RESEARCH METHODOLOGY for M.Tech (Mineral Processing) – III Semester

 

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY by shashidharsm

Research Methodology: MCQ Bank 2526

Research Methodology: MCQ Bank 2526

1. "Fundamental Research" is primarily distinguished from "Applied Research" by:

(A) Its aim to expand the existing knowledge base without immediate practical application

(B) Its focus on solving specific industrial problems

(C) Its reliance on non-mathematical methods

(D) Its shorter duration and lower cost

2. Which of the following best describes "Quantitative Research"?

(A) It relies on the researcher's subjective interpretation of text

(B) It focuses on understanding human behavior through observation

(C) It is exclusively used in historical analysis

(D) It involves the generation of data in numerical form for rigorous analysis

3. The "h-index" is a metric that attempts to measure:

(A) The number of years a researcher has been active

(B) The productivity and citation impact of a scientist's publications

(C) The total number of journals a library subscribes to

(D) The average number of authors per paper

4. A "Hypothesis" in research is best defined as:

(A) A proven scientific fact

(B) A summary of the research findings

(C) A logical and testable prediction about the relationship between variables

(D) The conclusion drawn after data analysis

5. Which sampling technique ensures that subgroups (strata) of a given population are each adequately represented within the whole sample?

(A) Stratified Sampling

(B) Simple Random Sampling

(C) Cluster Sampling

(D) Convenience Sampling

6. Data collected by the researcher directly from the source for the specific purpose of the study is called:

(A) Secondary Data

(B) Supplementary Data

(C) Passive Data

(D) Primary Data

7. A "Type I Error" in hypothesis testing occurs when:

(A) The null hypothesis is false and is rejected

(B) The null hypothesis is true but is rejected (False Positive)

(C) The null hypothesis is false and is accepted

(D) The sample size is too small

8. Which measure of central tendency is most affected by extreme values (outliers) in a dataset?

(A) Mode

(B) Median

(C) Mean

(D) Quartile

9. Which software tool is specifically specialized for "Designing of Experiments" (DOE) and statistical quality analysis?

(A) MINITAB

(B) MATLAB

(C) SPSS

(D) MS Access

10. What is the primary function of a "Bibliography" or "References" section?

(A) To provide a glossary of technical terms

(B) To summarize the researcher's biography

(C) To increase the page count of the thesis

(D) To list all sources cited or consulted to validate the research

11. In an experimental design, the "Independent Variable" is:

(A) The outcome factor being measured

(B) The factor manipulated by the researcher to observe its effect

(C) A variable held constant to prevent interference

(D) A variable that cannot be controlled

12. Which statistical test is appropriate to compare the means of two independent groups (e.g., Treatment A vs. Treatment B)?

(A) ANOVA

(B) Chi-Square Test

(C) Student's t-test

(D) Pearson Correlation

13. A "Normal Distribution" is characterized by:

(A) A bell-shaped curve where Mean = Median = Mode

(B) A flat, rectangular distribution

(C) A curve skewed heavily to the right

(D) Two distinct peaks (bimodal)

14. Which of the following is a widely recognized abstract and citation database for scientific literature?

(A) Wikipedia

(B) Mendeley

(C) ResearchGate

(D) Scopus

15. "Sampling Bias" occurs when:

(A) The sample size is statistically calculated

(B) A systematic error ensures the sample does not accurately represent the population

(C) Every individual has an equal chance of selection

(D) The researcher uses a random number generator

16. An "Abstract" in a technical paper serves to:

(A) List the references used

(B) Dedicate the work to family members

(C) Provide a concise summary of the research objectives, methods, and results

(D) Detail the financial budget of the project

17. To display the distribution of a continuous variable (e.g., particle size distribution), which chart is most suitable?

