BSocSc Bachelor of Social Science Research Methods in Social Science

Question 1

Which research design is most appropriate when a researcher wants to establish a cause-and-effect relationship between two variables?

Accepted Answer

Experimental design

Answer

Case study

Answer

Cross-sectional survey

Answer

Ethnography

Question 2

What does 'operationalization' mean in social science research?

Accepted Answer

Defining a concept in terms of how it will be measured

Answer

Conducting fieldwork in a natural setting

Answer

Analyzing secondary data sources

Answer

Recruiting participants through random sampling

Question 3

A researcher studies the same group of people at multiple points over ten years. This is an example of which research design?

Accepted Answer

Longitudinal

Answer

Cross-sectional

Answer

Case study

Answer

Comparative

Question 4

Which sampling method gives every member of a population an equal chance of being selected?

Accepted Answer

Simple random sampling

Answer

Purposive sampling

Answer

Snowball sampling

Answer

Convenience sampling

Question 5

In qualitative research, what is 'theoretical saturation'?

Accepted Answer

The point at which new data no longer yields new insights or themes

Answer

The use of multiple theories to explain one phenomenon

Answer

Reaching a statistically significant sample size

Answer

Applying grounded theory to secondary sources

Question 6

Which of the following is a primary source of data?

Accepted Answer

An interview conducted by the researcher

Answer

A review article summarizing previous studies

Answer

A government census database

Answer

A published textbook on sociology

Question 7

What is the main purpose of a literature review in social science research?

Accepted Answer

To map existing knowledge and identify research gaps

Answer

To collect original data from participants

Answer

To apply statistical tests to hypotheses

Answer

To present fieldwork observations