Types of Research Designs: A Comprehensive Guide for Social Work Research

Question 1

In research designs, which statement best explains the relationship between validity and reliability?

Accepted Answer

Validity measures accuracy, while reliability ensures consistency.

Answer

Validity indicates generalizability, while reliability shows internal consistency.

Answer

Validity and reliability are unrelated concepts.

Answer

Reliability measures accuracy, while validity ensures consistency.

Question 2

What is the primary purpose of a research design?

Accepted Answer

To provide a roadmap for the research process

Answer

To determine the research question

Answer

To define the research variables

Answer

To ensure ethical conduct of the research

Question 3

Which of the following is a defining characteristic of qualitative research methodologies?

Accepted Answer

Exploration of experiences and perspectives

Answer

Emphasis on numerical data and statistical analysis

Answer

Use of probability-based sampling techniques

Answer

Objective and highly generalizable findings

Question 4

Which research design is best suited for a study aiming to gain a profound understanding of a particular social phenomenon?

Accepted Answer

Qualitative case study

Answer

Experimental design

Answer

Survey design

Answer

Meta-analysis

Question 5

Which of the following is a primary advantage of quantitative research designs?

Accepted Answer

High generalizability of findings

Answer

Detailed exploration of individual experiences

Answer

Emphasis on subjective interpretations

Answer

Exploration of complex social interactions

Question 6

Which type of sampling ensures every individual in a population has an equal chance of being selected for a research study?

Accepted Answer

Random sampling

Answer

Convenience sampling

Answer

Purposive sampling

Answer

Quota sampling

Question 7

Which step is crucial in the analysis of qualitative interview data?

Accepted Answer

Transcription and coding

Answer

Statistical analysis using inferential tests

Answer

Hypothesis testing

Answer

Regression analysis

Question 8

Which research design combines quantitative and qualitative methods to provide a comprehensive understanding of a research topic?

Accepted Answer

Mixed methods design

Answer

Triangulation design

Answer

Sequential explanatory design

Answer

Longitudinal design

Question 9

Which of the following is a typical method for data collection in quantitative research?

Accepted Answer

Surveys

Answer

Open-ended interviews

Answer

Participant observation

Answer

Documentary review

Question 10

Which characteristic defines qualitative research designs?

Accepted Answer

Focuses on capturing the experiences and perspectives of participants

Answer

Emphasizes the analysis of numerical data

Answer

Aims to generalize findings to a broad population

Answer

Utilizes probability sampling techniques

Question 11

Select the research design most appropriate for深入研究 complex social phenomena

Accepted Answer

Qualitative phenomenological design

Answer

Quantitative experimental design

Answer

Mixed methods design

Answer

Survey research design

Question 12

Quantitative research designs focus primarily on:

Accepted Answer

Analyzing and measuring numerical data

Answer

Comprehending subjective experiences

Answer

Examining social interactions

Answer

Developing qualitative models

Question 13

Which sampling technique is typically associated with qualitative research designs?

Accepted Answer

Convenience sampling

Answer

Probability sampling

Answer

Quota sampling

Answer

Random cluster sampling

Question 14

Which advantage is associated with longitudinal research designs?

Accepted Answer

Observing changes over time

Answer

Ensuring high internal validity

Answer

Cost-effectiveness

Answer

Generalizing findings across diverse populations

Question 15

Differentiate between internal validity and external validity:

Accepted Answer

Internal validity refers to the accuracy of a study's measurements, while external validity pertains to the generalizability of findings

Answer

Internal validity refers to the generalizability of findings, while external validity pertains to the accuracy of a study's measurements

Answer

Both internal validity and external validity refer to the accuracy of a study's measurements

Answer

Both internal validity and external validity refer to the generalizability of findings

Question 16

Provide an example of a qualitative data analysis technique:

Accepted Answer

Thematic analysis

Answer

Statistical analysis

Answer

Regression analysis

Answer

Hypothesis testing

Question 17

Which research design is most appropriate for exploring an unfamiliar phenomenon and generating hypotheses?

