualitative Research purpose
Collects text or imagery data to gain a deeper understanding of
existing phenomena, gain insight on insider perspective.
Exploration, discovery, understanding
Quantitative Research Purpose
Collect numerical data. Purpose is to describe, predict, control, or
explain. Narrow lens approach (top-down)
,Linguistic-relativity hypothesis
(assumptions of qualitative research) Intuits' local languages might
allow them to see distinctions that you do not notice.
Empathetic Understanding
(assumptions of qualitative research) I can appreciate where you're
coming from. I have an interest in you
Ontology (Qualitative Assumption)
(inherit understanding) Take on personal, mental, subjective, personal,
constructed
Epistemology (Qualitative Assumption)
(theory of knowledge) Everything is relative, varying standards,
individual/group justification, social construction. Overall
understanding of how knowledge is created.
Criterion Based aka Purposive Sampling
selecting participants because they meet the criteria or
purpose of the study.
,Phenomenology
Rich narrative allowing researcher to vicariously experience the
phenomenon through the eyes of the participant.
Purpose: Describing the individuals experience of the phenomena.
Ethnography
Extensive physical description of the physical and social settings aimed
at holistic understanding.
Purpose: Describing cultural characteristics of a group of people
Narrative Inquiry
including patterns, connections, and insights uncovered and carefully
synthesized.
Purpose: Describing people's lives/stories to add to our
understanding. Chronological story
Case Study
Rich, holistic narrative which triangulates data and places the case into
a meaningful context
Purpose: Addressing research questions through in-depth analysis.
Environment based on a set of circumstances.
, Grounded Theory
Contains methodological description, then proposes and
discusses the theory built during the research study.
Purpose: Inductively generating a theory describing a phenomenon.
Does this dynamic of people in this environment hold true to a
theory that's
related to it? Not manipulating data.
Triangulation
Observations --> Interviews --> Questionnaires. Is everybody in
sync with one another?
It validates the story
Major characteristics of qualitative research analysis
Unique Case Orientation,
Inductive Analysis & Creative Synthesis,
Holistic Perspective,
Context Sensitivity,
Voice Perspective & Reflectivity
Voice, Perspective & Reflectivity
The qualitative analyst owns and is reflective about his or her own
voice and perspective; a credible voice conveys authenticity and
trustworthiness
QUESTIONS AND (elaborated) WITH COMPLETE
SOLUTIONS
Non-Experimental Research Methods
Correlation and Casual Comparative
Qualitative Research purpose
Collects text or imagery data to gain a deeper understanding of
existing phenomena, gain insight on insider perspective.
Exploration, discovery, understanding
Quantitative Research Purpose
Collect numerical data. Purpose is to describe, predict, control, or
explain. Narrow lens approach (top-down)
,Linguistic-relativity hypothesis
(assumptions of qualitative research) Intuits' local languages might
allow them to see distinctions that you do not notice.
Empathetic Understanding
(assumptions of qualitative research) I can appreciate where you're
coming from. I have an interest in you
Ontology (Qualitative Assumption)
(inherit understanding) Take on personal, mental, subjective, personal,
constructed
Epistemology (Qualitative Assumption)
(theory of knowledge) Everything is relative, varying standards,
individual/group justification, social construction. Overall
understanding of how knowledge is created.
Criterion Based aka Purposive Sampling
selecting participants because they meet the criteria or
purpose of the study.
,Phenomenology
Rich narrative allowing researcher to vicariously experience the
phenomenon through the eyes of the participant.
Purpose: Describing the individuals experience of the phenomena.
Ethnography
Extensive physical description of the physical and social settings aimed
at holistic understanding.
Purpose: Describing cultural characteristics of a group of people
Narrative Inquiry
including patterns, connections, and insights uncovered and carefully
synthesized.
Purpose: Describing people's lives/stories to add to our
understanding. Chronological story
Case Study
Rich, holistic narrative which triangulates data and places the case into
a meaningful context
Purpose: Addressing research questions through in-depth analysis.
Environment based on a set of circumstances.
, Grounded Theory
Contains methodological description, then proposes and
discusses the theory built during the research study.
Purpose: Inductively generating a theory describing a phenomenon.
Does this dynamic of people in this environment hold true to a
theory that's
related to it? Not manipulating data.
Triangulation
Observations --> Interviews --> Questionnaires. Is everybody in
sync with one another?
It validates the story
Major characteristics of qualitative research analysis
Unique Case Orientation,
Inductive Analysis & Creative Synthesis,
Holistic Perspective,
Context Sensitivity,
Voice Perspective & Reflectivity
Voice, Perspective & Reflectivity
The qualitative analyst owns and is reflective about his or her own
voice and perspective; a credible voice conveys authenticity and
trustworthiness
