Research methodology MCQ Quiz - Objective Question with Answer for Research methodology - Download Free PDF

Key Points

 ​Qualitative research:

• Qualitative research is a type of research that aims to gain an understanding of a particular phenomenon or behaviour through exploring the perspectives and experiences of individuals or groups.
• Qualitative research questions are designed to explore this phenomenon or behaviour in depth and are open-ended in nature.

Important Points

There are several major types of qualitative research questions, including:

1. Descriptive questions: These questions are designed to describe the phenomenon or behavior being studied in detail. For example, "Can you describe your experience with this product?"
2. Causes and consequences questions: These questions explore the factors that contribute to the phenomenon or behavior being studied, as well as the outcomes or consequences of that behavior. For example, "What factors do you think contribute to the high rates of obesity in this community, and what are the consequences of this?"
3. Predictive questions: These questions are designed to predict future behavior or outcomes based on the data collected. For example, "Based on your experiences with this product, do you think you would be likely to recommend it to others in the future?"
4. Evaluative questions: These questions are designed to assess the effectiveness or value of a particular intervention or program. For example, "What are your thoughts on the effectiveness of this drug in treating your condition?"

Hence, major types of qualitative research question are Causes and consequences, Predictive, Evaluative, Descriptive.

Qualitative research is an inquiry process of understanding based on distinct methodological traditions of inquiry that explore a social or human problem.​ 

Types of Qualitative Research design 

Many varieties of traditions of qualitative studies exist in social sciences. They have been categorized by Creswell(1998) in the context of their forms, terminologies, and focus as under: 

Research is defined as a creative and methodical activity done to improve the body of knowledge. 

Key Points

• Types of Research on the basis of Objective are Descriptive, Diagnostic, Exploratory, and Experimental. 
• Exploratory research is used when a research area hasn't been thoroughly examined before.
• Exploratory research is done to identify the nature of the problem.
• The researcher must be prepared to alter the course if new information or insights are discovered.
• It is also frequently referred to as interpretive research or a grounded theory approach because of its adaptable and open-ended nature. 

Thus, the type of research in which the researcher gains familiarity with a phenomenon or achieves new insights into it is known as an Exploratory research study.

Additional Information

• Diagnostic research study: The diagnostic research paradigm is a normal and straightforward approach to problem-solving.
• Descriptive research study: Researchers can describe or offer a picture of the phenomenon or phenomena under inquiry using descriptive designs.
• Hypothesis testing study: It is evaluating how reliably one may extrapolate observed findings in a study sample to the larger population

The correct answer is  A - IV, B - I, C - III, D - II.

Key Points

Statement I: A rigid application of ethical principles is not possible in ethnographic research.

Explanation:

• Ethnography is a qualitative method for collecting data often used in the social and behavioral sciences.
• Data are collected through observations and interviews, which are then used to draw conclusions about how societies and individuals function.
• It provides the researcher with an understanding of how those users see the world and how they interact with everything around them.
• A classic example of ethnographic research would be an anthropologist traveling to an island, living within the society on said island for years, and researching its people and culture through a process of sustained observation and participation.
• A rigid application of ethical principles is not possible in ethnographic research.

Hence we can say that statement I is correct.

Statement II: The principle of informed consent is theoretical, as pre-information is likely to affect the research findings.

Explanation:

• Informed consent is one of the most important aspects of research ethics.
• Regulations requiring informed consent have been promulgated to protect the human subjects participating in clinical research.
• Informed consent is the process of telling potential research participants about the key elements of a research study and what their participation will involve. 
• The informed consent process is one of the central components of the ethical conduct of research with human subjects. 
• The principle of informed consent is theoretical, as pre-information is likely to affect the research findings.

Hence we can say that statement II is correct.

Therefore we can say that Both Statement I and Statement II are true

Research is a systematic inquiry towards understanding a complex social phenomenon or a process. They are broadly categorized into qualitative and quantitative research. Based on the research problem, the selection of research methods by the researcher may vary.
Key Points

Positivistic Research Paradigm:

A research paradigm is a research model or a perceptual orientation for conducting research that has been verified by the research community.