Accepted Answer

Grounded theory design

Answer

Experimental design

Answer

Survey design

Answer

Longitudinal design

Question 18

What type of data is gathered through standardized questionnaires or interviews?

Accepted Answer

Quantitative data

Answer

Qualitative data

Answer

Mixed methods data

Answer

Secondary data

Question 19

What is a primary limitation of cross-sectional research designs?

Accepted Answer

Limited ability to establish cause-and-effect relationships

Answer

Potential for selection bias

Answer

High cost and time requirements

Answer

Difficulty in generalizing findings

Question 20

Which type of research design involves manipulating an independent variable and observing its effects on a dependent variable?

Accepted Answer

Experimental design

Answer

Case study design

Answer

Correlational design

Answer

Phenomenological design

Question 21

Which research design is most appropriate for evaluating the effectiveness of a new social service program?

Accepted Answer

Quasi-experimental design

Answer

Longitudinal design

Answer

Cross-sectional design

Answer

Phenomenological design

Question 22

What is a common ethical concern associated with observational research?

Accepted Answer

Invasion of privacy of participants

Answer

Lack of informed consent

Answer

Bias introduced by the researcher's presence

Answer

Potential harm to participants

Question 23

Which of the following is a key strength of qualitative research designs?

Accepted Answer

In-depth exploration of complex social phenomena

Answer

Ability to generalize findings to a large sample

Answer

Quantitative data analysis

Answer

Objectivity and reliability

Question 24

Which of the following is NOT a type of quantitative research design?

Accepted Answer

Grounded theory

Answer

Experimental

Answer

Observational

Answer

Survey

Question 25

Mixed methods research designs combine which of the following elements?

Accepted Answer

Qualitative and quantitative data

Answer

Qualitative data only

Answer

Quantitative data only

Answer

Non-probability and probability sampling

Question 26

What is the primary purpose of a research design?

Accepted Answer

To guide data collection and analysis

Answer

To justify the choice of research methods

Answer

To ensure the research is ethical

Answer

To determine the sample size

Question 27

Which of the following is NOT a potential limitation of qualitative research designs?

Accepted Answer

Large sample sizes

Answer

Difficulty generalizing findings

Answer

Researcher bias

Answer

Lack of statistical analysis

Question 28

What is the fundamental difference between an experimental and an observational research design?

Accepted Answer

Control over independent variable

Answer

Type of data collected

Answer

Research setting

Answer

Sampling method

Question 29

Which of the following is a method used for qualitative data analysis?

Accepted Answer

Thematic analysis

Answer

Regression analysis

Answer

Factor analysis

Answer

ANOVA

Question 30

To make conclusions about a large group of people, which sampling method is best for drawing a smaller representative group?

Accepted Answer

Probability sampling

Answer

Convenience sampling

Answer

Purposive sampling

Question 31

Which of the following is a defining characteristic of qualitative research?

Accepted Answer

Primarily focuses on understanding experiences and perspectives

Answer

Aims to generalize findings beyond the immediate setting

Answer

Objectively quantifies data and uses statistical analyses

Answer

Relies solely on numerical data collection methods

Question 32

Which research design is optimal for testing specific hypotheses?

Accepted Answer

Experimental design

Answer

Case study design

Answer

Grounded theory design

Answer

Ethnographic design

Question 33

What is a key advantage of employing mixed methods research?

Accepted Answer

It enhances the comprehensiveness and validity of findings

Answer

It reduces the time and cost of conducting research

Answer

It eliminates the potential for bias in data collection

Answer

It ensures the generalizability of findings to a wider population

Question 34

Which of the following is a commonly used quantitative data collection method?

Accepted Answer

Content analysis

Answer

Semi-structured interviews

Answer

Focus groups

Answer

Participant observation

Question 35

What is the primary purpose of a research proposal?

Accepted Answer

To provide a roadmap for the research process and anticipated outcomes

Answer

To obtain funding for a research project

Answer

To share preliminary research findings

Answer

To assess the feasibility and ethical implications of a research design

Question 36

Which of the following is a characteristic of grounded theory research?

