Research Methodology MCQ Quiz - Objective Question with Answer for Research Methodology - Download Free PDF

The Correct answer is (i) and (ii) are correct

Key Points

• The Law of Scattering is associated with Bradford's Law, which describes how articles on a particular subject are scattered across journals.
  • Core journals: These are the journals that publish the most articles on a specific topic and form the "core" as per Bradford's Law.
  • Ranked list of journals: Bradford’s Law helps in creating a ranked list of journals by their relevance or contribution to a specific field.
• Bradford's Law:
  • Bradford's Law, formulated by Samuel C. Bradford in 1934, describes the diminishing returns when searching for references in science journals.
  • According to one version of the law, if you group journals in a field into three segments, each containing roughly one-third of all articles, the number of journals in each segment follows a proportional pattern of 1:n:n².
  • It is also called as Law of scattering as it describes how the articles on a particular subject are scattered throughout the mass of periodicals.

• Additional Information

• ​Lotka's law
  • It was named after Alfred J. Lotka.
  • It is related to Scientific Productivity.
  • It is one of a variety of special applications of Zipf's law. 
  • It describes the frequency of publication by authors in any given field.
  • As the number of articles published increases, authors producing that many publications become less frequent.
  • The general formula is XnY = C
    • Y is the relative frequency of authors with X publications.
    • X is the number of publications, 
• Zipf's Law:​
  • Zipf's law refers to the fact that for many types of data studied in the physical and social sciences, the rank-frequency distribution is an inverse relation.
  • According to this law, Rank x frequency = constant.
  • Zipf's law was originally formulated in terms of quantitative linguistics
  • The frequency of any word is inversely proportional to its rank in the frequency table. 
  • The law is named after the American linguist George Kingsley Zipf.
  • The law is similar in concept, though not identical in distribution, to Benford's law.
• ​Bibliographic Coupling:
  • Bibliographic coupling is a similarity measure that uses citation analysis to establish a similarity relationship between documents.
  • The concept of bibliographic coupling was introduced by M. M. Kessler of MIT in a paper published in 1963.
  • Bibliographic coupling occurs when two works reference a common third work in their bibliographies. 
  • Two documents are bibliographically coupled if they both cite one or more documents in common.

The Correct answer is (i) and (iv) are correct.

Key Points

• Diary (i): A qualitative data collection tool where participants record observations, behaviors, or experiences.
• SurveyMonkey (iv): An online tool used to collect survey data, making it a digital data collection instrument.

Additional Information

• Sampling (ii) is a method for selecting a subset of data, not a collection tool.
• Data analysis and interpretation (iii) happens after data is collected, not during the collection phase

The Correct answer is (i) and (iv) are correct.

Key Points

• The Introduction chapter of a research report generally includes:
  • Objectives of the research 
  • Scope and limitations
• A Research Report: A research report is the culmination of the research process. It is a comprehensive presentation of a researcher's activities and the results of the study.
• A research report comprises several sections such as the Title, the Abstract, Literature Review, Research Design, Data Analysis, Conclusion, Bibliography, etc.

