Research Methods and Design Questions and Answers

Q: The goal of a formal study is to :

The goal of a formal study is to test hypothesis.In the research design classification of Cooper and Schindler, an exploratory study is loosely structured and aims to discover future research tasks and develop hypotheses. A formal study starts where exploration ends: it has a precise procedure and data source, and its goal is to test the hypotheses or answer the research questions.Discovering future research tasks, expanding understanding of a topic and developing hypotheses are the aims of exploratory study, so they describe the opposite design.

Q: Recording of 'reflective notes' in qualitative research is called as ............................ .

It is called memoing.In qualitative research, especially grounded theory, memos are the researcher's written reflections during data collection and analysis: ideas about codes, emerging categories, links between them and the researcher's own reactions. Writing them is memoing, and it records the analytic thinking behind the findings.Coding is labelling segments of data with categories, decoding is interpreting a message, and instructing is teaching. None of them describes recording reflective notes.

Q: A variable 'Academic Achievement' will be measured on ..................... .

Academic achievement is measured on an interval scale.Achievement test scores are treated as interval data: the difference between 40 and 50 marks is taken to equal the difference between 60 and 70, so means and standard deviations can be computed. But there is no true zero, since a score of zero does not mean an absence of all achievement.That lack of a true zero rules out the ratio scale (a student with 80 does not know twice as much as one with 40). The nominal scale only names categories, and the ordinal scale only ranks, which loses the score information.

Q: The p-value of a statistical hypothesis test refers to :

The p-value refers to probability.The p-value is the probability of obtaining a result at least as extreme as the one observed, assuming the null hypothesis is true. A small p-value, for example below 0.05, is taken as evidence against the null hypothesis.Power is the probability of correctly rejecting a false null hypothesis, which is a different quantity. Practicality and 'parametric' have nothing to do with the p in p-value.

Q: Which of the following is a Non-Parametric Test ?

The non-parametric test is Wilcoxon's test (printed 'Wilcoxin's').Non-parametric tests make no assumption that the data follow a particular distribution, such as the normal, and often work on ranks. The Wilcoxon signed-rank and rank-sum tests are the non-parametric alternatives to the paired and independent t-tests.The t-test, F-test and Z-test are parametric: they assume normally distributed data, or large samples, and estimate population parameters such as means and variances.

Q: When every subject has equal, chance of being chosen for the study it is called :

This is randomization.When every member of the population has an equal chance of being chosen, selection is random, which is the basis of simple random sampling and of random assignment to groups in experiments. Randomization removes selection bias and allows the results to be generalised.Sampling is the general process of selecting part of a population, whether randomly or not. Count and selection do not specify the equal chance that defines randomization.

Q: When the population is finite, the ideal sampling method is :

The key takes systematic sampling as the ideal method for a finite population.Systematic sampling needs a complete list of a finite population: the researcher divides the population size by the sample size to get an interval k, picks a random start and then takes every k-th unit. It is simple, spreads the sample evenly over the list, and is standard for finite, listed populations.Cluster sampling is used when a population is large and spread out and no full list exists, and snowball sampling is used for hidden populations reached through referrals. Stratified sampling is chosen when the population has distinct subgroups, not because it is finite.

Q: Ex Post Facto research :

Ex post facto research has no control over variables.'Ex post facto' means 'after the fact'. The researcher studies effects that have already occurred and looks back for their possible causes, for example comparing children from different family types. Because the independent variable has already acted, it cannot be manipulated or controlled.Manipulating variables is the mark of an experiment. Assessing the impact of an intervention is evaluation research, and while ex post facto studies often use correlational analysis, the defining feature is the lack of control.

Q: It is not necessary or possible to get informed consent when carrying out research on young children. Is this true ?

The statement is not true: the investigator should have due respect for children's rights and welfare.Research ethics apply fully to children. Informed consent must be obtained from parents or guardians, and the child's own assent should be sought in a form suited to his or her age. Children may also stop taking part at any time, and their safety and privacy must be protected.The 'yes' options give unacceptable reasons: children's limited understanding calls for more care, not less; scientific needs never justify harming participants; and ethical guidelines apply to all research participants, not only adults.

Q: Action research means :

Action research is a research initiated to solve an immediate problem.Action research is undertaken by practitioners, such as teachers, extension workers or managers, to study and solve a specific, immediate problem in their own setting, and to improve their practice. It runs in cycles of planning, acting, observing and reflecting.It is applied in nature, but 'applied research' is broader and need not be carried out by practitioners on their own problems. It is not necessarily longitudinal, and a socio-economic objective describes the subject of a study, not this type of research.

21.

The goal of a formal study is to :

A.Discover future research tasks
B.Expand understanding of a topic
C.Test hypothesis
D.Develop hypothesis

Exam Year(s)

MH SET - 2020, SET Exam - 2020,

Answer: C

The goal of a formal study is to test hypothesis.

In the research design classification of Cooper and Schindler, an exploratory study is loosely structured and aims to discover future research tasks and develop hypotheses. A formal study starts where exploration ends: it has a precise procedure and data source, and its goal is to test the hypotheses or answer the research questions.

Discovering future research tasks, expanding understanding of a topic and developing hypotheses are the aims of exploratory study, so they describe the opposite design.

Discuss in Forum

22.

Recording of 'reflective notes' in qualitative research is called as ............................ .

A.Coding
B.Memoing
C.Decoding
D.Instructing

Exam Year(s)

MH SET - 2021, SET Exam - 2021,

Answer: B

It is called memoing.

In qualitative research, especially grounded theory, memos are the researcher's written reflections during data collection and analysis: ideas about codes, emerging categories, links between them and the researcher's own reactions. Writing them is memoing, and it records the analytic thinking behind the findings.

