Research Methodology – Question Bank

UNIT – 1 – Introduction to Research Methodology

Ques.1. 1 Mark Questions

1. Define: Research
2. How does Redman and Mory define research?
3. Enlist various types of research
4. Define: Research Problem
5. The main aim of research is to find out the ----------- which is hidden and which has not been --------- as yet
6. What is the meaning of research to Philosophers?
7. Define: Descriptive Research
8. Define: Analytical Research
9. Define: Applied Research
10. Define: Fundamental Research
11. Define: Quantitative Research
12. Define: Qualitative Research
13. Define: Conceptual Research
14. Define: Empirical Research
15. What do you mean by Research Problem?
16. What is Literature Survey?

Ques.2. 5 Marks Questions

1. Discuss Objectives of Research
2. Discuss Descriptive v/s Analytical Research
3. Write note on Applied v/s Fundamental Research
4. Briefly discuss Conceptual v/s Empirical Research
5. Write a brief note on formulation of Research Problem.
6. Describe various methods of data collection.
7. Explain in brief how a report of research is prepared.

Ques.3. 7 Marks Questions

1. Write an assay on significance of research
2. Write an assay on “Some other types of research”
3. Write a note on Research Process
4. Write a note on Quantitative v/s Qualitative research
5. Write a note on various types of sampling methods

UNIT – 2 – Components of Research

Ques.1. 1 Mark Questions

1. Define: Research design
2. Define: Census
3. Define: Sample
4. What is an Operational design?
5. What are Dependent variables?
6. Define: Treatments
7. Define: Literature Survey
8. What is Random sampling?
9. What is R.B.design?
10. What is Latin Square Design?
11. What is a Population in sampling?
12. Define: Deliberate sampling
13. What is simple random sampling?
14. Define: Systematic Sampling
15. Define: Stratified sampling
16. Define: Quota Sampling
17. What is Cluster Sampling?
18. Define: Multi Stage Sampling
19. Define: Primary Data
20. Define: Secondary Data

Ques.2. 5 Marks Question

1. Write a brief note on formulating a research problem
2. Discuss in brief the procedure of selecting a research problem
3. Explain the techniques involved in defining a research problem
4. Briefly discuss steps involved in analysis of data while designing a research
5. What are the features of a good research design?
6. What are the characteristics of a good sample design?
7. Discuss in brief the basic principles of experimental designs
8. “Research design in exploratory studies must be flexible but in descriptive studies, it must minimize bias and
maximize reliability.” Discuss.
9. Give your understanding of a good research design. Is single research design suitable in all research studies?
If not, why?
10. What are the important features of a research design?
11. Discuss in brief the criteria for selection of a sampling procedure
12. What are the merits of Interview as a method of data Collection?
13. What are the demerits of Interview as a method of data Collection?
14. Briefly discuss the criteria for selection of appropriate method of data collection

Ques.3. 7 Marks Questions

1. Enlist and briefly describe the different steps involved in a research process
2. “Research is much concerned with proper fact finding, analysis and evaluation.” Do you agree with this
Statement? Give reasons in support of your answer.
3. Write a detailed note on various types of sampling methods.
4. Write a detailed account on different methods of data collection.
5. What are the important concepts relating to research design?
6. Discuss in detail various research designs.
7. Write an essay on important experimental designs.
8. Discuss different types of sample designs.
9. Discuss various steps involved in sample designing.
10. What do you mean by ‘Sample Design’? What points should be taken into consideration by a researcher in
developing a sample design for this research project.
11. Write an essay on the methods of collection of Primary data
12. Write an essay on the methods of collection of Secondary data.

UNIT – 3 – Scientific documents and standards

Ques.1. 1 Mark Questions

1. What is scientific literature?
2. Enlist different types of scientific literature
3. What is primary literature?
4. Who is a ‘referee”?
5. What is meant by “Peer Review”?
6. What is impact factor?
7. What is secondary literature?
8. What is tertiary literature?
9. What is Grey Literature?
10. What is an academic journal?
11. What is SCImago journal rank?

Ques.2. 5 Marks Questions

1. Write a brief note on Primary literature
2. Briefly discuss Scholarly or academic journal.
3. Compare open access journals with non- open access journals
4. Discuss different measures used to judge the journal quality and impact
5. Write a note on steps in scientific writing
6. Explain publication ethics in brief.

Ques.3. 7 Marks Questions

1. Write an essay on different types of scientific literature
2. Write a detailed note on different types of periodicals
3. Describe various types of publications.
4. Discuss steps and format of scientific writing

UNIT – 4 – Dissertation / Thesis writing and presentation

Ques.1. 1 Mark Questions

1. What are scientific data?
2. Enlist methods of data presentation
3. What is a statement?
4. Enlist various types of graphs.
5. What is Arithmetic mean?
6. What is standard deviation?
7. What is a Poster?
8. Name Two software used for poster making.
9. What is a dissertation?
10. What is a thesis?
11. What do you mean by “Plagiarism”?
12. What is Proof reading?
13. What do you mean by Research Ethics?

