General Awareness ยท Social Science

Research Methodology

2,389 Questions

Research methodology encompasses the systematic strategies used to collect and analyze data for academic and policy studies. These concepts are frequently tested in civil services and state public service commission examinations. The questions cover qualitative and quantitative methods, sampling techniques, and research validity.

Action research cycleQualitative data analysisQuantitative research methodsTypes of validitySampling techniquesPolicy analysis methods

Research Methodology Questions

Multiple choice

Which of the following is a common study design used in analytical epidemiology?

  1. Cross-sectional study

  2. Case-control study

  3. Cohort study

  4. Randomized controlled trial
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Cohort studies are often used in analytical epidemiology to investigate the relationship between exposures and outcomes over time.

Multiple choice

Which of the following is an example of selection bias in epidemiological studies?

  1. Including only participants who have a certain characteristic

  2. Excluding participants who have a certain characteristic

  3. Measuring the exposure and outcome at different times

  4. Using a questionnaire to collect data
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Selection bias occurs when the participants included in a study are not representative of the population of interest, leading to biased results.

Multiple choice

Which of the following is an example of a systematic review in analytical epidemiology?

  1. A study that investigates the relationship between smoking and lung cancer

  2. A study that compares the effectiveness of two different treatments for a disease

  3. A study that summarizes the findings of multiple studies on a specific topic

  4. A study that develops a new method for measuring an exposure
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

A systematic review is a study that summarizes the findings of multiple studies on a specific topic, using a systematic and rigorous approach.

Multiple choice

How can libraries measure the impact of their services on seniors?

  1. By conducting surveys.

  2. By collecting data on usage statistics.

  3. By interviewing seniors.

  4. All of the above.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Libraries can measure the impact of their services on seniors by conducting surveys, collecting data on usage statistics, interviewing seniors, and using other methods.

Multiple choice

How do government agencies ensure the accuracy and reliability of their political surveys?

  1. By using random sampling techniques

  2. By carefully designing survey questions

  3. By conducting pilot studies

  4. By employing trained and experienced interviewers
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
Correct answer
Explanation

Government agencies employ a combination of methods to ensure the accuracy and reliability of their political surveys. These include using random sampling techniques, carefully designing survey questions, conducting pilot studies, and employing trained and experienced interviewers.

Multiple choice

What are some of the best practices for conducting political surveys by government agencies?

  1. Using random sampling techniques

  2. Carefully designing survey questions

  3. Conducting pilot studies

  4. All of the above
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Government agencies follow several best practices to ensure the quality and accuracy of political surveys, including using random sampling techniques, carefully designing survey questions, and conducting pilot studies.

Multiple choice

Which of the following is NOT a key method used in globalization and political sociology?

  1. Comparative analysis

  2. Historical analysis

  3. Quantitative analysis

  4. Qualitative analysis
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

While comparative analysis, historical analysis, and qualitative analysis are key methods used in globalization and political sociology, quantitative analysis is not typically considered a key method in this field.

Multiple choice

Which of the following is NOT a common method used in Comparative Educational Administration?

  1. Historical analysis

  2. Comparative case studies

  3. Statistical analysis

  4. Experimental research
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Experimental research is not a common method used in Comparative Educational Administration because it is difficult to control all of the variables that can affect educational outcomes. Instead, researchers typically use historical analysis, comparative case studies, and statistical analysis to study education systems.

Multiple choice

Which of the following is NOT a common method used in epidemiological studies of non-communicable diseases?

  1. Observational studies

  2. Experimental studies

  3. Case-control studies

  4. Cohort studies
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Experimental studies are not commonly used in epidemiological studies of non-communicable diseases. They are more commonly used in clinical trials.

Multiple choice

What is the term used to describe a study that compares the characteristics of people with a non-communicable disease to the characteristics of people without the disease?

  1. Case-control study

  2. Cohort study

  3. Cross-sectional study

  4. Ecological study
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

A case-control study is a study that compares the characteristics of people with a non-communicable disease to the characteristics of people without the disease.

Multiple choice

Which of the following is NOT a common research method used in EER?

  1. Quantitative research

  2. Qualitative research

  3. Experimental research

  4. Action research
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Experimental research is not commonly used in EER because it is often difficult to control all the variables that can affect the results of an engineering education intervention.

Multiple choice

Which method is commonly used to identify the power structure of a community?

  1. Participant observation

  2. Interviewing community leaders

  3. Reputational method

  4. Network analysis
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

The reputational method is commonly used to identify the power structure of a community. This method involves asking community members to identify the individuals or groups they believe have the most power.

Multiple choice

Which of the following is a common type of preclinical study?

  1. Animal studies

  2. In vitro studies

  3. Clinical trials

  4. Phase I studies
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Animal studies are a common type of preclinical study used to evaluate the safety and efficacy of a drug candidate before it is tested in humans.

Multiple choice

What is a natural experiment in economics?

  1. A study that uses a randomized controlled trial to estimate the causal effects of an intervention.

  2. A study that uses observational data to estimate the causal effects of an intervention.

  3. A study that uses a laboratory experiment to estimate the causal effects of an intervention.

  4. A study that uses a field experiment to estimate the causal effects of an intervention.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Natural experiments in economics are observational studies that exploit naturally occurring events to estimate the causal effects of economic policies or interventions.

Multiple choice

How can natural experiments be used to estimate causal effects?

  1. By comparing the outcomes of two groups that are similar in all other respects except for the treatment.

  2. By using a regression analysis to control for other factors that may affect the outcome.

  3. By using a matching method to create two groups that are similar in all other respects except for the treatment.

  4. All of the above.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

There are a variety of statistical methods that can be used to estimate causal effects from natural experiments, including difference-in-differences, regression analysis, and matching methods.