WGU C224 Objective Assessment Research Foundations
Exam Expected Study Guide Questions and Answers
(2024/2025) (Verified Answers)
research literature - ANSWER is the set of published research studies on a
particular topic
AERA - ANSWER American Educational Research Association - largest and most
prestigious research association in the field of education
abstract - ANSWER a brief summary of what is included in the article.
provides a concise breakdown of article goals, methods, and tentative results
researchers choose to include
understanding - ANSWER (type of research objective)
attempting to learn about and generate ideas about specific and unique phenomena
How to determine if understanding was the objective of a research study -
ANSWER ask yourself these questions:
1. were the researchers studying a phenomenon or some aspect of a phenomenon
about WHICH LITTLE WAS PREVIOUSLY KNOWN?
2. Did the researchers choose to study a phenomenon WITHOUT ANY
PRECONCEIVED NOTIONS?
3. Were the researchers trying to "DISCOVER" IMPORTANT FACTORS or
"generate" new ideas for further research?
description - ANSWER (type of research objective)
an attempt to describe the characteristics of a phenomenon.
one of the most basic activities in research.
ex. observing a phenomenon and recording what one sees
descriptive research - ANSWER (type of research objective)
provide an accurate description or picture of the status or characteristics of a
situation or phenomenon.
,**focus is not specifically on searching out cause-and-effect relationships, but rather
on relating the variables that exist in a given situation and any relevant relationships
that exist among them.
Steps in Descriptive Research - ANSWER 1. randomly select a sample from a
defined population.
2. determine the sample characteristics
3. infer the characteristics of the population based on the sample
explanation - ANSWER (type of research objective)
how and why a phenomenon operates as it does
**the objective of the majority of educational research is explanation**
How to determine if Explanation is the primary objective of a research study -
ANSWER ask yourself these questions:
1. Were the researchers trying to DEVELOP A THEORY about a phenomenon to
explain how and why it operates as it does?
2. Were the researchers trying to explain how phenomena operate by IDENTIFYING
CAUSE-AND-EFFECT relationships?
explanatory research - ANSWER testing hypotheses and theories that explain the
functions of a phenomenon in detail
**researcher is focused on establishing clear and defensible evidence for cause-and-
effect relationships.
***experimental research is the strongest form of explanatory research for providing
evidence of cause and effect.
prediction - ANSWER (type of research objective)
forecast a phenomenon, wherein there is an association made between two points in
time.
**when researchers determine cause-and-effect operations, they can use this
information to form predictions
predictive research - ANSWER predict the future of one or more dependent (or
criterion) variables on the basis of one or more independent (or predictor) variables.
**is most applicable when researchers want to see how well they can predict a
certain outcome based on one or more independent or predictor variables.
influence - ANSWER (type of research objective)
,attempting to apply research to make certain outcomes occur
**application of research knowledge to control various aspects of the world
How to determine if influence is the primary objective of a research study -
ANSWER ask yourself these questions:
1. Were the researchers applying research knowledge to MAKE SOMETHING
USEFUL HAPPEN in the world?
2. Were the researchers checking a "DEMONSTRATION PROGRAM" to see if it
works in practice?
Integration - ANSWER (type of research objective)
consolidating insights from multiple investigators, theories/perspectives, sets of data,
and methods in order to understand a given entity of study, such as a school, or a
classroom or population.
Emic Perspective (when seeking integration objective) - ANSWER - provides
insider's perspective
- gives meaning and views of people being studied
- gets inside the heads of groups members
- includes local languages, forms of expression, and jargon/slang
Etuc Perspective (when seeking integration objective) - ANSWER - provides
external, social scientific perspective
- gives perspective of objective researcher
- uses social scientific concepts, terms, and procedures to describe and explain
behavior
- brings research questions from outside
5 General TYPES of research - ANSWER 1. Basic
2. Evaluation
3. Action
4. Orientational
5. Applied
basic research - ANSWER generating fundamental knowledge and theoretical
understanding about primary human functions and other natural processes.
*Usually conducted by using rigorous research methods (e.g. experimental) under
tightly controlled laboratory conditions.
, (opposite of applied)
applied research - ANSWER answering real-world, practical questions in order to
provide relatively immediate solutions
**conducted in more natural or real-world settings as opposed to basic research.
**results would potentially have practical implications for educational policy
**applied research studies often lead to intervention programs aimed at improving
societal conditions
evaluation research - ANSWER determine how well social or educational programs
work in real-world settings, as well as any improvement possibilities
**determines the worth, merit, or quality of a specific program.
***two types of evaluation: formative & summative
formative evaluation - ANSWER is concerned with developing judgments of how a
program can be improved and aids developers and staff design and implement
programs.
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.
5 varieties of evaluation - based on a fundamental evaluation questions - ANSWER
1. needs assessment - is there a need for this type of program?
2. theory assessment - is this program conceptualized in a way that it should work?
3. implementation assessment - was this program implemented properly and
according to the program plan?
4. impact assessment - did this program have an impact on its intended targets?
5. efficiency assessment - is this program cost-effective?
action research - ANSWER addressing and solving specific problems which local
practitioners confront their schools and communities, conducting research directly
within the classroom or work environment.
