Here is the list of multiple-choice questions for the Business Research Methods course. The MCQs are collected and compiled from different online and offline sources.
Which of the following is not a type of research?
- Exploratory research
- Descriptive research
- Experimental research
- Conclusive research
Research is a ______________ process.
- Random
- Continuous
- Discrete
- Static
_____________ is not a type of research.
- Applied research
- Exploratory research
- Descriptive research
- Emotional research
What is the difference between qualitative and quantitative research?
- Qualitative research uses numerical data while quantitative research uses non-numerical data
- Qualitative research is subjective while quantitative research is objective
- Qualitative research is exploratory while quantitative research is confirmatory
- Qualitative research is based on observation while quantitative research is based on experimentation
_____________ is an example of qualitative research.
- Survey
- Experiment
- Case study
- Randomized controlled trial
Which of the following is not a type of qualitative research?
- Ethnography
- Grounded theory
- Content analysis
- Experimental research
What is the meaning of research?
- A systematic investigation to establish facts or principles
- A random collection of data
- An educated guess about a phenomenon
- A study of human behavior
_________________ is not a type of non-experimental research.
- Survey research
- Correlational research
- Quasi-experimental research
- Action research
Which of the following is a characteristic of non-scientific research methods?
- They are systematic and rigorous.
- They are always based on quantitative data.
- They rely on intuition and personal experience.
- They always involve the use of statistical analysis.
______________ of research aims to explore new ideas or areas of interest.
- Exploratory research
- Descriptive research
- Causal research
- Experimental research
Which type of research involves the collection and analysis of numerical data?
- Qualitative research
- Quantitative research
- Exploratory research
- Descriptive research
________________ research involves manipulating one or more variables to observe the effects on another variable.
- Exploratory research
- Descriptive research
- Causal research
- Experimental research
Which type of research combines both quantitative and qualitative research methods?
- Quantitative research
- Qualitative research
- Mixed-methods research
- Action research
What is the first step in the research process?
- Collecting data
- Formulating a research question
- Analyzing data
- Writing a research report
Which of the following is NOT a research method?
- Observation
- Survey
- Experimentation
- Writing a research report
Which type of sampling method involves selecting participants who are readily available?
- Random sampling
- Stratified sampling
- Convenience sampling
- Cluster sampling
What is the purpose of a research hypothesis?
- To summarize research findings
- To explain the research methodology
- To predict the outcome of the research
- To analyze data
Which type of data analysis involves identifying patterns and relationships in data?
- Descriptive statistics
- Inferential statistics
- Qualitative analysis
- Quantitative analysis
Which type of data analysis involves identifying patterns and relationships in data?
- Descriptive statistics
- Inferential statistics
- Qualitative analysis
- Quantitative analysis
What is the process of selecting a representative sample from a larger population called?
- Data analysis
- Problem identification
- Research design
- Sampling
Which of the following is not a measure of central tendency?
- Mean
- Mode
- Range
- Median
What is the process of gathering information from sources such as books, journals, and websites called?
- Data analysis
- Problem identification
- Literature review
- Hypothesis testing
What is the process of organizing, summarizing, and analyzing data called?
- Data analysis
- Data collection
- Research design
- Sampling
_____________ is not a type of data collection method.
- Survey
- Experiment
- Interview
- Hypothesis testing
What is the purpose of a research design?
- To collect data
- To analyze data
- To ensure the validity and reliability of the study
- To present the results of the study
What is the difference between probability and non-probability sampling?
- Probability sampling is more reliable than non-probability sampling
- Probability sampling involves selecting participants randomly while non-probability sampling does not
- Non-probability sampling is more representative than probability sampling
- There is no difference between probability and non-probability sampling
The measure of dispersion that is based on the difference between the largest and smallest values is the _________.
- Mean deviation
- Variance
- Range
- Standard deviation
Which of the following is not a type of research problem?
- Descriptive
- Exploratory
- Experimental
- Correlational
What is the process of identifying potential sources of data?
- Sampling
- Data collection
- Developing research questions
- Conducting a literature review
The coefficient of variation is a measure of _________.
- Central tendency
- Variability
- Dispersion
- Shape
Which of the following is an example of a null hypothesis?
- There is a positive relationship between education level and income
- There is a negative relationship between age and job performance
- There is no relationship between gender and job satisfaction
- There is a relationship between job satisfaction and salary
The standard error of the mean is a measure of _________.
- Central tendency
- Variability
- Dispersion
- Precision
What is a one-tailed hypothesis?
