Research Methodology MCQs With Answers

The correct answer is "all of the above" because our attempts to learn about the world we live in can come from various sources. Direct experience allows us to learn through firsthand observation and interaction with the world. Tradition refers to the knowledge and beliefs passed down through generations, which shape our understanding of the world. Direct personal inquiry involves seeking knowledge through questioning, investigation, and exploration. Authority refers to learning from experts, teachers, or trusted sources who have expertise in a particular field. Therefore, all these sources contribute to our attempts to learn about the world.

The correct answer suggests that as a professional social worker, one should be critical of knowledge based on tradition and authority. It emphasizes the importance of seeking evidence that can either support or challenge such knowledge. This approach promotes a critical and evidence-based practice, ensuring that decisions and actions are grounded in reliable information rather than blindly following tradition or authority.

The statement "all knowledge is considered provisional" is true about the scientific method. This means that scientific knowledge is always subject to change and revision based on new evidence and discoveries. Scientists understand that their current understanding of the world is not absolute and can be improved upon with further research and experimentation. This principle of provisionality allows for the advancement of scientific knowledge over time.

The correct answer is "all of the above". According to the scientific method, all knowledge should be provisional, meaning it is subject to change as new evidence emerges. It should also be subject to refutation, meaning it is open to being disproven or challenged by further research. Additionally, knowledge should be based on evidence supported by objective observations, ensuring that it is reliable and unbiased. Therefore, all these characteristics are essential for knowledge to align with the scientific method.

Practitioners engaged in evidence-based practice are critical thinkers who continuously seek and evaluate evidence as an integral part of their professional development. They question practices that are based solely on tradition or authority and rely on their own judgment and the available evidence to support their decision-making. Therefore, the correct answer is "All of the above" as all the options listed are characteristics of practitioners engaged in evidence-based practice.

The statement "all knowledge is considered provisional" is true about the scientific method. This means that scientific knowledge is always subject to change and revision based on new evidence or findings. The scientific method involves formulating hypotheses, conducting experiments or observations, analyzing data, and drawing conclusions. It is a process of continuous learning and improvement, where knowledge is not considered absolute or final, but rather a working understanding that can be modified or expanded upon as new information becomes available.

The social worker's severe criticism of the authors of the second study and her praise for the authors of the first study suggests that she is personally invested in the success of her new treatment procedure. This indicates ego-involvement in understanding, as she is unable to objectively evaluate the results of the studies and instead allows her personal feelings and interests to influence her judgment.

Dr. Howard's conclusion that all HIV/AIDS patients have contracted the disease through sexual activities is based on a sample from his neighborhood. This is an overgeneralization because he is assuming that the sample represents the entire population of HIV/AIDS patients, which may not be accurate. It is possible that there are other ways of contracting the disease that were not observed in his neighborhood sample. Therefore, his conclusion is not supported by sufficient evidence and is an error of overgeneralization.

The aim of social work research is not to produce knowledge for knowledge's sake. Social work research is conducted to provide practical knowledge that can guide social work practice and to provide information needed to alleviate human suffering and promote social welfare. The focus is on generating knowledge that can be applied in real-world contexts and contribute to positive social change.

The level of measurement for the variable "political party affiliation" with values "Democrat", "Independent", "Republican", or "Green" is nominal. This is because the variable represents categories or labels that do not have any inherent order or numerical value associated with them. Each category is distinct and there is no meaningful way to rank or quantify the differences between them.

The Hawthorne effect in observational research refers to people behaving differently because they are being observed. This phenomenon suggests that individuals may alter their behavior when they are aware that they are being studied, leading to inaccurate or biased results. This effect highlights the importance of considering the potential influence of observation on participants' behavior in research studies.

The variable "political ideology" is measured on a scale that has a clear order or ranking. The categories "Very Conservative," "Conservative," "Moderate," "Liberal," and "Very Liberal" can be arranged in a specific order from most conservative to most liberal. However, the categories do not have a consistent or equal distance between them, and there is no meaningful zero point. Therefore, the level of measurement for this variable is ordinal.

The correct answer is quantitative research method. This research technique focuses on obtaining precise and objective findings that can be generalized to a larger population. It involves collecting and analyzing numerical data using statistical methods to draw conclusions and make predictions. This approach is often used in scientific studies and experiments where the goal is to measure and quantify variables in order to establish cause-and-effect relationships.