Ques.2. 5 Marks Questions

1. What are the features of a good table for data presentation?
2. Briefly discuss the graphical method of data presentation
3. Discuss non graphical techniques of data presentation in brief
4. What are data? Write a brief account on various types of data.
5. Explain histogram with an example.
6. Write a short note on features of a good poster
7. Explain popular approaches to making a poster.
8. Discuss in brief the structure of a good thesis
9. Explain the concept of Transparency in research work

Ques.2. 7 Marks Questions

1. Write a detailed note on different presentation styles of scientific data
2. Discuss in detail the nature of data.
3. Give a detailed account of various classes of graphical representation techniques
4. Discuss Layout of a poster in brief
5. Describe various stages in poster production
6. Write as essay on 10 simple rules for making a good poster
7. Write an essay on layout and contents of a good thesis.
8. Discuss in detail various aspects of research ethics

UNIT – 5 – Elementary statistics for research

Ques.1. 1 Mark Questions

1. Define: Research Hypothesis
2. What is an Assumption?
3. What is meant by “Limitations’?
4. Define: Demographic variables
5. Define: Environmental variables
6. Define: Dependent Variables
7. Define: independent variables
8. What is Null Hypothesis?
9. Define: Alternate Hypothesis
10. What do you mean by Significance level?
11. What is Type – I error?
12. What is Type – II error?
13. What is ANOVA?
14. What is Chi-Square Test?
15. What is F-Statistics?
16. What is SSW in ANOVA?
17. What is SSB in ANOVA?
18. What is the formula to find F-Statistics?

Ques.2. 5 Marks Questions

1. What contributions are made by Research hypothesis?
2. Write a brief note on Research Hypothesis.
3. Explain in brief Null Hypothesis
4. Discuss Research Variables
5. Discuss one and Two Tailed tests in brief
6. Discuss errors in hypothesis testing
7. The exchange route for sterling against the US dollar for 15 days in January 2003 is given in the following
table. Calculate the mean, median and mode of this data. 1.5977 1.6028 1.6108 1.6067 1.5995 1.6064 1.6080
1.6054 1.6098 1.6049 1.6064 1.6179 1.6082 1.6095 1.6134
8. The following data is the hourly pay in pounds offered to shop assistants in a survey of job vacancies for June
2003 based in Reading. 5.00 4.21 4.97 5.00 5.00 5.29 5.05 5.50 5.79 5.00 5.40 5.20 5.10 5.06 4.50 4.50 5.50
4.50 5.00 5.00 5.50 Calculate the mean, median, and mode of this data.
9. Find the mode, median and mean of the following: a) 3, 12, 11, 7, 5, 5, 6, 4, 10 b) 16, 19, 10, 24, 19 c) 8, 2, 8,
5, 5, 8 d) 28, 39, 42, 29, 39, 40, 36, 46, 41, 30 e) 133, 215, 250, 108, 206, 159, 206, 178 f) 76, 94, 76, 82, 78,
86, 90 g) 52, 61, 49, 52, 49, 52, 41, 58

Ques.3. 7 Marks Question

1. Write an essay on different types of Hypothesis
2. Discuss in detail the process of Hypothesis testing
3. A study is designed to test whether there is a difference in mean daily calcium intake in adults with normal
bone density, adults with osteopenia (a low bone density which may lead to osteoporosis) and adults with
osteoporosis. Adults 60 years of age with normal bone density, osteopenia and osteoporosis are selected at
random from hospital records and invited to participate in the study. Each participant's daily calcium intake is
measured based on reported food intake and supplements. The data are shown below.

Normal Bone Density Osteopenia Osteoporosis

1200 1000 890

1000 1100 650

980 700 1100

900 800 900

750 500 400

 800 700 350

Is there a statistically significant difference in mean calcium intake in patients with normal bone density as
compared to patients with osteopenia and osteoporosis? Find F – Statistics

4. A recent study claims that using music in a class enhances the concentration and consequently helps students
absorb more information. Three different groups of ten randomly selected students (all of the same age) from
three different classrooms were taken for the study. Each classroom was provided with a different environment
for students to study. Classroom A had constant music being played in the background, classroom B had
variable music being played and classroom C was a regular class with no music playing. After one month, a test
for all the three groups was conducted and test scores were collected. The test scores that we obtained were as
follows:

Find the Type of Music good for the students through F-Statistics

5. From the data given below, find out whether the means of the three samples differ significantly or not by
performing F –Statistics Test.

Sample-1 Sample-2 Sample-3

22 19 13
10 14 12
19 16 10
17 12 15
12 11 5

6. Researchers have conducted a survey of 1600 coffee drinkers asking how much coffee they drink in order to
confirm previous studies. Previous studies have indicated that 72% of Americans drink coffee. The results of
previous studies (left) and the survey (right) are below. At α = 0.05, is there enough evidence to conclude that
the distributions are the same? (Critical Value from Table = 5.991 at df=2, p=0.05)

7. In a Mendelian experiment on breeding, four types of plants are expected to occur in the proportion of
9:3:3:1. The observed frequencies are: 889 round and yellow, 318 wrinkled and yellow, 288 round and green
and 121 wrinkled and green. Find the Chi-square value and examine the correspondence between the theory and
the experiment. (Critical Value from Table = 7.815 at df=3, p=0.05)