Research Methods of Social Science Practice Test

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• Which of the following is an example of a Research Question?
• In Excel data organization, what does a column represent?
• Longitudinal Design involves data collected over?
• Interpreting a Higher Average indicates what?
• How should socioeconomic status be operationalized for quantitative analysis?
• Which sequence best describes the main steps in designing a survey questionnaire to maximize reliability and validity?
• Maintaining an audit trail in a study is most closely associated with which practice?
• Which statement is true about independent and dependent variables?
• Which is an example of operationalization?
• Measurement error is defined as what, and how can it bias results?
• What does population refer to in research planning?
• Internal Validity refers to the extent to which a study establishes what?
• Why do Research Methods Matter?
• Why Use Secondary Data First?
• How do you formulate a testable research question and a corresponding hypothesis in quantitative research?
• Which option best illustrates a construct (an abstract concept) rather than a directly measured variable?
• Which are requirements for causation?
• Which scenario is most appropriate for formulating a Hypothesis?
• In a study where bedtime routine is examined for its effect on sleep quality, which is the independent variable?
• Big Data is best described as which?
• What is the mean?
• Which assumption is specifically required by ANOVA when comparing three or more groups?
• What is a sampling frame, and why can frame mismatch bias occur?
• Describe content analysis and its distinguishing features compared to thematic analysis.
• The SUM() function in Excel:
• What should be reported to convey practical significance?
• Power analysis estimates the probability of detecting a true effect given certain parameters. Which statement is true?
• Which statement serves as an example of a research problem?
• Which term describes data used for a project but not collected for it?
• What is the difference between a research question and a hypothesis?
• If a study translates a business need into a set of data-gathering questions, this is an example of which concept?
• Which scenario is most appropriate for using a Research Question?
• Which statement is not a function of a research question?
• Overstating Results means?
• Cross-Sectional Design involves data collected when?
• In data structure in Excel for research, rows represent:
• Descriptive research is used to do which of the following?
• A study that follows a structured, repeatable process to ensure consistent results is described by which term?
• Which statement about generalizability best defines its meaning in social science research?
• What is informational power in qualitative sampling?
• Which definition best describes Confidentiality in research ethics?
• A measurement scale from 1 to 5 to rate satisfaction represents which type of variable?
• What is quantitative research?
• If a researcher aims to eliminate personal bias in the study, they are pursuing which approach?
• Qualitative research focuses on which of the following?
• Differentiate between validity and reliability; give examples of each in social science measurement.
• Explain the role of an IRB or ethics committee in social research.
• Why does correlation not equal causation?
• How is data quality assessed in field observations and what is observer bias?
• What does ANOVA test in data analysis?
• When should researchers use Research Questions?
• Which term refers to a business issue that requires action?
• What is a sampling limitation?
• What is the main difference between the functions of a Hypothesis and a Research Question?
• Example of Cross-Tab.
• Which best describes responsible interpretation in reporting results?
• What are nonresponse bias and response bias, and how can researchers reduce them?
• How do you calculate and interpret a p-value and a confidence interval in hypothesis testing?
• Which of the following is NOT an assumption of linear regression?
• The proper Excel Column Rule states:
• Proper Interpretation Example?
• Why should results be interpreted cautiously?
• What is the independent variable in a research study?
• What is a sample in research?
• Which term describes research conducted to expand theoretical knowledge without immediate application?
• Which term denotes research conducted to maintain neutrality by avoiding personal influence?
• Causal research is used to?
• Which of the following is a threat to external validity?
• Which action assesses whether a measurement instrument consistently measures the construct?
• Which statement best differentiates internal validity from external validity in social research?
• What is exploratory research used for?
• Which of the following is NOT a measure for ensuring secure data handling?
• What is the dependent variable in a research study?
• Which considerations go into choosing between qualitative, quantitative, or mixed-methods approaches?
• What is qualitative research?
• GPA is best described as which type of variable?
• Is traditional power analysis applicable to qualitative research?
• What best defines a Research Question (RQ)?
• Which term describes a broad issue guiding a study, including why it matters and who is affected?
• Which term refers to a personal belief not based on systematic evidence?
• Which term describes research aimed at expanding theoretical knowledge without immediate application?
• What is the primary purpose of sampling in research design?
• Which practice is least relevant for establishing dependability in qualitative research?
• Which of the following is a categorical variable?
• Which term is NOT among the Five Vs?
• What does theoretical saturation mean in grounded theory?
• How does thematic saturation relate to sample size in qualitative research?
• Reflexivity in qualitative research primarily serves to enhance which aspects?
• What term describes data collected through systematic observation or measurement?
• What does operationalization mean in research methods?
• When the primary purpose of the research is to support a business decision with data, which concept applies?
• Which of the following is an example of a dependent variable?
• Construct validity and criterion-related validity differ in what they assess. Which statement is true?
• What is reliability in qualitative research, and how is it established without numerical measures?
