Question 1

What does the term research design refer to?

Accepted Answer

A)  A systematic summary of previously conducted research related to the proposed study 
B)  A diagram of the causal logic of the proposed study 
C)  The overall logic of the research project, including what observational method will be used 
D)  A statement of the underlying theory and how it is applied 
A)  A systematic summary of previously conducted research related to the proposed study 
B)  A diagram of the causal logic of the proposed study 
C)  The overall logic of the research project, including what observational method will be used 
D)  A statement of the underlying theory and how it is applied C

Question 2

All concepts require indicators to allow researchers to measure them. Provide a measurable indicator variable for each of the following three concepts and explain your rationale. Social mobility Well-being Societal development

Accepted Answer

1. Social mobility: One measurable indicator variable for social mobility could be intergenerational income mobility. This indicator measures the extent to which individuals can move up or down the income ladder compared to their parents. It provides insight into the level of economic opportunity and mobility within a society.

2. Well-being: A measurable indicator variable for well-being could be the World Happiness Report score. This score measures subjective well-being based on factors such as income, social support, freedom to make life choices, and perceptions of corruption. It provides a comprehensive measure of overall well-being within a society.

3. Societal development: One measurable indicator variable for societal development could be the Human Development Index (HDI). The HDI measures a country's average achievements in three basic aspects of human development: health (life expectancy at birth), education (mean years of schooling and expected years of schooling), and standard of living (GNI per capita). It provides a holistic measure of societal development that goes beyond just economic indicators.

Question 3

The measurement of concepts is based on direct observation.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False  True

Question 4

Based on what you read, you think that people whose parents are divorced are more likely to become divorced themselves. As you begin your research, you state your belief explicitly, in a testable way. This explicit, testable statement is a

Accepted Answer

A)  research design. 
B)  statement of causality. 
C)  hypothesis. 
D)  generalized conclusion. 
A)  research design. 
B)  statement of causality. 
C)  hypothesis. 
D)  generalized conclusion.

Question 5

A literature review is not required when a researcher is using primary data.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 6

If a sociologist wants to know how students feel about the cost of living in residence halls, the most appropriate research method to use would be

Accepted Answer

A)  an experiment. 
B)  a survey. 
C)  observation. 
D)  searching university records. 
A)  an experiment. 
B)  a survey. 
C)  observation. 
D)  searching university records.

Question 7

Explain the difference between quantitative and qualitative studies and the types of analysis that might be used for each.

Accepted Answer

Quantitative and qualitative studies are

Question 8

All sociological research follows the model of hypothesis testing.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 9

Which of these statements is the best description of a variable?

Accepted Answer

A)  A variable is something the researcher believes is irrelevant to the research outcome. 
B)  A variable is something that can have only one value. 
C)  A variable is something that can have more than one value or score. 
D)  A variable is a scientific statement of observation. 
A)  A variable is something the researcher believes is irrelevant to the research outcome. 
B)  A variable is something that can have only one value. 
C)  A variable is something that can have more than one value or score. 
D)  A variable is a scientific statement of observation.

Question 10

Why is the controlled experiment particularly suited for determining cause and effect?

Accepted Answer

A controlled experiment is particularly

Question 11

The findings that result from a study of a larger sample will always be more generalizable than those from the study of a smaller sample.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 12

Which statement about the accuracy of information about research findings obtained from the Internet is most accurate?

Accepted Answer

A)  Popular media websites virtually never misstate, exaggerate, or otherwise distort research findings. 
B)  There really are no longer any reasonably reliable websites. It is best to rely on professional journals. 
C)  It's best to find a handful of websites that you're comfortable with and stick to them, even if they do sometimes distort research findings. 
D)  It is always important to consider who owns the website, as some corporations and organizations may be motivated to misstate research findings. 
A)  Popular media websites virtually never misstate, exaggerate, or otherwise distort research findings. 
B)  There really are no longer any reasonably reliable websites. It is best to rely on professional journals. 
C)  It's best to find a handful of websites that you're comfortable with and stick to them, even if they do sometimes distort research findings. 
D)  It is always important to consider who owns the website, as some corporations and organizations may be motivated to misstate research findings.

Question 13

Whether a measurement gives the same results when it is repeated under the same conditions is an indication of the measurement's

Accepted Answer

A)  validity. 
B)  reliability. 
C)  certainty. 
D)  specificity. 
A)  validity. 
B)  reliability. 
C)  certainty. 
D)  specificity.

Question 14

What is the difference between deductive and inductive reasoning? Give an example of each.

Accepted Answer

Deductive reasoning is a logical process

Question 15

Suppose a sociologist wants to study the social processes involved participation in acts of terrorism. What sociological research method would be least appropriate? Explain your reasoning.

Accepted Answer

The least appropriate sociological resea

Question 16

The only reason for a sociologist to replicate previous research is to see if the previous researcher committed fraud.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 17

Dr. Gore believes that people who live in regions that have been impacted by multiple, severe storms or related natural disasters like flooding are more likely to report that climate change is serious concern to them than are people who live in regions that have not been impacted. Using National Weather Service data on storm severity, she categorizes people as living in regions impacted by at least one such storm in the five years or no such storms and then looks at the percentage of people who rate climate change as a serious concern based on where they live. In this example, what is the dependent variable?

