IGNOU MAPC material © 2015, M S Ahluwalia Psychology Learners

MPC005

IGNOU Question Paper Pattern

IGNOU MAPC material © 2015, M S Ahluwalia Psychology Learners

Research Methods in

Psychology

Examination Pattern - MAPC

IGNOU MAPC material © 2015, M S Ahluwalia Psychology Learners

Introduction

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If you are a student of IGNOU preparing for the Term End Examinations, this document maybe just what you are looking for. IGNOU has a vast syllabus, and the exams are as tough as regular programs even though the programs are mostly open/distance learning with minimal support from the faculty and study centers. In such a situation students, who are usually working don’t get sufficient support for their exams. This document is created with the objective of helping the students with their theory examinations. It was created by analyzing the question papers of all the exams right from the beginning of the course up to 2014. Using the analysis, the entire syllabus was structured in terms of its importance for exams. You can use this to help you get maximum marks with minimum effort. While this would be a great help, do remember exams are both a test of your knowledge and your ability to present the answers in a manner that the examiner is inclined to give you marks. So work on these aspects as well, especially on the presentation of your answers. Good luck for your exams!

Disclaimer: This analysis was conducted by an individual with the intention of helping fellow students. Students are advised to be careful while using this. The author does not hold any responsibility of any unwanted/undesirable impact that using this document may have for the student. There may be errors in the analysis/ document considering it has not undergone any quality review.

IGNOU MAPC material © 2015, M S Ahluwalia Psychology Learners

Instructions

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Time: 2 hours Maximum Marks: 50 1. All questions carry equal marks. 2. Answer any five questions. 3. Each question is to be answered in about 500 words. Please note: The pattern may deviate considerably from this. 1. In June 2015, for example, the question paper pattern was totally different with more than 5

questions to answer and the responses required were also of varying size. 2. In June 2011, for one of the subjects the word limit for answers was 400 words

IGNOU MAPC material © 2015, M S Ahluwalia Psychology Learners

Block level: Blocks 4 and 1 are most important

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Name Total Questions Total Marks

4_Qualitative Research in Psychology 39 230

1_Introduction to Research Methods in Psychology 41 225

3_Research Design 21 140

2_Types of Research 22 140

Grand Total 123 735

IGNOU MAPC material © 2015, M S Ahluwalia Psychology Learners

Chapter level: Chapters 4.1 and 1.1 are most important

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2.

Name Total Questions Total Marks

4_Qualitative Research in Psychology 39 230

1_Introduction including Ethnography 14 85

4_Reporting and Evaluating in qualitative research 10 65

3_Discourse Analysis 8 45

2_Grounded theory 7 35

1_Introduction to Research Methods in Psychology 41 225

1_Basic Process/Concept in Research 14 85

2_Reliability and Validity (Internal and External) 15 80

4_Hypothesis formulation and sampling 8 40

3_Variables and Constructs 4 20

3_Research Design 21 140

3_Quasi Experimental Design 7 45

2_Factorial Design 5 35

4_Other Designs (Correlational Design and Comparative Design) 5 35

1_Single Factor Design 4 25

2_Types of Research 22 140

1_Survey Research 10 60

3_Experimental Research (Field Experiment) 5 35

2_Ex-post facto research 4 30

4_Case Study 3 15

Grand Total 123 735

IGNOU MAPC material © 2015, M S Ahluwalia Psychology Learners

Topic level (1/6)

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Name Total Questions Total Marks 4_Qualitative Research in Psychology 39 230 1_Introduction including Ethnography 14 85 Ethnography 3 20 types of qualitative research 2 15 types of 'qualitative research' 1 10 Qualitative research 2 8 relevance and application of qualitative research in psychology 1 7 Steps of ethnographic research method 1 5 Comparison of qualitative and quantitative research 1 5 Qualitative and quantitative research 1 5 advantages and disadvantages - 'qualitative' and 'quantitative' research 1 5 qualitative' and 'quantitative' research 1 5 4_Reporting and Evaluating in qualitative research 10 65 steps of evaluating data and preparing report in qualitative research 1 10 steps involved in preparing a qualitative research report 1 10 concept and meaning of evaluating, interpreting and reporting the data of qualitative research 1 10 Steps in preparing a report of the data. 1 5 Writing a Research Report 1 5 Evaluating data in qualitative research 1 5 Contents of research report. 1 5 Do's and dont's in interpreting research report 1 5 Report writing in a qualitative research. 1 5 Strategies of data interpretation 1 5

IGNOU MAPC material © 2015, M S Ahluwalia Psychology Learners

Topic level (2/6)

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Name Total Questions Total Marks 4_Qualitative Research in Psychology 39 230 3_Discourse Analysis 8 45 Content analysis 2 10 assumptions, theories and steps of discourse analysis 1 10 'critical discourse analysis' and 'content analysis.' 1 8 Steps in discourse analysis 1 5 Discourse analysis 1 5 Steps of discourse analysis 1 5 relevance and implications of both the methods in research 1 2 2_Grounded theory 7 35 Grounded theory 2 10 types of 'codings' involved in grounded theory 2 8 Steps 1 6 implications of 'grounded theory' 1 6 Goals and perspectives of grounded theory 1 5 1_Introduction to Research Methods in Psychology 41 225 1_Basic Process/Concept in Research 14 85 Steps - Research process 2 20 importance and relevance of Psychological research 1 10 qualities of a good research 1 8 criteria of 'good research' 1 8 criteria of good research 1 5 minimising biases in psychological research 1 5 role of Theory', 'Hypothesis' and `Paradigms' in Psychological research 1 5 biases in psychological research 1 5 Researcher bias 1 5 significance of research methods in Psychology 1 5

