In general, Introduction section
of an article should cover: research background,
research problem/problem statement, and research
objective(s)/research question(s).

1. Establish an area to research by:
• Highlighting the importance of the
topic, and/or
• Making general statements about the
topic, and/or
• Presenting an overview on current
research on the subject.

2. Identify a research niche by:
• Opposing an existing assumption, and/or
• Revealing a gap in existing research,
and/or

• Formulating a research question or problem, and/or
• Continuing a disciplinary tradition.

3. Place your research within the research niche by:
• Stating the intent of your study,
• Outlining the key characteristics of your study,
• Describing important results, and
• Giving a brief overview of the structure of the paper

If the aim of a research is to determine how standpoints about an event or a phenomenon vary from one participant
to another, and if the event or phenomenon is conceived to be influenced by an individual’s personal features (such as political thoughts, socioeconomic status, etc.), then maximum variation sampling could be the right technique to select participants. The correct answer is D.

It is necessary to represent the importance of all findings in the MMR article (Onwuegbuzie and Leech, 2004). Regarding the significance of that, an interpretive framework which includes ten aspects of quality is drafted by Teddlie and Tashakkori (2009, pp. 301-302):

1. Appropriateness of design (i.e. ‘Are the methods of study appropriate for answering the research questions?’; ‘Does the design match the research questions?’; ‘Does the mixed methods design match the stated purpose for conducting an integrated study?’; ‘Do the strands of the mixed methods study address the same research questions [or closely related aspects of the research question]?’).
2. Reliability of design (i.e. ‘Are the qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods procedures or design components... capturing the meanings, effects, or relationships?’).
3. Coherence inside the design (i.e. ‘Do the components of the design fit together in a seamless manner?’; ‘Do the strands of the mixed methods study follow each other [or are they linked] in a logical and seamless manner?’).
4. Analytical competence (i.e., ‘Are the data analysis procedures/strategies appropriate and adequate to provide possible answers to research questions?’; ‘Are the mixed methods strategies implemented effectively?’).
5. Analytical cohesion (i.e., ‘Do the inferences closely follow the relevant findings in terms of type, scope, and intensity?’; ‘Are multiple inferences made on the basis of the same findings consistent with each other?’).
6. Conceptual coherence (i.e., ‘Are the inferences consistent with theory and state of knowledge in the field?’);
7. Explicative concurrence (i.e., ‘Are other scholars likely to reach the same conclusions on the basis of the same results?’; ‘Do the inferences match participants’ constructions?’).
8. Analytical uniqueness (i.e., ‘Is each inference distinctively more credible/plausible than other possible conclusions that might be made on the basis of the same results?’).
9. Combining efficiency (i.e., ‘Do the meta-inferences adequately incorporate the inferences that are made in each strand of the study?’; ‘If there are credible inconsistencies between inferences made within/across strands, are the theoretical explanations for these inconsistencies explored, and possible explanations offered?’).
10. Exploratory agreement (i.e., ‘Do the inferences correspond to the stated purpose/questions of the study?’; ‘Do the inferences made in each strand address the purposes of the study in that strand?’; ‘Do the meta-inferences meet the stated need for using a mixed methods design?’)

Scholars have listed different kinds of ethical principles to abide by in scientific research. None of them would say, however, that researchers should fabricate research output. The correct answer is D. 

Onwuegbuzie and Teddlie (2003) present a seven-stage conception of the mixed methods data analysis process within the MMR model. These stages are respectively data reduction, data display, data transformation, data correlation, data consolidation, data comparison, and data integration.

experimental research is unique yet not so common in political research as the nature of experimental research demands manupulating of the independent variable in the experiment. More explicitly, it is a research type that explicitly attempts to influence a particular variable. Second, it is considered to be the best method to test hypothesis related to cause-and-effect relationships

A

Value stands for being analyzed whether the proposed research has the potential to improve knowledge and/or understanding. Therefore, the correct answer is D.

Rigor refers to assessing quality and accuracy of research processes and conclusions. Rigor of a research involves the concepts of credibility (reliability) and validity. First major criterion for rigor in qualitative research is “internal validity” (trustworthiness), which means questioning the true value of the research for trustworthiness and to clarify the question “Does this research have a valid value?” Answering the questions below could be advised to establish trustworthiness for a given research:

• Are the findings of the research significant/ meaningful?
• Are the findings trustworthy for the participants and readers?
• Is there a genuine picture of the case we have been analyzing or trying to figure out?
• Are the descriptions of cases comprehensive and meaningful enough?
  Are the patterns built by the findings coherent and holistic?
• Do different data sources provide common or overlapping findings and results?

Another important criterion for rigor in qualitative research is “external validity” (transferability). This refers to precise definition or explanation of the area that findings can be generalized to. It is not a generalization based on numbers as in quantitative studies, but an analytic generalization in terms of similar units, places, or cases.

Face-to-face interviews have advantages and disadvantages just like any other methods of data collection. One of its advantages is the high response rate probability because in face-to-face interactions it is very likely that the researcher gets responses. The correct answer is B. 

The word however signals the coming of a contradictory argument. The correct answer is E. 

Anderson and Arsenault defines six types of knowledge: Historical knowledge, axiological knowledge, theoretical and conceptual knowledge, prior research studies, reviews and academic debate. Axiological knowledge, also be called a “theory of experience”, is created by practitioners who share their long-term experiences. Axiological knowledge may include important conclusions and generalizations. This kind of literature knowledge does not mean technicalities but the world of practice. So, the literature reviewer should notice the potential use of the axiological knowledge and avoid using it as a theory or prior research.

e

A

A “problem statement” should be restrictive. Otherwise, it can't be handled by the literature reviewer. Therefore, B is not correct.

There is almost a universal agreement that informed consent is of the most important ethical principle in research ethics. By way of informed consent, the prospective research participant comes to an understanding of the goals of a research and of what participation in it would involve so that he/she can make his or her own free decision about whether, and under what conditions, to participate. In order for informed consent to be considered valid it must meet at least the following three criteria:

• Adequate information (i.e., what a reasonable person would need/want to know, such as, among other things, the purpose of the research or any potential risks involved in order to decide whether or not to take part in the proposed research),
• Voluntariness (i.e., the consent must not result from coercion, manipulation, or undue inducements),
• Competence (i.e., having enough mental capacity to understand and retain relevant information about the research as well as to communicate his/her views on the research).

Many countries around the world (but mostly western countries- such as the USA, the UK, Canada, and Australia) have established some forms of Research Ethics Committees (RECs) and/or Institutional Review Boards (IRBs) to review research proposals in terms of their ethical acceptability for protecting the rights of research participants. The correct answer is B. 

A popular strategy for doing survey research is cross-sectional research, which means collecting data through a survey across a pretermined population at one point in time (Fraenkel and Wallen, 2010). Thus, the survey is administered to a representative sample at the same time.

Qualitative research is defined as a method
where perceptions and events can be pictured in
their natural environments with a holistic and
realistic perspective through use of qualitative data
collection techniques such as observation, interview,
and document analysis. To further clarify, its basic
features can be listed as follows: (1) sensitivity to
natural environment, (2) participatory role of the
researcher, (3) holistic approach, (4) identifying
the perceptions, (5) flexibility in research design,
and (6) inductive analysis.

e