A negative directional hypothesis suggests that there is a negative relationship between two variables, in this case, the amount of work and the amount of time available to spend money. It implies that as the amount of work increases, the amount of time available to spend money decreases.

A Likert Scale is a type of rating scale that is commonly used in surveys and research to measure attitudes or opinions. It allows respondents to indicate their level of agreement or disagreement with a series of statements by selecting from a range of response options, typically ranging from "strongly agree" to "strongly disagree". This scale helps to convert qualitative responses into quantitative data by assigning numerical values to the different response options.

Scientific evidence should be based on the teachings of authoritative scientists, as they are experts in their respective fields and can provide reliable information. Additionally, it should be based on systematic and comprehensive observations, which involve carefully planned and executed experiments or studies. These observations should also come from a large and diverse sample of observations to ensure that the results are representative of the broader population. Lastly, the observations should be gathered in ways that avoid the influence of researcher biases, ensuring that the data collected is objective and unbiased. Therefore, all of the above options are necessary for scientific evidence to be considered reliable.

The level of measurement for the variable "Political Ideology Scale" is interval. This is because the scale has a fixed measurement unit (the numbers 6-24) and the intervals between each value on the scale are equal. However, it is important to note that the scale does not have a true zero point, as there is no inherent meaning to a score of 0 on the political ideology scale.

If an increase in alcohol leads to an increase in risk-taking score, but there is another variable like sexual activity that also contributes to the risk-taking score, sexual activity is considered an extraneous variable. An extraneous variable is any variable other than the independent variable that can affect the dependent variable. In this case, alcohol is the independent variable, risk-taking score is the dependent variable, and sexual activity is an extraneous variable because it is an additional factor that can influence the risk-taking score.

The correct answer is control variable. In this scenario, gender is being used as a control variable because it is being manipulated to determine the effect of the intervention. The intervention is predicted to be effective among females and not males, so gender is being controlled to isolate its impact on the outcome. By holding gender constant, the researcher can focus on the intervention's effect without the influence of gender differences.

Meta analysis is the correct answer because it involves the process of collecting and analyzing data from multiple research studies to draw conclusions and make generalizations about a particular research topic. In this case, the researcher is conducting research on research by analyzing several research articles to understand how their findings are related. This process of synthesizing and comparing data from different studies is known as meta analysis.

The Professor measured the variable "feelings toward national health care insurance" using categories that have a specific order or ranking, such as "strongly agree", "agree", "indifferent", "disagree", and "strongly disagree". This indicates that the variable is being measured on an ordinal scale, where the categories have a natural order but the differences between them may not be equal.

The given scale treats IQ as an interval variable because it assigns numerical values to represent the levels of intelligence (scores). It also maintains the consistent intervals between these values, indicating that the difference between a score of 180 and 0 is the same as the difference between a score of 90 and 30. However, it does not have a true zero point, as a score of 0 does not indicate the absence of intelligence. Therefore, it cannot be considered a ratio variable.

When both the parents and the youths agree to participate in the research, the researcher should make the youths sign an assent form, which is a document that explains the study to the youths in a language and manner they can understand. This ensures that the youths are aware of their participation and can provide their voluntary consent. Additionally, the researcher should also make the adults sign a consent form, which outlines the study's objectives, potential implications, and the benefits and risks involved. This ensures that the adults are fully informed and give their voluntary consent for their children's participation. Therefore, both options C and D are appropriate in this scenario.

The term "provisional" suggests that research conclusions are not final or absolute, but rather open to revision or modification. This means that the findings are not considered definitive or unquestionable, and are subject to further evaluation and scrutiny. Researchers understand that new evidence or alternative interpretations may emerge, leading to a need for reassessment or adjustment of their conclusions. This recognition of the potential for change and review reflects the dynamic and evolving nature of social science research.

The level of measurement for the variable "Number of Presidential Elections In Which Respondent Voted in Entire Life" is ratio. Ratio level of measurement is the highest level of measurement where the data is measured on a scale with a fixed and meaningful zero point. In this case, the number of presidential elections the respondent voted in has a meaningful zero point (0 elections) and can be measured in whole numbers.

Ratio is the highest level of measurement in which there is an exact difference between attribute and values. In ratio measurement, the data is not only categorized and ordered, but it also has a meaningful and consistent interval between values. Additionally, ratio measurement allows for the presence of a true zero point, meaning that ratios and proportions can be calculated. This level of measurement provides the most precise and comprehensive information about the data.

