Research Methods & Statistics Worksheet
Module 1: Introduction To Research Methods
1.1 Introduction to research process:
Questions-
[Link] research (According to Kerlinger and Burns)
[Link] is having a knowledge base of research methodology important?
[Link] are the three main phases of the research process?
[Link] is the main function of a research design?
[Link] many steps are there in the research process model? List them.
MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTIONS:
1. The research process is best described as a:
a) Linear path
b) Random procedure
c) Journey undertaken to discover knowledge
d) Trial-and-error process
2. The first step in the research process is:
a) Collecting data
b) Formulating a research problem
c) Writing a proposal
d) Selecting a sample
3. How many main phases does the research process consist of?
a) Two
b) Three
c) Four
d) Five
4. “Deciding what to research” belongs to which phase?
a) Phase I
b) Phase II
c) Phase III
d) Phase IV
5. “Planning a research study” includes which of the following steps?
a) Selecting a sample and collecting data
b) Formulating a hypothesis and preparing a research design
c) Data analysis and interpretation
d) Report writing.
6. The main function of a research design is to:
a) Define the research problem
b) Provide a framework for data collection and analysis
c) Write the final report
d) Collect data from the sample
7. A good research design should be:
a) Broad, flexible, and expensive
b) Valid, workable, and manageable
c) Rigid, specific, and limited
d) Random and subjective
8. The purpose of pre-testing a research instrument is to:
a) Increase the sample size
b) Reduce cost
c) Check reliability and identify issues before actual use
d) Eliminate the need for data analysis
9. Sampling is important because:
a) It ensures bias in data
b) It saves time and resources while maintaining accuracy
c) It complicates the study
d) It eliminates the need for data collection
10. The main objective of any sampling design is to:
a) Collect more data
b) Obtain accurate and reliable estimates
c) Test hypotheses
d) Reduce cost only
11. The research proposal primarily helps to:
a) Communicate findings
b) Present the plan of study
c) Analyse data
d) Draw conclusions
12. Which of the following steps involves actual fieldwork?
a) Data collection
b) Research design
c) Sampling
d) Proposal writing
13. Processing and displaying data involve:
a) Designing a questionnaire
b) Pre-testing the tool
c) Coding, tabulation, and summarising
d) Conducting literature review
14. The final step of the research process is:
a) Interpreting results
b) Writing a research report
c) Data collection
d) Analysing the sample
15. Which of the following statements about the research process is true?
a) It must be followed in a strict, fixed sequence
b) It is flexible, and steps may overlap
c) It begins with data analysis
d) It does not require planning
16. The deciding phase in research mainly focuses on:
a) Choosing the title of the report
b) Selecting the problem and defining objectives
c) Collecting and tabulating data
d) Evaluating results
17. The planning phase includes which of the following?
a) Data collection and analysis
b) Conceptualising design, constructing tools, sampling, and proposal writing
c) Problem identification only
d) Report writing and feedback
18. The undertaking phase of research involves:
a) Hypothesis formation and proposal writing
b) Data collection, analysis, and report writing
c) Literature review
d) Research design selection
19. Coding data is usually performed:
a) Before hypothesis formulation
b) During field testing
c) During data processing
d) While reviewing literature
20. A research report helps to:
a) Communicate findings to others
b) Design the sampling method
c) Identify the problem
d) Collect data
1.2 Types of research:
1. Define experimental method.
2. What is a hypothesis and why is it necessary?
3. Define Independent variable.
4. Define Dependent variable
5. What does the term 'Experimental Group' and 'Control group' mean?
6. What is Random assignment?
7. What are the steps involved in Experimental Research method?
8. What are the Benefits and Advantages of Experimental method?
9. What are the limitations of experimental method?
10. What does the prefix "quasi" mean in the context of quasi-experimental research?
11. What is the main difference between true experimental designs and quasi-experimental designs?
12. In what settings are quasi-experiments most likely to be conducted?
13. What are some types of quasi-experimental designs?
14. What are the advantages of quasi- experiment method?
15. What are some limitations of quasi- experiment method?
16. What is an Exploratory research method and why is it mainly used for?
17. What is the role of concept testing in exploratory research?
18. What are the four categories of exploratory research?
19. What is a potential drawback of using case studies in exploratory research?
20. What are the advantages of exploratory research?
21. What are the disadvantages of Exploratory research?
1.3 Methods of data collection
1. Define data.
2. List types of data.
3. List sources of data.
4. How is primary data collected?
5. What are the advantages of primary data?
6. What are the disadvantages of primary data?
7. Name two common sources of primary data?
8. Characteristics of an interview.
9. What is the process of the interview?
10. Define interview.
11. List categories of interview according to its degree of flexibility and specificity.
12. Two essential characteristics of in-depth interviewing?
13. What is the difference between focus group interviews and in-depth interviews?
14. When are oral histories used?
15. What situation is suitable for the narrative method?
16. List advantages and disadvantages of the interview method.
