MB0034

Research Methodology

Section A : 1-40

Section B : 41-60

Section C : 61-75

2 Credits

Section A

1 Choices Which of the following is not true?

a Research simply means a search for facts

b Research is purposive investigation

c Research is disorganized detailed enquiry

d Research include solutions to problems

2 Which of the following is not true for search of facts through arbitrary
method?

a It is a method for seeking answers to questions consisting of imagination

b It is a method for seeking answers to questions consisting of logic

c It is a method for seeking answers to questions consisting of belief

d It is a method for seeking answers to questions through impression

3 What is pure research?

a The research which is undertaken for the sake of knowledge without any
intention to apply it in practice

b The research which is carried on to find solution to a real-life problem

requiring an action or policy decision

c The research which deals with the preliminary study of an unfamiliar

problem about which the researcher has little or no knowledge

d The research which is a fact-finding investigation with adequate

interpretation
4 What is formulative research?

a The research which is undertaken for the sake of knowledge without any
intention to apply it in practice

b The research which is carried on to find solution to a real-life problem

requiring an action or policy decision

c The research which deals with the preliminary study of an unfamiliar

problem about which the researcher has little or no knowledge

d The research which is a fact-finding investigation with adequate

interpretation

5 Choices Research begins when

a Researcher solves some problem

b Researcher finds a new thing

c Researcher experiences some difficulty

d Researcher is told to find new things

6 Which of the following is not considered as internal criteria in selection of

researchable problem?

a Researcher’s interest

b Researcher’s competence

c Researcher’s own resource

d Feasibility

7 Which of the following is considered as the external criteria in the

selection of the researchable problem?

a Researcher’s interest

b Researcher’s competence

c Novelty of the problem

d Researcher’s own resource

8 Which of the following is an important criterion for a good research

problem?
 a Verifiable evidence

b Subjectivity

c Inaccuracy

d Randomization

9 What a carefully worded title of a research problem will do?

a Indication of the core study

b Building of the model of study

c Defining the objectivity of the study

d Give detailed knowledge about the research problem

10 Choices What do you understand by hypothesis?

a Drawing some conclusion

b Getting proof for some activities

c Assumption about relations between variables

d Assumption regarding one activity

11 Which of the following criteria is to be met for a scientifically justified

hypothesis?

a The statements should describe multiple issues

b The statements in the hypothesis should be subjective

c It should be subjective

d It should be empirically testable

12 Which of the following is true?

a The null hypothesis and the alternative hypothesis are chosen after the
sample is drawn

b The null hypothesis is chosen before the sample is selected and alternative
hypothesis is chosen after the sample is selected

c The null hypothesis and the alternative hypothesis are chosen before the
 sample is drawn

d The null hypothesis is chosen after the sample is selected and alternative
hypothesis is chosen before the sample is selected

13 What does 5% level of significance mean?

a It means that the researcher is willing to take more than 5% risk rejecting
the null hypothesis when it (HO) happens to be true

b It means that the researcher is willing to take as much as 5% risk rejecting

the null hypothesis when it (HO) happens to be true

c It means that the researcher is willing to take about 5% risk rejecting the
null hypothesis when it (HO) happens to be true

d It means that the researcher is willing to take less than 5% risk rejecting
the null hypothesis when it (HO) happens to be true

14 With a fixed sample size n, when we try to reduce type 1 error then

a The probability of committing type II error increases

b The probability of committing type I error decreases

c The probability of committing type I error remains the same

d The probability of committing type I error will be zero

15 What are the two errors used in Testing of Hypothesis?

a Type I and Type II errors

b Type 0 and Type I errors

c Type 0 and Type II errors

d Type A and Type B errors

16 Choices What do you understand by research design?

a It is a illogical and systematic plan prepared for directing a research study

b It is an overview how the research will be undertaken

c It is a logical and systematic plan prepared for directing a research study

d It is one of many ways to conduct research

17 Which constitutes the blueprint for the collection, measurement and
analysis of data?

a Testing of hypothesis

b Blueprint design

c User Design

d Research design

18 Who coined the following definition of research design –

“A research design is the arrangement of conditions for collection and

analysis of data in a manner that aims to combine relevance to the
research purpose with economy in procedure”

