Research Methods for Politics MSc: Master Social Science Research Techniques

Question 1

Which of the following is NOT a valid research design approach in quantitative research?

Accepted Answer

Case study

Answer

Correlational

Answer

Experimental

Answer

Longitudinal

Question 2

In qualitative research, which of these is a key feature?

Accepted Answer

Researcher's interpretation heavily influences analysis

Answer

Data is numerical and analyzed statistically

Answer

Research design is inflexible and cannot be adjusted

Answer

Data is gathered in a controlled setting

Question 3

Which research method involves gathering detailed insights and opinions by asking participants questions in a group setting?

Accepted Answer

Focus group

Answer

Interview

Answer

Survey

Answer

Observation

Question 4

What is a key benefit of employing mixed methods research?

Accepted Answer

It allows researchers to tackle intricate research questions that cannot be fully explored using a single method.

Answer

It minimizes the time and expenses of data collection compared to using multiple methods independently.

Answer

It ensures that the study's findings can be applied to a broader population.

Answer

It eliminates the potential for bias associated with using a single method.

Question 5

In social science research, qualitative methods primarily collect data through which approach?

Accepted Answer

Observing and describing patterns in a natural setting

Answer

Administering surveys to gather numerical data

Answer

Conducting experiments to establish cause-and-effect relationships

Answer

Analyzing historical documents to infer past events

Question 6

Which of the following is NOT a type of research design?

Accepted Answer

Data analysis

Answer

Experimental design

Answer

Quasi-experimental design

Answer

Non-experimental design

Question 7

Which of the following is NOT a type of research design commonly used in social sciences?

Accepted Answer

Narrative design

Answer

Experimental design

Answer

Quasi-experimental design

Answer

Survey design

Question 8

Which characteristic is typically NOT associated with qualitative research?

Accepted Answer

Statistical Analysis

Answer

Inductive Reasoning

Answer

Contextual Factors

Answer

In-Depth Understanding

Question 9

Which research design is NOT a type of quantitative research?

Accepted Answer

Qualitative design

Answer

Cross-sectional design

Answer

Longitudinal design

Question 10

Qualitative research methods are particularly valuable because they:

Accepted Answer

Enable researchers to gain an in-depth understanding of participants' experiences and perspectives.

Answer

Allow researchers to collect data from a large number of individuals.

Answer

Permit researchers to generalize findings to a broader population with certainty.

Question 11

When selecting an appropriate research method, which of the following should **NOT** be considered?

Accepted Answer

Researcher's personal preferences

Answer

Cost constraints of the research

Answer

Availability of relevant data

Answer

Timeframe for conducting the research

Question 12

Which factor can weaken the integrity of a research design?

Accepted Answer

Researcher bias

Answer

Clear data collection process

Answer

Validated measurement instruments

Answer

Large sample size

Question 13

Which of these is NOT a method for collecting quantitative data?

Accepted Answer

Interviews

Answer

Surveys

Answer

Experiments

Answer

Observations

Question 14

In the context of research project design, which of the following factors is crucial when selecting the most suitable research method?

Accepted Answer

Availability and accessibility of essential resources (e.g., time, funding, equipment, personnel)

Answer

Researcher's personal preferences and biases

Answer

Availability of the most easily accessible data

Question 15

In qualitative research, which feature is most prominent?

Accepted Answer

Exploring the personal experiences and viewpoints of individuals

Answer

Relying on statistical analysis to draw conclusions

Question 16

Which of the following is a disadvantage of using mixed methods research?

Accepted Answer

It is less efficient and more costly than using a single research method.

Answer

It provides a more comprehensive understanding of the research topic.

Answer

It can help to triangulate findings and increase the validity of the research.

Answer

It allows for the exploration of complex research questions that cannot be answered using a single method.

Question 17

In social science research, which of the following is correctly categorized as a research design?

Accepted Answer

Quantitative research design

Accepted Answer

Qualitative research design

Accepted Answer

Mixed methods research design

Answer

Data analysis approach

Question 18

When identifying potential data sources for a research project, which of the following is NOT a key consideration?

Accepted Answer

Researcher's budget

Answer

Research question

Answer

Research design

Answer

Theoretical framework

Question 19

Which of the following is NOT a crucial step in the research process?

Accepted Answer

Manuscript publication

Answer

Data collection

Answer

Data analysis

Question 20

What is a key advantage of using mixed methods research?

Accepted Answer

It allows researchers to collect data from a wider range of sources.

Answer

It is always more accurate than other research methods.

Answer

It takes less time than other research methods.

Question 21

Which of the following is NOT a primary method of data collection in social science research?

Accepted Answer

Reading books

Answer

Surveys

Answer

Interviews

Answer

Observation

Question 22

When designing a research project, how does generalizability impact the choice of data collection methods?

Accepted Answer

Random sampling techniques enhance generalizability by ensuring a representative sample.

Answer

Generalizability is irrelevant when selecting data collection methods.

Answer

High response rates in data collection methods guarantee greater generalizability.

Answer

Generalizability is only relevant in quantitative research, not qualitative research.

