SOCIAL WORK RESEARCH MCQs:
1. What is the primary goal of social work research?
a) To generate profit
b) To manipulate data for personal gain
c) To contribute to the knowledge base of social work practice
d) To deceive the public
Answer: c) To contribute to the knowledge base of social work practice
2. Which of the following is NOT a common research method used in social work?
a) Case studies
b) Surveys
c) Randomized controlled trials
d) Experiments
Answer: d) Experiments
3. Which type of research design involves observing and documenting phenomena without
manipulating variables?
a) Experimental research
b) Descriptive research
c) Correlational research
d) Longitudinal research
Answer: b) Descriptive research
4. What is the purpose of a literature review in social work research?
a) To summarize existing research on a topic
b) To fabricate data
c) To exclude relevant studies
d) To mislead readers
Answer: a) To summarize existing research on a topic
5. Which sampling method involves selecting participants based on their availability and
accessibility?
a) Random sampling
b) Systematic sampling
c) Convenience sampling
d) Cluster sampling
Answer: c) Convenience sampling
6. What is the term for the group that does not receive the intervention in an experimental
study?
a) Control group
b) Treatment group
c) Experimental group
d) Observation group
Answer: a) Control group
7. Which ethical principle requires researchers to protect the privacy and confidentiality of
research participants?
a) Autonomy
b) Justice
c) Beneficence
d) Fidelity
Answer: c) Beneficence
8. What does the term "dependent variable" refer to in social work research?
a) The variable that is manipulated by the researcher
b) The variable that is measured or observed to assess the effect of the independent
variable
c) The variable that remains constant in an experiment
d) The variable that is irrelevant to the research question
Answer: b) The variable that is measured or observed to assess the effect of the
independent variable
9. Which of the following is NOT a step in the research process?
a) Analyzing data
b) Fabricating results
c) Formulating research questions
d) Reporting findings
Answer: b) Fabricating results
10. What is the term for a measure that consistently yields the same results over time?
a) Reliable
b) Valid
c) Ethical
d) Biased
Answer: a) Reliable
11. Which statistical measure is used to describe the degree of relationship between two
variables?
a) Mean
b) Median
c) Mode
d) Correlation coefficient
Answer: d) Correlation coefficient
12. What is the purpose of random assignment in experimental research?
a) To ensure that participants are representative of the population
b) To minimize the effects of confounding variables
c) To manipulate data
d) To exclude certain participants from the study
Answer: b) To minimize the effects of confounding variables
13. Which type of validity refers to the extent to which research findings can be generalized
to other populations or settings?
a) Internal validity
b) External validity
c) Construct validity
d) Face validity
Answer: b) External validity
14. What does the term "triangulation" mean in social work research?
a) Using multiple methods or sources of data to corroborate findings
b) Fabricating data
c) Manipulating results
d) Ignoring contradictory evidence
Answer: a) Using multiple methods or sources of data to corroborate findings
15. What is the purpose of informed consent in research?
a) To ensure that participants are aware of the risks and benefits of participation
b) To deceive participants
c) To exclude certain participants from the study
d) To manipulate data
Answer: a) To ensure that participants are aware of the risks and benefits of participation
16. Which of the following is NOT an ethical consideration in social work research?
a) Respect for persons
b) Justice
c) Honesty
d) Beneficence
Answer: c) Honesty
17. What does the term "qualitative research" focus on?
a) Objective measurement and statistical analysis
b) The meanings, experiences, and perspectives of individuals
c) Fabricating data
d) The manipulation of variables
Answer: b) The meanings, experiences, and perspectives of individuals
18. Which of the following is an example of a closed-ended question in a survey?
a) "How do you feel about your job?"
b) "What are your thoughts on social justice?"
c) "Do you agree or disagree with the statement: 'I feel supported in my workplace'?"
d) "Tell me about your childhood experiences."
Answer: c) "Do you agree or disagree with the statement: 'I feel supported in my
workplace'?"
19. What is the term for the process of selecting research participants from a larger
population?
a) Sampling
b) Surveying
c) Manipulation
d) Deception
Answer: a) Sampling
20. Which type of research design involves collecting data from the same group of
participants over an extended period?
a) Cross-sectional
b) Longitudinal
c) Experimental
d) Descriptive
Answer: b) Longitudinal
21. What is the term for a measure that accurately assesses the concept it is intended to
measure?
a) Reliable
b) Valid
c) Ethical
d) Biased
Answer: b) Valid
22. What does the term "independent variable" refer to in social work research?
a) The variable that is manipulated by the researcher
b) The variable that is measured or observed to assess the effect of the independent
variable
c) The variable that remains constant in an experiment
d) The variable that is irrelevant to the research question
Answer: a) The variable that is manipulated by the researcher
23. Which of the following is NOT a type of research question commonly used in social
work?
a) Descriptive
b) Exploratory
c) Fabricated
d) Explanatory
Answer: c) Fabricated
24. What is the term for a systematic error or distortion in study results?
a) Random error
b) Sampling error
c) Confounding variable
d) Bias
Answer: d) Bias
25. Which of the following is a common method for ensuring reliability in qualitative
research?
a) Random assignment
b) Validity checks
c) Member checking
d) Random sampling
Answer: c) Member checking