a Jahoda and Fisher

b Jahoda and Destsch

c Jahoda, Destsch and Cook

d Fisher and Cook

19 Phenomena that assume different values quantitatively even in decimal

points are known as

a Continuous variables

b Discrete variables

c Integer Variables

d Random variables

20 The independent variables which are not directly related to the purpose of
study but affect the dependent variables are known as

a Extraneous variables

b Exterior variables

c Random variables

d External variables

21 Choices What is the aim of the case-study method?

 a Identification of environmental properties

b Location and identification of persons who are involved in several cases

c Location and identification of the factors that account for the behavior
patterns of a given unit, and its relationship with the environment

d Location and identification of properties of an environmental variable

22 Who has the credit for introducing case study method into social
investigation?

a Katz

b Galileo

c Spencer

d Leplay

23 Who was the first social philosopher who used case study in comparative
studies of different cultures?

a Frederick Leplay

b Newton

c Herbert Spencer

d Galileo

24 Who pointed out that independently the case documents hardly fulfil the
criteria of reliability, adequacy and representativeness?

a Herbert Spencer

b Galileo

c Frederick Leplay

d Blummer

25 Which of the following is true for homogeneous population?

 a Stratified random sampling should be needed to get representative sample

b Systematic sampling is must for homogeneous population

c Multistage sampling is needed for homogeneous population

d Simple random sampling can give representative sample

26 Which of the following is true for heterogeneous population?

a Systematic sampling is must for heterogeneous population

b Stratified random sampling should be needed to get representative sample

c Multistage sampling is needed for heterogeneous population

d Simple random sampling can give representative sample for

heterogeneous population

27 Which of the following is not a governing criterion for sampling

technique?

a Questionnaire

b Information about population

c Financial resources

d Nature of population

28 If the precision per unit cost is high or the cost per unit of variance is low,
then what the sample is called?

a Economical

b Practical

c Systematic

d Unbiased

29 Which of the following does not come under the demographic or socio-
economic characteristics?

a sex
 b race

c marital status

d awareness

30 Which of following does not come under behavioral variables?

a attitude

b knowledge

c religion

d intentions

31 Organizational data consists of the data on which of the following?

a occupation

b knowledge

c Resource endowment

d ownership

32 Which of the following is true?

a Observing eyes don’t catch many things that are present

b Attention is focused on data that are not pertinent to the given study

c Observation is made for the specific purpose of noting things relevant to

the study

d Observation should not be exact and be based on the standardized tools

33 What do you understand by participant observation?

a It is a method of observation in which the observer stands apart and does

not participate in the phenomenon observed

b It is a method in which the observation is done on an event personally by

the observer when it takes place
 c It is a method of observation which does not require the physical presence
of the observer

d It is a method of observation in which the observer is a part of the

phenomenon or group which is observed

34 What do you understand by Direct observation?

a It is a method of observation in which the observer stands apart and does

not participate in the phenomenon observed

b It is a method in which the observation is done on an event personally by

the observer when it takes place

c It is a method of observation which does not require the physical presence

of the observer

d It is a method of observation in which the observer is a part of the

phenomenon or group which is observed

35 What is the advantage of the direct observation?

a In this method, the observer can understand the emotional reactions of the
observed group

b This method is flexible and allows the observer to see and record subtle
aspects of events and behavior as they occur

c This method does not involve the physical presence of the observer

d This method does not involve control over extrinsic and intrinsic variables

36 Does mail-survey involve face-to-face conversation between the

investigator and the respondent?

a It involves face-to-face conversation to a large extent

b It involves face-to-face conversation to a negligible extent

c It involves face-to-face conversation sometimes

d It does not involve face-to-face conversation between investigator and

respondent

37 What are structured questionnaires?

 a Structured questionnaires are those in which there are indefinite questions
covering the main topic

b Structured questionnaires are those in which there are definite, concrete

and preordained questions with additional questions limited to those
necessary to clarify inadequate answers or to elicit more responses

c Structured questionnaires are those in which there are questions mainly to

elicit more responses

d Structured questionnaires are those in which there are definite, concrete

and preordained questions to elicit more responses

38 ________ is the only suitable method for gathering information from

illiterate or less educated respondents.

