Research Methodology Multiple Choice Questions
1. The arithmetic mean cannot be computed for ordinal scale data. (True / False)
Answer: True
2. Branded shirts are more expensive than unbranded shirts – this is an example of effective components. (True/False)
Answer: False
3. The ___ scale measurement has a natural zero.
Answer: Ratio
4. The difference between the score on the ___ scale does not have a meaningful interpretation.
Answer: Ordinal
5. Coding and analysis of attitudinal data obtained through the use of a pure graphic rating scale can be done very quickly. (True/False)
Answer: False
6. A comparative rating scale attempts to provide a common frame of reference to all respondents. (True/False)
Answer: True
7. The Likert scale is a single-item scale. (True/False)
Answer: False
8. The Likert scale is a balanced rating scale with an ___ number of categories and a neutral point.
Answer: Odd
9. In the ___ scale, if an attribute is twice as important as some other attribute it receives twice as many points.
Answer: Constant sum rating
10. A scale is said to be valid if it measures what it is supposed to measure. (True/False)
Answer: True
11. A scale is said to be reliable if it is free from systematic errors. (True/False)
Answer: False
12. The ___ of a scale can be increased by adding more questions to it.
Answer: Sensitivity
13. A focus group discussion generally involves a ___ who steers the discussion on the topic under study.
Answer: Moderator
14. Online focus groups are conducted in ___.
Answer: Web-based chat rooms
15. The ideal number of participants in a focus group discussion is
(a5 2–6
(b) 6–10
(c) 8–12
(d) 10–15
Answer: (c) 8–12
16. Special respondent sub-strata who are passionately involved with a brand or product category are known as
(a) Brand-obsessive group
(b) Online focus group
(c) Special focus group
(d) Brand ambassadors
Answer: (a) Brand-obsessive group
17. The interview method is a one-to-one interaction between ___ and ___.
Answer: Investigator/interviewer, the interviewee
18. The ___ interview has no defined guidelines.
Answer: Unstructured
19. When interviews are conducted with the help of the computer they are called ___.
Answer: Computer-assisted personal interviewing (CAPI)
20. The questionnaire can be used to collect ___ data from a ___ of subjects.
Answer: Primary, sample
21. The questionnaire method follows a predetermined ___.
Answer: Sequence
22. Exploratory studies should most often make use of the ___ method
Answer: Unstructured interview
23. The questionnaire should ___ the respondent and result in a ___ response.
Answer: Encourage, meaningful
24. In case the population under study is widely scattered, one makes use of the ___.
Answer: Questionnaire
25. In case the population is illiterate it is best to use the ___.
Answer: Schedule
26. The formalized-unconcealed questionnaire is the most difficult to interpret. (True/False)
Answer: False
27. The process of questionnaire design is called the schedule (True/False)
Answer: False
28. The non-formalized, concealed questionnaire is the most frequently used questionnaire. (True/False)
Answer: False
29. Sampling control is highest in
(a) A web-based survey
(b) E-mail based survey
(c) Schedule
(d) Mail/fax survey
Answer: (c) Schedule
30. The most cost-effective questionnaire administration method is through
(a) Web-based
(b) Schedule
(c) Telephone survey
(d) Mail survey
Answer: (a) Web-based
31. Response rate is highest in a
(a) Mail interview
(b) Schedule
(c) Email survey
(d) Web-based survey
Answer: (b) Schedule
32. Interviewer bias is high in a telephonic survey. (True/False)
Answer: True
33. Qualifying questions are also termed as filter questions. (True/False)
Answer: True
34. ‘Are you a vegetarian?—Yes/No’ is an example of an open-ended question. (True/False)
Answer: False
35. ‘Do you sing and dance?’ is an example of a double-barrelled question. (True/False)
Answer: True
36. ‘Do you not think that all fairness creams make false claims? –Yes/No’ is an example of a loaded question. (True/False)
