When planning to do social research, it is better to: a. b. c. d.
Approach the topic with an open mind Do a pilot study before getting stuck into it Be familiar with the literature on the topic Forget about theory because this is a very practical undertaking
Which comes first, theory or research? a. b. c. d.
Theory, because otherwise you are working in the dark Research, because that's the only way you can develop a theory It depends on your point of view The question is meaningless, because you can't have one without the other
We review the relevant literature to know: a. b. c. d.
What is already known about the topic What concepts and theories have been applied to the topic Who are the key contributors to the topic All of the above
A deductive theory is one that: a. b. c. d.
Allows theory to emerge out of the data Involves testing an explicitly defined hypothesis Allows for findings to feed back into the stock of knowledge Uses qualitative methods whenever possible
Which of the following is not a type of research question? a. b. c. d.
Predicting an outcome Evaluating a phenomenon Developing good practice A hypothesis
What does 'sampling cases' mean? a. b. c. d.
Sampling using a sampling frame Identifying people who are suitable for research Literally, the researcher's brief-case Sampling people, newspapers, television programmes etc.
Which of the following is not a data-collection method? a. Research questions
b. Unstructured interviewing c. Postal survey questionnaires d. Participant observation Why is data analysis concerned with data reduction? a. b. c. d.
Because far too much data is collected than is required Because we need to make sense of the data Because of the repetitions in answers to questionnaires Because the sample size has been exceeded
The core ingredients of a dissertation are: a. b. c. d.
Introduction; Data collection; Data analysis; Conclusions and recommendations. Executive summary; Literature review; Data gathered; Conclusions; Bibliography. Research plan; Research data; Analysis; References. Introduction; Literature review; Research methods; Results; Discussion; Conclusion.
Because of the number of things that can go wrong in research there is a need for: a. b. c. d.
Flexibility and perseverance Sympathetic supervisors An emergency source of finance Wisdom to know the right time to quit
Which two uses for the term 'empiricism' are correct? a. First, it applies to the measure of phenomena using the empirical metric. Second, it refers to the study of a scientific phenomenon. b. First, it refers to the study of a scientific phenomenon. Second, it refers to belief that a collection of facts is a suitable goal. c. First, it applies to the measure of phenomena using the empirical metric. Second, it refers to its origins in the empirical court. d. First, it is used to refer to an approach to the study of reality that suggests that only knowledge gained through experience and the senses is acceptable. Second, it refers to a belief that the accumulation of 'facts' is a legitimate goal in its own right. Deductive theory is the most common view of the relationship between what and what? a. Deductive theory is the most common view of the relationship between theory and dancing. b. Deductive theory is the most common view of the relationship between theory and research. c. Deductive theory is the most common view of the relationship between writing and research.
d. Deductive theory is the most common view of the relationship between typing and research. "The deductive process is a very linear-one step follows the other in a clear, logical sequence." This statement is: a. b. c. d.
Not always the case. Always true. Never the case Not sure.
How many types of reasoning in organizational research are there? a. b. c. d.
One: Organizational reasoning research. Three: Theory-testing research, inductive-case research and interpretive research. Two: Theory-testing and interpretive research Four: Positivism, theory-testing research, inductive-case research and interpretive research.
What is abductive reasoning? a. Trying to reason with an abductor. b. Reasoning by trying to abduct someone's thoughts. c. A logical process in which a conclusion is based on the concordance of multiple premises that are generally assumed to be true. d. A process whereby the researcher selects the 'best' explanation from competing explanations or interpretations of the data (Mantere and Ketokivi 2013). What is positivism? a. Positivism is an epistemological position that advocates the application of the methods of the natural sciences to the study of social reality. b. Positivism involves a dialogical process between theory and the empirical phenomenon; this results in the production of 'reflexive narratives, not explanatory models or theoretical propositions'. c. Positivism is a way of thinking about the research process and staying positive. d. Positivism is an outlook in life about seeing things positively. Complete the statement with the correct verb. Interpretivism is a 'XXXX' epistemology to positivism. a. Similar b. identical c. contrasting d. matching
What does the term 'ontology' mean? a. b. c. d.
The term ontology is concerned with the nature of social entities. The study of cancer . The study of the onto tribe. The research into ontogeny.
Another term for the word constructionism is: a. b. c. d.
Research into construction studies Study of the building sector Objectivism Constructivism
A paradigm is: a. a research tool. b. a cluster of beliefs and dictates which for scientists in a particular discipline influence what should be studied, how research should be done, and how results should be interpreted. c. a set of students in a study group. d. a research strategy.