Research Methodology and Methods MCQ Quiz in தமிழ் - Objective Question with Answer for Research Methodology and Methods - இலவச PDF ஐப் பதிவிறக்கவும்

The correct answer is - Berger and Luckmann

Key Points

• Berger and Luckmann
  • Peter L. Berger and Thomas Luckmann co-authored the influential book "The Social Construction of Reality" in 1966.
  • The book is considered a seminal work in the sociology of knowledge.
  • It introduced the concept that reality is socially constructed through communication and social interaction.
  • The authors argue that our understanding of reality is shaped by the society in which we live, and that knowledge is a product of social processes.

Additional Information

• N.J. Smelser
  • Neil J. Smelser was an American sociologist known for his work on economic sociology and collective behavior.
  • He authored "Theory of Collective Behavior" and contributed significantly to the understanding of social change and economic development.
• Spencer
  • Herbert Spencer was an English philosopher and sociologist known for his contributions to the theory of social Darwinism.
  • He introduced the concept of "survival of the fittest" in the context of social evolution.
  • His works include "The Principles of Sociology" and "The Man Versus the State."
• Veblen
  • Thorstein Veblen was an American economist and sociologist known for his critique of capitalism.
  • He authored "The Theory of the Leisure Class," where he introduced the concept of "conspicuous consumption."
  • Veblen's work focused on the social and economic behaviors of the affluent class.

Experimental design is a type of quantitative research design.

Important PointsExperimental design:

• Experimental design is a quantitative research approach where the researcher manipulates independent variables to observe their effects on dependent variables.
• It aims to establish cause-and-effect relationships between variables.
• Commonly used to test hypotheses and assess the effectiveness of interventions.
• Provides the highest level of control over variables, enhancing the rigor of hypothesis testing.
• Involves manipulating variables, random assignment of participants, and careful standardization of procedures.
• Data collection involves measuring dependent variables before and after manipulation.
• Considered the strongest research design for establishing causal relationships.

Quantitative research:

• Quantitative research focuses on collecting and analyzing numerical data to understand phenomena.
• It employs structured research instruments such as surveys, experiments, or existing datasets.
• Aims to quantify variables and relationships between them using statistical analysis.
• Often seeks to generalize findings to larger populations.
• Emphasizes objectivity, reliability, and replicability in data collection and analysis.
• Results are often presented using statistical measures such as means, percentages, and correlations.

Additional InformationCase study design:

• Focuses on exploring complex phenomena and gaining a deeper understanding of individual experiences
• Uses purposive sampling to select cases
• Often conducted in a natural setting

• Focuses on understanding the culture and way of life of a particular group of people
• Uses participant observation and interviews to collect data
• Often conducted in a natural setting

• Focuses on understanding the subjective experiences of individuals
• Uses interviews and other qualitative methods to collect data
• Often conducted in a natural setting

The correct answer is -To provide an alternative explanation for the observed data.

Important Points

• The null hypothesis is a statement that there is no significant difference between two groups or that a particular treatment has no effect.
• It is used as a starting point for statistical analysis, and
• The goal of hypothesis testing is to determine whether there is enough evidence to reject the null hypothesis in favor of an alternative hypothesis.
• The null hypothesis is important because it allows researchers to make inferences about the population based on a sample.
• By assuming that there is no difference between the groups, researchers can calculate the probability of obtaining the observed data if the null hypothesis is true.
• If the probability is low, then the researcher can reject the null hypothesis and conclude that there is a significant difference between the groups.

Additional Information

• Hypothesis testing is a fundamental research technique used to investigate and draw conclusions about a population based on a sample.
• It involves making a claim or prediction about the population, collecting data from a sample.
• Steps involved in hypothesis testing:
• The first step is to formulate a hypothesis, which is a statement about the population that can be tested using data. 
• The hypothesis should be specific, testable, and relevant to the research question.
• The next step is to collect data from a sample of the population. 
• The sample should be representative of the population and large enough to provide meaningful results. 
• Data can be collected through various methods, such as surveys, experiments, or observations.
• Once the data is collected, it is analyzed using statistical methods to determine whether the data supports or refutes the null hypothesis.
• Based on the statistical analysis, the researcher decides whether to reject or fail to reject the null hypothesis.

The Right answer is option 1- A.R. Desai. Arvind Narayan Desai was a prominent Indian sociologist known for his Marxist approach in assessing societal structures in India.

Important Points

 A.R. Desai (1915-1994), was a distinguished Indian sociologist well-known for his work in the field of social stratification, rural sociology, and the study of social change in India. A prominent Marxist sociologist, Desai applied the historical-dialectical method to his studies of Indian societal structures. He analyzed socio-historical patterns, emphasizing on investigating historical shifts, and the tension and resolution of societal contradictions.