Answer: False
37. The questionnaire has many advantages. Which of these is not one of them?
(a) Adaptability
(b) Anonymity
(c) Fast and economical
(d) Applicable to all sections of society
Answer: (d) Applicable to all sections of society
38. If the investigator distributes the questionnaire to his friends and acquaintances or if there is self-selection of the subjects, it could lead to
(a) Lower response
(b) Higher response
(c) Skewed sample response
(d) None of the above
Answer: (c) Skewed sample response
39. The chance of researcher bias is very ___ in the questionnaire method.
Answer: low
40. The difference between the sample result and the results obtained through a census using the identical procedure is known as sampling error. (True/False)
Answer: True
41. A population that is being sampled is also called the universe. (True/False)
Answer: True
42. Which of these is not a sampling frame?
(a) List of registered voters in a constituency
(b) Subscribers listed in a telephone directory
(c) The total number of students registered with a university
(d) 30 students who are surveyed of a class of 150 MBA students
Answer: (d) 30 students who are surveyed of a class of 150 MBA students
43. A subset of the population is called
(a) Element
(b) Sampling unit
(c) Sample
(d) Sampling frame
Answer: (c) Sample
44. A judgmental sample provides a better representation of the population than a probability sample. (True/False)
Answer: True
45. Non-probability methods are those in which the sample units are chosen purposefully. (True/False)
Answer: True
46. The criteria for stratification should be related to the ___ of the study.
Answer: Objectives
47. Only the initial sample unit is chosen randomly in a ___ sampling
Answer: Systematic
48. For a 90% confidence, the value of Z would be ___.
Answer: 1.645
49. The size of the sample depends upon the size of the population. (True/False)
Answer: False
50. The most commonly used approach for determining the size of the sample is the ___ approach covered under inferential statistics.
Answer: Confidence interval
51. The size of the sample is directly proportional to the ___ in the population and the value of Z for a confidence interval.
Answer: variability
52. The editing process is carried out at two levels, the first of these is field editing and the second is ___.
Answer: Central in-house editing
53. Going back to the respondent to check any errors during questionnaire administration is known as ___.
Answer: Backtracking
54. Backtracking is best suited for industrial surveys. (True/False)
Answer: True
55. Plug value refers to the fudged value that an investigator might put for a missing response. (True/False)
Answer: False
56. The smallest code entry a researcher makes in a codebook is a field. (True/False)
Answer: True
57. Several fields together can be clubbed into a record. (True/False)
Answer: True
58. In a data matrix every column represents a single case. (True/False)
Answer: False
59. All categories formulated for data entry must be mutually exclusive. (True/False)
Answer: True
60. The process of identifying and denoting a numeral to the responses given by a respondent is called___
Answer: Coding
61. In case the question is a Likert type question and it has agreement/ disagreement on a five-point scale, the number of corresponding columns in the codebook would be ___