- A hypothesis that predicts a specific direction of the relationship between variables
- A hypothesis that is based on previous research
- A hypothesis that is not specific
- A hypothesis that is only used in qualitative research
What type of hypothesis is used in exploratory research?
- Directional hypothesis
- Non-directional hypothesis
- Null hypothesis
- None of the above
The F-test is used to compare _________.
- Two means
- Two variances
- Two proportions
- Two sample sizes
Which of the following is a hypothesis that is developed based on a theory or conceptual framework?
- Theoretical hypothesis
- Empirical hypothesis
- Tentative hypothesis
- Working hypothesis
What type of exploratory research design involves a single participant being studied in depth?
- Case study
- Ethnography
- Survey research
- Experimental study
Which of the following is a type of research design that involves observing and recording the behavior of participants in a natural setting without any intervention?
- Quasi-experimental design
- Experimental design
- Observational design
- Correlational design
In quota sampling, the sample is selected based on:
- A random process
- Demographic characteristics
- Geographic location
- Availability
Which of the following is an example of exploratory research design?
- Cross-sectional study
- Experimental study
- Case study
- Focus group discussion
What is a directional hypothesis?
- A hypothesis that predicts a specific direction of the relationship between variables
- A hypothesis that is based on previous research
- A hypothesis that is not specific
- A hypothesis that is only used in qualitative research
A non-probability sampling method is one in which:
- The sample is selected based on probability theory
- The sample is selected without regard to probability theory
- The sample size is determined by statistical analysis
- The sample is stratified into different groups
Which of the following is an example of a longitudinal research design?
- Cross-sectional study
- Case study
- Cohort study
- Experimental design
Which of the following best describes the purpose of qualitative research?
- To test a hypothesis
- To establish causation
- To collect quantitative data
- To explore and understand complex phenomena
What is the main advantage of snowball sampling?
- It is easy to implement
- It is cost-effective
- It allows for the selection of a representative sample
- It allows for the inclusion of hard-to-reach populations
Quota sampling is often used in:
- Market research
- Medical research
- Educational research
- Environmental research
Which of the following is not a common method of data collection in qualitative research?
- Surveys
- Interviews
- Focus groups
- Observation
The margin of error in a sample is affected by which of the following factors?
- The sample size
- The level of statistical significance
- The type of statistical analysis to be performed
- The population size
Which of the following is an appropriate sampling technique for qualitative research?
- Simple random sampling
- Stratified random sampling
- Convenience sampling
- Cluster sampling
When is snowball sampling most appropriate?
- When the population is highly heterogeneous
- When the population is highly homogeneous
- When the population is geographically dispersed
- When the population is easily accessible
Which of the following is a disadvantage of quota sampling?
- It is time-consuming
- It is expensive
- It is difficult to implement
- It may not be representative of the population
The formula used to calculate the sample size is influenced by several factors. Which of the following is not one of those factors?
- The size of the target population
- The level of statistical significance
- The type of statistical analysis to be performed
- The desired margin of error
Which of the following is an advantage of cluster sampling?
- It is easy to implement
- It is cost-effective
- It is more representative than other sampling techniques
- It allows for greater precision in estimates
Quota sampling is a type of:
- Probability sampling
- Non-probability sampling
- Stratified sampling
- Cluster sampling
Which of the following is an appropriate sampling technique when the population size is unknown or difficult to define?
- Simple random sampling
- Snowball sampling
- Convenience sampling
- Quota sampling
A sampling frame is:
- The actual list of individuals or elements from which the sample will be selected
- The statistical technique used to estimate population parameters
- The number of participants needed to achieve a desired level of statistical power
- The type of sampling method used in the study
Which of the following statements is true about snowball sampling?
- It is a probability sampling technique
- It is a non-probability sampling technique
- It is a cluster sampling technique
- It is a stratified sampling technique
Which of the following is a limitation of snowball sampling?
- It can be time-consuming
- It can be expensive
- It can introduce bias
- It may not be feasible for large populations
What is the role of the independent variable in a causal research design?
- To be manipulated by the researcher
- To be measured by the researcher
- To be controlled by the researcher
- To be observed by the researcher
Which of the following is a potential limitation of using a causal research design?
- It may not be feasible for large populations
- It may not be ethical to manipulate variables
- It may not be appropriate for all research questions
- It may introduce bias into the study
In a causal research design, what is the role of the dependent variable?
