Research Design for Thesis Research: A Comprehensive Guide for PhD Students

Question 1

For exploring the experiences of a small group, which research design is most appropriate?

Accepted Answer

Qualitative research

Answer

Quantitative research

Answer

Mixed methods research

Answer

Experimental research

Question 2

How do hypotheses differ from research questions?

Accepted Answer

Hypotheses are specific and testable, while research questions are general.

Answer

Research questions are specific and testable, while hypotheses are general.

Answer

Hypotheses make predictions, while research questions are more open-ended.

Answer

There is no difference between hypotheses and research questions.

Question 3

Qualitative research designs are commonly employed when researchers aim to:

Accepted Answer

Gain in-depth understanding of complex phenomena

Answer

Generalize findings to a broader population

Answer

Test hypotheses statistically

Answer

Predict future events

Question 4

Which of the following is not considered a type of quantitative research design?

Accepted Answer

Grounded theory design

Answer

Experimental design

Answer

Survey design

Answer

Observational design

Question 5

Mixed methods designs effectively combine:

Accepted Answer

Quantitative and qualitative data

Answer

Primary and secondary data

Answer

Experimental and non-experimental designs

Answer

Longitudinal and cross-sectional data

Question 6

Internal validity in research design refers to the:

Accepted Answer

Accuracy and absence of bias in the results

Answer

Generalizability of findings to other groups

Answer

Cost-effectiveness of the research

Answer

Relevance of the research to the field

Question 7

A distinctive characteristic of a longitudinal research design is:

Accepted Answer

Data collection over an extended period

Answer

Large sample size

Answer

Experimental manipulation

Answer

Cross-sectional data analysis

Question 8

The use of focus groups in research is an example of:

Accepted Answer

Qualitative data collection

Answer

Quantitative data collection

Answer

Mixed methods data collection

Answer

Observational data collection

Question 9

When would an experimental research design be most appropriate?

Accepted Answer

When testing cause-and-effect relationships

Answer

When exploring complex relationships

Answer

When developing new theories

Answer

When conducting exploratory research

Question 10

When selecting a research design, which factor is most critical?

Accepted Answer

Research question and objectives

Answer

Available funds

Answer

Timeline

Answer

Researcher's preferences

Question 11

Which research design primarily involves collecting and analyzing numerical data?

Accepted Answer

Quantitative

Answer

Qualitative

Answer

Mixed methods

Answer

Action research

Question 12

What is the primary reason for conducting a literature review in research design?

Accepted Answer

Identify knowledge gaps and build a theoretical framework

Answer

Collect primary data

Answer

Design the methodology

Answer

Secure funding

Question 13

Which characteristic is NOT associated with qualitative research?

Accepted Answer

Use of statistical analysis

Answer

Emphasis on subjective experiences

Answer

In-depth data collection

Answer

Emphasis on context

Question 14

What is a key benefit of using a mixed methods research design?

Accepted Answer

Provides a more comprehensive understanding of the research problem

Answer

Reduces bias

Answer

Less time-consuming

Answer

Suitable for all research questions

Question 15

In qualitative research, which sampling method is commonly employed?

Accepted Answer

Convenience sampling

Answer

Random sampling

Answer

Cluster sampling

Answer

Stratified sampling

Question 16

Which characteristic is NOT desirable in a sound research design?

Accepted Answer

Reliance solely on intuition

Answer

Ethical considerations

Answer

Systematic approach

Answer

Validity

Question 17

In exploratory research, which research design approach is most commonly employed?

Accepted Answer

Qualitative research

Answer

Experimental research

Answer

Longitudinal research

Answer

Correlational research

Question 18

When selecting an appropriate research design, which factor is paramount?

Accepted Answer

The research question and objectives

Answer

The researcher's personal preference

Answer

Data availability

Answer

Budget constraints

Question 19

In qualitative research, which data collection method is frequently used?

Accepted Answer

Interviews

Answer

Surveys

Answer

Experiments

Answer

Observations

Question 20

Which limitation is inherent to experimental research designs?

Accepted Answer

Potential difficulty in controlling all relevant variables

Answer

Time-consuming nature

Answer

Excessive cost

Answer

Ethical concerns

Question 21

What is the primary purpose of conducting a pilot study?

Accepted Answer

Evaluating the feasibility and validity of a research design

Answer

Collecting data for the main study

Answer

Analyzing data from the main study

Question 22

What is a key advantage of employing a longitudinal research design?

Accepted Answer

Examining changes over an extended period

Answer

Reduced time investment compared to other designs

Answer

Enhanced accuracy compared to other designs

Answer

Lower costs compared to other designs

Question 23

Explain the distinction between an independent variable and a dependent variable.

Accepted Answer

The independent variable is manipulated by the researcher, influencing the dependent variable

Answer

The dependent variable is manipulated by the researcher, influencing the independent variable