SYBA Sociology – Research Methodology (Unit 1 & 2): 51 MCQs with answers

Systematic and scientific study of society

Social research is defined as the systematic and scientific study of society, social behaviour, social relationships, and social problems. It is not casual opinion or a way to prove personal beliefs.

Studying social problems

Studying social problems is one of the main aims of social research. Low attendance is a social problem affecting students, and the researcher aims to understand it.

Personal bias

Personal bias is the opposite of objectivity, which is a principle of social research. The principles include objectivity, scientific approach, accuracy, reliability, validity, systematic procedure, ethical behaviour, and confidentiality.

Interview

An interview is a method of collecting information through direct interaction between a researcher and a respondent. The researcher personally asking questions indicates an interview.

Questionnaire

A questionnaire is a systematically prepared list of questions used to collect information from respondents. A Google Form is an online questionnaire.

Observation

Observation is a method of collecting information by systematically watching and recording people's behaviour or social situations. The researcher is watching students' interactions.

Open-ended questionnaire

In an open-ended questionnaire, respondents are allowed to answer in their own words, which provides detailed responses.

Structured interview

In a structured interview, the researcher prepares questions in advance and asks them in a fixed order, making responses easy to compare.

True

Social research is systematic and scientific — it uses planned steps and recognised methods rather than casual opinion.

Social research is systematic and scientific.

The correct option is true because social research is characterized by its systematic and scientific approach, unlike everyday opinions which are often casual and subjective.

Create personal opinions

The correct option is 'Create personal opinions' because social research aims to produce objective knowledge rather than personal views.

A specific issue to investigate

The correct option is true because a research problem is a specific issue or question that guides the research process.

A tentative prediction

The correct option is true because a hypothesis is a tentative statement about the relationship between variables that can be tested.

Observation

The correct option is true because observation is one of the three core tools used in social research for data collection.

Selecting a smaller group from a larger population

The correct option is true because sampling involves selecting a smaller group (sample) from a larger group (population) for study.

Objectivity

The correct option is true because objectivity is the principle that requires researchers to avoid personal bias in their studies.

Applied Research

The correct option is true because applied research is specifically aimed at addressing and solving practical social issues.

Selection of research topic

The correct option is true because the first step in the research process is to select a broad area of interest for study.

Confidentiality

The correct option is true because confidentiality is a key ethical principle that ensures participants' private information is protected.

Participant observation

In participant observation, the researcher becomes a participant in the group or activity being studied. Joining the student group makes this participant observation.

Non-participant observation

In non-participant observation, the researcher observes the group without participating in its activities. The researcher is watching without joining.

How does social media use affect the academic performance of college students?

A research problem is a specific issue, question, or difficulty that a researcher wants to investigate systematically. 'Social Media' is a broad topic; the specific question is the research problem.

Study time

In this hypothesis, study time is the independent variable and examination marks is the dependent variable. The independent variable is the one that is presumed to influence the other.

200 students

The sample is the smaller group selected from the larger population. Here, 200 students are selected from the population of 2,000.

It gives direction to the research

A hypothesis gives direction to research, helps in data collection, identifies relationships, helps analysis, tests theories, focuses research, and helps draw conclusions. It is not a final conclusion.

It should be testable and specific

A good hypothesis should be clear, specific, testable, logical, related to variables, tentative, and verifiable. It is not a final conclusion.

To solve practical social problems

Applied research focuses on solving practical social problems, making it distinct from basic research, which aims to develop theories.

It helps in formulating the hypothesis

The literature review is crucial as it helps in formulating the hypothesis by providing context and identifying gaps in existing research.

A concept is an idea; a variable is a measurable form of that idea

A concept is an abstract idea, while a variable is the measurable form of that idea, allowing for analysis and comparison.

It must be clear, specific, and testable

An effective hypothesis must be clear, specific, and testable to guide the research process and allow for evidence-based conclusions.

Confidentiality

Confidentiality is crucial in social research as it ensures that participants' private information is protected, maintaining trust and ethical standards.

Qualitative research focuses on experiences and meanings

Qualitative research focuses on understanding experiences and meanings, whereas quantitative research relies on numerical data and statistics.

To select a smaller group from a larger population

Sampling involves selecting a smaller group from a larger population, making research more manageable and efficient.

Exploratory research seeks to understand new issues

Exploratory research is aimed at understanding new or poorly understood issues, while explanatory research focuses on explaining relationships and causes.

It guarantees that methods and findings are dependable

Reliability ensures that the methods and findings of social research are dependable, allowing for consistent results across different studies.

It provides direction and focus for the research

A clear research problem provides direction and focus, ensuring that the study remains manageable and relevant to the research objectives.

Validity

The principle of validity concerns whether the study accurately reflects the relationship between social media use and academic performance. The researcher must ensure that their findings truly represent this relationship rather than merely suggesting a correlation.

Mixed-Methods Research

Mixed-methods research combines both qualitative and quantitative approaches to provide a more comprehensive understanding of the research problem, in this case, the effects of poverty on educational attainment.

Research Design

After formulating the hypothesis, the next step is to develop a research design that outlines how to test the hypothesis, including the methods for data collection and analysis.

Random Sampling

Random sampling involves selecting individuals from a larger population in such a way that each individual has an equal chance of being chosen, which helps to eliminate bias.

Informed Consent

Informed consent is crucial in observational research, especially when observing individuals without their knowledge. The researcher must ensure that participants are aware of the study and consent to being observed.

The hypothesis must be testable and specific.

The correct option is 'The hypothesis must be testable and specific.' A good hypothesis needs to be clear and allow for empirical testing, which is essential for drawing valid conclusions.

Explain social phenomena and help society make better decisions.

The correct option is 'Explain social phenomena and help society make better decisions.' This reflects the aim of understanding the underlying reasons for a social issue.

Formulate the research problem.

The correct option is 'Formulate the research problem.' Identifying a gap leads to a specific question that guides the entire research process.

Mixed Methods Research

The correct option is 'Mixed Methods Research.' This design combines qualitative and quantitative approaches to provide a more comprehensive understanding of the research question.

Explanatory Research

The correct option is 'Explanatory Research.' This design aims to explain the cause-and-effect relationship between the teaching method and student performance.

Higher exam scores

The correct option is 'Higher exam scores.' The dependent variable is the outcome that is measured in response to changes in the independent variable, which in this case is study time.

Structured Observation

The correct option is 'Structured Observation.' This method involves observing behavior without interference, allowing for systematic data collection.

Scientific approach

The correct option is 'Scientific approach.' This principle ensures that research is conducted in a systematic and methodical manner.

Systematic Sampling

The correct option is 'Systematic Sampling.' This method involves selecting samples based on a fixed interval from a list.

Validity

The correct option is 'Validity.' This principle emphasizes the need to ensure that the study accurately measures what it claims to measure, distinguishing correlation from causation.