(A) Histogram

(B) Pie Chart

(C) Venn Diagram

(D) Flowchart

18. The statistical method "ANOVA" is used to:

(A) Calculate the correlation coefficient between two variables

(B) Determine the median of a dataset

(C) Plot the linear regression line

(D) Analyze the variance to compare means of three or more groups

19. The "i10-index" indicates:

(A) The number of papers published in the last 10 years

(B) The number of papers with at least 10 citations

(C) The top 10 journals in a specific field

(D) The number of authors on a paper

20. Plagiarism is best described as:

(A) The act of conducting a literature review

(B) Collaborating with other researchers on a joint project

(C) Using another person's ideas, processes, or results without giving appropriate credit

(D) Publishing a paper in an open-access journal

21. "Applied Research" aims to:

(A) Formulate new theories

(B) Conduct historical analysis

(C) Solve immediate, practical problems facing a society or an industry

(D) Gain knowledge for the sake of knowledge

22. Google Scholar is best described as:

(A) A repository for government census data

(B) A social networking site for professionals

(C) A subscription-only database for journals

(D) A freely accessible web search engine for scholarly literature

23. The "Alternative Hypothesis" typically states that:

(A) The observed effect is due to chance

(B) There is a significant difference or relationship between variables

(C) The null hypothesis is true

(D) No conclusion can be drawn

24. "Variance" in statistics is a measure of:

(A) The central point of the data

(B) The asymmetry of the distribution

(C) The dispersion or spread of data points around the mean

(D) The relationship between two variables

25. The "p-value" in hypothesis testing represents:

(A) The power of the statistical test

(B) The probability that the alternative hypothesis is false

(C) The magnitude of the experimental error

(D) The probability of obtaining results as extreme as observed, assuming the null hypothesis is true

26. In a controlled experiment, the "Control Group":

(A) Receives the experimental treatment

(B) Serves as a baseline for comparison and does not receive the experimental treatment

(C) Is the group that analyzes the data

(D) Is selected based on convenience

27. "Empirical Research" is research that is based on:

(A) Theory and abstract concepts

(B) The opinions of experts only

(C) Observed and measured phenomena, deriving knowledge from actual experience

(D) Reviewing existing literature without collecting new data

28. A "Sampling Frame" is defined as:

(A) The actual list of individuals or units from which the sample is drawn

(B) The theoretical population

(C) The software used for sampling

(D) The final set of data collected

29. Which Excel function would you use to calculate the arithmetic mean of a range of cells?

(A) =SUM()

(B) =MEDIAN()

(C) =COUNT()

(D) =AVERAGE()

30. A "Type II Error" occurs when:

(A) A true null hypothesis is rejected

(B) A false null hypothesis is accepted (failed to be rejected)

(C) The sample size is too large

(D) The data is not normally distributed

31. Good "Technical Writing" is characterized by:

(A) Ambiguity and complexity

(B) Subjective opinions and emotional language

(C) Clarity, conciseness, objectivity, and accuracy

(D) Use of slang and colloquialisms

32. In "Stratified Sampling", the population is divided into subgroups called strata that are:

(A) Homogeneous within and heterogeneous between

(B) Heterogeneous within and homogeneous between

(C) Identical to each other

(D) Selected purely by convenience

33. Which of the following is a primary source of scientific literature?

(A) A textbook summarizing a field

(B) A Wikipedia article

(C) A newspaper report on a scientific discovery

(D) An original research article in a peer-reviewed journal

34. In a "Standard Normal Distribution", the mean is:

(A) 1

(B) 0

(C) 100

(D) Dependent on the sample size

35. "Curve Fitting" is the process of:

(A) Removing outliers to make the curve look better

(B) Drawing a curve by hand

(C) Constructing a mathematical function that has the best fit to a series of data points

(D) Plotting a pie chart

36. The "Range" of a dataset is:

(A) The average distance from the mean

(B) The difference between the highest and lowest values

(C) The middle value of the dataset

(D) The sum of all values

37. Which chart is best suited to show the trend of a variable over time (e.g., temperature change over 24 hours)?

(A) Line Chart

(B) Pie Chart

(C) Bar Chart

(D) Venn Diagram

38. An "Interview" is primarily a method of:

(A) Data Collection

(B) Data Analysis

(C) Hypothesis Testing

(D) Report Formatting

39. A "Research Problem" is:

(A) The answer to the research question

(B) An issue or gap in knowledge that the research aims to address or solve

(C) The funding available for the project

(D) The software used for analysis

40. Which of the following is NOT a measure of central tendency?

(A) Standard Deviation

(B) Mean

(C) Median

(D) Mode

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Answer Key 

1. (A) | Fundamental research is driven by curiosity to expand knowledge, whereas applied research solves specific practical problems.

