Educational Research (D180)

Correct Answer

C. To determine if instructional intervention increases math fact fluency

Explanation

The goal of the research is to examine how instructional interventions specifically affect math fact fluency. The focus is on measuring whether the intervention leads to improved math fact recall and fluency among students, which directly aligns with the research's objectives.

Why other options are wrong

A. To evaluate the overall curriculum effectiveness in third grade.

This is not the primary purpose of the research. While curriculum effectiveness might be an indirect factor, the main focus is on the impact of instructional interventions on math fact fluency rather than evaluating the curriculum in its entirety.

B. To assess the impact of parental involvement on student learning.

This is incorrect because the research is focused on instructional interventions in math, not parental involvement. Although parental involvement could be a factor in some contexts, it is not the main objective of this research.

D. To compare the effectiveness of different teaching styles.

The purpose of the research is not to compare teaching styles, but to assess the specific effect of instructional interventions on math fact fluency. Different teaching styles may play a role, but they are not the focus of this research.

Correct Answer

B. To gather information about students' existing knowledge and misconceptions before instruction begins

Explanation

The purpose of a diagnostic assessment is to understand students' prior knowledge, skills, and misconceptions before beginning instruction. This allows teachers to tailor their teaching methods and content to meet the specific needs of their students.

Why other options are wrong

A. To evaluate students' final performance after instruction

This is incorrect because evaluating final performance is the purpose of summative assessments, not diagnostic assessments, which are used before instruction begins.

C. To assess the effectiveness of teaching methods used in the classroom

This is incorrect because assessing the effectiveness of teaching methods is typically the role of formative assessments, which occur during or after instruction, not diagnostic assessments.

D. To determine students' grades for the semester

This is incorrect because determining grades is the purpose of summative assessments, not diagnostic assessments. The goal of a diagnostic assessment is to gather preliminary data on student knowledge, not to assign grades.

Correct Answer:

To identify gaps in existing research and support the research question

Explanation:

A literature review is a critical part of the research process that helps situate a study within the context of what is already known. It allows the researcher to identify patterns, trends, and gaps in existing knowledge. This in turn helps justify the need for the study and supports the formulation of a strong, researchable question. It does not serve to prove a hypothesis but rather to provide a foundation and rationale for the inquiry.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

To prove the researcher's hypothesis is correct

This is incorrect because the role of the literature review is not to confirm a hypothesis, but to inform the research question. Proving or disproving a hypothesis is the role of the study itself, not the background research.

To summarize personal teaching experiences

This is inaccurate. While reflective practice is valuable in education, the literature review relies on published, peer-reviewed academic sources, not anecdotal accounts or personal reflections.

To provide statistical analysis of the study’s results

This is incorrect because statistical analysis is part of the data analysis section, not the literature review. The literature review happens early in the research process, before any data is collected or analyzed.

Correct Answer

A. Being driven by internal rewards.

Explanation

Intrinsic motivation is the drive to perform an activity for its inherent satisfaction, rather than for some separable consequence or external reward. This type of motivation arises from within the individual, often because they find the activity itself rewarding or fulfilling, such as the pleasure of learning or achieving mastery.

Why other options are wrong

B. Seeking external rewards.

This refers to extrinsic motivation, where actions are driven by external factors such as money, praise, or recognition. Intrinsic motivation, in contrast, is focused on internal fulfillment, not external rewards.

C. The desire to avoid punishment.

This describes avoidance motivation, which is not a form of intrinsic motivation. Intrinsic motivation is more about pursuing a task for personal satisfaction, not to avoid negative outcomes.

D. The need to fulfill physiological demands.

This is more aligned with basic survival needs and is not typically considered intrinsic motivation. Intrinsic motivation involves higher-order psychological drives, such as the joy of engaging in a task itself, not merely fulfilling physiological needs.

Correct Answer

B. Limited letter-sound knowledge to pronounce written words

Explanation

In the partially alphabetic phase, students have begun to connect some letters to sounds, but their letter-sound knowledge is still limited. They rely on a combination of phonemic awareness and visual recognition to decode words, even though they may not have mastered all the letter-sound correspondences.

