ESLSCA – MBA
Mid-Term Exam
Research Methods for Business
No. of questions: (40 questions – 8 pages)
Dr. \ Adel Sakr
Student Name: ____________________________________________
Time Allowed: 2 Hours
11 / 3 / 2019
Student No.: (
)
Answer ALL the following questions:
(A) T/F Questions
Question No: 1 (1 Mark)
Applied research gives a solution to problem.
a) T
b) F
------------------------------------------------------------------------Question No: 2 (1 Mark)
Knowledge gained by the findings of basic research cannot be applied by organizations to solve their own
problems.
a) T.
b) F.
------------------------------------------------------------------------Question No: 3 (1 Mark)
Scientific method is systematic.
a) T
b) F
------------------------------------------------------------------------Question No: 4 (1 Mark)
In case we take the significance level at 5%, then this implies that H0 will be rejected when the sampling
result (i.e., observed evidence) has a less than 0.05 probability of occurring if Ho is true.
a) T.
b) F.
------------------------------------------------------------------------Question No: 5 (1 Mark)
The hypothetico-deductive method provides a useful, systematic approach to solving basic and managerial
problems.
a) T.
b) F.
------------------------------------------------------------------------Question No: 6 (1 Mark)
The statement “The introduction of flexible work hours has created more problems than it has solved
in many companies”, is a good example of a broad problem statement.
a) T.
b) F.
1|P a g e
Question No: 7 (1 Mark)
The term “P value” stands for the amount of error that appears in testing a null hypothesis.
a) T.
b) F.
------------------------------------------------------------------------(B) MCQ Questions
Question No: 8 (1 Mark)
“Officers in my organization have higher than average level of commitment” Such a hypothesis is an
example of……….
a) Descriptive Hypothesis.
b) Directional Hypothesis.
c) Relational Hypothesis.
d) All of the above
------------------------------------------------------------------------Question No: 9 (1 Mark)
Which “scientific method” follows these steps: 1- observation/data. 2- patterns. 3- theory?
a)
b)
c)
d)
Inductive.
Deductive.
Imductive.
Top/Down.
------------------------------------------------------------------------Question No: 10 (1 Mark)
The following are some of the scientific research characteristics except:
a) Rigor.
b) Replicability.
c) Generalizability.
d) Validity.
e) Precision.
------------------------------------------------------------------------Question No: 11 (1 Mark)
From an academic perspective research is relevant if:
a) Nothing is known about a topic.
b) Much is known about the topic, but the knowledge is scattered and not integrated.
c) Much research on the topic is available, but the results are (partly) contradictory.
d) Established relationships do not hold in certain situations.
e) All of the above.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
2|P a g e
Question No: 12 (1 Mark)
Which of the following is the BEST hypothesis? Select correct option:
a) Students taking formative quizzes will perform better on chapter exams than students not taking these
quizzes.
b) Taller students will have higher test scores than shorter students.
c) Students taught in a cooperative group setting should do better than students in a traditional class.
d) Students using laptops will do well.
------------------------------------------------------------------------Question No: 13 (1 Mark)
A teacher wants to determine if the average paper grade of three tutorial groups significantly differs from
each other. In this case:
a) Paper grade is the independent variable and the number of tutorial groups is the dependent variable.
b) Paper grade is the independent variable and tutorial group is the dependent variable.
c) The number of tutorial groups is the independent variable and paper grade is the dependent variable.
d) Tutorial group is the independent variable and paper grade is the dependent variable.
------------------------------------------------------------------------Question No: 14 (1 Mark)
It is a fact-finding investigation with adequate interpretation. It is the simplest type of research.
a) Exploratory.
b) Descriptive.
c) Explanatory.
d) Case-study.
------------------------------------------------------------------------Question No: 15 (2 Mark)
Choose from the below (one or more), what identifying the criteria for constructing hypothesis –
1. It should be specific and precise
2. It should describe at least 2 issues
3. It must be empirically testable
4. It must have contradictory statements
5. It must indicate the relationship between variables
------------------------------------------------------------------------Question No: 16 (1 Mark)
Which of the following is a hierarchical listing of the hypothetico-deductive research method?
a) Identify a broad problem area - Define the problem statement - Determine measures - Data collection Develop hypotheses - Data analysis - Interpretation of data.
b) Define the problem statement - Identify a broad problem area - Determine measures - Develop
hypotheses - Data collection - Data analysis - Interpretation of data.
c) Identify a broad problem area - Develop hypotheses - Determine measures - Data collection - Data
analysis - Interpretation of data.
d) Identify a broad problem area - Define the problem statement - Develop hypotheses - Determine
measures - Data collection - Data analysis - Interpretation of data.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
3|P a g e
Question No: 17 (1Mark)
The purpose of the literature review is to:
a. Help you find out what is already known about this area.
b. Identify any inconsistencies or gaps in the literature.
c. Demonstrate an awareness of the theoretical context in which the current study can be located.
d. Find what is already known, identify gaps, and demonstrate awareness.
------------------------------------------------------------------------Question No: 18 (1 Mark)
Which of the following tasks is NOT accomplished by conceptual framework?
a) Elaborate the relationship among variables.
b) Explain the logic underlying the relationships between the variables.
c) Relates the previous studies.
d) Describe the nature, and direction of the relationships among the variables.
------------------------------------------------------------------------Question No: 19 (1Mark)
Job satisfaction is:
a. A Moderating variable.
b. An Independent variable.
c. A Dependent variable.
d. This is not clear based on the above data.
------------------------------------------------------------------------Question No: 20 (1 Mark)
Which of the following is elaborative exploratory study?
a) Focus group discussion
b) Literature review
c) Document analysis
d) Survey
------------------------------------------------------------------------Question No: 21 (1 Mark)
In the statement “An examination of the effects of discretionary behavior on employee performance” –
the employee performance is”
a) Independent variable.
b) Dependent variable.
c) Extraneous variable.
d) Causal variable.