• Which of the following is a numeric variable?
• What term describes a relationship between two variables?
• Frame mismatch bias occurs when which condition holds?
• When presenting regression results, which elements are essential?
• Which sampling approach is most appropriate for ensuring population representativeness in a study aiming to generalize findings?
• Which concept focuses on guiding data collection to inform a decision in a business context?
• In qualitative data analysis, what is coding and how is intercoder reliability assessed?
• What is the Percentage Formula?
• Explain mixed-methods research and the convergent, explanatory, and exploratory designs.
• Which statement best describes Anonymity?
• Which term describes research conducted in an organized, step-by-step manner?
• What is a control group, and why is random assignment important in experiments?
• Why are samples used in research?
• Quantitative research primarily relies on which type of data?
• Responsible Interpretation involves?
• What is an instrument in social research, and how do you evaluate its reliability and validity?
• Which term describes research conducted without bias or personal influence?
• What term describes the systematic process of collecting and analyzing evidence to reduce uncertainty and support informed decision-making?
• Cross-tabulation results commonly reveal patterns across categories of two variables; which of the following is true?
• What differentiates parametric and nonparametric tests?
• Nonparametric tests are appropriate when data are what?
• Sampling often yields results that are
• In regression analysis, how is a coefficient most commonly interpreted?
• Which statement best captures the purpose of Research Methods?
• What defines a Directional Hypothesis?
• What best describes a Hypothesis (H)?
• Why are Research Questions typically open-ended?
• External Validity concerns which aspect of research?
• In qualitative research, what is saturation?
• Secondary Data is defined as what?
• What is a Research Problem?
• Explain the difference between Type I and Type II errors in hypothesis testing.
• What is triangulation in qualitative research, and how does it affect credibility?
• What is the key purpose of triangulation in field research?
• Which term emphasizes a step-by-step methodology to ensure repeatable findings?
• Exploratory research is especially useful when...
• Describe a quasi-experimental design and how it attempts to infer causality without randomization.
• Compare probability sampling and non-probability sampling; give examples of each method and when to use them.
• What does the Excel IF function do?
• Which is an example of a Hypothesis?
• Which statement correctly explains AVERAGE() and SUM()?
• Which practices enhance replicability and transparency in social science research?
• Which term describes research conducted to solve a specific real-world problem?
• Cross-Tabulation is defined as?
• What is the primary goal of research in reducing uncertainty?
• Which term is defined as not collecting identifying information about participants?
• In designing research to address a marketing decision need, which problem type is used?
• Which design collects data across multiple time periods?
• Which variables are best for cross-tabulation?
• Which statement best defines a variable in research?
• Which term is most closely associated with addressing a practical business decision through research?
• What is an anecdote?
• Which statement about Secondary Data is true?
• The COUNT() function in Excel:
• Which practice best enhances trustworthiness in qualitative research?
• In mixed-methods research, which design collects qualitative and quantitative data concurrently?
• Good Data Practices in Excel include:
• What is sampling bias?
• Which term refers to data gathered through systematic observation or measurement?
• Explain operationalization and the difference between a construct and a measured variable.
• Which sequence describes the thematic analysis process and how themes are derived?
• Informed Consent is when:
• Which of the following is an example of an independent variable?
• The AVERAGE() function in Excel:
• What is reflexivity in qualitative research?
• Which concept provides a framework that converts a decision problem into specific data collection requirements?
• In a randomized experiment, which choice best describes a placebo control?
• What is data triangulation in mixed-methods?
• What is ethnography, and what are its typical data collection methods?
• When should researchers use Hypotheses?
• Which concept best embodies the idea of applying research to guide management actions?
• Which practice best ensures data privacy and security in a study?
• Which statement about Primary Data is true?
• What is the purpose of the chi square test in social science research?
• What do percentages represent?
• Using secondary data first is advantageous because it can do what?
• In a survey study, how should you handle informed consent and confidentiality?
• Which statement best describes the purpose of a research problem in a study?
• If Group A has a higher mean than Group B, which interpretation is most appropriate?
• What are the key differences between cross-sectional and longitudinal research designs?
• What is preregistration in research planning?
• Which type of validity concerns whether a measure captures the intended theoretical construct?
• Differentiate simple random sampling, stratified sampling, and cluster sampling; provide use cases.
• What is the key difference between a Research Question and a Hypothesis?
• Which statement reflects proper interpretation when a relation is observed but causation is not established?
• What are descriptive statistics, and when would you report mean, median, or mode?
• Which statement best describes the difference between epistemology and ontology in social science research design?
• What is a literature review and why is essential in framing a research question?
• Primary Data is defined as what?
• Which type of research aims to determine cause-and-effect relationships?
• In survey development, pretesting and pilot testing serve what purpose?
• Which methods are commonly used to assess intercoder reliability in qualitative coding?
• Which statement correctly distinguishes population from a sample?
• Which term describes research conducted to solve a specific real-world problem?