Research Design MCQs | Research Design Multiple Choice Questions(MCQs) & Answers

Questions
1 When planning to do social research, it is better to:
A Approach the topic with an open mind
B Do a pilot study before getting stuck into it
C Be familiar with the literature on the topic
D Forget about theory because this is a very practical undertaking can't have one without the other

Answer: Be familiar with the literature on the topic
2 A deductive theory is one that:
A Allows theory to emerge out of the data
B Involves testing an explicitly defined hypothesis
C Allows for findings to feed back into the stock of knowledge
D Uses qualitative methods whenever possible

Answer: Involves testing an explicitly defined hypothesis

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3 Why is data analysis concerned with data reduction?
A Because far too much data is collected than is required
B Because we need to make sense of the data
C Because of the repetitions in answers to questionnaires
D Because the sample size has been exceeded

Answer: Because we need to make sense of the data
4 What is a key informant?
A A group member who helps the ethnographer gain access to relevant people/events
B A senior level member of the organisation whore fuses to allow researchers into it
C A participant who appears to be helpful but then blows the researcher's cover
D Someone who cuts keys to help the ethnographer gain access to a building

Answer: A group member who helps the ethnographer gain access to relevant people/events
5 What is the name of the role adopted by an ethnographer who joins in with the group's activities but admits to being a researcher?
A Complete participant
B Participant-as-observer
C Observer-as-participant
D Complete observer

Answer: Participant-as-observer
6 What is the difference between "scratch notes" and "full field notes"?
A Scratch notes are just key words and phrases, rather than lengthy descriptions
B Full field notes are quicker and easier to write than scratch notes
C Scratch notes are written at the end of the day rather than during key events
D Full field notes do not involve the researcher scratching their head while thinking

Answer: Scratch notes are just key words and phrases, rather than lengthy descriptions
7 Which of the following makes qualitative interviewing distinct from structured interviewing?
A The procedure is less standardized
B "Rambling" off the topic is not a problem
C The researcher seeks rich, detailed answers
D All of the above

Answer: All of the above
8 Which of the following is not a type of qualitative interview?
A Unstructured interview
B Oral history interview
C Structured interview
D Focus group interview

Answer: Structured interview
9 Why is it helpful to prepare an interview guide before conducting semi-structured interviews?
A So that the data from different interviewees will be comparable and relevant to your research questions
B So that you can calculate the statistical significance of the results
C In order to allow participants complete control over the topics they discuss
D To make the sample more representative

Answer: So that the data from different interviewees will be comparable and relevant to your research questions
10 What can you do to reduce the time consuming nature of transcribing interviews?
A Use a transcribing machine
B Employ someone to transcribe for you
C Transcribe only selected parts of the interviews
D All of the above

Answer: All of the above
11 Which of the following is an advantage of qualitative interviewing relative to participant observation?
A It allows you to find out about issues that are resistant to observation
B It is more biased and value-laden
C It is more likely to create reactive effects
D None of the above

Answer: It allows you to find out about issues that are resistant to observation
12 What is the purpose of the conclusion in a research report?
A It explains how concepts were operationally defined and measured
B It contains a useful review of the relevant literature
C It outlines the methodological procedures that were employed
D It summarizes the key findings in relation to the research questions

Answer: It summarizes the key findings in relation to the research questions
13 Probability sampling is rarely used in qualitative research because:
A Qualitative researchers are not trained in statistics
B It is very old-fashioned
C It is often not feasible
D Research questions are more important than sampling

Answer: It is often not feasible
14 The minimum sample size for qualitative interviewing is:
A 30
B 31
C 60
D It's hard to say

Answer: It's hard to say
15 Apart from people, what else can purposive sampling be used for?
A Documents
B Timing of events
C Context
D All of the above

Answer: All of the above
16 Which of the following is a problem associated with survey research?
A The problem of objectivity
B The problem of "going native"
C The problem of omission
D The problem of robustness

Answer: The problem of omission
17 Which of the following is not a type of sampling used in structured observation?
A Focal sampling
B Scan sampling
C Emotional sampling
D Behaviour sampling

Answer: Emotional sampling
18 What is a research design?
A A way of conducting research that is not grounded in theory
B The choice between using qualitative or quantitative methods
C The style in which you present your research findings, e.g. a graph
D A framework for every stage of the collection and analysis of data

Answer: A framework for every stage of the collection and analysis of data
19 What is a cross-sectional design?
A A study of one particular section of society, e.g. the middle classes
B One that is devised when the researcher is in a bad mood
C The collection of data from more than one case at one moment in time
D A comparison of two or more variables over a long period of time

Answer: The collection of data from more than one case at one moment in time
20 What is a 'grand theory'?
A One that was proposed by one of the major theorists in the sociological tradition
B One that is highly abstract and makes broad generalizations about the social world
C An intermediate level explanation of observed regularities
D A particularly satisfactory theory that makes the researcher feel happy

Answer: One that is highly abstract and makes broad generalizations about the social world
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