Free Research Methods MCQs with Answers
103 Research Methods MCQs from Sociology, each with the correct answer and a written explanation of why it is correct. Free and unlimited, with no account needed.
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- A. research findings feed back into society and as a result may change it
- B. research findings empower the general public making them more confident
- C. research funders have control over research findings and who has access
- D. sociologists learn more about the society they live in
Explanation: Reflexivity here refers to the way research findings can feed back into society and influence the people or institutions studied.
Correct answer: research findings feed back into society and as a result may change it- A. ethnography
- B. survey research
- C. focus groups
- D. biographical research
Explanation: Survey research is generally quantitative because it collects standardised responses that can be counted and statistically analysed.
Correct answer: survey research- A. review the evidence
- B. create a research design
- C. define the research problem
- D. carry out a research design
Explanation: Research begins by defining the problem or question that will guide the study.
Correct answer: define the research problem- A. participant observation
- B. survey research
- C. historical research
- D. experimental design
Explanation: Humphreys studied covertly through participant observation, observing interactions in public toilets and later contacting some…
Correct answer: participant observation- A. secondary observer
- B. participant-as-observer
- C. complete participant
- D. ethnographer
- E. social scientist
Explanation: A participant-as-observer openly identifies as a researcher while also taking part in the group or setting being studied.
Correct answer: participant-as-observer- A. tactful
- B. unobtrusive
- C. creative
- D. fluent in several languages
- E. discreet
Explanation: Field research often involves unpredictable settings, so the researcher must be creative and adapt methods as new situations arise.
Correct answer: creative- A. ethnography
- B. field research
- C. an international approach
- D. comparative approach
- E. content analysis
Explanation: Studying crime-control practices across several countries compares the same social issue in different societies, making it a comparative…
Correct answer: comparative approach- A. mutually exclusive
- B. exhaustive
- C. comprehensive
- D. tangible
- E. relevant
Explanation: Response categories should be mutually exclusive so that each respondent fits one category only; “some high school” and “high school” can…
Correct answer: mutually exclusive- A. the s is clearly worded
- B. they are easy and quick to answer
- C. the answers are mutually exclusive
- D. they cover the return postage
- E. they involve no thought on the part of the respondent.
Explanation: Closed-ended questions provide fixed response options, so respondents can answer quickly without composing lengthy replies.
Correct answer: they are easy and quick to answer- A. interviews
- B. participant observation
- C. surveys
- D. content analysis
- E. experiments
Explanation: Surveys use standardised questions to collect information from many people at relatively low cost.
Correct answer: surveys- A. time order
- B. correlation
- C. theory
- D. internal consistency
- E. elimination of spuriousness
Explanation: Causal claims require correlation, correct time order, and elimination of spurious explanations; a theory is also commonly used to support…
Correct answer: internal consistency- A. Conceptualization
- B. Coding
- C. Factoring
- D. Classification
- E. Enumeration
Explanation: Coding converts raw responses into categories or numerical labels so that they can be organised and analysed statistically.
Correct answer: Coding- A. surveys
- B. ethnography
- C. field research
- D. secondary research
- E. experiments
Explanation: Ethnography is generally a technique or form of field research rather than a separate major research design in this classification.
Correct answer: ethnography- A. theory
- B. quantitative theorem
- C. operational definition
- D. hypothesis
- E. scale
Explanation: An operational definition states exactly how an abstract variable will be observed or measured, such as measuring social class through…
Correct answer: operational definition- A. the experimental group
- B. the representative group
- C. the control groups
- D. none of the above
Explanation: The experimental group receives or is exposed to the independent variable, while the control group does not.
Correct answer: the experimental group- A. correlation
- B. dependent variable
- C. independent variable
- D. sample
Explanation: Studying is the presumed cause or predictor, while test performance is the outcome it is expected to influence.
Correct answer: independent variable- A. very high
- B. it can be both A and C
- C. None of these
- D. very low
Explanation: Mailed questionnaires commonly receive low response rates because recipients may ignore them, lose them, or lack motivation to reply.
Correct answer: very low- A. contingency questions
- B. leading questions
- C. double barreled questions
- D. Matrix questions
Explanation: Contingency questions are asked only when a respondent's earlier answer makes them relevant, so different respondents may receive…
Correct answer: contingency questions- A. sample
- B. population
- C. focus group
- D. respondents
Explanation: The population is the entire group the survey aims to study, whereas a sample is only the selected portion that actually provides data.
Correct answer: population- A. it has little use for applied empirical research about the topic
- B. there are no reliable indicators of such widely contested ideas
- C. it takes all the fun out of armchair theorizing
- D. definitions and indicators can vary making valid comparisons problematic
Explanation: Operationalising a concept such as social class requires definitions and indicators, but researchers may choose different ones.
Correct answer: definitions and indicators can vary making valid comparisons problematic