⋆ ⋆
⋆
IOP2601: Organisational Research Methodology
May/June Examination 2026 — Revision Guide
Based on May/June 2025 & May/June 2024 Past Papers
⋆ ⋄ ⋆ ⋄ ⋆ ⋄ ⋆ ⋄ ⋆
Industrial & Organisational Psychology — Statistics & Research Methods
✓ Exam Revision Guide
IOP2601
Module Code:
Organisational Research Methodology
Module Name:
May/June 2025 & May/June 2024
Papers:
May/June 2026 Examination
Prepared for:
100
Total Marks:
2 Hours
Duration:
Work through every question. Understand the logic, not just the answer. Statistical
calculations require formulas — write them before computing.
⋆ Exam Revision Notes | IOP2601 | UNISA 2026
,IOP2601 | Exam Revision May/June 2025 & 2024
PAPER 1: MAY/JUNE 2025 EXAMINATION
IOP2601 — Organisational Research Methodology
Total: 100 Marks | Duration: 2 Hours | Closed Book
Page 2 of 35
,IOP2601 | Exam Revision May/June 2025 & 2024
Question 1 [20 marks]
Key Concept
This question covers the research process, types of research, variables, and levels of
measurement — topics that appear in every IOP2601 exam.
(a) [2 marks]
Question: Distinguish between a population and a sample in organisational research.
Answer: Population refers to the complete set of all elements (people, objects, or
events) about which a researcher wants to draw conclusions. Sample is a subset drawn
from that population that is actually studied.
• Population: all 4 500 employees at a company
• Sample: 200 employees randomly selected for a survey
The purpose of sampling is to make inferences about the population without measuring
every element — it saves time and money.
(b) [4 marks]
Question: Identify and briefly describe the four levels of measurement used in re-
search. For each, give one example relevant to an organisational context.
Answer:
1. Nominal: Categories with no rank order. Labels only. Example: type of employ-
ment contract (permanent, fixed-term, freelance).
2. Ordinal: Categories that can be ranked, but intervals between ranks are not equal.
Example: job satisfaction rating (low, medium, high).
3. Interval: Ordered, equal intervals, but no true zero. Example: temperature in an
office, or year of employment.
4. Ratio: Ordered, equal intervals, with a meaningful zero. Example: salary in rands,
years of service, number of sick days taken.
Page 3 of 35
, IOP2601 | Exam Revision May/June 2025 & 2024
Exam Tip
Ratio data is the only level that allows statements like “twice as much.” A salary
of R40 000 is genuinely double R20 000. You cannot say the same about tempera-
ture in Celsius.
(c) [4 marks]
Question: Explain the difference between a discrete variable and a continuous vari-
able. Give one example of each in a workplace context.
Answer: Discrete variables take on a countable, finite number of values — usually
whole numbers. There are no possible values between one count and the next.
Continuous variables can take any value within a range, including fractions and deci-
mals. Measurement precision is limited only by the instrument.
Aspect Discrete Continuous
Definition Countable, whole values Any value in a range
Workplace ex- Number of employees Time (in minutes) to
ample absent complete a task
Another exam- Number of customer Employee weight or
ple complaints height
(d) [4 marks]
Question: Briefly explain what is meant by descriptive and inferential statistics, and
state how they differ.
Answer: Descriptive statistics summarise and organise data from a sample or pop-
ulation. They describe what is already there — means, medians, standard deviations,
frequency tables.
Inferential statistics use sample data to draw conclusions (inferences) about a larger
Page 4 of 35
⋆
IOP2601: Organisational Research Methodology
May/June Examination 2026 — Revision Guide
Based on May/June 2025 & May/June 2024 Past Papers
⋆ ⋄ ⋆ ⋄ ⋆ ⋄ ⋆ ⋄ ⋆
Industrial & Organisational Psychology — Statistics & Research Methods
✓ Exam Revision Guide
IOP2601
Module Code:
Organisational Research Methodology
Module Name:
May/June 2025 & May/June 2024
Papers:
May/June 2026 Examination
Prepared for:
100
Total Marks:
2 Hours
Duration:
Work through every question. Understand the logic, not just the answer. Statistical
calculations require formulas — write them before computing.
⋆ Exam Revision Notes | IOP2601 | UNISA 2026
,IOP2601 | Exam Revision May/June 2025 & 2024
PAPER 1: MAY/JUNE 2025 EXAMINATION
IOP2601 — Organisational Research Methodology
Total: 100 Marks | Duration: 2 Hours | Closed Book
Page 2 of 35
,IOP2601 | Exam Revision May/June 2025 & 2024
Question 1 [20 marks]
Key Concept
This question covers the research process, types of research, variables, and levels of
measurement — topics that appear in every IOP2601 exam.
(a) [2 marks]
Question: Distinguish between a population and a sample in organisational research.
Answer: Population refers to the complete set of all elements (people, objects, or
events) about which a researcher wants to draw conclusions. Sample is a subset drawn
from that population that is actually studied.
• Population: all 4 500 employees at a company
• Sample: 200 employees randomly selected for a survey
The purpose of sampling is to make inferences about the population without measuring
every element — it saves time and money.
(b) [4 marks]
Question: Identify and briefly describe the four levels of measurement used in re-
search. For each, give one example relevant to an organisational context.
Answer:
1. Nominal: Categories with no rank order. Labels only. Example: type of employ-
ment contract (permanent, fixed-term, freelance).
2. Ordinal: Categories that can be ranked, but intervals between ranks are not equal.
Example: job satisfaction rating (low, medium, high).
3. Interval: Ordered, equal intervals, but no true zero. Example: temperature in an
office, or year of employment.
4. Ratio: Ordered, equal intervals, with a meaningful zero. Example: salary in rands,
years of service, number of sick days taken.
Page 3 of 35
, IOP2601 | Exam Revision May/June 2025 & 2024
Exam Tip
Ratio data is the only level that allows statements like “twice as much.” A salary
of R40 000 is genuinely double R20 000. You cannot say the same about tempera-
ture in Celsius.
(c) [4 marks]
Question: Explain the difference between a discrete variable and a continuous vari-
able. Give one example of each in a workplace context.
Answer: Discrete variables take on a countable, finite number of values — usually
whole numbers. There are no possible values between one count and the next.
Continuous variables can take any value within a range, including fractions and deci-
mals. Measurement precision is limited only by the instrument.
Aspect Discrete Continuous
Definition Countable, whole values Any value in a range
Workplace ex- Number of employees Time (in minutes) to
ample absent complete a task
Another exam- Number of customer Employee weight or
ple complaints height
(d) [4 marks]
Question: Briefly explain what is meant by descriptive and inferential statistics, and
state how they differ.
Answer: Descriptive statistics summarise and organise data from a sample or pop-
ulation. They describe what is already there — means, medians, standard deviations,
frequency tables.
Inferential statistics use sample data to draw conclusions (inferences) about a larger
Page 4 of 35
