WGU C224 Research Foundations OA
ACTUAL EXAM UPDATED 2025/2026
COMPLETE QUESTIONS WITH CORRECT
DETAILED SOLUTIONS || 100%
GUARANTEED PASS!!! <NEWEST
VERSION>
5 major designs of qualitative research methods (theoretical frameworks) -
ANSWER ✓ 1. phenomenology
2. ethnography
3. narrative inquiry
4. case study
5. grounded theory
**each has its own methods, analysis strategies, and implications for report writing
**each has a different CORE IDEA or EMPHASIS and each has its unique set of
KEY TERMS or JARGON
phenomenology - ANSWER ✓ purpose: describing individuals(s)' experience of
phenomena
origin: philosphy
data collection and analysis: interview data are searched for significant statements
that capture the essence of participants' perceptions and experiences
research report: rich narrative allowing readers to vicariously experience the
phenomenon through the eyes of the participants
ethonography - ANSWER ✓ purpose: describing cultural characteristics of a
group of people
,origin: anthropology
data collection and analysis: extended fieldwork on participant or non-participant
observations, interviews; documents analyzed during/after study to gain insider's
perspective on people and interactions
research report: extensive description of the physical and social settings aimed at
holistic understanding
narrative inquiry - ANSWER ✓ purpose: describing people's lives/stories to add to
our understanding
origin: human storytelling & education
data collection and analysis: multiple conversations with a participant and inquiry
into related artifacts and documents are used to gain understanding and retell
stories of experience
research report: narrative account including patterns, connections, and insights
uncovered and carefully synthesized
case study - ANSWER ✓ purpose: addressing research questions through in-depth
analysis
origin: multi-disciplinary
data collection and analysis: multiple methods and data sources are used to answer
specific questions about one or more cases
research report: rich, holistic narrative that triangulates data and places the case
into a meaningful context
grounded theory - ANSWER ✓ purpose: inductively generating a theory
describing a phenomenon
origin: sociology
,data collection and analysis: continual activity running concurrent to analysis as
interview and observational data are distilled (or coded) and compared to build a
working theory grounded in collection data
research report: contains methodological description, then proposed and discusses
the grounded theory built during the research study
triangulation - ANSWER ✓ validation approach based on the search for
convergence of results obtained by using multiple investigators, methods, data
sources, and/or theoretical perspectives
**builds into the study and research process systematic cross-checking of
information and conclusions through the use of multiple procedures or sources and
therefor address the larger goal of study validity
- data triangulation: use of multiple forms of data to capture a single phenomenon
- investigator triangulation: use of multiple observers to record and describe the
research participants' behavior and context
- methods triangulation: use of a mix of methods for organizing the study and
collecting data with an objective of combining different methods that have non-
overlapping weaknesses and strenghts
-theory triangulation: use of a variety of theories and perspectives to explain the
phenomena under study (including prior theories and/or other researchers)
major characteristics of qualitative research analysis - ANSWER ✓ - unique case
orientation
- inductive analysis and creative synthesis
- holistic perspective
- context sensitivity
- voice, perspective and reflexivity
unique case orientation - ANSWER ✓ the researcher assumes that each case is
special and unique. The first level of analysis is being true to, respecting, and
capturing the details of the individual cases being studied; cross-case analysis
follows from - and depends on - the quality of individual case studies
, What is the purpose of evidence in research? - ANSWER ✓ Support theories
A team of educational researchers plan to conduct a local study in the community
in order to resolve a critical problem at hand.
What variety of research does this represent? - ANSWER ✓ Action
*What is the name of the process where one determines the truth of a conclusion
by determining the truth of the underlying premises? - ANSWER ✓ Deductive
reasoning
Which arrow represents the inductive method? - ANSWER ✓ The Exploratory
arrow
Theories A and B provide explanations for variance in students' academic
performance. Both theories explain performance well; however, Theory A is more
concise and succinct.
Which approach for evaluating quality is applied to determine that Theory A is
preferred for explaining the phenomenon? - ANSWER ✓ The rule of parsimony
What is the primary objective of education research that studies a phenomenon
about which little is known? - ANSWER ✓ To understand
What does quantitative research attempt to test through the collection of numerical
data? - ANSWER ✓ Hypotheses
Which two views are consistent with the assumptions of quantitative research? -
ANSWER ✓ Human behavior is regular.
Predictable behavior allows for hypothesis development.
