PRC Data Collection & Analysis 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which sampling method ensures every member of the population has an equal probability of being selected?
- Convenience sampling
- Simple random sampling (Correct answer)
- Purposive sampling
- Quota sampling
Correct answer: Simple random sampling
Simple random sampling gives every population member an equal and independent chance of selection, minimizing selection bias.
Question 2: In survey research, what does 'response rate' measure?
- The accuracy of answers given
- The proportion of selected participants who complete the survey (Correct answer)
- The speed at which responses are collected
- The average number of questions answered per respondent
Correct answer: The proportion of selected participants who complete the survey
Response rate is the percentage of sampled individuals who actually complete and return the survey instrument.
Question 3: Which data collection approach is MOST prone to social desirability bias?
- Passive observation
- Self-administered online surveys
- Face-to-face interviews (Correct answer)
- Automated sensor data collection
Correct answer: Face-to-face interviews
Face-to-face interviews introduce social desirability bias because respondents may alter answers to appear favorable to the interviewer.
Question 4: A researcher uses existing government census records for a new study. This is an example of:
- Primary data collection
- Secondary data analysis (Correct answer)
- Observational research
- Experimental design
Correct answer: Secondary data analysis
Secondary data analysis involves using data previously collected by others for purposes that may differ from the current study.
Question 5: What is the primary purpose of a codebook in quantitative data analysis?
- To encrypt sensitive respondent data
- To document variable names, codes, and value labels for a dataset (Correct answer)
- To generate random codes for sampling
- To record fieldwork logistics
Correct answer: To document variable names, codes, and value labels for a dataset
A codebook documents how variables are defined, coded, and labeled so analysts can correctly interpret and use the dataset.
Question 6: Which measure of central tendency is MOST resistant to extreme outliers?
- Mean
- Mode
- Median (Correct answer)
- Range
Correct answer: Median
The median is resistant to outliers because it reflects the middle value regardless of how extreme the highest or lowest values are.
Question 7: In focus group research, the ideal group size typically ranges from:
- 2–4 participants
- 6–10 participants (Correct answer)
- 15–20 participants
- 25–30 participants
Correct answer: 6–10 participants
Focus groups of 6–10 participants allow enough diversity of perspectives while keeping discussion manageable and ensuring everyone can contribute.
PRC Data Collection & Analysis 2
Which sampling method ensures every member of the population has an equal probability of being selected?