a Mail survey

b Poster survey

c Questionnaire

d Interviewing

39 Which of the following is not involved in the data preparation –

a Identification of the data structures

b Coding of data

c Grouping of data for preliminary research interpretation

d Identification of investigators

40 Which of the followings should be used to communicate the content of the

materials discussed

a Underlined text

b Headings and subheadings

c Bold text

d Marked text
 Section B

41 Choices Which type of research takes the form of a pilot study?

a Pure Research

b Applied Research

c Exploratory Research

d Descriptive Study

42 This type of research contributes to the development of a young science

and useful in verifying focal concepts through empirical solution

a Pure Research

b Applied Research

c Exploratory Research

d Descriptive Study

43 Choices State whether True or False –

(i) Researcher’s interest is an important external criteria for

formulating a research problem

(ii) Novelty of the problem is an important external criteria for

formulating a research problem

a (i) False, (ii) False

b (i) True, (ii) False

c (i) False, (ii) True

d (i) True, (ii) True

44 Which of the following is the factual that other observers can see and
check?

a Systematic evidence

b Objective evidence

c Controlled Evidence

d Verifiable evidence
45 Choices State whether true or False:

a) The probability of Type I error is usually determined in advance and is

understood as the level of significance of testing the hypothesis

b) We can control the type I error just by fixing it at a lower level

a a) True

b) False

b a) False

b) False

c a) True

b) True

d a) False

b) True

46 In which of the following cases, we shall use one-tailed test?

(i) When we have to test that the sample mean is significantly higher
or lower than the hypnotized value of the mean of the
population

(ii) When we have to test that the sample mean is either significantly
higher than or lower than some hypothesized value

(iii) When we have to test that the sample mean is lower than some
hypothesized value

(iv) When we have to test that the sample mean is higher than some
hypothesized value

a (i)

b (ii) (iii)

c (i) (iv)

d (ii) (iii) (iv)

47 Choices If demand of certain product depends on the price of the product, which of
the following are the dependent and independent variables?
 a Demand – Dependent variable

Price – Dependent variable

b Demand – Independent variable

Price – Independent variable

c Demand – Dependent Variable

Price – Independent Variable

d Demand – Independent Variable

Price – Dependent Variable

48 When changes in one variable depends upon the changes in one or more
other variables, the former variable is termed as -

a Independent variable

b Random variable

c Exogenous variable

d Endogenous variable

49 Choices State whether true or false:

A. The organic motto of action must be socially relevant

B. The specific method of elaboration of organic material onto social

behavior must be clearly shown

a A. False, B. False

b A. False, B. True

c A. True, B. True

d A. True, B. False

50 State whether true or false:

A. Social situation must be carefully and continuously specified as a factor

B. The strategic role of the family group in transmitting the culture may
not be recognized

a A. False, B. True
 b A. True, B. True

c A. False, B. False

d A. True, B. False

51 Choices Which of the following is true?

a All the criteria should be met in order to get a good sampling design

b Economy is the most important criteria to choose a sampling design

c The criteria for choosing a sampling design frequently conflict and the
researcher must balance and blend them to obtain a good sampling plan

d One should use complicated methods to get good sampling design

52 What do you understand by the independent chance?

a The chance of selection of one sample element is independent of the

population

b The chance of selection of one sample is not affected by the population

c The chance of selection of the sample is dependent

d The draw of one element will not affect the chances of other elements
being selected

53 Choices Which of the following things need not be verified when a researcher is
using a secondary data?

a Data completeness

b Data Pertinence

c Data Quantity

d Data Quality

54 Which of the following is not referred by the quality of the data?

a accuracy

b reliability

c completeness

d appropriateness
55 Choices State whether true or false –

1. In the non-participant observations, the observer stands apart and does

not participate in the phenomenon observed

2. In direct observation, it is not necessary for the observer to have

physical presence

a 1. True, 2. True

b 1. False, 2. True

c 1. True, 2. False

d 1. False, 2. False

56 State whether true or false –

1. The main virtue of observation is its directness

2. Observation is more suitable for studying subjects who are unable

to articulate meaningfully

a 1. True, 2. False

b 1. False, 2. True

c 1. False, 2. False

d 1. True, 2, True

57 Choices Mail survey method involves __________ with a request to complete them
and return by post

a Phoning and asking questions from a questionnaire

b Preparation of a simple survey

c Sending questionnaires to the respondents

d Sending mass mails to all prospective respondents

58 State whether true or false –

(i) Mail survey does not involve face-to-face conversation between the
investigator and the respondent

