General Awareness · 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 primary research article?

  1. Report of a randomized control trial

  2. Report of systematic review

  3. Report of meta analysis

  4. Report of concept analysis

  5. Report of meta synthesis
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Randomized control trial is a true experimental study. Thus, its report is considered as primary research article.

Multiple choice

Which of the following research designs studies a cause and and effect relationship, even though it is not feasible to manipulate the independent variable.

  1. Experimental

  2. Exploratory

  3. Correlational

  4. Pre-experimental

  5. Descriptive
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

This type of research design is interested in a cause and effect relationship but the researcher can not manipulate the independent variable to see its effect on the dependent.variable.

Multiple choice

Which of the following can be researched using a quantitative approach?

  1. Non-participant observation of performance of a group of students in a laboratory

  2. Studying a phenomenon in depth as it occurs in nature

  3. Starting the exploration of a problem with a broad idea and continuously modifying the design as the researcher proceeds with data collection

  4. Generating new questions from every member of the sample and presenting the findings in informal language

  5. Conducting and recording long and in-depth interviews and transcribing the verbatim to identify themes for reporting as the findings of the research
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

This type of research will involve quantitative approach as the observer is not a part of the group and a structured way of observation will have to be used.

Multiple choice

Which of these is not a method of collecting primary data?

  1. Observation method

  2. Interview method

  3. Technical and trade journals

  4. Questionnaire

  5. Collecting data through schedules
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

This is a method of collecting secondary data as they contain data from someone else's research work.

Multiple choice

The term 'Ex post facto' is used for which of the following types of researches?

  1. Quantitative research

  2. Fundamental research

  3. Applied research

  4. Analytical research

  5. Descriptive research
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
E Correct answer
Explanation

Ex post facto research for descriptive research studies.The main characteristic of this method is that the researcher has no control over the variables; he can only report what has happened or what is happening. Most ex post facto research projects are used for descriptive studies in which the researcher seeks to measure such items as, for example, frequency of shopping, preferences of people, or similar data.

Multiple choice

Which of the following types of research methodologies is used by operations research?

  1. Conclusion oriented research

  2. Decision oriented research

  3. Conceptual research

  4. Fundamental research

  5. Exploratory research
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Operations research is an example of decision oriented research since it is a scientific method of providing executive departments with a quantitative basis for decisions regarding operations under their control.

Multiple choice

Which of the following is also known as purposive or non-probability sampling?

  1. Deliberate sampling

  2. Simple random sampling

  3. Systematic sampling

  4. Stratified sampling

  5. Cluster sampling
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Deliberate sampling is also known as purposive or non-probability sampling. This sampling method involves purposive or deliberate selection of particular units of the universe for constituting a sample which represents the universe.

Multiple choice

What is the name given to describe the characteristics of a phenomenon being studied?

  1. Correlation research

  2. Descriptive research

  3. Observational study

  4. Archival research

  5. Experimental psychology
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Descriptive research, is used to describe characteristics of a population or phenomenon being studied. It does not answer questions about how/when/why the characteristics occurred. Rather it addresses the what question (What are the characteristics of the population or situation being studied?) The characteristics used to describe the situation or population are usually some kind of categorical scheme also known as descriptive categories.

Multiple choice

Which of the following statements is incorrect about surveys?

  1. Surveys are only concerned with conditions or relationships that exist.

  2. Survey-type research studies usually have larger samples.

  3. Surveys are conducted in case of descriptive research studies.

  4. In case of surveys, research design must be flexible.

  5. Surveys are usually appropriate in case of social and behavioural sciences.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

In case of surveys, research design must be rigid, must make enough provision for protection against bias and must maximise reliability as the aim happens to be to obtain complete and accurate information.

Multiple choice

Which of these research methodologies is generally used by philosophers and thinkers to develop new concepts or to re-interpret existing ones?

  1. Conceptual research

  2. Empirical research

  3. Historical research

  4. Decision-oriented research

  5. Applied research
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Conceptual research is related to some abstract idea(s) or theory. It is generally used by philosophers and thinkers to develop new concepts or to re-interpret existing ones.

Multiple choice

In which of the following sampling techniques is the ultimate size of the sample not fixed in advance?

  1. Quota sampling

  2. Cluster sampling

  3. Sequential sampling

  4. Systematic sampling

  5. Multi-stage random sampling
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Sequential sampling is a complex sample design where the ultimate size of the sample is not fixed in advance but is determined according to mathematical decisions on the basis of information yielded as the survey progresses. This design is usually adopted under acceptance sampling plan in the context of statistical quality control.

Multiple choice

In which of the following methods is the collection of information without a direct involvement of the respondent?

  1. Through telephone interviews

  2. By observation

  3. By mailing of questionnaires

  4. Through schedules

  5. Through personal interview
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

This method implies the collection of information by way of investigator’s own observation, without interviewing the respondents. The information obtained relates to what is currently happening and is not complicated by either the past behavior or future intentions or attitudes of respondents.