• Emphasizes quantitative analysis over qualitative analysis
• Relies heavily on experimentation
• Subscribes to pre-existing categories
• Hypotheses are put forward about the causal relation between phenomena
• Empirical evidence is gathered and analysed that explains the effect of the independent variable on the dependent variable
• Employs a deductive approach to analyse data
• Collects numerical data

Important Points

Features of Qualitative Research:

• The objective is to explore a phenomenon to gain understanding by diving deeper into the problem
• Used qualitative methods of data collection such as interviews, focus groups, observation, etc.
• The sample size is kept small
• Believes in interpretivism paradigm and disregards the positivist assumptions and statistical data analysis
• Inductive reasoning is employe where things are observed, a pattern is developed and then the theory is formed
• The conclusions are descriptive rather than predictive.

Hence, it is clear from the given points that qualitative research avoids positivist assumptions and data analysis.

Research methodology refers to the techniques used to find and analyze information for a study, ensuring that the results are valid and reliable and that they address the research objective. It is the theoretical paradigm for data collection, analysis, and interpretation.

Important PointsResearch Methodology:

• Research methodology is a way of explaining how a researcher intends to carry out their research.
• It's a logical, systematic plan to resolve a research problem.
• A methodology details a researcher's approach to the research to ensure reliable, valid results that address their aims and objectives.
• It encompasses what data they're going to collect and where from, as well as how it's being collected and analyzed.

​​Therefore, the term "research methodology" refers to the methods used in data collection and analysis.

Additional Information

For example, steps involved in research methodology by the researcher.

• What data to collect (and what data to ignore)
• Who to collect it from (in research, this is called “sampling design”)
• How to collect it (this is called “data collection methods”)
• How to analyze it (this is called “data analysis methods”)

An experimental method of research is a type of study in which the researcher speculates on the possible reasons for a previously observed result.

Key Points

Experimental research:

• The experimental method involves manipulating one variable to determine if changes in one variable cause changes in another variable.
• This method relies on controlled methods, random assignment, and the manipulation of variables to test a hypothesis.
• The experimental method under which the researcher can directly modify the independent variable(s) (that is, the cause) in an experimental study to see how it affects the dependent variable (that is, the effect).

Therefore, Experimental method research methods, the process of hypothesis testing optimally safeguards the role of extraneous variables. 

Additional Information

• Both experimental and ex-post facto research attempt to study links between existent variables and their conclusions are logically as well as empirically valid and accurate, but there is various difference between them.
• Ex post facto research is undertaken when a researcher wishes to investigate the cause of an event that has already occurred as an outcome of the cause.
• The phrase historical method refers to a set of strategies and rules used by historians in their investigation and writing of past histories.
• Descriptive Survey Research is a type of descriptive research that combines quantitative and qualitative data to give you reliable and relevant facts. 

Validity is one of the important characteristics of scientific research. The term ‘Validity’ implies truth or fidelity. Thus, validity refers to the degree to which a test measures what it claims to measure. The word "valid" is derived from the Latin ‘validus’. A Valid measurement is always reliable.

• For determining the validity of a test, the test should be compared to another independent construct or criteria. 
• Validity is concerned with generalizability. 
• Validity has three important properties:
  • It is a relative term.
  • It is not a fixed concept or criteria of a test because it is an unending process that requires constant validation.
  • It is just a measure concept and not an all-or-none property.

Important Points

A research design is a framework for the methods and approaches. 

Key Points

• Experimental research is a study that is based on scientific research design.
• The characteristic features of Experimental research are the following: 
  • A purpose statement is a declarative statement that highlights the major goal or goals of a research study.
  • The goal of a study or research endeavor is to answer research questions on the topic.
  • A hypothesis is a statement that expresses expectations for the results of research.
  • After developing a hypothesis then collect numeric data. 
• In short, developing clear, restricted, measurable, and observable purpose statements, research questions and hypotheses are characteristic features of experimental research.
• Experimental research is a study that uses two sets of variables and is conducted in a scientific manner.

Thus, creating purpose statements, research questions, and hypotheses that are narrow and measurable would mark the characteristic features of Experimental research.

Additional Information

• Grounded theory research: Grounded theory is a systematic approach to qualitative research where theories are generated through the collecting and analysis of data.
• Ethnographic research:   Ethnography is a qualitative data collection method and the researcher work in the field where they collect data through observations and interviews. 
• Narrative research:  It was defined as collecting and analyzing the accounts of respondents when they describe experiences and further interpret them. 

Qualitative research is research using methods such as participant observation or case studies that result in a narrative, descriptive account of a setting or practice.

