BSocSc Bachelor of Social Science Research Methods in Social Science 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which research design is most appropriate when a researcher wants to establish a cause-and-effect relationship between two variables?
- Case study
- Experimental design (Correct answer)
- Cross-sectional survey
- Ethnography
Correct answer: Experimental design
Experimental design involves manipulation of an independent variable and random assignment, allowing researchers to infer causal relationships.
Question 2: What does 'operationalization' mean in social science research?
- Conducting fieldwork in a natural setting
- Defining a concept in terms of how it will be measured (Correct answer)
- Analyzing secondary data sources
- Recruiting participants through random sampling
Correct answer: Defining a concept in terms of how it will be measured
Operationalization translates an abstract concept into a concrete, measurable variable for empirical study.
Question 3: A researcher studies the same group of people at multiple points over ten years. This is an example of which research design?
- Cross-sectional
- Longitudinal (Correct answer)
- Case study
- Comparative
Correct answer: Longitudinal
A longitudinal design tracks the same participants across time, enabling the study of change and development.
Question 4: Which sampling method gives every member of a population an equal chance of being selected?
- Purposive sampling
- Snowball sampling
- Simple random sampling (Correct answer)
- Convenience sampling
Correct answer: Simple random sampling
Simple random sampling assigns equal probability of selection to every population member, minimizing selection bias.
Question 5: In qualitative research, what is 'theoretical saturation'?
- The point at which new data no longer yields new insights or themes (Correct answer)
- The use of multiple theories to explain one phenomenon
- Reaching a statistically significant sample size
- Applying grounded theory to secondary sources
Correct answer: The point at which new data no longer yields new insights or themes
Theoretical saturation occurs when additional data collection and analysis produce no new categories or themes, signaling sufficient depth.
Question 6: Which of the following is a primary source of data?
- A review article summarizing previous studies
- A government census database
- An interview conducted by the researcher (Correct answer)
- A published textbook on sociology
Correct answer: An interview conducted by the researcher
Primary data is collected directly by the researcher from original sources, such as through interviews, surveys, or observation.
Question 7: What is the main purpose of a literature review in social science research?
- To collect original data from participants
- To map existing knowledge and identify research gaps (Correct answer)
- To apply statistical tests to hypotheses
- To present fieldwork observations
Correct answer: To map existing knowledge and identify research gaps
A literature review synthesizes existing scholarship to contextualize the study and justify the research question.
BSocSc Bachelor of Social Science Research Methods in Social Science 1
Which research design is most appropriate when a researcher wants to establish a cause-and-effect relationship between two variables?