Exam 20: Research Methods

Using the Internet for a survey collection of data from the general population is problematic since it is next to impossible to establish a sampling frame, which then creates problems of external validity.

According to the text, what is an alternative to contingency tables in statistical analysis?

You conduct a survey with a large introductory class of sociology students, but you want to sample only 30 percent of them. When passing out the survey, you need to make sure that each person in the class has an equal chance of being selected to complete it. What kind of sample have you selected?

Research in online chat rooms is challenging. Even if researchers announce that they have logged in, someone logging in later might not be aware of their presence. This is an important research issue. What does it pertain to?

Tammy was extremely interested in exploring the connection between morality and the level of integration of people within a society. Whose writings should she be utilizing in her research paper?

Which of the following is a necessary criterion for a scientific hypothesis?

There are 500 000 farmers affected by a new federal policy. A subset of 1000 farmers will be used to examine the effect on all of the farmers. Within sociological research, which of the following labels is given to the 500 000 farmers?

Which of the following best defines randomization?

Which sociological concept is associated with the "member test of validity," a method for reducing the problems in participant observation bias?

A researcher engages in a participant observation study of skateboarders. In order to verify his observations, he asks questions of his informants, checking his perceptions of the situation, and verifying his impressions and conclusions. What is the researcher doing?

Paul was conducting research into the causal linkages between age, income, education level attained, and intimate partner abuse. What type of statistical analysis would Paul conduct?

In survey research, do not assume that the people you interview understand what you are asking.

Summarize the basic principles of the logic of experimentation. Use an example to demonstrate the relationship between independent and dependent variables.

When are measurements in research considered reliable?

What is required for a full appreciation of a social activity?

For a scientific explanation to be judged adequate, what must it incorporate?

A middle-aged female who was being surveyed in a shopping mall gave her age as 38, when it was actually 46. This is an example of the problem of social desirability in surveys.

To randomly select members of a household, what do survey researchers often ask?

What is external validity?

Tessa (a chemistry major) and Samantha (a sociology major) are roommates and one evening when studying for their midterms, Tessa asserted that sociologists don't "do" science. Samantha disagreed, saying that sociologists do science, but with one major difference. What is the primary difference that Samantha would cite?