(ii) In mail survey, communication is carried out orally and this

require more cooperation from the respondents
 a (i) True

(ii) True

b (i) False

(ii) True

c (i) False

(ii) False

d (i) True

(ii) False

59 Choices When personal interview is feasible?

a When the area covered for survey is compact or when number of

interviewee is very large

b When sufficient number of interviewers are available or when the number

of interviewee is very large

c When the area covered for survey is compact or when sufficient number of
interviewers are available

d When the area covered for survey is not compact or not sufficient experts
are there for interviewing

60 Choices State whether true or false –

1. When there is a time lag between data collection and presentation

of the result, then also there is no chance of loss of significance and
usefulness of the study

2. Summary report is meant for general public

a 1. False

2. False

b 1. True

2. True

c 1. False

2. True
d 1. True

2. False
 Section C

61 Choices According to the methods of study, research may be classified as which of

the followings –

(a) Pure research

(b) Applied research

(c) Experimental research

(d) Exploratory research

(e) Descriptive research

(f) Analytical study

(g) Diagnostic study

(h) Historical research

(i) Survey

a (a) (c) (d) (i)

b (b) (d) (e) (f)

c (c) (f) (h) (i)

d (a) (f) (h) (g)

62 Choices Match the followings between the two columns –

Column 1 Column 2

1. Importance and urgency a. Internal Criteria

2. Researcher’s own resource b. Criteria of good research

problem

3. Developing title c. External Criteria

4. Training investigators d. Process of defining a problem

a 1-d, 2-a, 3-c, 4-b

b 1-c, 2-a, 3-b, 4-d

c 1-c, 2-a, 3-d, 4-b

 d 1-c, 2-d, 3-a, 4-b

63 State which of the followings are true or false–

(i) Objectivity is a criteria of good research problem

(ii) Recording is not a criteria of good research problem

(iii) Objective of a research problem refers to the questions to be answered

through the study

(iv) Research problem should be novel to take up

a (i) True (ii) False (iii) True (iv) False

b (i) False (ii) False (iii) True (iv) False

c (i) True (ii) False (iii) False (iv) False

d (i) True (ii) False (iii) True (iv) True

64 Choices State whether true or false:

1. All tests are based on the assumption of normality

2. Non-parametric test needs less observation from the parametric

tests

3. Non-parametric tests need distribution

4. Parametric tests does not need any distribution

a 1-True, 2-False, 3-False, 4-True

b 1-False, 2-False, 3-False, 4-False

c 1-True, 2-False, 3-False, 4-False

d 1-True, 2-True, 3-False, 4-False

65 Which of the following factors affect the level of significance?

1. The magnitude of difference between sample

2. The size of sample

3. The size of population

4. The variability of measurements within samples

 5. Whether hypothesis is directional or non-directional

a 1, 2, 4, 5

b 2, 3, 4

c 1, 2, 4

d 1, 2, 3, 5

66 Choices Which of the followings are the characteristics of good research design?

1. It is a series of guide posts to keep one going in right direction

2. It takes some time to be created

3. It reduces wastage of time and cost

4. It encourages coordination and effective organization

5. It has also to be kept within the manageable limits

a 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

b 1, 3, 4

c 1, 3, 4, 5

d 1, 2, 3

67 State whether True or False –

1. In many research projects, the time consumed in trying to

ascertain what the data mean after they have been collected is
much greater than the time taken to design a research which yields
data whose meaning is known as they are collected.

2. The idealized design is concerned with specifying the optimum

research procedure that could be followed where there are no
practical restrictions.

