Prepare to ace your PhD entrance examination with the 50 Best MCQs on Research Methodology. Sharpen your skills and get ready for success!
Table of Contents
50 Best MCQs on Research Methodology
MCQs on Research Methodology SET-1
1. Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of scientific research?
A) Objectivity
B) Subjectivity
C) Systematic
D) Empirical
Answer: B) Subjectivity
2. The process of reviewing existing literature to gather information and ideas related to a research topic is known as:
A) Data analysis
B) Data collection
C) Literature review
D) Data interpretation
Answer: C) Literature review
3. Which of the following is NOT a qualitative research method?
A) Survey
B) Case study
C) Ethnography
D) Grounded theory
Answer: A) Survey
4. What is the purpose of a pilot study in research?
A) To test the feasibility of the main study
B) To gather preliminary data
C) To refine research methods
D) All of the above
Answer: D) All of the above
5. In a normal distribution curve, what percentage of data falls within one standard deviation from the mean?
A) 68%
B) 75%
C) 95%
D) 99.7%
Answer: A) 68%
6. Which sampling method involves selecting every nth member from a list to be included in the sample?
A) Stratified sampling
B) Systematic sampling
C) Convenience sampling
D) Snowball sampling
Answer: B) Systematic sampling
7. Which of the following is NOT a component of a research proposal?
A) Abstract
B) Introduction
C) Literature review
D) Data analysis
Answer: D) Data analysis
8. What is the primary purpose of an experimental research design?
A) To establish cause-and-effect relationships
B) To describe and understand phenomena
C) To explore relationships between variables
D) To gather in-depth insights
Answer: A) To establish cause-and-effect relationships
9. Which statistical test is used to determine if there is a significant difference between the means of two independent groups?
A) t-test
B) ANOVA
C) Chi-square test
D) Pearson correlation
Answer: A) t-test
10. What is the term for the extent to which research findings can be generalized to other populations, settings, and times?
A) Validity
B) Reliability
C) Generalizability
D) Replicability
Answer: C) Generalizability
MCQs on Research Methodology SET-2
11. Which of the following is a type of non-probability sampling technique?
A) Random sampling
B) Stratified sampling
C) Convenience sampling
D) Cluster sampling
Answer: C) Convenience sampling
12. What is the purpose of informed consent in research involving human subjects?
A) To ensure participants are paid for their time
B) To ensure participants are fully aware of the study’s purpose, procedures, and risks
C) To guarantee confidentiality of participants’ data
D) To provide participants with an opportunity to withdraw from the study at any time
Answer: B) To ensure participants are fully aware of the study’s purpose, procedures, and risks
13. Which of the following is NOT a type of qualitative data analysis?
A) Content analysis
B) Descriptive statistics
C) Thematic analysis
D) Grounded theory
Answer: B) Descriptive statistics
14. What is the term for a test’s ability to measure what it claims to measure?
A) Reliability
B) Validity
C) Generalizability
D) Precision
Answer: B) Validity
15. Which of the following is a measure of central tendency?
A) Standard deviation
B) Median
C) Range
D) Variance
Answer: B) Median
16. What type of research design involves studying the same group of individuals over an extended period?
A) Cross-sectional
B) Longitudinal
C) Experimental
D) Case study
Answer: B) Longitudinal
17. Which of the following is NOT a step in the quantitative research process?
A) Data collection
B) Hypothesis generation
C) Theory development
D) Data analysis
Answer: C) Theory development
18. What is the term for the phenomenon where participants modify their behavior because they are aware of being observed?
A) Social desirability bias
B) Hawthorne effect
C) Confirmation bias
D) Placebo effect
Answer: B) Hawthorne effect
19. Which of the following is NOT a criterion for establishing causality in research?
A) Temporal precedence
B) Covariation of cause and effect
C) Correlation
D) Absence of confounding variables
Answer: C) Correlation
20. What is the purpose of peer review in the research publication process?
A) To ensure research findings are accurate
B) To provide constructive feedback to authors
C) To determine whether a study is worthy of publication
D) All of the above
Answer: D) All of the above
MCQs on Research Methodology SET-3
21. Which of the following is an example of a dependent variable?
A) Age
B) Gender
C) Income
D) Test scores
Answer: D) Test scores
22. What is the term for a systematic error in measurement that leads to consistent underestimation or overestimation of the true value?
A) Random error
B) Sampling error
C) Bias
D) Variability
Answer: C) Bias
23. Which of the following is NOT a type of reliability?
A) Test-retest reliability
B) Internal consistency reliability
C) Inter-rater reliability
D) Construct reliability
Answer: D) Construct reliability
24. Which type of validity refers to the degree to which a study’s findings can be generalized to other populations, settings, and times?