- To be manipulated by the researcher
- To be measured by the researcher
- To be controlled by the researcher
- To be observed by the researcher
Which of the following is a common method of causal research design?
- Surveys
- Interviews
- Experiments
- Case studies
What is systematic sampling?
- A type of probability sampling
- A type of non-probability sampling
- A type of sampling used in experimental research
- A type of sampling used in survey research
A sample in which each element in the population has an equal chance of being selected is called:
- Convenience sampling
- Quota sampling
- Simple random sampling
- Stratified sampling
What is stratified sampling?
- A type of probability sampling
- A type of non-probability sampling
- A type of sampling used in experimental research
- A type of sampling used in survey research
Which of the following is a disadvantage of convenience sampling?
- It is time-consuming
- It may lead to biased results
- It requires a large sample size
- It is expensive
Which type of sampling guarantees that each element in the population has an equal chance of being selected?
- Simple random sampling
- Stratified sampling
- Systematic sampling
- Convenience sampling
What is purposive sampling?
- A type of probability sampling
- A type of non-probability sampling
- A type of sampling used in experimental research
- A type of sampling used in survey research
What is reliability in research?
- The ability of a measure to accurately measure what it is intended to measure
- The consistency and stability of a measure over time and across different raters or conditions
- The degree to which a measure reflects the true state of the phenomenon being measured
- The ability of a measure to detect differences between groups or conditions.
The mode is _______________________________.
- The most frequent observation in a set of data
- The middle observation in a set of data
- The average of all observations in a set of data
- None of the above
What is test-retest reliability?
- The degree to which different items on a measure are related to each other
- The degree to which different raters agree on the scoring of a measure
- The degree to which a measure produces consistent scores over time and across repeated administrations
- The degree to which a measure accurately reflects the construct being measured.
Which of the following is NOT a consideration when drafting questions for a questionnaire?
- The length of the questionnaire
- The wording of the questions
- The format of the questionnaire
- The personal opinions of the researcher
What is internal consistency reliability?
- The degree to which different items on a measure are related to each other
- The degree to which different raters agree on the scoring of a measure
- The degree to which a measure produces consistent scores over time and across repeated administrations
- The degree to which a measure accurately reflects the construct being measured.
What is validity in research?
- The ability of a measure to accurately measure what it is intended to measure
- The consistency and stability of a measure over time and across different raters or conditions
- The degree to which a measure reflects the true state of the phenomenon being measured
- The ability of a measure to detect differences between groups or conditions.
In questionnaire design, what is the purpose of defining the target population?
- To ensure the questions are easy to understand
- To determine the sampling method
- To ensure that the sample is representative
- To identify the research problem
What is construct validity?
- The degree to which a measure reflects the true state of the phenomenon being measured
- The degree to which a measure is consistent and stable over time and across different raters or conditions
- The degree to which a measure is subjectively perceived as measuring what it is intended to measure
- The degree to which a measure can detect differences between groups or conditions.
What is a questionnaire?
- A tool for collecting qualitative data
- A tool for collecting quantitative data
- A tool for collecting both qualitative and quantitative data
- A tool for collecting observational data
Which of the following measures is used to describe the spread of data?
- Mean
- Median
- Mode
- Standard deviation
What is an interview?
- A tool for collecting qualitative data
- A tool for collecting quantitative data
- A tool for collecting both qualitative and quantitative data
- A tool for collecting observational data
Which of the following is a disadvantage of using online surveys for data collection?
- They are more expensive than other methods
- They have lower response rates than other methods
- They are less secure than other methods
- They are less convenient for respondents
The range of a data set is defined as:
- The difference between the largest and smallest values
- The sum of all the values
- The average of all the values
- The difference between the mean and median
What is an observation?
- A tool for collecting qualitative data
- A tool for collecting quantitative data
- A tool for collecting both qualitative and quantitative data
- A tool for collecting self-reported data
What is a focus group?
- A tool for collecting qualitative data
- A tool for collecting quantitative data
- A tool for collecting both qualitative and quantitative data
- A tool for collecting observational data
Which of the following is a measure of how closely two variables are related?
- Correlation
- Standard deviation
- Range
- Mode
What is the purpose of using a matrix question in questionnaire design?
- To measure the frequency of a behavior
- To measure the intensity of a feeling or opinion
- To measure the accuracy of a measurement
- To group related questions together and make them easier to answer
What is a survey?
- A tool for collecting qualitative data
- A tool for collecting quantitative data
- A tool for collecting both qualitative and quantitative data
- A tool for collecting observational data
A correlation coefficient of -1 indicates:
- No correlation between the variables
- A positive correlation between the variables
- A negative correlation between the variables
- A perfect positive correlation between the variables
What is a case study?