FORMAT OF RESEARCH REPORTS 

• Title: Be specific. Tell what, when, where, etc. In one main title and a subtitle, give a clear idea of what the paper investigated.
• Acknowledgment: Include only if special help was received from an individual or group.
• Abstract: Summarizes the report including the hypotheses, procedures, and major findings.
• Introduction: Sections may be combined in short reports.
• Statement of the Problem: This is a general introduction to the topic.
• Significance of the Problem: Comment on why this question merits investigation.
• Purpose: What is the goal to be gained from a better understanding of this question?
• Statement of the Hypothesis: In one statement (not a question) declare the question which is investigated and the expected results.
• Assumptions: Explain everything that is assumed in order for the investigation to be undertaken.
• Limitations: Explain the limitations that may invalidate the study or make it less than accurate.
• Definition of Terms: Define or clarify any term or concept that is used in the study in a non-traditional manner or in only one of many interpretations.
• Ethical Considerations: Discusses the ethical issues related to the study and explains the processes and status of the review by the Institutional Review Board.
• Budget: Outlines and discusses the budget for the study. This is usually only in the proposal.
• Proposed Timeline: Outlines the expected schedule for beginning and ending each part of the research project.
• Review of Related Literature: Gives the reader the necessary background to understand the study by citing the investigations and findings of previous researchers and documents the researcher's knowledge and preparation to investigate the problem.
• Design of the Study: Gives the reader the information necessary to exactly replicate (repeat) the study with new data or if the same raw data were available, the reader should be able to duplicate the results. This is written in past tense but without reference to or inclusion of the results determined from the analysis.
• Description of the Research Design and Procedures Used: Completely explain step-by-step what was done.
• Sources of Data: Give complete information about who, what, when, where, and how the data were collected.
• Sampling Procedures: Explain how the data were limited to the amount which was gathered. 
• Methods and Instruments of Data Gathering: Explain the procedures for obtaining the data collected. Include the forms or manner by which it was recorded.
• Statistical Treatment: Explain the complete mathematical procedures used in analyzing the data and determining the significance of the results.
• Analysis of Data: Describe the patterns observed in the data. Use tables and figures to help clarify the material when possible.
• Summary and Conclusions: This section condenses the previous sections, succinctly presents the results concerning the hypotheses, and suggests what else can be done.
• Restatement of the Problem: This is a short reiteration of the problem.
• Description of the Procedures: This is a brief reiteration of important elements of the design of the study.
• Major Findings: The final results from the analysis are presented, the hypothesis stated, and the decision about the rejection or the failure to reject the hypothesis is given.
• Conclusions: Comments about the implication of the findings are presented.
• Recommendations for Further Investigation: From the knowledge and experience gained in undertaking this particular study, how might the study have been improved or what other possible hypotheses might be investigated?
• End Notes: These are like footnotes but are located at the back rather than the bottom of each page. These would include all of the references for all works cited in the Review of Related Literature or any other sections of the report as well as the references for quotations, either direct or indirect, taken from other sources, or any footnote comments that might have been included. These are listed in numeric order as presented in the text.
• Bibliography or Literature Cited: These are the bibliographic reference for each of the works cited in the End Notes.
• Appendix: Any tables, figures, forms, or other materials that are not totally central to the analysis but that need to be included are placed in the Appendix.

The Correct answer is (i) - (b) , (ii) - (d) , (iii) - (c) , (iv) - (a)

Key Points

• Content Analysis:
  • Content analysis is a method used for systematically analyzing the content of media (like books, articles, advertisements, etc.) and understanding the trends, patterns, and meanings in the content.
  • It is a qualitative method of analysis because it involves interpreting the meaning behind various contents, often to analyze how certain themes are presented in media.
  • It goes beyond simple counting and requires interpretation of content.
• Questionnaire:
  • A questionnaire is a tool used to collect data from respondents through a series of written questions.
  • It is a data collection tool that can be used in various types of research to gather information from a large sample.
• Observation:
  • Observation is a direct method of data collection where the researcher directly observes and records behaviors or events as they occur.
  • It is an empirical method and involves little to no intervention.
  • Observation involves a researcher directly seeing or hearing a phenomenon or behavior, which makes it a direct method of collecting information.
  • It's a form of data collection without manipulation or inference.
• Case Study:
  • ​A case study is a research method that involves an in-depth investigation of a single subject, group, or event to explore its underlying principles and causes.
  • It is often used in qualitative research.
  • A case study is often used as one of the methods of research, typically focusing on a specific subject, group, or event to gather detailed data.
  • It is used to understand and analyze complex issues in depth.

The Correct answer is (i) - (c) , (ii) - (a) , (iii) - (d) , (iv) - (b)

Key PointsZipf's Law

• Zipf's law refers to the fact that for many types of data studied in the physical and social sciences, the rank-frequency distribution is an inverse relation.
• According to this law, Rank x frequency = constant.
• Zipf's law was originally formulated in terms of quantitative linguistics
• The frequency of any word is inversely proportional to its rank in the frequency table. 
• The law is named after the American linguist George Kingsley Zipf.
• The law is similar in concept, though not identical in distribution, to Benford's law.​​

Lotka's Law

• ​Lotka's law was named after Alfred J. Lotka.
• It is related to Scientific Productivity.
• It is one of a variety of special applications of Zipf's law. 
• It describes the frequency of publication by authors in any given field.
• As the number of articles published increases, authors producing that many publications become less frequent.

• The general formula is XnY = C

  • X is the number of publications, 
  • Y is the relative frequency of authors with X publications.