Key points

The main features of qualitative research are: 

• It is a naturalist approach that seeks an understanding of social phenomena.
• It deals with human behavior from an informant's perspective.  
• This type of research analyzes non-numeric data. 
• It focuses on the ‘why and what’ of social phenomena.
• Inductive in approach.
• It has a Post Positivist approach.
• It is concerned with understanding the phenomena from the participant's perspective.
• The researcher becomes immersed in the situation, present or past.
• There is greater flexibility in both the methods and the research process.
• Biases of the researcher are quite evident in this type of research.

Hence, (A), (C), and (E) are the main features of qualitative research.

Additional Information

the most appropriate answer is (B), (C), (D) only.

Important Points

Case study method:

• The case study method is known for its particularistic approach, meaning it focuses on a specific case or situation.
• It is also descriptive in nature, providing detailed information about the case.
• The case study method is also considered to be inductive, as it involves drawing conclusions based on observations and evidence.

Case study:

• A case in a case study research could be an individual, organization, or institution.
• It is concerned with the in-depth study of a singular case (one person) from various possible angles for the sake of promoting his/her adjustment
• It is a qualitative research method that involves investigating a contemporary research problem within its real-life context by making use of multiple sources of data.
• It seeks to explore an area regarding which there is little understanding or prior knowledge.
• The data sources in a case study include data regarding the family and educational background and the primary data collection methods employed are observation and conducting interviews.     ​

Key Points

The case study method in research is a qualitative approach that involves the in-depth examination of a specific case or situation. It is used to gain a deeper understanding of a particular phenomenon. Some key points about the case study method include:

• Particularistic: The case study method focuses on a specific case or situation, rather than trying to generalize to a larger population.

• Descriptive: The case study provides a detailed description of the case, including relevant background information, context, and relevant data.

• Inductive: The case study method is inductive in nature, meaning that it involves drawing conclusions based on observations and evidence.

• Flexible: The case study method is flexible, allowing the researcher to gather a wide range of data, including interviews, observations, and documents.

• Multiple sources of evidence: The case study method often involves collecting data from multiple sources, including the subjects of the study, witnesses, and relevant documents.

• Interpretive: The case study method requires an interpretive approach, as the researcher must analyze and interpret the data collected.

According to the American sociologist Earl Robert Babbie, “research is a systematic inquiry to describe, explain, predict, and control the observed phenomenon. It involves inductive and deductive methods.”

Research is a systematic inquiry towards understanding a complex social phenomenon or a process. Based on the research problem, the selection of research methods by the researcher may vary. There are two types of research on the basis of a process i.e Quantitative research and Qualitative research.

​Ethnographic Research:

• The goal of ethnographic research is to describe and interpret a cultural or social group.
• Ethnographers spend extensive time in the setting being studied and use observations, interviews, and other analyses to understand the nature of the culture. 
• Ethnography is an in-depth description and interpretation of cultural patterns and meanings within a culture or social group.  The main emphasis is on groups. 
• Ethnographers study specific cultural themes.

Phenomenological Research:

• ​The goal of phenomenological research is to fully understand the essence of some phenomenon. 
• This is usually accomplished with long, intensive individual interviews. 
• The purpose is to describe and interpret the experiences of participants in order to understand the essence of the experience as perceived by the participants. 
• The basis is that there are multiple ways of interpreting the same experience and that the meaning of the experience to each participant is what constitutes reality. 
• Focuses on the consciousness of human experiences.

Thus, the most appropriate answer is Ethnography and phenomenology.

Qualitative research :

• Qualitative Research is primarily exploratory research.
• Naturalistic research: It is used to gain an understanding of underlying reasons, opinions, and motivations. It provides insights into the problem or helps to develop ideas or hypotheses for potential quantitative research. Natural settings are the direct source of data
• Qualitative Research is also used to uncover trends in thought and opinions, and dive deeper into the problem.

• The aim is to determine  qualitative variables
• Inductive analysis: Qualitative research discovers ideas, used in exploratory research with a general research objective. Researchers tend to analyze their data inductively.

• It is an unstructured method to observe, understand, and interpret the collected information.
• The result is completely subjective. Data take the form of words or pictures
• The hermeneutic and interpretive approaches are applicable here.
• Some of the qualitative methods are
  • In-depth interview: one-to-one interview
  • Focus group: characteristics of a specific group
  • Narrative research: the available literature covers the topic or issue
  • Phenomenology: the individual experience of a phenomenon
  • Ethnography: the study of a culture
  • Case study research: the study of an organization or an entity
  • Content analysis: analysis of the different form of qualitative data
  • Grounded theory: development of a theory based on the collected data
• 

Therefore, A, C, and D only correct answer here.