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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103 questions · page 9 of 11
81. Which of the following is a personal document with closed access ?
- A. government white paper
- B. confidential medical records
- C. household account book
- D. the shares register of a business
Explanation: A household account book is a personal record normally kept for private use, so access is closed unless the owner permits inspection. A government white paper and a business shares register are public or organisational records rather than personal documents.
Correct answer: household account book82. One of the ethical problems with covert participant observation is______________?
- A. not being able to write comprehensive field notes or record conversations
- B. deceiving the respondents as to the reason for your presence
- C. observing people outside of their natural setting
- D. subjecting the participants to physical harm
Explanation: Covert observation conceals the researcher's identity or purpose, so participants cannot give fully informed consent and are deceived about the researcher's presence. The observation generally does occur in the natural setting, not outside it.
Correct answer: deceiving the respondents as to the reason for your presence83. Snowballing is an example of_______________?
- A. probability sampling
- B. non-probability sampling
- C. cluster sampling
- D. using the Christmas vacation constructively
Explanation: Snowball sampling recruits initial participants who refer the researcher to further participants, so selection probabilities are unknown. It is therefore a non-probability method, often used with hidden or hard-to-reach populations.
Correct answer: non-probability sampling84. Pre-testing a naira is useful for_____________?
- A. finding out which topics are important to the respondents
- B. testing out your computer and printer
- C. identifying any problems with the wording and routing
- D. deciding which respondents to leave out of the final sampleHire Grant Writers
Explanation: Pre-testing a questionnaire reveals unclear wording, faulty response options, and incorrect routing or skip instructions before the main survey. It is not primarily for testing office equipment or selecting respondents.
Correct answer: identifying any problems with the wording and routing85. A researcher examines the literature written by Black novelists during the "Negro Renaissance" (1913-1935) to see if they reflect the political movements going on in the Black community in the United States at that time What type of research methodology is being used in this example ?
- A. secondary analysis
- B. interviews
- C. observation
- D. content analysis
Explanation: Content analysis systematically examines written material for themes, meanings, or patterns, such as political ideas in novels. Secondary analysis uses existing data for a new analysis, but the focus here is on analysing the texts themselves.
Correct answer: content analysis86. Search for ways of using scientific knowledge to solve practical problems is termed as_____________?
- A. Pure science
- B. Applied Science
- C. both a & b
- D. None of these
Explanation: Applied science uses scientific knowledge to address practical problems, whereas pure or basic science primarily expands general knowledge without an immediate practical objective. Therefore, solving practical problems identifies applied science.
Correct answer: Applied Science87. The use of scientific research procedures to measure the effectiveness of an action program is called____________?
- A. Evaluation research
- B. analytical research
- C. Scientific research
- D. None of theseAccess Government Careers
Explanation: Evaluation research assesses whether an action programme has achieved its objectives and how effectively it has worked. It is especially used to judge the outcomes of policies, interventions, and social programmes.
Correct answer: Evaluation research88. naire and interview studies are systematic ways of asking s under______________?
- A. Experiment situation
- B. Scientific control
- C. Normal circumstances
- D. None of these
Explanation: Questionnaires and interviews are systematic methods because they ask respondents a planned set of questions under scientific control. This distinguishes them from casual or impressionistic questioning.
Correct answer: Scientific control89. Impressionistic studies are____________?
- A. fully controlled
- B. less controlled
- C. uncontrolled
- D. None of theseTry Science Kits
Explanation: Impressionistic studies rely largely on personal observation or general impressions rather than strict procedures, so they are less controlled. They are not necessarily completely uncontrolled.
Correct answer: less controlled90. The validity of laboratory experiment is doubtful in sociology because the people being observed are_____________?
- A. unconscious
- B. conscious and behave artificially
- C. behave naturally
- D. None of these
Explanation: Laboratory participants know they are being observed, which can make them conscious of their behaviour and cause them to act artificially. This weakens the experiment’s validity for ordinary social life.
Correct answer: conscious and behave artificially