The level of salary is considered an ordinal measurement because it represents a ranking or ordering of salaries from lowest to highest. In an ordinal measurement, the values have a meaningful order but the differences between the values may not be equal or meaningful. In this case, the different salary levels can be ranked based on their magnitude, but the difference between two salary levels may not necessarily represent the same difference in terms of purchasing power or value.

Inductive reasoning involves inferring something about a whole group or class of objects from a knowledge of only a few members of that group. This type of reasoning is based on observations and patterns, and it allows us to make generalizations or predictions about the entire group based on the information we have. It is different from deductive reasoning, which starts with general principles or theories and applies them to specific cases. The term "both b & e" is not a valid option as it does not accurately describe the concept of inductive reasoning.

Methodology refers to the systematic approach or set of methods used to conduct research or investigate a particular subject. It involves the process of finding out or discovering information through various scientific techniques and procedures. Therefore, the answer "the science of finding out" accurately describes the nature of methodology.

Interval is the lowest level of measurement in which there is an exact difference between attribute and values. In interval measurement, the values have a meaningful numerical difference between them, but there is no true zero point. This means that the values can be ordered and the differences between them can be calculated, but there is no absolute starting point or reference point. Nominal and ordinal levels of measurement do not have exact differences between attribute and values, while ratio level of measurement has an exact difference and a true zero point. Therefore, the correct answer is interval.

The correct answer is "interval." Interval measurement is a type of measurement where the data is ordered and the intervals between the values are meaningful and consistent. In the given question, the IQ of adults is being measured, which is a continuous variable that can be quantified on a scale. The IQ scale has equal intervals between the values, allowing for meaningful comparisons and calculations. Therefore, it falls under the category of interval measurement.

Evidence-based practice involves integrating the best available evidence with clinical expertise and the individual patient's values and preferences. By incorporating client characteristics, practitioners can tailor their interventions to meet the specific needs and circumstances of each individual. This ensures that the treatment approach is personalized and takes into account factors such as the client's age, gender, cultural background, and medical history. By considering these client characteristics, practitioners can provide more effective and individualized care, leading to better outcomes for the client.

The correct order of the research designs from lowest to highest is exploratory, descriptive, explanatory, and experimental. Exploratory research is conducted to gain insights and generate hypotheses, while descriptive research aims to describe and analyze a phenomenon. Explanatory research seeks to explain the relationships between variables, and experimental research involves manipulating variables to establish cause and effect. Therefore, exploratory research is the lowest level as it focuses on exploration, while experimental research is the highest level as it involves rigorous testing and manipulation of variables.

The question asks which of the given options is a nominal variable. A nominal variable is a categorical variable that does not have any inherent order or numerical value. Education, age, and employment status are all potential examples of nominal variables, as they represent categories or groups rather than numerical values. Therefore, the correct answer is "Not enough information to know" because it is not clear which of the options is a nominal variable without further context or clarification.

Conceptualization is the process of refining and specifying abstract concepts. It involves moving from vague ideas about what you want to study to being able to recognize and measure those concepts. Through conceptualization, researchers develop specific research procedures that allow them to make empirical observations of things that represent those concepts in the real world. This process helps to clarify and define abstract concepts, making them more concrete and measurable.

The given correct answer suggests that if social workers are well trained, they will be effective. This assumption is based on the statement that "reviews of research on social work practice effectiveness show that there are doubts about the effectiveness of social work practice." If there are doubts about the effectiveness, it implies that social workers may not be effective if they are not well trained. Therefore, the assumption is that with proper training, social workers will be effective in their practice.

The evidence about practice effectiveness will sometimes indicate what actions not to take. This means that the evidence may show that certain actions or interventions are not effective or may even be harmful in certain situations. It is important to consider this information when making decisions and to avoid using interventions that have been shown to be ineffective or harmful.

The correct answer suggests that social work practice consists largely of interventions and procedures that have not yet received adequate testing. This implies that there is a lack of sufficient research and evidence to determine the effectiveness of these interventions.

The variable "educational level" is measured as the last year in school completed, which means it can be quantified and has a meaningful zero point. This makes it a ratio level of measurement. In ratio measurement, the values have a fixed and equal unit of measurement, and ratios between values are meaningful.

The saturation point refers to the stage in the data collection process where new information is obtained. It signifies that enough data has been gathered to adequately address the research question or objective. At this point, collecting additional data may not yield significant or novel insights. The saturation point is crucial because it helps researchers determine when they have reached a point of data sufficiency and can stop collecting more information.