3. Values can be expressed in integer values also

4. Variable values should be integer all the time

a 1. True, 2. True, 3. True, 4. False

b 1. True, 2. True, 3. False, 4. False

c 1. False, 2. True, 3. True, 4. False

 d 1. True, 2. False, 3. True, 4. False

68 Choices State whether true or false –

1. In-depth analysis of selected cases is of particular value to business

research when a complex set of variables may be at work in generating
observed results and intensive study is needed to unravel the complexities.

2. The exploratory is best served by the active curiosity and willingness to

deviate from the initial plan, when the finding suggests new courses of
enquiry, might prove more productive.

3. The discontinuous related character of experience for childhood

through adulthood must be stressed.

4. The life history material itself must be organized according to some

conceptual framework, this in turn would facilitate generalizations at a
higher level

a 1. True, 2. True, 3. False, 4. True

b 1. True, 2. False, 3. False, 4. True

c 1. False, 2. True, 3. False, 4. True

d 1. True, 2. True, 3. False, 4. False

69 Choices Which of the followings are the characteristics of a good sample?

a. Representativeness

b. Accuracy

c. Precision

d. Time

e. Shape

f. Size

a a, c, e

b b, d, e, f

c a, b, c, f

d a, c, d
70 State whether true or false?

1. Stratified random sampling is an improved type of random or

probability sampling

2. Proportionate sampling involves drawing a sample from each stratus in

proportion to the latter’s share in the total population

3. Stratified sampling enhances the representativeness to each sample

4. Systematic random sampling is an alternative to random selection

a 1. TRUE, 2. TRUE, 3. TRUE, 4. TRUE

b 1. TRUE, 2. TRUE, 3. FALSE, 4. FALSE

c 1. TRUE, 2. FALSE, 3. TRUE, 4. TRUE

d 1. TRUE, 2. TRUE, 3. TRUE, 4. FALSE

71 Choices Match the following –

1. Demographic characteristic

2. Behavioral variable

3. Organization data

4. Territorial data

a. Cities

b. Objectives

c. Opinions

d. Family size

a 1-a, 2-b, 3-c, 4-d

b 1-b, 2-c, 3-a, 4-d

c 1-d, 2-c, 3-b, 4-a

d 1-a, 2-c, 3-b, 4-d

72 Choices Which of the followings are the prerequisites of observation –

(i) Observation must be done under conditions which will permit

 accurate results

(ii) Observation must be done under conditions which might permit

inaccurate results

(iii) Observations must cover a sufficient number of representative

samples of the cases

(iv) Recordings should be accurate and complete

(v) Recordings may be inaccurate but it must be complete

(vi) The accuracy and completeness of recorded results must be

checked

a (i), (ii), (iii), (vi)

b (ii), (iii), (v), (vi)

c (i), (iii), (iv), (vi)

d (i), (ii), (v), (vi)

73 Choices Which of the following techniques will be helpful in increasing the

response rate in case of mail survey?

(i) Quality printing

(ii) Covering letter

(iii) Visit of the investigator in the houses of the respondents

(iv) Incentives

(v) Large sample size

(vi) Advance information

a (i), (iii), (iv), (v), (vi)

b (i), (ii), (iii), (iv), (vi)

c (i), (ii), (iv), (v), (vi)

d (ii), (iii), (iv), (v), (vi)

74 Choices State whether true or false –

1. Greatest drawback of interview method is that it is costly both in

money and time
 2. Greatest value of the interview method is the depth and detail of
information that can be secured

3. The interviewer cannot do more to improve the percentage of

responses and the quality of information received than other
method

4. One limitation of interview method is that it is not possible for

interviewer to use special scoring devices, visual materials and the
like in order to improve the quality of interviewing

a 1. True, 2. True, 3. True, 4. True

b 1. True, 2. True, 3. True, 4. False

c 1. True, 2. True, 3. False, 4. False

d 1. False, 2. True, 3. False, 4. True

75 Choices Which of the following are the important characteristics of a statistical

data?

a. Central tendency

b. Dispersion

c. Colour

d. Odour

e. Skewness

f. Strength

g. Kurtosis

a a, b, c, d

b b, c, d, f

c a, b, e, g

d c, d, e, f