Answer: One
62. Test tabulation is conducted on open-ended questions. (True/False)
Answer: False
63. For classifying nominal data one can tabulate using class intervals. (True/False)
Answer: False
64. Numerical data, like the ratio scale data, can be classified into
(a) Class intervals
(b) Codes
(c) Fields
(d) Files
Answer: (a) Class intervals
65. 10–15 years; 16–20 years; 21 years and beyond is an example of
(a) Inclusive class interval
(b) Exclusive class interval
(c) Class interval
(d) None of the above
Answer: (b) Inclusive class interval
66. Median can be computed for ordinal scale data. (True/False)
Answer: True
67. To carry out ___, the sample should be drawn at random.
Answer: Inferential analysis
68. The standard deviation as a measure of dispersion is independent of units of measurement. (True/False)
Answer: False
69. The range could be obtained from interval scale data. (True/False)
Answer: True
70. The positive square root of ___ is called standard deviation.
Answer: Variance
71. To compare the variability of two distributions, ___ can be used.
Answer: Coefficient of variation
72. The correlation coefficient can assume any value between 0 and 1. (True/False)
Answer: False
73. High association between two variables does not imply cause and effect relationship. (True/False)
Answer: True
74. In a cross table, the percentages should be computed in the direction of the ___ variable.
Answer: Independent
75. The first step in computing the percentages in a cross table is to identify ___ and ___ variables.
Answer: Dependent, independent
76. In basic research, the context is vast and the time period is flexible. (True/ false)
Answer: True
77. The research that is especially carried out to test and validate the study hypotheses is termed
(a) Fundamental resaeach
(b) Applied research
(c) Conclusive research
(d) Exploratory research
Answer: (c) Conclusive research
78. The research studies that explore the effect of one thing on another and more specifically, the effect of one variable on another are known as
(a) Causal research
(b) Applied research
(c) Conclusive research
(d) Exploratory research
Answer: (a) Causal research
79. Every research study always begins with a hypothesis. (True/ false)
Answer: False
80. The group of individuals from whom one needs to collect data for the study is called the sample. (True/ false)
Answer: True
81. The assumption about the expected result of the research is called the ___.
Answer: Hypothesis
82. The data collection methods may be classified into ___ and ___ data methods.
Answer: Primary, secondary
83. Marketing department of a business organization carries out researches related to:
(a) Product
(b) Pricing
(c) Promotion
(d) All the above
Answer: (d) All the above
84. Demand forecasting, and quality assurance and management are part of
(a) Personnel and human resource management
(b) Marketing function
(c) Financial and accounting research
(d) Production and operations management
Answer: (a) Production and operations management
85. The research study must follow a ___ plan for investigation.
Answer: Sequential
86. One of the most important aspects of a research study is that it must be ___ if one follows similar conditions.
Answer: Replicable
87. The management decision problem must be reduced to a ___ problem.
Answer: Research
88. A research problem can be defined as ___ in the decision makers’ existing body of knowledge which inhibits efficient decision making.
Answer: A gap
89. Simple research problems usually test ___ relationships.
Answer: Linear
90. Complex problems look at the interrelationship between ___ variables.
Answer: Multiple
91. The management problem is a difficulty face by the ___
Answer: Decision maker
92. The management research problem has to be converted into a ___ before it can be tested.
Answer: Research problem
93. The management decision problem can be tested, that is, subjected to research inquiry.
(True/ False)
Answer: False
94. How can students be made to learn the course on research methodology is a research problem. (True/False)
Answer: False
95. Which of these is not a step in the problem identification process?
(a) Discussion with subject experts
(b) Review of existing literature
(c) Theoretical foundation and model building
(d) Management decision making
Answer: (d) Management decision making
96. The Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (2001) and the Chicago Manual of Style (1993) are:
(a) Well known works on research
(b) Referencing style guides in management
(c) Publishing journals
(d) Management journals
Answer: (b) Referencing style guides in management
97. A valuable source of problem formulation is based on informal interviews conducted with industry experts. (True/False)
Answer: True
98. Formulation of the research problem does not require primary data collection. (True/False)
Answer: False
99. The causal variable is also called the ___ variable.
Answer: Independent
100. The ___ variable is also called the effect.
Answer: Dependent
101. If one evaluates the impact of the pedagogy of Prof. N S on the research methods course grades of students, then Prof. N S, here, is the unit of analysis. (True/False)
Answer: False
102. Moderating variables are the ones that have a strong effect on the relationship between the independent and dependent variables. (True/False)
Answer: True
103. The hypotheses are always made in question form. (True/False)
Answer: False
104. The hypotheses must be measurable and quantifiable. (True/False)
Answer: True
105. The hypotheses that a talk about the relation between two or more variables is called___ hypotheses.
Answer: Relational
106. If one is making a proposition about the magnitude or behavior of a particular population, we call it a ___ hypothesis.
Answer: Descriptive
107. A formal document that presents the research objectives, design of achieving these objectives, and the expected outcomes/deliverables of the study is called
(a) Research design
(b) Research proposal
(c) Research hypothesis
(d) Research report
Answer: (b) Research proposal
108. In a research proposal, the time-bound dissemination of the study with the major phases of the research has to be presented using the
(a) CPM
(b) GANTT charts
(c) PERT charts
(d) All the above
Answer: (d) All the above
109. Academic proposals require extensive literature review. (True/False)
Answer: True
110. External organizational proposals are generally conducted by external research agencies. (True/False)
Answer: True
111. The execution details of the research question to be investigated are referred to as the ___.
Answer: Research design
112. Research designs come ___ the problem formulation stage.
Answer: After
113. Researcher design is the same as the research method. (True/false)
Answer: False
114. The formulated design must ensure:
(a) Converting the research question and the hypotheses into measurable variables
(b) Specifying the process to complete the above task
(c) Specifying the ‘control mechanism(s)’
(d) All the above
Answer: (d) All the above
115. Previously collected findings in facts and figures which have been authenticated and published are referred to as ___.