Bradford's Law:

• ​Bradford's Law, formulated by Samuel C. Bradford in 1934, describes the diminishing returns when searching for references in science journals.
• According to one version of the law, if you group journals in a field into three segments, each containing roughly one-third of all articles, the number of journals in each segment follows a proportional pattern of 1:n:n².
• It is also called as Law of scattering as it describes how the articles on a particular subject are scattered throughout the mass of periodicals.

Eugene Eli Garfield:

• ​Eugene Eli Garfield, an American linguist and entrepreneur, played a pivotal role in shaping the fields of bibliometrics and scientometrics.
• Notably, he was instrumental in the creation of renowned bibliographic tools such as Current Contents, the Science Citation Index (SCI), Journal Citation Reports, and Index Chemicus.
• The impact factor was devised by Eugene Garfield.
• In 1956, Garfield established the Institute for Scientific Information (ISI), through which he introduced several innovative citation databases.
• His notable contributions include the development of the magazine The Scientist and the publication of the compilation "Essays of an Information Scientist" in 1993.

The Correct answer is (D), (A), (B), (C)

Key Points

• Zotero:​
  • Zotero is a free and open-source reference management software.
  • It is used to manage bibliographic data and related research materials (such as PDF files).
  • Zotero, an add-on for the Firefox web browser, was first released in October 2006 as version 1.0.0b2.r1.
  • The development of Zotero 1.0.x continued until May 2009, when version 1.0.10 was released
  • Notable features include web browser integration, online syncing, generation of in-text citations, footnotes, and bibliographies, as well as integration with the word processors Microsoft Word, LibreOffice Writer, and Google Docs.
  • It is produced by the Center for History and New Media at George Mason University.​
• ResearchGate:
  • ​ResearchGate, a European commercial social networking site designed for scientists and researchers, serves as a platform for sharing papers, posing and answering questions, and finding collaborators.
  • ​Founded in 2008 in Berlin by Ijad Madisch, Horst Fickenscher, and Sören Hofmayer, ResearchGate aims to connect researchers globally, fostering continuous communication without geographical limitations.
• ​ORCID:​
  • The ORCID stands for Open Researcher and Contributor ID.
  • It is associated with Author Metrics.
  • It is a nonproprietary alphanumeric code to uniquely identify authors and contributors of scholarly communication.
  • ORCID's website and services to look up authors and their bibliographic output.
  • ORCID aims to provide a persistent code for humans.
  • ORCID was first announced in 2009.
  • It was a collaborative effort by publishers of scholarly research.
• ​Publons:
  • ​Publons, initially a commercial website, offered academics a free service to monitor, authenticate, and exhibit their contributions in peer review and editorial roles for academic journals.
  • Launched in 2012, it was acquired by Clarivate in 2017, boasting a user base of over 3,000,000 researchers and more than one million reviews across 25,000 journals.
  • The integration of ResearcherID with Publons occurred in 2019.
  • Publons provided a verified record of an individual's review and editorial activities for journals, downloadable for inclusion in CVs, funding, and job applications, as well as promotion and performance evaluations.
  • The business model of Publons relied on partnerships with publishers.