Why other options are wrong

A. Syntax

Syntax refers to the arrangement of words and phrases to create well-formed sentences. While important for overall language development, syntax does not specifically apply to the limited letter-sound knowledge phase of reading.

C. Grammar

Grammar pertains to the rules governing sentence structure and word use, which is unrelated to the reading phase where students are learning letter-sound connections for word recognition.

D. Visual cues to recognize words

While visual cues may be used to help recognize words, the partially alphabetic phase specifically involves limited letter-sound knowledge, not solely visual recognition. It’s more focused on phonics and sound-letter associations.

Correct Answer

D. All of the above

Explanation

Phonological awareness is the ability to recognize and manipulate various components of spoken language, such as sounds and syllables. All of the skills listed—identifying onset and rime, phoneme manipulation, and syllable segmentation—are components of phonological awareness. These skills involve recognizing and manipulating sounds at different levels, including individual phonemes, syllables, and onset-rime patterns, which are crucial for developing reading and writing abilities.

Why other options are wrong

A. Identifying onset and rime

Identifying onset and rime is a part of phonological awareness, but it is only one skill within a broader set. It involves recognizing the initial consonant sound (onset) and the vowel and following consonants (rime) of a syllable. While correct in part, it does not encompass the full range of phonological awareness skills as option D does.

B. Phoneme manipulation

Phoneme manipulation is another specific skill within phonological awareness that involves changing, adding, or deleting individual sounds in words. While it is an important skill, it is not the only one that constitutes phonological awareness. Therefore, it does not capture the full range as option D does.

C. Syllable segmentation

Syllable segmentation involves breaking words into their syllables and is a form of phonological awareness. However, like identifying onset and rime, it is just one of the many skills that contribute to phonological awareness. Therefore, it is not as comprehensive as option D.

Correct Answer

C. The integration of flexible seats.

Explanation

The literature review for the capstone research project discusses the integration of flexible seating arrangements in classrooms as a key theme. It explores how this approach can enhance student learning by offering more choice and comfort in how students engage with their tasks.

Why other options are wrong

A. The benefits of traditional seating arrangements.

This is incorrect because the research project focuses on flexible seating rather than traditional seating. The focus is on more adaptable and varied seating options.

B. The importance of standardized testing.

This is incorrect because the research does not center on standardized testing. It focuses on the impact of seating arrangements on learning.

D. The role of technology in education.

This is incorrect because the literature review does not focus on technology in education, but instead on seating arrangements and their integration into the classroom.

Correct Answer

B. Improving literacy instruction for English Language Learners (ELs)

Explanation

The text focuses on improving literacy instruction specifically for English Language Learners (ELs). It emphasizes the need for tailored strategies that help ELs develop reading and comprehension skills, addressing their unique challenges in learning English.

Why other options are wrong

A. Focusing solely on advanced learners

This is incorrect because the text does not focus solely on advanced learners but rather on English Language Learners, who may be at various proficiency levels.

C. Standardizing literacy instruction for all students

This is incorrect because the text advocates for strategies specifically designed for English Language Learners, which may differ from standardized instruction for all students.

D. Eliminating literacy instruction for non-native speakers

This is incorrect because the text supports the opposite approach: enhancing literacy instruction for non-native speakers, not eliminating it.

Correct Answer

A. The grammar and sentence structure

Explanation

The syntactic cueing system refers to the rules and structure of language that govern how words are arranged in sentences. This system helps learners use their understanding of grammar and sentence structure to decode and understand text. By recognizing patterns in word order and grammatical structure, readers can make predictions about the meaning of sentences.

Why other options are wrong

B. The meaning of words

The meaning of words is more closely related to the semantic cueing system, not the syntactic system, which deals with sentence structure.

C. The meaning of a sentence

While sentence meaning can be influenced by syntax, the primary focus of the syntactic cueing system is on the structure and order of words, not the overall meaning of the sentence.

D. The genre of the selection

The genre of the selection refers to the type of text (e.g., narrative, expository), which is unrelated to the syntactic structure that governs how words and phrases are combined within sentences.