Accepted Answer

Data collection and analysis occur iteratively

Answer

Deductive approach to data analysis

Answer

Focus on testing pre-existing hypotheses

Answer

Emphasis on generalizable and context-independent findings

Question 37

What is the primary purpose of triangulation in qualitative research?

Accepted Answer

To verify and enhance the trustworthiness of findings

Answer

To increase the reliability of data by using multiple methods

Answer

To reduce researcher bias and subjectivity

Answer

To generalize findings to a larger population

Question 38

Which research design emphasizes inductive reasoning, qualitative data analysis, and understanding the perspectives of participants?

Accepted Answer

Qualitative

Answer

Experimental

Answer

Quantitative

Answer

Mixed methods

Question 39

A research design that combines quantitative and qualitative methods to provide a comprehensive understanding of the research question is known as:

Accepted Answer

Mixed methods

Answer

Sequential

Answer

Concurrent

Answer

Parallel

Question 40

Which type of research design is appropriate for testing the efficacy of an intervention program?

Accepted Answer

Experimental

Answer

Descriptive

Answer

Ex post facto

Answer

Historical

Question 41

Which type of research design explores relationships between variables without implying causality?

Accepted Answer

Correlational

Answer

Experimental

Answer

Causal-comparative

Answer

Historical

Question 42

Which type of research design involves analyzing historical data to gain insights into present phenomena?

Accepted Answer

Historical

Answer

Descriptive

Answer

Causal-comparative

Answer

Experimental

Question 43

A research design that allows researchers to make generalizations about a larger population based on data collected from a sample is known as:

Accepted Answer

Survey

Answer

Experiment

Answer

Case study

Answer

Observation

Question 44

Which type of research design involves collecting data over an extended period to observe changes over time?

Accepted Answer

Longitudinal

Answer

Case-control

Answer

Cohort

Answer

Cross-sectional

Question 45

A research design that compares data from groups with different exposure levels to a factor of interest is known as:

Accepted Answer

Case-control

Answer

Cross-sectional

Answer

Experimental

Answer

Cohort

Question 46

Which research design emphasizes in-depth data collection, focuses on understanding phenomena in their natural settings, and typically involves smaller sample sizes?

Accepted Answer

Qualitative research design

Answer

Experimental research design

Answer

Quantitative research design

Answer

Mixed methods research design

Question 47

Which type of research design involves manipulating an independent variable to examine its effect on a dependent variable while controlling for extraneous variables?

Accepted Answer

Experimental research design

Answer

Correlational research design

Answer

Qualitative research design

Answer

Longitudinal research design

Question 48

Which research design approach combines both qualitative and quantitative methods in order to provide a more complete understanding of a research question?

Accepted Answer

Mixed methods research design

Answer

Correlational research design

Answer

Qualitative research design

Answer

Quantitative research design

Question 49

Which quantitative research design involves gathering data from a representative sample of a population at a single point in time?

Accepted Answer

Cross-sectional research design

Answer

Experimental research design

Answer

Longitudinal research design

Answer

Qualitative research design

Question 50

Which research design involves collecting data from the same participants multiple times over an extended period to examine changes and trends?

Accepted Answer

Longitudinal research design

Answer

Qualitative research design

Answer

Mixed methods research design

Answer

Cross-sectional research design

Question 51

Which source of error can influence participants' responses and potentially bias research results by creating artificial cues or expectations?

Accepted Answer

Demand characteristics

Answer

Confounding variables

Answer

Instrumentation effects

Answer

External validity

Question 52

Which type of validity refers to the extent to which research findings can be applied to a wider population beyond the immediate research sample?

Accepted Answer

External validity

Answer

Construct validity

Answer

Statistical validity

Answer

Internal validity

Question 53

Which measure of reliability indicates the consistency of scores across multiple trials or measurements of the same phenomenon?

Accepted Answer

Test-retest reliability

Answer

Split-half reliability

Answer

Internal consistency reliability

Answer

Inter-rater reliability

Question 54

Which ethical principle in human subjects research obligates researchers to protect participants from any potential harm or discomfort?

Accepted Answer

Nonmaleficence

Answer

Beneficence

Answer

Justice

Answer

Autonomy