IGNOU MFN-09
- Research Methods and Biostatistics,
Latest Solved Assignment
(July 2024 - January 2025)

Section A - Descriptive Questions

1. a) What are variables? Give classification and explain them in detail.
b) What is Research?

2. a) Explain Code of Ethics in detail.
b) Explain the following with examples:
i) Null hypothesis
ii)Alpha-error

3. a) How is observational study design different from Experimental study design? Discuss.
b) Briefly explain the normal probability distribution and highlight its characteristics.

4. a) What is Probability sampling? Enlist its characteristics and types.
b) Explain the importance of rating scale in research. Also enlist various types of rating scales used in research.

5. a)What do you understand by participant observation and non-participant observation? Explain the stages in the process of observation.
b) Explain the process of quantitative data processing and coding.

6. a) What is contingency table? What is their use in epidemiological research?
b) Define the following:
i. Stem-and-leaf plot
ii. Quantiles
iii. Z-score
iv. Nominal scale

7. Give definition and formula for the following:
a) Mean
b) Median
c) Variance
d) Standard deviation

8. a) Calculate the product moment correlation from the given variables:

b) What are non-parametric tests? Explain giving examples. What is the purpose of nonparametric tests?

9. a) Compute mean, median and mode of the following frequency distribution

b) Describe the strengths of using case study method in research.

10. Explain the following by giving suitable examples
a) Frequency polygon
b) Predictive Value
c) Power of test
d) Histogram

Section B - OTQ (Objective Type Questions)

1. Define the following:

i) Sampling Design
ii) Research Design
iii) Logical error
iv) Cohort Study
v) Epidemiology
vi) Placebo
vii) SPSS
viii) NUDIST
ix) Pie graph
x) Snowball sampling

2. Differentiate between the following:

i) Thurstone scale and Likert scale
ii) Stochastic and Deterministic variables
iii) Sensitivity and specificity of a tool
iv) Two-tailed and one-tailed tests of significance
v) Qualitative and Quantitative variables

Section A - Descriptive Questions
There are eight questions in this part. Answer all questions.
1. a) What do you understand by the term ‘Nutritional Epidemiology’? Explain the descriptive variables related to community health used in research.
b) What is null hypothesis? What are the characteristics of a good hypothesis?

2. a) What is a cross-sectional descriptive study? Explain with example. List the strengths and limitations of descriptive cross-sectional study.
b) Explain the following with examples:
i) Experimental Research
ii)Correlation study
iii) Case control study.

3. a) How is purposive sampling different from incidental sampling? Discuss the characteristics of a good sample.
b) What are the different types of scales used in behavioural sciences for data measurement ?
c) What do you understand by validity and reliability of a research tool?

4. a) What is an attitude scale? Enlist its uses and limitations.
b) Explain the various types of observations. Discuss the stages in the process of observation.
c) Briefly describe the methods of data collection.

5. a)Enumerate the graphs you will use for representing frequency distribution?
b)Describe the characteristics of a Normal Probability Distribution.
c)What do you understand by the term Relative risk and Odd’s ratio?

6. a) Ten scores of 10 learners enrolled in MFN-009 is given below:
40,36,29,14,27,45,50,12,39,19
Calculate the mean, median, standard deviation and variance for the above data.
b) Describe the assumptions on which non-parametric tests are based?

7. a) In a sample of 100 children, 1-3 years of age, mean (SD) intake of calcium = 175 (5.82) mg. Compute the standard error of mean.
b) The theory and practical marks of 10 students are given below:
Theory (x): 24 34 33 22 37 23 38 33 44 35
Theory (y): 15 21 28 31 18 24 36 32 27 18
Find the correlation coefficient between x and y.

8. a) What is NUDIST software? Discuss the features which are available with this software.
b) Discuss the methods used for analysis of qualitative data?

Section B - OTQ (Objective Type Questions)
1. Define the following:
i) Biostatistics
ii) Plagiarism
iii) Double blind trial
iv) Halo effect
v) Journals
vi) Checklist
vii) Scattergraph
viii) Factor Analysis
ix) Contingency tables
x) Degree of Freedom

2. Differentiate between the following:
i) Random error & Systematic error
ii) Descriptive and Analytical Research Design
iii) Stratified Random Sampling and Simple Random Sampling
iv) Structured and Unstructured Questionnaire
v) Power test and Speed test