• Among his key contributions is the book "Social Background of Indian Nationalism" where he used historical materialism to examine how socio-economic factors influenced the course of the Indian national movement. The book remains one of the earliest attempts at sociological analysis of modern Indian history.

Additional Information

Andre Beteille: As one of the leading sociologists in India, much of Beteille’s work revolves around the study of inequality, caste system, social stratification, and social institutions in India.

• He approaches these complex subjects with analyzes that balance both the traditional and modern manifestations of these structures over time.

Irawati Karve (1905-1970): was a prominent anthropologist, sociologist, educationist, and writer from India whose work significantly contributed to the understanding of Indian society. Her research played a key role in bridging the gap between sociology and anthropology in India.

• Karve's approach to sociology was largely anthropological. She greatly favored field studies and empirical observation. A notable aspect of her methodology was her consideration of both microscopic and macroscopic perspectives. She studied kinship, marriage, and caste systems in detail.

​M.N. Srinivas: Regarded as one of the most influential voices in Indian sociology, Srinivas is well known for his ethnographic work in south India.

• His work most notably gave rise to the terms 'Sanskritisation' and 'dominant caste', which have been integral to academic discourses on the caste system and social mobility in India.

The correct answer is - Median. The median is less affected by outliers and skewed data than mean and can provide a better sense of central location for such datasets.

Additional Information

• Often referred to as the "average", the mean is calculated by adding all numbers in the dataset and then dividing by the quantity of numbers in that dataset. However, the mean can be heavily influenced by outliers or extreme values.
• The mode is the value that appears most frequently in a dataset. A dataset may have one mode, more than one mode, or no mode at all.
• The mode isn't affected by outliers, but it may not provide a good representation of the data if the most common value is far away from the rest of the data.
• Standard deviation is a statistic in quantitative research that provides information about the spread or dispersion of a dataset. More specifically, it indicates how much individual data points in a given dataset vary or "deviate" from the mean, or average.

The correct answer is A, B, C, D, and E. Key Points

• All knowledge and all ideas are bound to a location: Mannheim emphasizes that knowledge and ideas are not abstract or detached from social reality but are inherently situated within specific historical, cultural, and social contexts. 
• It refers to a theory of the social or existential conditioning of thought: Mannheim's sociology of knowledge is indeed concerned with understanding how social factors condition and shape individual and collective thought processes. 
• Ideas are rooted in different locations in historical time and social structure: Mannheim contends that ideas do not emerge in a vacuum but are rooted in specific historical periods and social structures. Different historical epochs and social contexts give rise to distinct worldviews, ideologies, and belief systems.
• At times a particular group can have more access to the understanding of a social phenomenon than other groups: Mannheim acknowledges that power dynamics and social inequalities can influence individuals' access to knowledge and understanding of social phenomena. 
• No group has total access to understanding of a social phenomenon: Mannheim emphasizes that knowledge is always partial and situated, reflecting the perspectives and interests of particular social groups. Even dominant groups do not have a monopoly on truth or knowledge.

Additional Information

• Critical Theory: Critical theory emphasizes the critique of power structures and social injustices within society. 
• Standpoint Theory: Standpoint theory suggests that individuals' social positions and perspectives shape their knowledge and understanding of the world.
• Postmodernism: Postmodernism challenges the idea of objective truth and questions the stability of knowledge and meaning.

Thus, according to Karl Mannheim the sociology of knowledge A, B, C, D, and E.

The correct answer is 2. A self-reflective account of personal experiences to understand broader social issues.

 Key Points

• Autoethnography is a qualitative research method that uses the researcher's own personal experiences to explore and understand broader social issues. It is a form of self-reflection that involves the researcher writing about their own experiences in a way that connects them to the larger social context.

Key characteristics of autoethnography:

• Self-reflexivity: The researcher actively engages in self-reflection throughout the research process, critically examining their own experiences, biases, and assumptions. This process of self-awareness helps to ensure that the researcher's personal experiences are not presented as objective truth but rather as a partial and subjective account.
• Interpretive: Autoethnography is not simply a collection of personal stories; it involves interpretation and analysis of the researcher's experiences in order to uncover broader social, cultural, and political meanings.
• Connective: Autoethnography seeks to connect the researcher's personal experiences to the experiences of others, demonstrating how individual experiences are shaped by broader cultural and social forces.
• Evocative: Autoethnography often uses vivid and evocative language to create a compelling and engaging narrative that draws the reader into the researcher's world.