2. (D) | Quantitative research focuses on quantifying variables and analyzing numerical data.

3. (B) | The h-index captures both productivity (number of papers) and impact (number of citations) in a single metric.

4. (C) | A hypothesis is a tentative, testable prediction regarding the relationship between two or more variables.

5. (A) | Stratified sampling divides the population into subgroups (strata) to ensure each is represented proportionally.

6. (D) | Primary data is original data collected by the researcher specifically for the study at hand.

7. (B) | A Type I error is a "False Positive," where the researcher incorrectly rejects a true null hypothesis.

8. (C) | The mean includes every value in calculation, making it highly sensitive to skewing by outliers.

9. (A) | MINITAB is a software package widely used in industry and academia for statistics and DOE.

10. (D) | The bibliography lists all sources to give credit to authors and allow readers to verify the research.

11. (B) | The independent variable is the one the researcher changes or controls to see if it affects the dependent variable.

12. (C) | The Student's t-test is the standard statistical test for comparing the means of two independent groups.

13. (A) | A normal distribution is symmetric and bell-shaped, where the mean, median, and mode are equal.

14. (D) | Scopus is a large, curated abstract and citation database for academic literature.

15. (B) | Sampling bias happens when the selection method systematically favors certain outcomes or excludes parts of the population.

16. (C) | An abstract provides a brief, comprehensive summary of the paper's contents to help readers quickly assess relevance.

17. (A) | Histograms are designed to show the frequency distribution of continuous numerical data.

18. (D) | ANOVA (Analysis of Variance) tests for significant differences between means of three or more groups.

19. (B) | The i10-index counts the number of an author's publications that have at least 10 citations each.

20. (C) | Plagiarism is the unethical practice of presenting someone else's work or ideas as your own.

21. (C) | Applied research is specifically aimed at finding solutions to immediate, practical issues.

22. (D) | Google Scholar is a free search engine that indexes the full text or metadata of scholarly literature.

23. (B) | The alternative hypothesis ($H_1$) posits that there is a statistically significant effect or difference.

24. (C) | Variance calculates the average squared deviation from the mean, indicating how spread out the data is.

25. (D) | The p-value measures the probability of observing the data (or something more extreme) if the null hypothesis were true.

26. (B) | The control group serves as a benchmark by not receiving the experimental treatment.

27. (C) | Empirical research relies on verifiable evidence gathered through observation or experience rather than theory alone.

28. (A) | The sampling frame is the actual source list (e.g., a phone book, email list) from which the sample is drawn.

29. (D) | In Excel, the =AVERAGE() function computes the arithmetic mean of selected cells.

30. (B) | A Type II error is a "False Negative," occurring when a false null hypothesis is failed to be rejected.

31. (C) | Technical writing must be unambiguous, objective, and precise to clearly convey complex information.

32. (A) | In stratified sampling, strata are internally homogeneous (similar) but heterogeneous (different) from each other.

33. (D) | An original research article reports new findings and data, making it a primary source.

34. (B) | A standard normal distribution is a specific normal distribution with a mean of 0 and standard deviation of 1.

35. (C) | Curve fitting involves finding the mathematical function that best approximates the pattern of data points.

36. (B) | The range is the simplest measure of dispersion, calculated as the maximum value minus the minimum value.

37. (A) | Line charts are ideal for displaying data points connected by straight line segments to show trends over time.

38. (A) | Interviews are a qualitative method used to collect in-depth data from participants.

39. (B) | A research problem is the specific issue, contradiction, or gap in knowledge that the research seeks to address.

40. (A) | Standard Deviation is a measure of dispersion (spread), whereas Mean, Median, and Mode measure central tendency.

Research Methodology MCQ 4

Research Methodology

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What is the purpose of a pilot study?
   (A) To finalize the research report
   (B) To test the feasibility of the research design
   (C) To collect secondary data
   (D) To analyze statistical errors
   Key: (B) To test the feasibility of the research design
   Explanation: Pilot studies help identify design flaws and assess feasibility before full-scale research.