- A tool for collecting qualitative data
- A tool for collecting quantitative data
- A tool for collecting both qualitative and quantitative data
- A tool for collecting observational data
Which of the following is a disadvantage of using open-ended questions in a questionnaire?
- They are time-consuming to answer
- They limit the respondent’s options
- They are difficult to analyze statistically
- They may introduce bias
What is a diary study?
- A tool for collecting qualitative data
- A tool for collecting quantitative data
- A tool for collecting both qualitative and quantitative data
- A tool for collecting observational data
What is a content analysis?
- A tool for collecting qualitative data
- A tool for collecting quantitative data
- A tool for collecting both qualitative and quantitative data
- A tool for collecting observational data
In questionnaire design, what is the purpose of piloting?
- To gather data on the research topic
- To select the sampling method
- To ensure the questionnaire is easy to understand
- To identify any potential issues with the questionnaire
What is a structured observation?
- A tool for collecting qualitative data
- A tool for collecting quantitative data
- A tool for collecting both qualitative and quantitative data
- A tool for collecting observational data
What is a non-participant observation?
- A tool for collecting qualitative data
- A tool for collecting quantitative data
- A tool for collecting both qualitative and quantitative data
- A tool for collecting observational data
Which of the following is not a measure of variability?
- Range
- Variance
- Standard deviation
- Mean
What is a structured interview?
- A tool for collecting qualitative data
- A tool for collecting quantitative data
- A tool for collecting both qualitative and quantitative data
- A tool for collecting observational data
Which type of interview is less prone to interviewer bias?
- Structured interview
- Semi-structured interview
- Unstructured interview
- None of the above
What is a semi-structured interview?
- A tool for collecting qualitative data
- A tool for collecting quantitative data
- A tool for collecting both qualitative and quantitative data
- A tool for collecting observational data
What is an open-ended question?
- A question that requires a specific answer
- A question that allows for a range of answers
- A question that is not relevant to the research topic
- A question that is biased
Descriptive statistics is a branch of statistics that deals with the __________ of data.
- Collection
- Organization
- Analysis
- Interpretation
What is a Type I error in hypothesis testing?
- Rejecting the null hypothesis when it is actually true
- Failing to reject the null hypothesis when it is actually false
- Rejecting the alternative hypothesis when it is actually true
- Failing to reject the alternative hypothesis when it is actually false
What is a Type II error in hypothesis testing?
- Rejecting the null hypothesis when it is actually true
- Failing to reject the null hypothesis when it is actually false
- Rejecting the alternative hypothesis when it is actually true
- Failing to reject the alternative hypothesis when it is actually false
Which of the following is an advantage of structured interviews?
- Flexibility in questioning
- More in-depth responses
- Ease of administration
- None of the above
What is the level of significance in hypothesis testing?
- The probability of making a Type I error
- The probability of making a Type II error
- The probability of making both Type I and Type II errors
- The probability of obtaining the observed result by chance
What is the p-value in hypothesis testing?
- The probability of obtaining the observed result by chance
- The probability of making a Type I error
- The probability of making a Type II error
- The level of significance
Which of the following is a characteristic of structured interviews?
- Limited or no follow-up questions
- Use of open-ended questions
- Standardized questions
- Flexible questioning
What is a one-tailed hypothesis test?
- A test in which the null hypothesis is one-tailed
- A test in which the alternative hypothesis is one-tailed
- A test in which both the null and alternative hypotheses are one-tailed
- A test in which neither the null nor the alternative hypothesis is one-tailed
What is a two-tailed hypothesis test?
- A test in which the null hypothesis is two-tailed
- A test in which the alternative hypothesis is two-tailed
- A test in which both the null and alternative hypotheses are two-tailed
- A test in which neither the null nor the alternative hypothesis is two-tailed
Which type of interview is useful when the topic is sensitive or personal?
- Structured interview
- Semi-structured interview
- Unstructured interview
- None of the above
What is the alternative hypothesis?
- A statement of the expected relationship between two variables
- A statement that there is no significant relationship between two variables
- A statement that there is a significant relationship between two variables
- A statement that there is an inverse relationship between two variables
What is the importance of referencing in a research report?
- To acknowledge the sources of information used in the research
- To provide additional information that is not available in the report
- To provide an opportunity for the researcher to express their own opinion
- To make the report appear longer