What type of statistics allows quantitative researchers to draw conclusions about
populations? - ANSWER ✓ Inferential
What is a variable in educational research? - ANSWER ✓ A measurable
characteristic
ACTUAL EXAM UPDATED 2025/2026
COMPLETE QUESTIONS WITH CORRECT
DETAILED SOLUTIONS || 100%
GUARANTEED PASS!!! <NEWEST
VERSION>
5 major designs of qualitative research methods (theoretical frameworks) -
ANSWER ✓ 1. phenomenology
2. ethnography
3. narrative inquiry
4. case study
5. grounded theory
**each has its own methods, analysis strategies, and implications for report writing
**each has a different CORE IDEA or EMPHASIS and each has its unique set of
KEY TERMS or JARGON
phenomenology - ANSWER ✓ purpose: describing individuals(s)' experience of
phenomena
origin: philosphy
data collection and analysis: interview data are searched for significant statements
that capture the essence of participants' perceptions and experiences
research report: rich narrative allowing readers to vicariously experience the
phenomenon through the eyes of the participants
ethonography - ANSWER ✓ purpose: describing cultural characteristics of a
group of people
,origin: anthropology
data collection and analysis: extended fieldwork on participant or non-participant
observations, interviews; documents analyzed during/after study to gain insider's
perspective on people and interactions
research report: extensive description of the physical and social settings aimed at
holistic understanding
narrative inquiry - ANSWER ✓ purpose: describing people's lives/stories to add to
our understanding
origin: human storytelling & education
data collection and analysis: multiple conversations with a participant and inquiry
into related artifacts and documents are used to gain understanding and retell
stories of experience
research report: narrative account including patterns, connections, and insights
uncovered and carefully synthesized
case study - ANSWER ✓ purpose: addressing research questions through in-depth
analysis
origin: multi-disciplinary
data collection and analysis: multiple methods and data sources are used to answer
specific questions about one or more cases
research report: rich, holistic narrative that triangulates data and places the case
into a meaningful context
grounded theory - ANSWER ✓ purpose: inductively generating a theory
describing a phenomenon
origin: sociology
,data collection and analysis: continual activity running concurrent to analysis as
interview and observational data are distilled (or coded) and compared to build a
working theory grounded in collection data
research report: contains methodological description, then proposed and discusses
the grounded theory built during the research study
triangulation - ANSWER ✓ validation approach based on the search for
convergence of results obtained by using multiple investigators, methods, data
sources, and/or theoretical perspectives
**builds into the study and research process systematic cross-checking of
information and conclusions through the use of multiple procedures or sources and
therefor address the larger goal of study validity
- data triangulation: use of multiple forms of data to capture a single phenomenon
- investigator triangulation: use of multiple observers to record and describe the
research participants' behavior and context
- methods triangulation: use of a mix of methods for organizing the study and
collecting data with an objective of combining different methods that have non-
overlapping weaknesses and strenghts
-theory triangulation: use of a variety of theories and perspectives to explain the
phenomena under study (including prior theories and/or other researchers)
major characteristics of qualitative research analysis - ANSWER ✓ - unique case
orientation
- inductive analysis and creative synthesis
- holistic perspective
- context sensitivity
- voice, perspective and reflexivity
unique case orientation - ANSWER ✓ the researcher assumes that each case is
special and unique. The first level of analysis is being true to, respecting, and
capturing the details of the individual cases being studied; cross-case analysis
follows from - and depends on - the quality of individual case studies
, What is the purpose of evidence in research? - ANSWER ✓ Support theories
A team of educational researchers plan to conduct a local study in the community
in order to resolve a critical problem at hand.
What variety of research does this represent? - ANSWER ✓ Action
*What is the name of the process where one determines the truth of a conclusion
by determining the truth of the underlying premises? - ANSWER ✓ Deductive
reasoning
Which arrow represents the inductive method? - ANSWER ✓ The Exploratory
arrow
Theories A and B provide explanations for variance in students' academic
performance. Both theories explain performance well; however, Theory A is more
concise and succinct.
Which approach for evaluating quality is applied to determine that Theory A is
preferred for explaining the phenomenon? - ANSWER ✓ The rule of parsimony
What is the primary objective of education research that studies a phenomenon
about which little is known? - ANSWER ✓ To understand
What does quantitative research attempt to test through the collection of numerical
data? - ANSWER ✓ Hypotheses
Which two views are consistent with the assumptions of quantitative research? -
ANSWER ✓ Human behavior is regular.
Predictable behavior allows for hypothesis development.
What type of statistics allows quantitative researchers to draw conclusions about
populations? - ANSWER ✓ Inferential
What is a variable in educational research? - ANSWER ✓ A measurable
characteristic