2. What does the h-index measure?
   (A) Measuring journal impact
   (B) Measuring author productivity and impact
   (C) Plotting regression data
   (D) Analyzing sample variance
   Key: (B) Measuring author productivity and impact
   Explanation: The h-index evaluates both the productivity and citation impact of an author’s publications.

3. What does the term "sampling bias" refer to?
   (A) Overrepresentation of a subset of the population
   (B) Incorrect hypothesis testing
   (C) Miscalculation in statistical tools
   (D) Poor literature review
   Key: (A) Overrepresentation of a subset of the population
   Explanation: Sampling bias occurs when certain groups in the population are unfairly represented.

4. Which software is commonly used for statistical analysis in research?
   (A) MINITAB
   (B) Photoshop
   (C) AutoCAD
   (D) WordPress
   Key: (A) MINITAB
   Explanation: MINITAB is a powerful tool for statistical analysis and data visualization.

5. The ANOVA test is used to analyze:
   (A) Variance within and between groups
   (B) Relationships between categorical variables
   (C) Correlation coefficients
   (D) Regression equations
   Key: (A) Variance within and between groups
   Explanation: ANOVA compares group means to assess variance across multiple categories.

6. Which research method involves manipulation of variables to establish cause-and-effect relationships?
   (A) Survey
   (B) Experimental
   (C) Observational
   (D) Descriptive
   Key: (B) Experimental
   Explanation: Experimental research manipulates variables to observe changes and infer causality.

7. What is the purpose of a literature survey in research?
   (A) To collect primary data
   (B) To identify research gaps and trends
   (C) To create sampling designs
   (D) To finalize statistical tests
   Key: (B) To identify research gaps and trends
   Explanation: Literature surveys help researchers understand the current state of knowledge and identify opportunities.

8. What does "curve fitting" help in understanding?
   (A) Patterns in categorical data
   (B) Relationships and trends in quantitative data
   (C) Sampling errors
   (D) Design of experiments
   Key: (B) Relationships and trends in quantitative data
   Explanation: Curve fitting models data points to understand relationships and make predictions.

9. Which index measures the citation frequency of publications?
   (A) Impact factor
   (B) h-index
   (C) Scopus index
   (D) i10 index
   Key: (B) h-index
   Explanation: The h-index measures an author's impact based on the number of highly cited papers.

10. What is the primary aim of fundamental research?
    (A) Solve practical problems
    (B) Develop theories and principles
    (C) Test a hypothesis
    (D) Analyze statistical data
    Key: (B) Develop theories and principles
    Explanation: Fundamental research explores basic principles and knowledge without immediate application.

11. Which statistical tool is used to analyze the relationship between two variables?
    (A) ANOVA
    (B) Correlation
    (C) Chi-square test
    (D) Regression
    Key: (B) Correlation
    Explanation: Correlation assesses the strength and direction of the relationship between two variables.

12. What is an "i10 index"?
    (A) Number of citations per year
    (B) Number of papers with at least 10 citations
    (C) Number of highly cited articles
    (D) Total number of journal articles
    Key: (B) Number of papers with at least 10 citations
    Explanation: The i10 index indicates how many papers have been cited at least 10 times.

13. What is a null hypothesis?
    (A) When there is no relationship between variables
    (B) When variables are positively correlated
    (C) The same as an alternative hypothesis
    (D) Always true
    Key: (A) When there is no relationship between variables
    Explanation: The null hypothesis assumes no effect or relationship between variables.

14. What is the first step in the research process?
    (A) Data collection
    (B) Literature review
    (C) Defining the problem
    (D) Hypothesis formulation
    Key: (C) Defining the problem
    Explanation: Defining the problem sets the foundation for a research study.

15. In hypothesis testing, a Type I error occurs when:
    (A) Null hypothesis is wrongly accepted
    (B) Null hypothesis is wrongly rejected
    (C) Alternative hypothesis is rejected
    (D) Sample size is too small
    Key: (B) Null hypothesis is wrongly rejected
    Explanation: A Type I error occurs when a true null hypothesis is rejected.

