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Methods of Sociological Research – MCQs


What is the primary focus of sociological research?
A) Individual behavior
B) Society and social behavior
C) Psychological phenomena
D) Biological processes

What is ethnography in sociological research?
A) A method to study ancient civilizations
B) A method to study the characteristics of a population
C) A method to analyze statistical data
D) A method to study individual behavior

Which research design involves studying a number of individuals of different ages who have the same trait at a single time?
A) Cross-sectional
B) Longitudinal
C) Cross-sequential
D) Experimental

In which research design do scientists study the same individuals or society repeatedly over a specified period?
A) Cross-sectional
B) Longitudinal
C) Cross-sequential
D) Experimental

Which research design tests individuals in a cross-sectional sample more than once over a specified period?
A) Cross-sectional
B) Longitudinal
C) Cross-sequential
D) Experimental

What is the primary goal of case study research?
A) To study large groups of individuals
B) To generalize findings to the population
C) To study an individual or small group in-depth
D) To test cause-and-effect relationships

What is a limitation of case study research?
A) Difficulty in obtaining data
B) Limited generalizability
C) Lack of depth in findings
D) High cost of implementation

Which research method involves administering questionnaires or interviews to large numbers of people?
A) Case study
B) Observational research
C) Survey research
D) Correlational research

What is a disadvantage of survey research?
A) Limited sample size
B) Subject bias
C) Lack of anonymity
D) Costlines

What does observational research involve?
A) Administering questionnaires
B) Directly observing subjects’ reactions
C) Conducting experiments in a laboratory
D) Analyzing existing data


Which research method focuses on determining if a relationship exists between two variables?
A) Case study
B) Observational research
C) Correlational research
D) Experimental research

What does a positive correlation between two variables indicate?
A) As one variable increases, the other decreases
B) There is no relationship between the variables
C) Both variables increase or decrease together
D) One variable causes the other

What is an essential aspect of experimental research?
A) Observing natural behavior
B) Establishing cause-and-effect relationships
C) Conducting surveys
D) Analyzing correlations

What is a potential limitation of experimental research?
A) Lack of control over variables
B) Difficulty in obtaining data
C) Limited generalizability
D) High cost of implementation

What does cross-cultural research aim to reveal?
A) Differences within a single culture
B) Similarities across different cultures
C) Variations across different groups of people
D) Evolutionary trends in culture

Which research method requires the observer to become a member of the subjects’ community?
A) Correlational research
B) Experimental research
C) Participant observation
D) Cross-cultural research

What is the use of existing data for research known as?
A) Primary analysis
B) Secondary analysis
C) Comparative analysis
D) Exploratory analysis

What is the advantage of using existing data for research?
A) It is cost-effective
B) It provides unique insights
C) It allows for experimental manipulation
D) It ensures high response rates

What is the primary focus of sociological research?
A) Individual behavior
B) Society and social behavior
C) Psychological phenomena
D) Biological processes

What is ethnography in sociological research?
A) A method to study ancient civilizations
B) A method to study the characteristics of a population
C) A method to analyze statistical data
D) A method to study individual behavior


Which research design involves studying a number of individuals of different ages who have the same trait at a single time?
A) Cross-sectional
B) Longitudinal
C) Cross-sequential
D) Experimental

In which research design do scientists study the same individuals or society repeatedly over a specified period?
A) Cross-sectional
B) Longitudinal
C) Cross-sequential
D) Experimental

Which research design tests individuals in a cross-sectional sample more than once over a specified period?
A) Cross-sectional
B) Longitudinal
C) Cross-sequential
D) Experimental

What is the primary goal of case study research?
A) To study large groups of individuals
B) To generalize findings to the population
C) To study an individual or small group in-depth
D) To test cause-and-effect relationships

What is a limitation of case study research?
A) Difficulty in obtaining data
B) Limited generalizability
C) Lack of depth in findings
D) High cost of implementation

Which research method involves administering questionnaires or interviews to large numbers of people?
A) Case study
B) Observational research
C) Survey research
D) Correlational research