Accepted Answer

A)  The number of storms 
B)  Whether people see climate change as a serious concern 
C)  Whether people live in a region impacted by one or more severe storms 
D)  The total number of people surveyed 
A)  The number of storms 
B)  Whether people see climate change as a serious concern 
C)  Whether people live in a region impacted by one or more severe storms 
D)  The total number of people surveyed

Question 18

Would participation observation be a useful research method with a large group, such as a rally or a march of thousands of individuals? Explain your reasoning.

Accepted Answer

Participation observation could be a use

Question 19

How do sociologists ensure that their measurement of a concept is valid?

Accepted Answer

A)  They stick to a single indicator for a particular concept in order to avoid confusion. 
B)  They use more than one indicator for a particular concept. 
C)  They avoid using concepts at all because they are too abstract. 
D)  They replicate studies multiple times. 
A)  They stick to a single indicator for a particular concept in order to avoid confusion. 
B)  They use more than one indicator for a particular concept. 
C)  They avoid using concepts at all because they are too abstract. 
D)  They replicate studies multiple times.

Question 20

Explain the Hawthorne effect-what it is and where it originated-and give a brief example that illustrates it.

Accepted Answer

The Hawthorne effect is a psychological

What does the term research design refer to?

All concepts require indicators to allow researchers to measure them. Provide a measurable indicator variable for each of the following three concepts and explain your rationale. Social mobility Well-being Societal development

The measurement of concepts is based on direct observation.

Based on what you read, you think that people whose parents are divorced are more likely to become divorced themselves. As you begin your research, you state your belief explicitly, in a testable way. This explicit, testable statement is a

A literature review is not required when a researcher is using primary data.

If a sociologist wants to know how students feel about the cost of living in residence halls, the most appropriate research method to use would be

Explain the difference between quantitative and qualitative studies and the types of analysis that might be used for each.

All sociological research follows the model of hypothesis testing.

Which of these statements is the best description of a variable?

Why is the controlled experiment particularly suited for determining cause and effect?

The findings that result from a study of a larger sample will always be more generalizable than those from the study of a smaller sample.

Which statement about the accuracy of information about research findings obtained from the Internet is most accurate?

Whether a measurement gives the same results when it is repeated under the same conditions is an indication of the measurement's

What is the difference between deductive and inductive reasoning? Give an example of each.

Suppose a sociologist wants to study the social processes involved participation in acts of terrorism. What sociological research method would be least appropriate? Explain your reasoning.

The only reason for a sociologist to replicate previous research is to see if the previous researcher committed fraud.

Would participation observation be a useful research method with a large group, such as a rally or a march of thousands of individuals? Explain your reasoning.

How do sociologists ensure that their measurement of a concept is valid?

Explain the Hawthorne effect-what it is and where it originated-and give a brief example that illustrates it.

Sociological Perspective

Culture

Socialization and the Life Course

Social Structure and Social Interaction

Groups and Organization

Deviance and Crime

Social Class and Social Stratification

Global Stratification

Race and Ethnicity

Gender

Sexuality

Families and Religion

Education and Health Care

Economy and Politics

Environment, Population and Social Change

Filters

Exam 3: Doing Sociological Research

What does the term research design refer to?

All concepts require indicators to allow researchers to measure them. Provide a measurable indicator variable for each of the following three concepts and explain your rationale. Social mobility Well-being Societal development

The measurement of concepts is based on direct observation.

Based on what you read, you think that people whose parents are divorced are more likely to become divorced themselves. As you begin your research, you state your belief explicitly, in a testable way. This explicit, testable statement is a

A literature review is not required when a researcher is using primary data.

If a sociologist wants to know how students feel about the cost of living in residence halls, the most appropriate research method to use would be

Explain the difference between quantitative and qualitative studies and the types of analysis that might be used for each.

All sociological research follows the model of hypothesis testing.

Which of these statements is the best description of a variable?

Why is the controlled experiment particularly suited for determining cause and effect?

The findings that result from a study of a larger sample will always be more generalizable than those from the study of a smaller sample.

Which statement about the accuracy of information about research findings obtained from the Internet is most accurate?

Whether a measurement gives the same results when it is repeated under the same conditions is an indication of the measurement's

What is the difference between deductive and inductive reasoning? Give an example of each.

Suppose a sociologist wants to study the social processes involved participation in acts of terrorism. What sociological research method would be least appropriate? Explain your reasoning.

The only reason for a sociologist to replicate previous research is to see if the previous researcher committed fraud.

Would participation observation be a useful research method with a large group, such as a rally or a march of thousands of individuals? Explain your reasoning.

How do sociologists ensure that their measurement of a concept is valid?

Explain the Hawthorne effect-what it is and where it originated-and give a brief example that illustrates it.

Sociological Perspective

Culture

Socialization and the Life Course

Social Structure and Social Interaction

Groups and Organization

Deviance and Crime

Social Class and Social Stratification

Global Stratification

Race and Ethnicity

Gender

Sexuality

Families and Religion

Education and Health Care

Economy and Politics

Environment, Population and Social Change

Filters