16. Which of the following is NOT a type of research?
    (A) Descriptive
    (B) Exploratory
    (C) Inferential
    (D) Hypothetical
    Key: (D) Hypothetical
    Explanation: Hypothetical research is not a recognized category of research.

17. Chi-square tests are used to:
    (A) Compare means
    (B) Test associations between categorical variables
    (C) Analyze variance
    (D) Estimate regression parameters
    Key: (B) Test associations between categorical variables
    Explanation: The chi-square test is used to determine if there is an association between two categorical variables.

18. Which research approach uses simulations?
    (A) Experimental
    (B) Inferential
    (C) Simulation
    (D) Observational
    Key: (C) Simulation
    Explanation: Simulation research models real-world processes using virtual environments.

19. What does the impact factor of a journal measure?
    (A) Popularity of the journal
    (B) Quality and influence of its publications
    (C) Number of authors
    (D) Page count of the journal
    Key: (B) Quality and influence of its publications
    Explanation: The impact factor reflects the frequency of citations to recent articles in the journal.

20. Inferential statistics is primarily used to:
    (A) Predict and generalize population characteristics
    (B) Describe data distributions
    (C) Analyze qualitative data
    (D) Summarize large datasets
    Key: (A) Predict and generalize population characteristics
    Explanation: Inferential statistics use sample data to make generalizations about a population.

21. What is the role of descriptive statistics?
    (A) To analyze categorical data
    (B) To summarize and describe data features
    (C) To conduct hypothesis testing
    (D) To create literature surveys
    Key: (B) To summarize and describe data features
    Explanation: Descriptive statistics organize and present data in a meaningful way through measures like mean, median, and standard deviation.

22. Which of the following represents a qualitative research method?
    (A) Surveys
    (B) Case studies
    (C) Experimental designs
    (D) Statistical analysis
    Key: (B) Case studies
    Explanation: Case studies explore detailed, in-depth aspects of a phenomenon, making them suitable for qualitative research.

23. The central limit theorem is associated with:
    (A) Normal distribution
    (B) Data collection methods
    (C) Sampling methods
    (D) Inferential statistics
    Key: (A) Normal distribution
    Explanation: The central limit theorem states that the distribution of sample means approaches a normal distribution as sample size increases.

24. What does the term "primary data" refer to?
    (A) Data collected directly by the researcher
    (B) Secondary data from literature
    (C) Data obtained from surveys only
    (D) Statistical data
    Key: (A) Data collected directly by the researcher
    Explanation: Primary data is first-hand information collected specifically for the purpose of the study.

25. What is the main characteristic of a good research design?
    (A) Generalizability
    (B) Complexity
    (C) Bias
    (D) High cost
    Key: (A) Generalizability
    Explanation: A good research design should produce results that are applicable to broader populations.

26. Which type of error bars indicate variability in data?
    (A) Horizontal bars
    (B) Vertical bars
    (C) Confidence intervals
    (D) Mean differences
    Key: (C) Confidence intervals
    Explanation: Confidence intervals show the range within which the true value is expected to fall with a certain level of confidence.

27. A research problem should be:
    (A) Broad and unspecific
    (B) Narrow and operationally defined
    (C) Subjective and biased
    (D) Focused on a single solution
    Key: (B) Narrow and operationally defined
    Explanation: A well-defined research problem ensures clear and focused research objectives.

28. What does the impact factor of a journal measure?
    (A) Number of authors
    (B) Page count of the journal
    (C) Popularity of the journal
    (D) Quality and influence of its publications
    Key: (D) Quality and influence of its publications
    Explanation: The impact factor measures how often articles in a journal are cited, indicating its influence.

29. Which of the following is a parametric test?
    (A) Chi-square test
    (B) t-test
    (C) Run test
    (D) Sign test
    Key: (B) t-test
    Explanation: Parametric tests, like the t-test, rely on assumptions about data distribution, usually normality.

30. What is the purpose of inferential statistics?
    (A) Summarizing data
    (B) Drawing conclusions about populations from samples
    (C) Creating data tables
    (D) Performing literature reviews
    Key: (B) Drawing conclusions about populations from samples
    Explanation: Inferential statistics help generalize findings from sample data to larger populations.