17. What is an interview schedule? What kind of method involves an interview schedule?
18. When are structured interviews useful?
19. Write down steps involved in the survey method.
20. In what ways questionnaires can be administered to the sample?
21. Types of survey research?
22. What does structured questions include?
23. When to use unstructured questions in a survey?
24. List different methods or techniques of the survey research method.
25. Explain the different issues of survey research methods.
26. What is the difference between primary and secondary data?
27. What are sources of secondary data?
28. List down advantages and advantages of secondary data.
1.4 Sampling techniques used in research
1. Key terminology in sampling.
2. List different techniques for selecting samples.
3. What are the principles of sampling?
4. List methods of drawing a random sample.
5. Difference between probability and non-probability sampling techniques.
6. Two characteristics of probability sampling.
7. Difference between sampling with and without replacement.
8. What is multi-stage cluster sampling?
9. What is the difference between judgemental and expert sampling?
10. What is the difference in sampling process in quantitative and qualitative research?
11. What is the basis for stratification of sample population?
12. What is the difference between quota and accidental sampling?
13. What are advantages and disadvantages of snowball sampling?
14. What techniques are ideal for qualitative research?
15. What are advantages and disadvantages of probability sampling techniques?
16. Write the process of stratified random sampling?
17. Which sampling technique is cheapest and least time-consuming, but lowest in
representativeness?
18. Which sampling technique uses tables of random numbers or computer-generated random
selection?
19. Which sampling technique requires a complete list of the population before selection can happen?
20. Which sampling technique first divides the population into homogeneous groups and then selects
samples from each group?
21. Which sampling technique is used when the researcher selects participants who they believe have
the required information?
22. Which sampling technique will reduce variability within selected groups before random selection
occurs?
23. Which technique risks the problem where a small group of initial participants controls who enters
the sample?
24. Which sampling method may give excellent internal validity in qualitative studies, but weak
external validity?
Answer Structures
1.1 Introduction to research process:
● Define Research ( by Burns)
● Characteristics and importance of the research process.
● Phases of research and 8 step model in detail (include examples)
● Diagram of 8 step model.
1.2 Types of research:
● Define Research
● Types-
[Link] Method:
a. Definition and why it is useful.
b. Define hypothesis and its role in experiment.
c. Key terminologies ( IV, DV, Experimental group, Control group)
d. Three criterias (Random assignment, Experimental Control, Appropriate measures)
e. Steps in experimental method.
f. Benefits and advantages
g. Limitations.
2. Quasi- Experimental Research-
a. Meaning of quasi and definition.
b. How participants are selected in this method.
c. Difference between experimental method and quasi- experimental research.
d. Fields in which it is used.
e. Types of quasi- experimental design.
f. Benefits
g. Limitations
3. Exploratory Research -
a. Definition
b. Why and where is it used?
c. Concept testing and its role.
d. Four categories
e. Example
f. Benefits
g. Limitations
1.3 Methods of data collection
● Definition of Data
● Qualitative & Quantitative Data
● Statistical & Non-statistical Data
● Internal & External Sources of Data
● Methods of Data Collection:
1. Primary Data
● Define
● Characteristics
● Advantages & Disadvantages of Using Primary Data
a. Interview Method
● Define
● Characteristics
● Classification of Interviews:
○ Unstructured Interviews
- Define
- Types - In-depth, focus group, narratives, oral histories
- Advantages & disadvantages
○ Structured Interviews
- Define
- Interview Schedule
- Advantages & Disadvantages
● Advantages & Disadvantages of Interview Method
b. Survey Method
● Define & Meaning
● Steps involved in conducting the survey research
● Methods/ instruments used in collecting data through survey research
● Types of survey research
● Constructing a survey research
● Types of questions in a survey research:
a. Structured questions
b. Unstructured questions
● Precautions while designing the instruments
● Advantages & disadvantages of survey research
● Difficulties & issues of survey research
2. Secondary Data
● Define
● Characteristics
● Sources of Secondary Data - Published & Unpublished
● Advantages & Disadvantages of Survey Method
1.4 Sampling techniques used in research
● Definition of Sampling
● Key terminology in sampling
● Principles of sampling
● Factors affecting the inferences drawn from a sample
● Aims in selecting a sample
● Types of Sampling: (methods of obtaining sample)
a. Random/Probability Sampling Designs
● Define Random/Probability Sampling Designs
● Characteristics of Random/Probability Sampling Designs
● Advantages & Disadvantages of Random/Probability Sampling Designs
● Methods of drawing a random sample
● Types of Random Sampling Design:
1. Simple random sampling
2. Stratified random sampling
3. Cluster sampling
b. Non-random/Non-probability Sampling Designs
● Define Non-random/Non-probability Sampling Designs
● Characteristics of Non-random/Non-probability Sampling Designs
● Types of Non-random/Non-probability Sampling Designs
1. Quota sampling
2. Accidental sampling
3. Judgemental/ Purposive sampling
4. Expert sampling
5. Snowball sampling
(characteristics + advantages & disadvantages in each)
c. Mixed Sampling