Question 23

What is a primary advantage of using mixed methods research in social science?

Accepted Answer

Increased validity and reliability of results

Answer

Lower costs and improved time efficiency

Answer

Inability to apply findings to larger groups

Answer

Absence of standardized procedures and protocols

Question 24

When data is skewed, which measure of central tendency is most suitable?

Accepted Answer

Median

Answer

Mean

Answer

Mode

Answer

Standard deviation

Question 25

In research design, which element is crucial to consider first?

Accepted Answer

Defining clear research questions and objectives

Answer

Selecting a data collection method without aligning it with research goals

Question 26

Which data collection method involves using existing information?

Accepted Answer

Document analysis

Answer

Interviews

Answer

Questionnaires

Answer

Observation

Question 27

In quantitative research, which of the following is a non-probability sampling method?

Accepted Answer

Quota sampling

Answer

Random sampling

Answer

Cluster sampling

Question 28

In quantitative research, which data type consists of numerical values?

Accepted Answer

Quantitative data

Answer

Qualitative data

Answer

Primary data

Answer

Secondary data

Question 29

In research methodology, what is the main purpose of exploratory research?

Accepted Answer

To develop research questions or hypotheses

Answer

To test a hypothesis

Answer

To collect data for analysis

Answer

To draw conclusions and make generalizations

Question 30

In research methodology, which approach is closely associated with grounded theory?

Accepted Answer

Inductive approach

Answer

Quantitative approach

Answer

Interpretive approach

Answer

Positivist approach

Question 31

To examine the relationship between political participation and socioeconomic status, which research method is most appropriate?

Accepted Answer

Survey research

Answer

Content analysis

Answer

Experimental research

Answer

Observational research

Question 32

What is a defining feature of qualitative research methods?

Accepted Answer

Prioritizing in-depth comprehension and contextual interpretation

Answer

Relying on surveys for data collection

Answer

Concentrating on numerical data and statistical analysis

Question 33

In qualitative research, the researcher's role is crucial in shaping the research outcomes. Which aspect best describes this influence?

Accepted Answer

Subjectivity and interpretation of findings

Answer

Independent observation of research participants

Answer

Objective data collection techniques

Answer

Use of advanced statistical analysis software

Question 34

In qualitative research, which method is commonly used to gather detailed and comprehensive information from participants?

Accepted Answer

In-depth interviews

Answer

Online surveys

Answer

Structured observations

Answer

Content analysis

Question 35

In academic research, what is the main goal of research methods?

Accepted Answer

To provide a systematic approach for gathering, analyzing, and interpreting data

Answer

To eliminate the need for critical thinking and logical reasoning in decision-making

Answer

To focus solely on confirming existing theories and hypotheses

Question 36

Which of the following is a secondary method of data collection in social research?

Accepted Answer

Secondary data analysis

Answer

Observation

Answer

Interviews

Question 37

In assessing the reliability of a research instrument, which measure is most commonly used to evaluate its consistency in producing similar results across its items?

Accepted Answer

Cronbach's Alpha

Answer

Validity

Answer

Inter-rater Reliability

Answer

Test-Retest Reliability

Question 38

What is a common criticism of quantitative research methods?

Accepted Answer

They may miss the nuances of human experience due to their objective nature.

Answer

They are excessively time-consuming and expensive to conduct.

Answer

They are overly complex and difficult to understand.

Question 39

What is a key advantage of using quantitative research methods?

Accepted Answer

Allows for generalizations to a wider population

Answer

Enables in-depth analysis of individual cases

Answer

Requires minimal time and resources to conduct

Question 40

In the process of designing a research project, what is the initial step?

Accepted Answer

Identifying the research topic

Answer

Conducting a literature review

Answer

Deciding on the research question or hypothesis

Answer

Choosing the appropriate research design

Question 41

In selecting a research method, which factor is paramount?

Accepted Answer

The research question

Answer

The researcher's financial constraints

Answer

The researcher's personal inclinations

Question 42

Examine the ethical considerations surrounding the use of social media data in research. Discuss issues related to privacy, consent, and data ownership.

Accepted Answer

Researchers must obtain explicit consent from individuals whose data is used in research.

Answer

Social media data should be off-limits for research due to inherent ethical concerns.

Answer

Data ownership belongs solely to the platform where it's collected, absolving researchers of ownership concerns.

Question 43

How do qualitative research methods enhance our understanding of intricate social phenomena that quantitative data alone cannot fully capture?

Accepted Answer

Qualitative methods offer detailed, in-depth insights into personal experiences and subjective viewpoints.

Answer

Qualitative methods are less rigorous than quantitative methods and can yield biased results.

Answer

Qualitative methods are only appropriate for small-scale studies and cannot be used for large-scale data collection.

Question 44

How does the literature review contribute to the research process, particularly in crafting a compelling research proposal?

Accepted Answer

The literature review helps researchers develop a strong research proposal by providing a thorough understanding of the research topic, pinpointing knowledge gaps, and establishing the study's originality and significance.

Answer

The literature review is only relevant for qualitative research methods.

