Why Is It Difficult to Make Generalizations Based on the Results

question 78

Multiple Choice

Why is it difficult to make generalizations based on the results of case study research?

• A) Because a case study involves only one or a few participants, their actions may be atypical and not representative of a larger group of people or population.
• B) Because case study research is, by definition, immune to the error of making generalizations. That is its greatest strength.
• C) Because case studies involve far too many people to allow for generalizations. You would be better off using a research design that uses fewer participants.
• D) Because the statistics involved in case study research do not allow one to draw larger conclusions about a population.

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Definitions:

Nonsense Mutation

A base-pair substitution mutation that results in an amino acid–specifying codon being changed to a termination (stop) codon; when the abnormal mRNA is translated, the resulting protein is usually shortened and nonfunctional. Compare with missense mutation.

Codon

A sequence of three nucleotides that together form a unit of genetic code in a DNA or RNA molecule, representing a specific amino acid.

Termination Codon

A nucleotide triplet within messenger RNA that signals the end of translation, resulting in the release of the newly synthesized protein.

Anticodon

Three nucleotides in a row create a genetic code unit within a transfer RNA molecule, matching a corresponding codon in messenger RNA.