Coding is labelling segments of data with categories, decoding is interpreting a message, and instructing is teaching. None of them describes recording reflective notes.

Discuss in Forum

23.

A variable 'Academic Achievement' will be measured on ..................... .

A.Nominal
B.Interval
C.Ratio
D.Ordinal

Exam Year(s)

MH SET - 2021, SET Exam - 2021,

Answer: B

Academic achievement is measured on an interval scale.

Achievement test scores are treated as interval data: the difference between 40 and 50 marks is taken to equal the difference between 60 and 70, so means and standard deviations can be computed. But there is no true zero, since a score of zero does not mean an absence of all achievement.

That lack of a true zero rules out the ratio scale (a student with 80 does not know twice as much as one with 40). The nominal scale only names categories, and the ordinal scale only ranks, which loses the score information.

Discuss in Forum

24.

The p-value of a statistical hypothesis test refers to :

A.Power
B.Practicality
C.Probability
D.Parametric

Exam Year(s)

MH SET - 2021, MH SET - 2025, SET Exam - 2021, SET Exam - 2025,

Answer: C

The p-value refers to probability.

The p-value is the probability of obtaining a result at least as extreme as the one observed, assuming the null hypothesis is true. A small p-value, for example below 0.05, is taken as evidence against the null hypothesis.

Power is the probability of correctly rejecting a false null hypothesis, which is a different quantity. Practicality and 'parametric' have nothing to do with the p in p-value.

Discuss in Forum

25.

Which of the following is a Non-Parametric Test ?

A.T-test
B.Wilcoxin's test
C.F-test
D.Z-test

Exam Year(s)

MH SET - 2021, SET Exam - 2021,

Answer: B

The non-parametric test is Wilcoxon's test (printed 'Wilcoxin's').

Non-parametric tests make no assumption that the data follow a particular distribution, such as the normal, and often work on ranks. The Wilcoxon signed-rank and rank-sum tests are the non-parametric alternatives to the paired and independent t-tests.

The t-test, F-test and Z-test are parametric: they assume normally distributed data, or large samples, and estimate population parameters such as means and variances.

Discuss in Forum

26.

When every subject has equal, chance of being chosen for the study it is called :

A.Sampling
B.Randomization
C.Count
D.Selection

Exam Year(s)

MH SET - 2021, SET Exam - 2021,

Answer: B

This is randomization.

When every member of the population has an equal chance of being chosen, selection is random, which is the basis of simple random sampling and of random assignment to groups in experiments. Randomization removes selection bias and allows the results to be generalised.

Sampling is the general process of selecting part of a population, whether randomly or not. Count and selection do not specify the equal chance that defines randomization.

Discuss in Forum

27.

When the population is finite, the ideal sampling method is :

A.Systematic Sampling
B.Cluster Sampling
C.Snowball Sampling
D.Stratified Sampling

Exam Year(s)

MH SET - 2021, SET Exam - 2021,

Answer: A

The key takes systematic sampling as the ideal method for a finite population.

Systematic sampling needs a complete list of a finite population: the researcher divides the population size by the sample size to get an interval k, picks a random start and then takes every k-th unit. It is simple, spreads the sample evenly over the list, and is standard for finite, listed populations.

Cluster sampling is used when a population is large and spread out and no full list exists, and snowball sampling is used for hidden populations reached through referrals. Stratified sampling is chosen when the population has distinct subgroups, not because it is finite.

Discuss in Forum

28.

Ex Post Facto research :

A.Manipulates variables
B.Has no control over variables
C.Assesses post-intervention impact
D.Carries correlational analysis

Exam Year(s)

MH SET - 2021, SET Exam - 2021,

Answer: B

Ex post facto research has no control over variables.

'Ex post facto' means 'after the fact'. The researcher studies effects that have already occurred and looks back for their possible causes, for example comparing children from different family types. Because the independent variable has already acted, it cannot be manipulated or controlled.

Manipulating variables is the mark of an experiment. Assessing the impact of an intervention is evaluation research, and while ex post facto studies often use correlational analysis, the defining feature is the lack of control.

Discuss in Forum

29.

It is not necessary or possible to get informed consent when carrying out research on young children. Is this true ?

A.Yes : because young children cannot understand these things
B.No : Investigator should have due respect for children's rights and welfare
C.Yes : because the needs of science justify the means
D.Yes : Ethical guidelines only apply to adults

Exam Year(s)

MH SET - 2021, SET Exam - 2021,

Answer: B

The statement is not true: the investigator should have due respect for children's rights and welfare.

Research ethics apply fully to children. Informed consent must be obtained from parents or guardians, and the child's own assent should be sought in a form suited to his or her age. Children may also stop taking part at any time, and their safety and privacy must be protected.

The 'yes' options give unacceptable reasons: children's limited understanding calls for more care, not less; scientific needs never justify harming participants; and ethical guidelines apply to all research participants, not only adults.

Discuss in Forum

30.

Action research means :

A.A longitudinal research
B.An applied research
C.A research initiated to solve an immediate problem
D.A research with socio-economic objective

Exam Year(s)

MH SET - 2021, SET Exam - 2021,

Answer: C

Action research is a research initiated to solve an immediate problem.

Action research is undertaken by practitioners, such as teachers, extension workers or managers, to study and solve a specific, immediate problem in their own setting, and to improve their practice. It runs in cycles of planning, acting, observing and reflecting.

It is applied in nature, but 'applied research' is broader and need not be carried out by practitioners on their own problems. It is not necessarily longitudinal, and a socio-economic objective describes the subject of a study, not this type of research.

Discuss in Forum

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