Answer: Secondary data sources
116. A carefully selected small set of individuals representative of the larger respondent population under study is called a ___.
Answer: Focus group
117. The case study method is generally focused on a single unit of analysis. (True/False)
Answer: True
118. Expert opinion survey and respondent group discussions together form a two-tiered research design. (True/False)
Answer: False
119. A research study that tracks the profile of a typical social networking user is an example of an exploratory research design. (True/False)
Answer: False
120. If one wants to assess changes in investment behavior of the general public over time, the best design available to the researcher is a longitudinal design. (True/False)
Answer: True
121. A study to analyze the profile of the supporters of Anna Hazare would need a cross-sectional research design. (True/False)
Answer: True
122. Married couples are the unit of analysis in a cohort analysis. (True/False)
Answer: False
123. Different groups of people tested over a single stretch of time is a special characteristic of a longitudinal design. (True/False)
Answer: False
124. The research variable in a longitudinal research design is studied over fixed intervals in time. (True/False)
Answer: True
125. Descriptive designs do not require any quantitative statistical analysis. (True/False)
Answer: False
126. ___ validity refers to the generalization of the sample results to that of the population.
Answer: External
127. Test units are selected at random in a quasi-experimental design. (True/ False)
Answer: False
128. There cannot be more than two independent variables in a factorial experiment. (True/False)
Answer: False
129. There is no possibility of error in true experimental research design. (True/False)
Answer: False
130. In the true experimental design and statistical design, the respondents are selected at random which may not be the case in real life. (True/False)
Answer: True
131. The data that is always collected first in a research study is called ___ data.
Answer: Primary
132. ___ data is not always specific to the research problem under study.
Answer: Secondary
133. Census data is an example of the primary data source. (True/False)
Answer: False
134. Sampling frame of the respondent population is an example of secondary data. (True/False)
Answer: True
135. Primary data methods have a significant time and cost advantage over secondary data. (True/False)
Answer: False
136. Cash register receipt is an example of ___ secondary data sources.
Answer: Internal
137. Customer grievance data available with the company is an important source of ___ data.
Answer: Secondary
138. Statistical abstracts of India are prepared by ___.
Answer: Central Statistical Organization
139. The ___ prepares the National Sample Survey (NSS).
Answer: Ministry of Planning
140. Poor’s Statistical Services is a government publication on the people below the poverty line.(True/False)
Answer: False
141. Syndicate sources are periodic in nature.(True/False)
Answer: True
142. Observation is a direct method of collecting
(a) Primary data
(b) Secondary data
(c) Both
(d) Published data
Answer: (a) Primary data
143. Observing the remains or the leftovers of the consumers’ basket is referred to as
(a) Structured observation
(b) Unstructured observation
(c) Trace analysis
(d) Mechanical observation
Answer: (c) Trace analysis
144. In case one wants to know why some people use plastic bags for carrying their groceries even after the imposition of a ban on plastic bags by the Delhi Government, one may use the observation method to collect the data. (True/False)
Answer: False
145. Usually the observation method entails that the observation is disguised, i.e., carried out without the respondent’s knowledge. (True/False)
Answer: False
146. The researcher who is conducting the research must be ___ and neutral in approach.
Answer: Objective
147. Research always requires a ___ and ___ method of inquiry
Answer: Structured, sequential
148. Research is done for ___ existing theories or arriving at new ___
Answer: Proving, models
149. An important aspect of business research is its ___ assisting nature.
Answer: Decision
150. Applied research is the kind of research where one needs to apply specific statistical procedures. (True/ false)
Answer: False