Additional Information

•  A systematic study of a particular group or culture: This is the definition of ethnography, which is a broader research method that can be used to study any group or culture. Autoethnography is a specific type of ethnography that focuses on the researcher's own experiences.
• A critical analysis of historical events and their impact on the present: This is the definition of historiography, which is the study of history. Autoethnography is not typically used to analyze historical events, although it can sometimes draw on historical research to inform its analysis of contemporary social issues.
•  A quantitative study of statistical data to draw conclusions: This is the definition of quantitative research, which uses numerical data to study social phenomena. Autoethnography is a qualitative research method that does not use numerical data.

The correct answer is - Ratio scale

Key Points

• Age is a Ratio scale
  • It has a true zero point, meaning zero age signifies the absence of age.
  • Age allows for the comparison of differences (e.g., the difference between 20 and 30 years) and for meaningful ratios (e.g., 40 years is twice as old as 20 years).
  • The ratio scale is the most informative scale, providing full detail on the magnitude of differences and absolute comparisons.

Additional Information

• Nominal scale
  • Used for labeling variables without any quantitative value (e.g., gender, race, color).
  • Does not involve numerical ranking.
• Ordinal scale
  • Deals with ordered data but the intervals between values are not assumed to be equal (e.g., rankings, levels of satisfaction).
• Interval scale
  • Measures on a numerical scale with equal intervals but no true zero point (e.g., temperature in Celsius or Fahrenheit).
  • Allows for the measurement of the difference between values but not for the calculation of ratios.

The Correct answer is Findings.

Key Points

• In research design, it's crucial not to include findings, as they represent the outcomes and are unknown until the study concludes.
• The research design serves as a comprehensive plan, encompassing research questions, methodology, and data collection methods.
• It acts as a blueprint guiding researchers through data collection and analysis, excluding actual findings.
• A research design entails a strategic approach to address your research question by utilizing empirical data.

Additional Information

• Hypothesis:
  • ​A hypothesis, proposed by a researcher, is a tentative solution or explanation for a scientific problem, subject to testing through further investigation.
  • This statement is integral to the scientific method, involving hypothesis formulation, experimentation, and drawing conclusions based on results.
• Methodology:
  • ​Methodology, an integral part of research design, delineates the systematic procedures and techniques for data collection and analysis.
  • It offers a structured approach to address research problems, encompassing the methods, techniques, and procedures employed in the comprehensive research process.
• Scope:
  • Scope delineates the range of the research study and establishes the limits within which the research will be executed.
  • It defines the parameters of the study, specifying what will be encompassed and excluded from the research.

Important Points

• Quantitative research designs can be categorized into four primary types:
  • Experimental and quasi-experimental designs facilitate the testing of cause-and-effect relationships.
  • Descriptive and correlational designs enable the measurement of variables and the description of relationships between them.
• Qualitative research designs are less rigidly defined, allowing for a more creative and flexible approach to gaining a detailed understanding of a specific context or phenomenon.
  • Case Study: In-depth study of a specific subject, such as a place, event, or organization.
  • Ethnography: Detailed study of the culture of a specific community or group.
  • Grounded Theory: Aims to develop a theory inductively by systematically analyzing qualitative data.
  • Phenomenology: Aims to understand a phenomenon or event by describing participants’ lived experiences.

The correct answer is Case Study. Key Points

• A case study is a qualitative research method that involves an in-depth exploration of a particular phenomenon, process, or event. It allows researchers to examine the complexities and nuances of a specific case within its real-life context. 
• Case studies provide a holistic understanding of the subject by considering various factors, including historical context, social dynamics, and contemporary influences. 
•  Researchers collect data through various methods such as interviews, observations, documents, and archival research. This multifaceted approach helps in capturing different dimensions of the case and ensuring a comprehensive analysis.
• Case studies often incorporate a temporal perspective by examining the historical development of the phenomenon or event under investigation. This historical lens allows researchers to trace the evolution and changes over time.
•  Case studies are often specific to a particular context, they can also contribute to theory building by generating insights and principles that may be applicable to similar cases or contexts.

Additional Information

• Survey research involves collecting data from a sample of individuals through structured questionnaires or interviews. Surveys use standardized questions to gather information about attitudes, behaviors, and characteristics of the population.
• Participant observation is a qualitative research method where the researcher immerses themselves in the natural setting of the study, actively participating in and observing the activities and interactions of the subjects.
• Content analysis is a research method used to systematically analyze the content of textual, visual, or audio materials. Researchers examine and categorize the presence, frequency, and relationships of words, themes, or patterns within the content.

Thus, The in-depth investigation of a phenomenon on a process or an event that focuses on its historicity and contemporary linkages with wider society is termed as Case Study.