The Correct answer is C, A, E, B. D

Key Points

• Eigenfactor:​
  • Eigen factor score is a parameter developed by Jevin West and Carl Bergstrom in 2007 at the University of Washington to measure the importance of journals within the scientific community. 
  • These metrics take into account the number of times articles from specific journals have been cited in Thompson Scientific's Journal Citation Reports (JCR) over a five-year period.
  • The eigen factor approach assesses not only the total citations but also the contribution of these citations from other influential journals. 
  • Two principal scores are calculated within the Eigenfactor metrics framework:
    • the Eigenfactor score and the Article Influence score. ​
• SNIP:
  • The Source Normalized Impact per Paper (SNIP) is a metric designed to assess the contextual citation impact of a scientific journal.
  • In 2009 Professor Henk F. Moed at the Centre for Science and Technology Studies (CWTS), University of Leiden, developed SNIP.
  • It achieves this by assigning weights to citations based on the total number of citations within a specific subject field.
  • The value of a single citation is emphasized more in subject areas with fewer citations and less in areas where citations are more common.
  • SNIP differs from the well-known journal impact factor by accounting for variations in citation practices across scientific fields, enabling more accurate comparisons of citation impact between different fields.
  • Additionally, CWTS Journal Indicators offers stability intervajournal's ls to indicate the reliability of a SNIP value.
• Altmetric:
  • Altmetric, also known as altmetric.com, is a data science company specializing in tracking online mentions of published research.
  • It offers tools and services to institutions, publishers, researchers, funders, and organizations for monitoring this activity, commonly known as altmetrics.
  • European Commissioner Máire Geoghegan-Quinn recognized Altmetric in 2014 for challenging traditional reputation systems.
  • Altmetric has a history dating back to its founding by Euan Adie in 2011. 
  • Altmetric gained recognition when Adie entered an altmetrics app into Elsevier's Apps for Science competition and won, using the prize money to develop the full version of the Altmetric Explorer, released in February 2012.
• Cite Score:
  • ​CiteScore (CS) is an academic journal metric that reflects the annual average number of citations to recent articles published in a specific journal.
  • Ebsco produces CiteScore based on the citations found in the Scopus database.
  • Introduced in December 2016, CiteScore is an alternative to the Journal Citation Reports (JCR) impact factor calculated by Clarivate.
  • In a given year, a journal's CiteScore is determined by the number of citations received in that year and the preceding three years for documents published within the total four-year period.
  • This figure is then divided by the total number of published documents, including articles, reviews, conference papers, book chapters, and data papers, during the same four-year period.
  • Absolute rankings and percentile ranks are provided for each journal in its respective subject area.
• Crindes Metrics was developed in 2017.

The correct answer is "Experimental".

Key Points

• Qualitative Research -
  • Qualitative Research is the method that aims to gather and analyze non-numerical descriptive data (qualitative in nature) in order to gain an understanding of individuals' social realities, attitudes, beliefs, and motivations.
  • This method is used to explore complex phenomena or to gain insight into people's experiences and perspectives in a specific context on a particular topic.
  • The procedures adopted in Qualitative Research are of humanistic nature and are used for phenomena involving sociology, anthropology, political science, psychology, communication studies, social work, folklore, educational research, and software engineering research.
  • QualitativeResearch Methodologies include -
    • Ethnography Methodology
    • Grounded Theory Methodology 
    • Hermeneutics Methodology
    • Discourse Analysis Methodology, and 
    • interpretative phenomenological analysis

​ Additional Information

• Grounded Theory -
  • This is a kind of Qualitative Research Methodology that aims at the construction of hypotheses and generating theories through the collection and analysis of data.
  • The methodology was developed by two sociologists named Barney Glaser, and Anselm Strauss.
  • For example -  the researcher studies the complexities involved in the teaching-learning processes where the sole responsibilities of such processes are shared by learners under the guidance of a teacher.
• Ethnography - 
  • This is a kind of Qualitative Research Methodology that aims at the description and interpretation of a cultural or social group or system.
  • The method involves prolonged observation of events, one-to-one interviews with the members of the group, and participation of the researcher in the day-to-day lives of the people. corroborated with participant observation can form the base of such a method. 
  • For Example - the educational processes of a particular tribe or a rural village can be studied by applying ethnography.
• Hermeneutics - 
  • This is a kind of Qualitative Research Methodology that aims at exploring the interrelationships between the interpreter, the text, and the context.
  • It is concerned with researchers perceiving, making meaning from, and interpreting the text being studied.
• Experimental - 
  • This is a kind of Quantitative Research Methodology that aims at conducting the study with a scientific approach using two sets of variables.
  • The study involves establishing the cause and probability relation among variables.

The correct answer is The topic being investigated

Key Points

• A research problem also called a research issue, is a statement about an area or field of concern that professionals aim to understand and address.
• The characteristics of a research issue include:
  • Having a clear problem variable
  • Being specific and limited in scope
  • Having a goal
  • Usually being free from ethical constraints
  • Typically generating research questions.

Additional Information

•  The population:
  • In research, the term "population" refers to the entire group of individuals, objects, or events that the researcher is interested in studying and drawing conclusions about.
  • A research population is also known as a well-defined collection of individuals or objects known to have similar characteristics. All individuals or objects within a certain population usually have a common, binding characteristic or trait.
• Hypothesis:
  • A hypothesis is a tentative and testable statement that proposes a possible explanation for a particular observation, phenomenon, or scientific question.
  • Types of hypotheses:
    • Null hypothesis
    • Alternative Hypothesis 
    • Directional (One-tailed) Hypothesis:
    • Non-Directional (Two-tailed) Hypothesis:
    • Associative Hypothesis: 
    • Causal Hypothesis
• ​Research approach:
  • ​A research approach is the procedure selected by the researcher to collect, analyze, and interpret data.
  • Some common research approaches include
    • Quantitative Research Approach.
    • Qualitative Research Approach.
    • Mixed-Methods Research Approach:
    • Deductive Research Approach.
    • Inductive Research Approach.
    • Action Research Approach.
    • Case Study Research Approach.

