1. Which of the following best defines inquiry in education?
A. Memorizing facts
B. Asking questions and seeking answers
C. Teaching without feedback
D. Delivering lectures only
Answer: B
2. Action research is primarily conducted to:
A. Prove a theory is wrong
B. Solve immediate classroom problems
C. Replace all traditional teaching methods
D. Publish in academic journals only
Answer: B
3. The first step in the action research cycle is:
A. Collecting data
B. Identifying a problem
C. Reviewing literature
D. Writing the report
Answer: B
4. Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of action research?
A. Practical focus
B. Collaborative nature
C. Immediate application of results
D. Conducted only by scientists in laboratories
Answer: D
5. In inquiry-based learning, the teacher’s main role is to:
A. Provide ready-made answers
B. Facilitate student exploration
C. Assign more homework
D. Give frequent tests
Answer: B
6. The term “reflection” in action research refers to:
A. Thinking critically about the process and outcomes
B. Repeating the same action without change
C. Avoiding difficult questions
D. Conducting group discussions only
Answer: A
7. Which type of research focuses on solving practical classroom issues?
A. Basic research
B. Action research
C. Historical research
D. Experimental research
Answer: B
8. In the action research spiral, after acting comes:
A. Reflection
B. Planning
C. Problem identification
D. Data analysis
Answer: A
9. Which of the following is NOT a stage of inquiry-based learning?
A. Questioning
B. Investigating
C. Memorizing without understanding
D. Presenting findings
Answer: C
10. One key benefit of action research for teachers is:
A. It allows them to become passive learners
B. It helps improve teaching practices
C. It eliminates the need for lesson plans
D. It replaces classroom assessments
Answer: B
11. The main participants in action research are:
A. Politicians
B. Students and teachers
C. External researchers only
D. Laboratory scientists
Answer: B
12. In inquiry, “data collection” means:
A. Recording relevant information to answer questions
B. Memorizing textbook pages
C. Asking questions only
D. Ignoring evidence
Answer: A
13. Which type of questions best promote inquiry in the classroom?
A. Closed-ended
B. Yes/No
C. Open-ended
D. Multiple-choice only
Answer: C
14. Action research findings are mainly used to:
A. Improve immediate practice
B. Produce universal laws
C. Support political decisions
D. Replace teacher training
Answer: A
15. The cycle of action research typically includes:
A. Plan–Act–Observe–Reflect
B. Observe–Reflect–Plan–Ignore
C. Question–Memorize–Forget
D. Reflect–Ignore–Repeat
Answer: A
16. Which of the following is a limitation of action research?
A. Context-specific results
B. Practical relevance
C. Teacher collaboration
D. Problem-solving focus
Answer: A
17. Which stage of inquiry involves analyzing collected data?
A. Planning
B. Investigation
C. Conclusion
D. Presentation
Answer: B
18. In action research, collaboration often involves:
A. Teachers working together to solve problems
B. Students copying each other’s work
C. Administrators replacing teachers
D. Researchers working in isolation
Answer: A
19. Which of these is NOT a benefit of inquiry-based learning?
A. Encourages critical thinking
B. Promotes memorization without understanding
C. Enhances problem-solving skills
D. Increases learner engagement
Answer: B
20. An action research problem should be:
A. Relevant to the teacher’s context
B. Broad and unrelated to teaching
C. Chosen by outsiders only
D. Difficult to investigate
Answer: A
21. The “observe” stage in action research involves:
A. Collecting evidence on the effects of the action taken
B. Planning the intervention
C. Ignoring student feedback
D. Writing the literature review
Answer: A
22. Which of the following is an example of an inquiry question?
A. “What is 2+2?”
B. “Why do some students participate more in group work?”
C. “What is the capital of Ghana?”
D. “List the days of the week.”
Answer: B
23. A major source of data in classroom action research is:
A. Student work samples
B. Weather reports
C. Television programs
D. Historical archives only
Answer: A
24. Which skill is most developed through inquiry-based learning?
A. Critical thinking
B. Copying notes
C. Passive listening
D. Memorization
Answer: A
25. In action research, reflection helps teachers to:
A. Decide on the next steps for improvement
B. Avoid trying new strategies
C. End the research permanently
D. Repeat the same mistakes
Answer: A
26. The “plan” stage of action research includes:
A. Identifying strategies to address the problem
B. Collecting unrelated data
C. Ignoring previous findings
D. Ending the process
Answer: A
27. Which of these is an essential feature of inquiry?
A. Learner-driven questions
B. Teacher-dictated answers only
C. Memorization drills
D. One-way communication
Answer: A
28. Which form of data collection is common in action research?
A. Classroom observation
B. Satellite imaging
C. Geological surveys
D. Census data only
Answer: A
29. In inquiry, the “conclusion” stage means:
A. Drawing insights based on evidence
B. Ending without analysis
C. Avoiding decision-making
D. Guessing answers
Answer: A
30. An example of a qualitative data source in action research is:
A. Interview responses
B. Test scores only
C. Statistical tables
D. Numeric codes
Answer: A
31. A key difference between basic research and action research is:
A. Action research solves practical problems immediately
B. Basic research is always faster
C. Action research ignores data
D. Basic research is done only in classrooms
Answer: A
32. In inquiry learning, students are encouraged to:
A. Be passive listeners
B. Take ownership of their learning process
C. Avoid asking questions
D. Follow instructions only
Answer: B
33. Which of the following is NOT a data collection method in action research?
A. Experiments
B. Observations
C. Interviews
D. Daydreaming
Answer: D
34. The “act” stage in action research involves:
A. Implementing the planned intervention
B. Ignoring the identified problem
C. Conducting unrelated experiments
D. Writing the conclusion first
Answer: A
35. Inquiry and action research both aim to:
A. Improve understanding and practice
B. Eliminate teacher involvement
C. Replace school administration
D. Focus only on theory
Answer: A
36. A research diary in action research is used to:
A. Record ongoing reflections and observations
B. Store unrelated personal notes
C. Replace lesson plans
D. Avoid writing reports
Answer: A
37. Which is the most important reason for using inquiry in teaching?
A. To promote deep understanding
B. To increase note-taking speed
C. To memorize quickly
D. To shorten lessons
Answer: A
38. Action research is considered cyclical because:
A. It repeats stages for continuous improvement
B. It ends after one cycle
C. It has no order
D. It is unpredictable
Answer: A
39. Which of these best describes “evidence” in inquiry?
A. Information that supports or refutes an answer
B. Teacher’s opinion only
C. Student guesses
D. Random notes
Answer: A
40. A teacher conducting action research should always:
A. Focus on a specific, manageable problem
B. Investigate all problems at once
C. Avoid feedback from students
D. Use only one method
Answer: A