Answer

The literature review's sole purpose is to identify research gaps.

Question 45

Discuss the significance of data analysis in the research process, elaborating on the diverse types of data analysis techniques and their appropriate applications in different research contexts.

Accepted Answer

In the research process, data analysis is essential for extracting meaningful insights from raw data, facilitating hypothesis testing, and verifying research findings.

Answer

Data analysis is a marginal step in research, only applicable when descriptive statistics are required.

Answer

The main purpose of data analysis is to convert raw data into a more manageable format for storage and retrieval.

Answer

Data analysis is unnecessary in research when research questions are exclusively qualitative.

Question 46

How can a researcher's background, including their personal experiences and biases, potentially affect the way they interpret and present qualitative research findings?

Accepted Answer

A researcher's background can potentially influence both the interpretation and presentation of qualitative research findings.

Answer

A researcher's background has no impact on the interpretation or presentation of qualitative research findings.

Answer

A researcher's background only affects the interpretation of qualitative research findings, not the presentation.

Answer

A researcher's background only affects the presentation of qualitative research findings, not the interpretation.

Question 47

Which of the following data collection methods is considered particularly suitable for gathering rich, in-depth qualitative data?

Accepted Answer

Interviews

Answer

Surveys

Answer

Experiments

Answer

Content analysis

Question 48

Which measure of central tendency represents the value that occurs most frequently in a dataset?

Accepted Answer

Mode

Answer

Mean

Answer

Median

Answer

Range

Question 49

In hypothesis testing, a null hypothesis typically suggests that:

Accepted Answer

There is no statistically significant relationship between the variables

Answer

There is a statistically significant relationship between the variables

Answer

The research question is not answerable through the study

Answer

The results of the study are inconclusive

Question 50

The process of systematically reviewing and evaluating existing research literature is known as:

Accepted Answer

Literature review

Answer

Meta-analysis

Answer

Historiography

Answer

Bibliometrics

Question 51

How does reflexivity in qualitative research enhance the reliability of the findings?

Accepted Answer

It enables the researcher to critically examine their assumptions and potential biases.

Answer

It eliminates the researcher's biases from affecting the research process.

Answer

It provides a framework for researchers to justify their methodological choices.

Question 52

Rephrased: What is the main goal of hypothesis testing in statistical analysis?

Accepted Answer

To determine whether there is **sufficient evidence** to support a research claim

Answer

To estimate the **probability** of an event occurring

Answer

To compare the **means** of two or more groups

Answer

To test the **validity** of a model

Question 53

Which of the following is a type of research design used to study phenomena over time, tracking changes in variables?

Accepted Answer

Longitudinal

Answer

Cross-sectional

Answer

Experimental

Answer

Mixed-methods

Question 54

When collecting data for research, it is essential to prioritize which of the following principles?

Accepted Answer

Validity and reliability of data

Answer

Cost-effectiveness of the data collection methods

Answer

Convenience of data collection for researchers

Answer

Quantity of data collected

Question 55

Which software is widely used in social sciences for statistical data analysis and data visualization?

Accepted Answer

SPSS

Answer

Stata

Answer

MATLAB

Answer

Excel

Question 56

A research hypothesis can be described as:

Accepted Answer

A tentative statement that predicts the relationship between variables

Answer

A statement of fact based on existing knowledge

Answer

A question that the research aims to answer

Answer

A summary of the research findings

Question 57

Which of the following is the initial step in the research design process?

Accepted Answer

Research question identification

Answer

Hypothesis formulation

Answer

Data collection

Answer

Literature review

Question 58

Which type of research design provides the strongest evidence of a cause-and-effect relationship?

Accepted Answer

Experimental

Answer

Quasi-experimental

Answer

Correlational

Answer

Observational

Question 59

What is the main purpose of using a sampling frame?

Accepted Answer

To ensure that the sample is representative of the population

Answer

To increase the sample size

Answer

To eliminate sampling bias

Answer

To determine the sampling method

Question 60

Which measure is used to assess the internal consistency of a research instrument?

Accepted Answer

Cronbach's alpha

Answer

Face validity

Answer

Content validity

Answer

Inter-rater reliability

Question 61

How can researchers effectively communicate complex research findings to policymakers and the general public?

Accepted Answer

Simplify and explain findings without losing accuracy or important details

Answer

Use technical terms to maintain academic credibility

Answer

Avoid using visuals and graphics that might oversimplify the data

Answer

Target only highly educated audiences who are more likely to understand the findings

Question 62

When choosing a research design, which factor is LEAST important?

Accepted Answer

The researcher's personal preference

Answer

The research question's purpose

Answer

Available resources

Answer

The characteristics of the study population

Question 63

The primary purpose of using a research design is to:

Accepted Answer

Define the research question and objectives.

Answer

Ensure the reproducibility of the research.

Answer

Collect data efficiently.

Answer

Analyze data accurately.

Question 64

Interviews are a data collection method best suited for gathering:

Accepted Answer

Qualitative data.

Answer

Quantitative data.

Answer

Mixed-methods data.

Answer

Observational data.