Exam 5: How Sociologists Do Research

In order to establish rapport with a sample while researching sensitive and personal issues, the researcher should begin by asking emotional and personal questions so he or she can relate to the respondents.

What are the four primary factors that affect how sociologists choose a research method?

Phillip would like to collect information from a large number of people, but he has a limited budget. In order to sample a large number, but to keep the cost low, Phillip should use ________ as a research method.

When a researcher focuses on a single event, situation, or individual, the resulting research is known as ________.

When sociologists Diana Scully and Joseph Marolla (1984, 2014) interviewed convicted rapists in prison they were concerned that the prisoners might shift their answers depending on which researcher was interviewing them because one was male and one was female. They were concerned that gender might lead to…

In experimental research, the variable that is the cause of change (the independent variable) must precede that which is changed (the dependent variable). This condition is called ________.

Why is participant observation also called fieldwork?

Which of the following represents a correct sequence of steps in the research process?

Dr. Zimbardo is examining the effect that pornographic movies have on the ways in which single men respond to the needs of women. He has one group of men watch pornographic films and another watch Three Stooges episodes. He then tests their reactions to women in need by showing them short film clips and following up with a series of questions. What research method is Dr. Zimbardo using?

Commonsense ideas are the best topics to choose for sociological research, because they represent "what everyone knows."

Juanita is conducting survey research for the Colgate-Palmolive Company. The company recently sent several cases of personal-sized toothpaste to Dr. Yankum as a part of a promotion. Juanita is surveying patients as they leave Dr. Yankum's office to ask if the dentist gave them any hygiene items to continue quality dental care. Juanita has discovered that practically every patient received Colgate and has concluded in her report that dentists prefer Colgate toothpaste over other brands. What flaw exists in Juanita's research?

A small group of seven students evaluated Professor Zanylo's lectures. On a scale of 1 to 10, the scores the students registered were 4, 5, 7, 8, 9, 9, 10. Professor Zanylo's mode score was ________ and his median score was ________.

When Peter Rossi and the National Opinion Research Center studied the homeless, it was necessary for them to develop a practical and accurate description to determine exactly what constituted being homeless. This description would be classified as a(n) ________.

The three conditions necessary for causation between variables are ________, ________, and ________.

An attractive African American woman is conducting random interviews on campus to gather data on students' opinions on the reverse discrimination suit filed by white students at the University of Michigan School of Law. Four out of five of the white respondents and virtually all of the African American respondents favor the court's ruling and supports "bonus points" being given to applicants of color. Based on this information, what is probably affecting the data collection process?

Many sociologists believe that theory is unnecessary when doing research.

Which research method involves collecting data by having people answer a series of questions?

How is gender significant in sociological research?

In addition to choosing the appropriate research method, sociologists must follow research _______ to achieve truth, honesty, and openness.

Access to resources, access to subjects, purpose of the research, and training of researchers are the four primary factors that affect which research method to use.