Research Methodology Exam Questions & Answers
Published: Jan 09, 2024 · Last updated: 8 August 2026
Exploratory research investigates a problem that is not yet clearly defined, usually to develop hypotheses rather than test them. Descriptive research documents the characteristics of a population or phenomenon without establishing cause. Explanatory research tests cause-and-effect relationships between variables.
A research design is the overall plan for conducting a study — specifying what data will be collected, from whom, by what method, and how it will be analysed to answer the research question. It is decided before data collection begins.
A research method is the specific technique used to collect or analyse data — a survey, an interview, a regression analysis. Methodology is the broader justification for why those methods were chosen and how they fit the research question.
In probability sampling, every member of the population has a known, non-zero chance of being selected — random, stratified, cluster and systematic sampling all fall here. In non-probability sampling, selection depends on judgement or convenience, so results cannot be statistically generalised to the wider population.
Stratified sampling divides the population into subgroups (strata) that share a characteristic, then samples randomly within each subgroup. This ensures each group is represented proportionally, which simple random sampling cannot guarantee.
Sampling error is the difference between a sample statistic and the true population value, arising because a sample is only part of the population. It decreases as sample size increases and is distinct from non-sampling errors such as measurement or response bias.
Primary data is collected first-hand by the researcher for the specific study — through surveys, interviews, observation or experiments. Secondary data already exists, having been collected by someone else for a different purpose, such as census records or published studies.
A Likert scale measures attitudes or opinions using ordered response options, typically five or seven points ranging from strong disagreement to strong agreement. It produces ordinal data, which affects which statistical tests can legitimately be applied.
Closed-ended questions offer fixed response options and produce quantifiable data that is easy to analyse. Open-ended questions allow respondents to answer in their own words, producing richer qualitative data that takes longer to code and interpret.
The null hypothesis states that there is no effect or no relationship between the variables being studied. The alternative hypothesis states that there is one. Statistical testing determines whether there is sufficient evidence to reject the null — it never proves the alternative.
A Type I error is rejecting a null hypothesis that is actually true — a false positive. A Type II error is failing to reject a null hypothesis that is actually false — a false negative. Reducing one generally increases the risk of the other.
A p-value of 0.05 means there is a 5% probability of observing results at least as extreme as those found, assuming the null hypothesis is true. It is a conventional threshold for significance, not a measure of how important or how large an effect is.
Validity is whether an instrument measures what it claims to measure. Reliability is whether it produces consistent results when repeated under the same conditions. An instrument can be reliable without being valid — consistently measuring the wrong thing.
Internal validity concerns whether the study genuinely establishes the causal relationship it claims, free from confounding variables. External validity concerns whether those findings can be generalised beyond the specific sample, setting and time period studied.
Choosing an appropriate research methodology for research paper is the most importation for academic writings. To know more about choosing of methodology for your research