A) Internal validity
B) External validity
C) Construct validity
D) Content validity
Answer: B) External validity
25. Which of the following is NOT an ethical principle governing research involving human subjects?
A) Respect for persons
B) Beneficence
C) Justice
D) Honesty
Answer: D) Honesty
26. What type of research design is characterized by the researcher’s direct involvement in the research setting?
A) Experimental
B) Ex post facto
C) Observational
D) Correlational
Answer: C) Observational
27. What is the term for a measure’s consistency or stability over time?
A) Validity
B) Reliability
C) Generalizability
D) Replicability
Answer: B) Reliability
28. Which of the following is NOT a type of probability sampling technique?
A) Simple random sampling
B) Quota sampling
C) Snowball sampling
D) Systematic sampling
Answer: C) Snowball sampling
29. What is the term for a type of research that seeks to describe and understand phenomena in their natural settings?
A) Experimental research
B) Quantitative research
C) Qualitative research
D) Mixed-methods research
Answer: C) Qualitative research
30. Which of the following is a measure of dispersion?
A) Mean
B) Median
C) Range
D) Mode
Answer: C) Range
MCQs on Research Methodology SET-4
31. Which of the following is NOT a type of experimental design?
A) Pre-experimental design
B) Quasi-experimental design
C) True experimental design
D) Descriptive design
Answer: D) Descriptive design
32. What is the term for the phenomenon where participants provide responses they believe are socially acceptable rather than their true opinions?
A) Social desirability bias
B) Hawthorne effect
C) Confirmation bias
D) Placebo effect
Answer: A) Social desirability bias
33. Which of the following is NOT a qualitative data collection method?
A) Survey
B) Interview
C) Observation
D) Focus group discussion
Answer: A) Survey
34. Which of the following is an example of a continuous variable?
A) Gender
B) Marital status
C) Age
D) Country of residence
Answer: C) Age
35. Which of the following is NOT a type of probability sampling technique?
A) Cluster sampling
B) Convenience sampling
C) Stratified sampling
D) Random sampling
Answer: B) Convenience sampling
36. What is the term for a measure’s ability to produce consistent results when administered multiple times?
A) Validity
B) Reliability
C) Generalizability
D) Replicability
Answer: B) Reliability
37. Which of the following is a type of non-probability sampling technique?
A) Random sampling
B) Stratified sampling
C) Convenience sampling
D) Cluster sampling
Answer: C) Convenience sampling
38. What is the term for the phenomenon where participants modify their behavior because they are aware of being observed?
A) Social desirability bias
B) Hawthorne effect
C) Confirmation bias
D) Placebo effect
Answer: B) Hawthorne effect
39. Which of the following is NOT a criterion for establishing causality in research?
A) Temporal precedence
B) Covariation of cause and effect
C) Correlation
D) Absence of confounding variables
Answer: C) Correlation
40. What is the purpose of peer review in the research publication process?
A) To ensure research findings are accurate
B) To provide constructive feedback to authors
C) To determine whether a study is worthy of publication
D) All of the above
Answer: D) All of the above
MCQs on Research Methodology SET-5
41. Which of the following is an example of a dependent variable?
A) Age
B) Gender
C) Income
D) Test scores
Answer: D) Test scores
42. What is the term for a systematic error in measurement that leads to consistent underestimation or overestimation of the true value?
A) Random error
B) Sampling error
C) Bias
D) Variability
Answer: C) Bias
43. Which of the following is NOT a type of reliability?
A) Test-retest reliability
B) Internal consistency reliability
C) Inter-rater reliability
D) Construct reliability
Answer: D) Construct reliability
44. Which type of validity refers to the degree to which a study’s findings can be generalized to other populations, settings, and times?
A) Internal validity
B) External validity
C) Construct validity
D) Content validity
Answer: B) External validity
45. Which of the following is NOT an ethical principle governing research involving human subjects?
A) Respect for persons
B) Beneficence
C) Justice
D) Honesty
Answer: D) Honesty
46. What type of research design is characterized by the researcher’s direct involvement in the research setting?
A) Experimental
B) Ex post facto
C) Observational
D) Correlational
Answer: C) Observational
47. What is the term for a measure’s consistency or stability over time?
A) Validity
B) Reliability
C) Generalizability
D) Replicability
Answer: B) Reliability
48. Which of the following is NOT a type of probability sampling technique?
A) Simple random sampling
B) Quota sampling
C) Snowball sampling
D) Systematic sampling
Answer: C) Snowball sampling
49. What is the term for a type of research that seeks to describe and understand phenomena in their natural settings?
A) Experimental research
B) Quantitative research
C) Qualitative research
D) Mixed-methods research
Answer: C) Qualitative research
50. Which of the following is a measure of dispersion?
A) Mean
B) Median
C) Range
D) Mode
Answer: C) Range