Question Bank - Research Aptitude

Research Aptitude: 100+ Objective & Short Answer Questions with Solutions

This comprehensive question bank covers every major aspect of Research Aptitude — including meaning, types, characteristics, positivism and post-positivism, research methods, steps, thesis and article writing, application of ICT in research, and research ethics. These questions are ideal for competitive exams (like UGC NET), university assessments, or general academic preparation.

Abbreviations

• RA – Research Aptitude
• ICT – Information and Communication Technology
• RE – Research Ethics
• T/A – Thesis and Article
• P – Positivism
• PP – Post-Positivism

Part I: Research — Meaning, Types & Characteristics

1. What is research? Research is a systematic and objective process to discover new knowledge, verify existing facts, or solve specific problems.
2. Define the term “research.” The word “research” originates from “re” (again) + “search” (to find) meaning to investigate repeatedly to gain knowledge.
3. List any four characteristics of good research. Empirical, logical, systematic, and replicable.
4. Differentiate between applied and basic research. Applied research seeks immediate solutions to real problems; basic research aims at developing general principles or theories.
5. What is exploratory research? Research conducted to explore and gain initial understanding of a problem without conclusive results.
6. Define positivism. A philosophy asserting that knowledge is derived from observable and measurable facts through scientific methods.
7. Define post-positivism. A paradigm recognising that reality exists but can only be understood imperfectly, using both qualitative and quantitative approaches.
8. List two differences between positivism and post-positivism. Positivism assumes full objectivity and focuses on quantitative data; post-positivism accepts partial subjectivity and may use mixed methods.
9. What is validity in research? The degree to which a tool measures what it claims to measure.
10. What is reliability? The consistency and stability of results when a study is replicated.

Part II: Methods of Research

11. What is experimental research? Research involving manipulation of variables under controlled conditions to test cause-effect relationships.
12. Define descriptive research. Research that aims to describe characteristics or functions of a phenomenon without manipulation.
13. What is historical research? Study and analysis of past records to understand causes and effects of historical events.
14. What is qualitative research? Research based on non-numeric data, focusing on meanings, experiences, and descriptions.
15. What is quantitative research? Research using numeric data and statistical tools to test hypotheses.
16. What is action research? Research conducted by practitioners to solve their immediate practical problems.
17. Define case study method. An in-depth study of a single unit or small number of units.
18. What is correlational research? Research examining relationships among variables without establishing causation.
19. What is a hypothesis? A testable statement predicting relationships among variables.
20. What is sampling? The process of selecting a subset from a population to represent the whole.

Part III: Steps of Research

21. Select a research problem
22. Review related literature
23. Formulate objectives and hypothesis
24. Design research methodology
25. Collect data
26. Analyse data
27. Interpret findings
28. Write report or thesis
29. Why is literature review important? It helps identify gaps, avoid duplication, and refine research objectives.
30. What is a pilot study? A small preliminary test of the research design before full-scale study.

Part IV: Thesis and Article Writing

31. What is the structure of a thesis? Abstract, introduction, literature review, methodology, analysis, discussion, conclusion, references.
32. Difference between thesis and article. A thesis is a detailed research document; an article is concise and focused for journal publication.
33. What is plagiarism? Using others’ work without proper acknowledgement.
34. What is citation? The act of giving credit to original authors.
35. List major referencing styles. APA, MLA, Chicago, Harvard.
36. What is a DOI? Digital Object Identifier, a unique code for digital publications.
37. Why is consistency in referencing important? It ensures professionalism and easy verification of sources.
38. What is a bibliography? A list of all sources consulted during research, even if not directly cited.
39. What is the purpose of abstract? To provide a brief summary of objectives, methods, and findings.
40. What is peer review? Evaluation of a research work by other experts in the same field before publication.

Part V: Application of ICT in Research

41. What is ICT? Information and Communication Technology used for creating, managing, analysing, and sharing research data.
42. Give examples of quantitative data analysis tools. SPSS, R, Excel.
43. Give examples of qualitative analysis software. NVivo, Atlas.ti.
44. What is an online survey tool? Platforms like Google Forms and SurveyMonkey.
45. What is e-database? Digital storage systems like JSTOR, Scopus, and ResearchGate.
46. What is metadata? Data describing data (e.g., date, author, file type).
47. What is open access? Publications freely available online without subscription.
48. How does ICT help in collaboration? Enables researchers to share files and co-author papers via cloud platforms.
49. What is plagiarism detection software? Tools like Turnitin detect copied content.
50. Why is ICT important in research? It enhances efficiency, accuracy, and global connectivity in data management.

Part VI: Research Ethics

51. What are research ethics? Moral principles guiding how research should be planned, conducted, and reported.
52. What is informed consent? Voluntary participation based on full knowledge of the study.
53. What is confidentiality? Protecting participant identity and data.
54. What is anonymity? Ensuring responses cannot be traced to individuals.
55. What is beneficence? Obligation to maximise benefits and minimise harm to participants.
56. What is justice in research? Fair selection and treatment of participants.
57. What is fabrication? Making up false data or results.
58. What is falsification? Manipulating data or results deliberately.
59. What is plagiarism? Presenting another’s ideas as one’s own.
60. Why is ethical clearance important? It ensures participant safety and research integrity.

Part VII: Practice Objectives (Multiple Choice)

• Research is always – (a) Systematic (b) Random (c) Biased (d) Arbitrary → Answer: (a)
• Qualitative research is based on – (a) Observation (b) Measurement (c) Hypothesis testing (d) Experiments → Answer: (a)
• Post-positivism supports – (a) Mixed methods (b) Purely quantitative (c) Purely qualitative (d) None → Answer: (a)
• Action research is – (a) Applied research (b) Historical research (c) Theoretical research (d) None → Answer: (a)
• APA stands for – American Psychological Association
• Ethics in research ensure – Integrity, honesty, and respect for participants.

Conclusion: Understanding Research Aptitude enables scholars to conduct ethical, systematic, and impactful research. Whether you are preparing for exams or developing a thesis, these questions cover every dimension of the topic comprehensively.