------------------------------------------------------------------------Question No: 22 (1 Mark)
Which of the following is the best use when the manager doubts that the findings of the problem will be
less objective and consequently less scientific?
a) Manager experience.
b) Internal researcher.
c) External consultant.
d) None of the above.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
4|P a g e
Question No: 23 (1 Mark)
Which of the following is the best hypothesis statement to address the research question? “What impact
will the new advertising campaign have on use of Brand B”
a) The new advertising campaign will impact Brand B usage.
b) The new advertising campaign will increase Brand B trial.
c) The new advertising campaign will cause increases Brand B usage at the expense of Brand C.
d) The new advertising campaign will increase Brand B’s market penetration.
------------------------------------------------------------------------Question No: 24 (1 Mark)
Which of the following is TRUE for a hypothesis?
a) A dependent variable.
b) An independent variable.
c) A prediction of a relationship between certain variables.
d) An experiment that tests a certain predictions.
------------------------------------------------------------------------Question No: 25 (1 Mark)
Preliminary data collection is a part of the
a) Descriptive research
b) Exploratory research
c) Applied research
d) Explanatory research
------------------------------------------------------------------------Question No: 26 (1 Mark)
Which of the following DOES NOT represent a criterion for assessing the value of articles or books?
a) The relevance of the issues that are addressed in the article or book.
b) The importance of a book or article in terms of citations.
c) The year of publication of the article or book.
d) The number of authors of the article or book.
------------------------------------------------------------------------Question No: 27 (1 Mark)
“The higher the level of job satisfaction of the officers the lower the rate of turnover in an organization”, is
a:
a) Descriptive hypothesis.
b) Relational hypothesis.
c) Relational and directional hypothesis.
d) Alternative hypothesis.
------------------------------------------------------------------------Question No: 28 (1 Mark)
Match the following types of research with its example or meaning –
1. Applied research -
Provides extra knowledge for organization or society.
2. Descriptive research -
Provides factual information for investigation.
3. Explanatory research -
Finds solutions to real-life problems or situations.
4. Basic research -
Tests the relationship between variables.
5|P a g e
Question No: 29 (1 Mark)
After identifying the important variables and establishing the logical reasoning in theoretical framework,
the next step in the research process is:
a. To conduct surveys
b. To generate the hypothesis
c. To focus group discussions
d. To use experiments in an investigation
------------------------------------------------------------------------Question No: 30 (1 Mark)
A literature review requires:
a) Planning.
b) Clear writing.
c) Good writing.
d) All of the above.
------------------------------------------------------------------------Question No: 31 (1 Mark)
The theoretical framework discusses the interrelationships among the……….
a) Variables
b) Hypothesis
c) Concept
d) Theory
------------------------------------------------------------------------Question No: 32 (1 Mark)
Which of the following BEST describes quantitative research?
a) The collection of non-numerical data.
b) An attempt to confirm a research’s hypothesis.
c) Research that is exploratory.
d) Research that attempts to generate a new theory.
------------------------------------------------------------------------Question No: 33 (1 Mark)
Qualitative research is often exploratory and has all of the following characteristics except:
a) It is typically used when a great deal is already known about the topic of interest.
b) It relies on the non-numerical data such as words and pictures.
c) It is used to generate hypotheses and develop theory about phenomena in the world.
d) It uses the inductive scientific method.
------------------------------------------------------------------------Question No: 34 (1 Mark)
Exploratory research addresses which of the following type of question?
a) Why?
b) What?
c) If?
d) How?
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
6|P a g e
Question No: 35 (1 Mark)
Mr. Ali has conducted an extensive review of the literature and has deductively reasoned a hypothesis
about his problem on the basis of this review. Which type of research plan is Mr. Ali likely proposing?
a) Qualitative
b) Ethical
c) Quantitative
d) Both, quantitative and qualitative.
------------------------------------------------------------------------Question No: 36 (1 Mark)
Make one hypothesis for each of the following types of hypotheses. (1 mark each)
i. If-then hypothesis
ii. Directional hypothesis
iii. Non directional hypothesis
iv. Null hypothesis
v. Alternative hypothesis
------------------------------------------------------------------------Question No: 37 (1 Mark)
All of the following are true about theories, except:
a) They organize and summarize existing knowledge about a topic.
b) They are tentative until the facts prove them true.
c) They provide possible explanation for the phenomenon under study.
d) They lead to testable hypotheses through the process of deduction.
------------------------------------------------------------------------Question No: 38 (1 Mark)
Deductive research is useful in which of the following cases?
a) The researcher uses an existing theory to develop a hypothesis.
b) The researcher subjects a hypothesis to empirical scan.
c) The researcher has to transform concepts within a hypothesis into researchable entities.
d) Use of existing theory, empirical scan, transformation of concepts.
------------------------------------------------------------------------Question No: 39 (1 Mark)
Which of the following is NOT objective of a research for a student of research methods course?
a) Conducting research by following certain steps.
b) Preparing methodologies.
c) Ability to convert problem into researchable question.
d) Writing a book.
7|P a g e
Question No: 40 (5 Mark)
Given the following situation, (a) identify the broad problem area, (b) define the problem statement, and (c)
identify one dependent and one independent variable and justify your choice by proper explanation.
“Pioneer’s minivans and pickups take a big share of the truck market in Pakistan, while its
cars lag behind those of Suzuki, Toyota, and Honda. Quality problems include such things as
water leaks and faulty headlights.”
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Note: Use this paper to solve this question (Write one or maximum two lines per question)
------------------------------------------------------------------------Good luck
Adel Sakr
8|P a g e