IGNOU MAPC material © 2015, M S Ahluwalia Psychology Learners

Topic level (3/6)

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Name Total Questions Total Marks 1_Introduction to Research Methods in Psychology 41 225 1_Basic Process/Concept in Research 14 85 Research Biases 1 5 Research 2 4 2_Reliability and Validity (Internal and External) 15 80 Types - validity 3 23 methods of estimating reliability 1 8 threats to external and internal validity 1 8 two methods of estimating internal consistency reliability 1 6 different ways in which the external reliability of an instrument can be measured 1 6 internal validity 1 5 sources of threats to internal validity 1 5 Cronbach's reliability 1 5 reliability and validity with the help of suitable example 1 4 internal consistency reliability 1 4 Reliability 1 2 Validity 1 2 Concept - validity 1 2 4_Hypothesis formulation and sampling 8 40 Types of Sampling 1 6 types of 'non probability methods' of sampling 1 6 Process - Hypothesis formulation 1 5 Problems - Hypothesis formulation 1 5 advantages and disadvantages of simple random sampling 1 5 simple random sampling 1 5 advantages and disadvantages of 'non probability methods' of sampling 1 4 'population and sample' 1 4

IGNOU MAPC material © 2015, M S Ahluwalia Psychology Learners

Topic level (4/6)

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Name Total Questions Total Marks 1_Introduction to Research Methods in Psychology 41 225 3_Variables and Constructs 4 20 types of variables with examples 1 7 Discreate and continuous variables 1 5 Extraneous and Confounded Variables. 1 5 differentiate variables 1 3 3_Research Design 21 140 3_Quasi Experimental Design 7 45 types of quasi experimental design 2 18 true experimental design and quasi experimental design 1 10 'true' and 'quasi' experimental research design 1 5 Quasi experimental research 1 5 'quasi experimental' research design 1 5 advantages of quasi experimental design over the other experimental designs 1 2 2_Factorial Design 5 35 Types 2 13 advantages and disadvantages of factorial designs 1 10 within subject factorial design 1 7 factorial design with suitable example 1 5 4_Other Designs (Correlational Design and Comparative Design) 5 35 correlational and casual comparative designs 1 10 correlational and comparative design with examples 1 10 Correlational research design 1 5 casual comparative designs 1 5 strengths and limitations of casual comparative designs 1 5

IGNOU MAPC material © 2015, M S Ahluwalia Psychology Learners

Topic level (5/6)

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Name Total Questions Total Marks 3_Research Design 21 140 1_Single Factor Design 4 25 within subject designs taking a hypothetical example 1 10 Types - research design 1 8 single factor design with suitable example 1 5 Research design 1 2 2_Types of Research 22 140 1_Survey Research 10 60 Methods of survey 2 13 methods or techniques for conducting survey 1 10 precautions a researcher should take while framing questions for survey 1 10 Steps 2 10 issues in survey research 1 5 Types 1 5 difficulties in survey research 1 5 Survey Research 1 2 3_Experimental Research (Field Experiment) 5 35 experimental design 1 10 experimental research and field experiment 1 10 'experimental research and field experiments 1 7 Field experiments 1 5 experimental research' 1 3 2_Ex-post facto research 4 30 strengths and limitations of ex-post facto research 1 10 Expostfacto research and Experimental Research 1 10 experimental and an expost facto research 1 5 steps of 'expost facto' research 1 5

IGNOU MAPC material © 2015, M S Ahluwalia Psychology Learners

Topic level (6/6)

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Name Total Questions Total Marks 2_Types of Research 22 140 4_Case Study 3 15 'case study' 1 6 Case study 1 5 misconceptions in case studies 1 4

IGNOU MAPC material © 2015, M S Ahluwalia Psychology Learners

Question-wise marks

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The question wise structure has been as follows:

Question # Jun-11 Dec-11 Jun-12 Dec-12 Jun-13 Dec-13 Jun-14 1 10 2+8 2+8 5+5 5+5 10 5+5 2 2+8 10 2+8 4+6 4+6 5+5 10 3 3+7 2+8 4+6 4+6 3+7 5+5 5+5 4 5+5 2+8 2+8 5+5 10 10 5+5 5 3+7 10 10 5+5 10 10 10 6 10 2+8 2+8 10 10 10 4+6 7 4+6 4+6 5+5 5+5 10 10 10 8 10 10 5+5 10 5+5 10 5+5 9 5+5 5+5 5+5 5+5 3+7 10 10 10 5+5 5+5 5+5 5+5 5+5 5+5 5+5

2+2+2+2+2 0 2+3+5 0 2+4+4 0 2+8 9 3+3+4 0 3+7 4 4+6 7 5+5 26 10 24

To summarize, the questions have mostly comprised of 10 mark essays, or combination of 5 mark short notes:

IGNOU MAPC material © 2015, M S Ahluwalia Psychology Learners

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