Creating a comprehensive list of 100 research methodology questions and answers would be quite extensive. Below, I've outlined 20 question categories with a few questions and answers under each category. This provides a foundational understanding of various aspects of research methodology.
1. Research Design
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Q1: What is the difference between qualitative and quantitative research?
- A1: Qualitative research explores phenomena through non-numerical data (interviews, observations), while quantitative research focuses on numerical data and statistical analysis.
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Q2: What is mixed-methods research?
- A2: Mixed-methods research combines both qualitative and quantitative approaches to provide a comprehensive understanding of a research problem.
2. Research Ethics
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Q3: What are the key principles of research ethics?
- A3: The key principles include respect for persons (informed consent), beneficence (maximizing benefits and minimizing harm), and justice (fair distribution of benefits and burdens).
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Q4: What is informed consent?
- A4: Informed consent is a process ensuring that participants understand the nature of the research, its risks, and their rights before agreeing to participate.
3. Sampling Techniques
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Q5: What is the difference between probability and non-probability sampling?
- A5: Probability sampling involves random selection, allowing for generalization to the population, while non-probability sampling does not allow for equal chances of selection, limiting generalizability.
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Q6: What is stratified sampling?
- A6: Stratified sampling involves dividing the population into subgroups (strata) and randomly sampling from each stratum to ensure representation.
4. Data Collection Methods
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Q7: What are common qualitative data collection methods?
- A7: Common methods include interviews, focus groups, and participant observations.
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Q8: What are surveys used for in research?
- A8: Surveys are used to gather data from a large number of respondents to analyze trends, opinions, or behaviors statistically.
5. Data Analysis Techniques
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Q9: What is thematic analysis?
- A9: Thematic analysis is a qualitative data analysis method that involves identifying, analyzing, and reporting patterns (themes) within data.
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Q10: What statistical software can be used for data analysis?
- A10: Common statistical software includes SPSS, R, SAS, and Excel.
6. Validity and Reliability
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Q11: What is validity in research?
- A11: Validity refers to the extent to which a research study measures what it intends to measure.
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Q12: How can a researcher ensure reliability?
- A12: Reliability can be ensured by using consistent procedures, measuring instruments, and testing the same subjects under similar conditions.
7. Research Questions and Hypotheses
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Q13: How do you formulate a strong research question?
- A13: A strong research question should be clear, focused, and researchable, guiding the study’s direction and methodology.
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Q14: What is the purpose of a hypothesis?
- A14: A hypothesis proposes a testable statement or prediction about the relationship between variables in the study.
8. Literature Review
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Q15: What is the purpose of a literature review?
- A15: A literature review surveys existing research on a topic, providing context, identifying gaps, and justifying the need for the current study.
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Q16: How can you evaluate the quality of research articles?
- A16: Quality can be evaluated based on the peer-review process, the impact factor of the journal, methodology robustness, and relevance to the research topic.
9. Research Limitation
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Q17: What does “limitation of the study” mean?
- A17: Limitations refer to potential weaknesses in the research design or methodology that may affect the study's findings or generalizability.
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Q18: How do you address limitations in research?
- A18: Limitations can be addressed by acknowledging them in the study, discussing their potential impact, and suggesting areas for future research.
10. Reporting Results
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Q19: What is an abstract in research?
- A19: An abstract is a brief summary of a research paper that outlines the main objectives, methods, findings, and implications of the study.
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Q20: How should research findings be presented?
- A20: Findings should be presented clearly, using tables, graphs, and statistical analysis, along with descriptive narratives to explain results.
This structure can be expanded to reach 100 questions by adding more specific queries under each category, such as asking about specific methods (e.g., interviews vs. surveys), data types, or ethical considerations in different fields. If you require additional questions under specific categories, please let me know!