Final answer:
An instrument in research is a means of gathering information from subjects. A common instrument is a questionnaire that consists of closed-ended questions. These questions collect quantitative data, which is numerical and can be analyzed statistically.
Step-by-step explanation:
An instrument in the context of research refers to a means of gathering information from subjects. In this case, a common instrument used is a questionnaire, which consists of a series of closed-ended questions, such as yes-or-no or multiple-choice questions. Subjects are able to choose from the provided responses for each question. This type of questionnaire collects quantitative data, which are numerical responses that can be counted and analyzed statistically.