The correct answer is the Average amount of variation around the mean:

Key Points

• Standard Deviation:
  • ​A standard deviation (or σ) is a measure of the variation of the data in relation to the mean.
  • A low standard deviation means data are clustered around the mean, and a high standard deviation indicates data are more spread out.
  • Standard deviation is calculated by taking the square root of a value derived from comparing data points to a collective mean of a population.
  • The square of the standard deviation is called the variance.​

Additional Information

• Variance:
  • ​Variance is the measure of how notably a collection of data is spread out.
• Mean:
  • Mean represents the average of the given collection of data. It is applicable for both continuous and discrete data.
• Median:
  • It represents the mid-value of the given set of data when arranged in a particular order.
• Mode:
  • The most frequent number occurring in the data set is known as the mode.
• Quartile Deviation:
  • ​Quartile Deviation can be defined mathematically as half of the difference between the upper and lower quartile.

The Correct answer is Judgmental sampling.

Key Points

• Non-probability sampling is a statistical sampling method that does not involve selecting units from a population based on a known, non-zero chance of being selected.
• There are several types of non-probability sampling methods, including:
  • Convenience sampling
  • Quota sampling
  • Snowball sampling
  • Consecutive sampling
  • Judgmental or Purposive sampling​

Additional Information

• Probability sampling:
  • ​Probability sampling is a research method where the researcher selects samples from a larger population based on probability theory.
  • To be considered a probability sample, individuals must be chosen through a random selection process.
• Types of Probability Sampling:
  • Simple Random Sampling
  • Stratified random Sampling
  • Cluster Sampling
  • Systematic Sampling

Important Points

• Judgement sampling:
  • ​Judgment Sampling is a technique where sampling is based on the researcher's previous understanding of the population's composition and behavior.
  • An expert, knowledgeable about the population, deliberately chooses units to be sampled, aiming for what is perceived as a representative sample.
  • This method is more subjective, as it heavily relies on the researcher's biases, potentially introducing significant bias into the sample if their preconceptions are inaccurate. 
• Simple Random Sampling:
  • ​Simple random sampling (SRS) ensures that every unit in a population has an equal opportunity to be part of the sample, and likewise, each potential sample has an equal chance of being chosen.
  • To perform simple random sampling, one must compile a complete list of all units within the survey population.
  • SRS can be done with or without replacement
• Stratified Random Sampling:
  • ​Stratified sampling involves dividing a population into distinct and homogeneous groups, known as strata.
  • Independent samples are then selected from each stratum, with various sampling methods applicable within each group.
  • Stratification is based on variables such as age, sex, residence, income, or any characteristic with available values for all units in the sampling frame.
  • This approach aims to enhance sampling efficiency by considering factors that influence variability. 
• Cluster Sampling:
  • ​Cluster sampling is a cost-effective approach when widespread geographic coverage is impractical or expensive.
  • In this technique, the population is grouped into clusters, and a random selection of clusters is made to represent the entire population.
  • All units within the selected clusters are included in the sample, while units from non-selected clusters are not considered.
  • This method differs from stratified sampling, where units are chosen from each stratum. 

The correct answer is the Collection and preparation of data.

Key Points

• Non-sampling errors, which can be observed in various types of surveys, including censuses and administrative data collection, originate from factors like incomplete frames, inaccuracies in respondent data reporting, and the absence of data for certain respondents.
• Non-sampling errors occur during the collection and preparation stages of data in a research or survey process. These errors are distinct from sampling errors, which are related to the process of selecting a subset (sample) from a larger population for analysis. 
• Non-sampling errors come in two types: random and systematic.
  • Random Errors: These errors tend to balance out with a larger sample, causing increased variability.
  • Systematic Errors: They consistently affect data in the same way, leading to a bias that doesn't diminish with a larger sample. Systematic errors are the primary concern for data quality, but they are challenging to measure accurately
• Non-sampling errors can manifest throughout the entire survey process and fall into several categories: coverage error, measurement error, nonresponse error, and processing error.