**useful because it helps practitioners integrate theory and research with practice.
Exam Expected Study Guide Questions and Answers
(2024/2025) (Verified Answers)
research literature - ANSWER is the set of published research studies on a
particular topic
AERA - ANSWER American Educational Research Association - largest and most
prestigious research association in the field of education
abstract - ANSWER a brief summary of what is included in the article.
provides a concise breakdown of article goals, methods, and tentative results
researchers choose to include
understanding - ANSWER (type of research objective)
attempting to learn about and generate ideas about specific and unique phenomena
How to determine if understanding was the objective of a research study -
ANSWER ask yourself these questions:
1. were the researchers studying a phenomenon or some aspect of a phenomenon
about WHICH LITTLE WAS PREVIOUSLY KNOWN?
2. Did the researchers choose to study a phenomenon WITHOUT ANY
PRECONCEIVED NOTIONS?
3. Were the researchers trying to "DISCOVER" IMPORTANT FACTORS or
"generate" new ideas for further research?
description - ANSWER (type of research objective)
an attempt to describe the characteristics of a phenomenon.
one of the most basic activities in research.
ex. observing a phenomenon and recording what one sees
descriptive research - ANSWER (type of research objective)
provide an accurate description or picture of the status or characteristics of a
situation or phenomenon.
,**focus is not specifically on searching out cause-and-effect relationships, but rather
on relating the variables that exist in a given situation and any relevant relationships
that exist among them.
Steps in Descriptive Research - ANSWER 1. randomly select a sample from a
defined population.
2. determine the sample characteristics
3. infer the characteristics of the population based on the sample
explanation - ANSWER (type of research objective)
how and why a phenomenon operates as it does
**the objective of the majority of educational research is explanation**
How to determine if Explanation is the primary objective of a research study -
ANSWER ask yourself these questions:
1. Were the researchers trying to DEVELOP A THEORY about a phenomenon to
explain how and why it operates as it does?
2. Were the researchers trying to explain how phenomena operate by IDENTIFYING
CAUSE-AND-EFFECT relationships?
explanatory research - ANSWER testing hypotheses and theories that explain the
functions of a phenomenon in detail
**researcher is focused on establishing clear and defensible evidence for cause-and-
effect relationships.
***experimental research is the strongest form of explanatory research for providing
evidence of cause and effect.
prediction - ANSWER (type of research objective)
forecast a phenomenon, wherein there is an association made between two points in
time.
**when researchers determine cause-and-effect operations, they can use this
information to form predictions
predictive research - ANSWER predict the future of one or more dependent (or
criterion) variables on the basis of one or more independent (or predictor) variables.
**is most applicable when researchers want to see how well they can predict a
certain outcome based on one or more independent or predictor variables.
influence - ANSWER (type of research objective)
,attempting to apply research to make certain outcomes occur
**application of research knowledge to control various aspects of the world
How to determine if influence is the primary objective of a research study -
ANSWER ask yourself these questions:
1. Were the researchers applying research knowledge to MAKE SOMETHING
USEFUL HAPPEN in the world?
2. Were the researchers checking a "DEMONSTRATION PROGRAM" to see if it
works in practice?
Integration - ANSWER (type of research objective)
consolidating insights from multiple investigators, theories/perspectives, sets of data,
and methods in order to understand a given entity of study, such as a school, or a
classroom or population.
Emic Perspective (when seeking integration objective) - ANSWER - provides
insider's perspective
- gives meaning and views of people being studied
- gets inside the heads of groups members
- includes local languages, forms of expression, and jargon/slang
Etuc Perspective (when seeking integration objective) - ANSWER - provides
external, social scientific perspective
- gives perspective of objective researcher
- uses social scientific concepts, terms, and procedures to describe and explain
behavior
- brings research questions from outside
5 General TYPES of research - ANSWER 1. Basic
2. Evaluation
3. Action
4. Orientational
5. Applied
basic research - ANSWER generating fundamental knowledge and theoretical
understanding about primary human functions and other natural processes.
*Usually conducted by using rigorous research methods (e.g. experimental) under
tightly controlled laboratory conditions.
, (opposite of applied)
applied research - ANSWER answering real-world, practical questions in order to
provide relatively immediate solutions
**conducted in more natural or real-world settings as opposed to basic research.
**results would potentially have practical implications for educational policy
**applied research studies often lead to intervention programs aimed at improving
societal conditions
evaluation research - ANSWER determine how well social or educational programs
work in real-world settings, as well as any improvement possibilities
**determines the worth, merit, or quality of a specific program.
***two types of evaluation: formative & summative
formative evaluation - ANSWER is concerned with developing judgments of how a
program can be improved and aids developers and staff design and implement
programs.
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.
5 varieties of evaluation - based on a fundamental evaluation questions - ANSWER
1. needs assessment - is there a need for this type of program?
2. theory assessment - is this program conceptualized in a way that it should work?
3. implementation assessment - was this program implemented properly and
according to the program plan?
4. impact assessment - did this program have an impact on its intended targets?
5. efficiency assessment - is this program cost-effective?
action research - ANSWER addressing and solving specific problems which local
practitioners confront their schools and communities, conducting research directly
within the classroom or work environment.
**useful because it helps practitioners integrate theory and research with practice.