What is a disadvantage of survey research?
A) Limited sample size
B) Subject bias
C) Lack of anonymity
D) Costliness

What does observational research involve?
A) Administering questionnaires
B) Directly observing subjects’ reactions
C) Conducting experiments in a laboratory
D) Analyzing existing data

Which research method focuses on determining if a relationship exists between two variables?
A) Case study
B) Observational research
C) Correlational research
D) Experimental research

What does a positive correlation between two variables indicate?
A) As one variable increases, the other decreases
B) There is no relationship between the variables
C) Both variables increase or decrease together

D) One variable causes the other



What are ethics in the context of sociological research?
A) Guidelines for scientific methods
B) Guidelines for making decisions and defining professions
C) Rules for conducting experiments
D) Principles for data analysis

What is the primary purpose of establishing ethical codes in professional organizations?
A) To limit the scope of research
B) To define the expected conduct of members
C) To promote biased research
D) To increase research funding

Which organizations establish ethical principles and guidelines for social scientists?
A) American Sociological Association
B) American Psychological Association
C) Both a) and b)
D) Neither a) nor b)

What is the researcher’s primary duty regarding the welfare of subjects?
A) To conduct experiments without informing subjects
B) To protect the welfare of the subjects
C) To maximize risks for the subjects
D) To minimize risks for the subjects

What is informed consent in the context of research participation?
A) Participants’ agreement to participate in a study without knowing the details
B) Participants’ agreement to participate in a study after knowing the potential risks and their freedom to withdraw
C) Participants’ agreement to participate in a study without any information
D) Participants’ agreement to participate in a study without any risks

What is debriefing in the context of research participation?
A) Providing subjects with complete details about the study after it is finished
B) Screening subjects before the study
C) Intentionally deceiving subjects about the study’s purpose
D) Withdrawing subjects from the study

Why do some critics oppose the intentional use of deception in research?
A) It reduces the general public’s support for research
B) It carries the risk of psychologically harming subjects
C) Both a) and b)
D) Neither a) nor b)

What is the primary focus of professional journals and periodicals in sociology?
A) Providing sensationalistic information
B) Publishing poorly conducted research
C) Offering accurate scientific information
D) Promoting misconceptions about social topics

What distinguishes professional journals and periodicals from popular magazines and television in terms of research quality?
A) Peer review
B) Sensationalism
C) Both a) and b)
D) Neither a) nor b)

What is the primary goal of scientific inquiry?
A) To prove preconceived ideas
B) To generate sensationalistic information
C) To advance knowledge through systematic investigation
D) To promote misconceptions about social topics


Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of scientific research?
A) Peer review
B) Sensationalism
C) Systematic investigation
D) Empirical evidence

What does the word “science” originally mean?
A) Knowledge
B) Research
C) Experimentation
D) Observation

According to the passage, who was the first sociologist to use the scientific method?
A) Emile Durkheim
B) Max Weber
C) Karl Marx
D) Herbert Spencer

What is the primary focus of sociological research?
A) Individual behavior
B) Society and social behavior
C) Psychological phenomena
D) Biological processes

What is ethnography in sociological research?
A) A method to study ancient civilizations
B) A method to study the characteristics of a population
C) A method to analyze statistical data
D) A method to study individual behavior

Which research design involves studying a number of individuals of different ages who have the same trait at a single time?
A) Cross-sectional
B) Longitudinal
C) Cross-sequential
D) Experimental

In which research design do scientists study the same individuals or society repeatedly over a specified period?
A) Cross-sectional
B) Longitudinal
C) Cross-sequential
D) Experimental

Which research design tests individuals in a cross-sectional sample more than once over a specified period?
A) Cross-sectional
B) Longitudinal
C) Cross-sequential
D) Experimental

What is the primary goal of case study research?
A) To study large groups of individuals
B) To generalize findings to the population
C) To study an individual or small group in-depth
D) To test cause-and-effect relationships

What is a limitation of case study research?
A) Difficulty in obtaining data
B) Limited generalizability
C) Lack of depth in findings
D) High cost of implementation

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