Additional Information

• Sampling errors:
  • ​Sampling errors happen when a sample doesn't fully represent the entire population. Researchers routinely account for this by including a margin of error in their findings as a statistical standard.
• Types of Sampling Errors:

  • Population-Specific Error: This error arises when researchers don't properly identify the population to be surveyed.

  • Selection Error: It occurs when survey participants self-select or only those interested in the survey respond. Researchers can address this by encouraging broader participation.

  • Sample Frame Error: This error happens when a sample is drawn from the incorrect population data.

  • Non-response Error: Non-response error occurs when researchers can't obtain useful responses because potential respondents were either unreachable or declined to participate.

The correct answer is Samuel Clement Bradford.

Key Points

• Bradford's Law:
  • Bradford's Law, formulated by Samuel C. Bradford in 1934, describes the diminishing returns when searching for references in science journals.
  • According to one version of the law, if you group journals in a field into three segments, each containing roughly one-third of all articles, the number of journals in each segment follows a proportional pattern of 1:n:n².
  • It is also called as Law of scattering as it describes how the articles on a particular subject are scattered throughout the mass of periodicals.

Additional Information

• ​Lotka's law
  • It was named after Alfred J. Lotka.
  • It is related to Scientific Productivity.
  • It is one of a variety of special applications of Zipf's law. 
  • It describes the frequency of publication by authors in any given field.
  • As the number of articles published increases, authors producing that many publications become less frequent.
  • The general formula is XnY = C
    • Y is the relative frequency of authors with X publications.
    • X is the number of publications, 
• Zipf's Law:​
  • Zipf's law refers to the fact that for many types of data studied in the physical and social sciences, the rank-frequency distribution is an inverse relation.
  • According to this law, Rank x frequency = constant.
  • Zipf's law was originally formulated in terms of quantitative linguistics
  • The frequency of any word is inversely proportional to its rank in the frequency table. 
  • The law is named after the American linguist George Kingsley Zipf.
  • The law is similar in concept, though not identical in distribution, to Benford's law.
• ​Bibliographic Coupling:
  • Bibliographic coupling is a similarity measure that uses citation analysis to establish a similarity relationship between documents.
  • The concept of bibliographic coupling was introduced by M. M. Kessler of MIT in a paper published in 1963.
  • Bibliographic coupling occurs when two works reference a common third work in their bibliographies. 
  • Two documents are bibliographically coupled if they both cite one or more documents in common.

The correct answer is More attention to the subjective aspects of human behavior:

Key Points

• Quantitative research methods are primarily focused on objective data and the quantification of variables.
• They involve collecting and analyzing numerical data to uncover patterns, trends, and relationships.
• This approach aims to be systematic, highly structured, and minimize subjectivity. In contrast, qualitative research methods are more concerned.

Additional InformationOther types of Research:

• Qualitative Research: Qualitative research aims to understand human behavior, experiences, and meanings through in-depth interviews, observations, and textual analysis. It does not rely on numerical data but focuses on rich descriptions and interpretations.
• Mixed Methods Research: Mixed methods research combines elements of both quantitative and qualitative approaches. Researchers use both numerical data and textual information to gain a comprehensive understanding of the research problem.
• Experimental Research: In experimental research, researchers manipulate one or more variables to study their effects on other variables under controlled conditions. It allows for causal inferences.
• Descriptive Research: Descriptive research aims to describe and document the characteristics of a population or phenomenon without manipulating any variables. It is often used to gather preliminary data.
• Correlational Research: Correlational research examines the relationship between two or more variables without manipulating them. It assesses the degree of association between variables.

The correct answer is ​Ethnography:

Key Points

• Ethnography:
  • Ethnography is a branch of anthropology and the systematic study of individual cultures.
  • Ethnography is also a type of social research that involves examining the behavior of the participants in a given social situation and understanding the group members' own interpretation of such behavior.​

Additional Information

• Case study method:
  • A case study is an in-depth study of one person, group, or event.
  • In a case study, nearly every aspect of the subject's life and history is analyzed to seek patterns and causes of behavior
• Survey method:
  • ​The survey method is the practice of gathering data for a study by asking people questions related to your research.
  • Typically, researchers survey people who have particular knowledge, insights or experiences related to the study.
• Hermeneutics:
  • In sociology, hermeneutics is the interpretation and understanding of social events through analysis of their meanings for the human participants in the events.