Question 1

In general,the________in studies based on existing statistics is not the individual.

Accepted Answer

A)   unit of observation
B)   unit of analysis
C)   rate
D)   proportion
E)   none of these B

Question 2

A major advantage of using available data is that data are usually

Accepted Answer

A)   cheap and convenient.
B)   not requiring IRB and informed consent.
C)   life stories and qualitatively analyzed.
D)   unburdened by ethical concerns.
E)   none of these A

Question 3

What is the dependent variable in the focal research by Martinez and Lee?

Accepted Answer

A)   rates of immigration
B)   ethnic backgrounds of immigrants
C)   employment
D)   homicide
E)   immigrant victimization D

Question 4

Describe the ecological fallacy and how you might avoid it.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Describe the ecological fallacy and how you...

Question 5

Secondary data is

Accepted Answer

A)   the data that the same researcher collects at a different point in time.
B)   data that has been collected by someone else.
C)   data that is not useful to the researcher.
D)   data that the same researcher collects at a different point in time and data that is not useful to the researcher.
E)   none of these.

Question 6

Personal records tend to have easier access than physical traces.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 7

The fact that we cannot be certain about the________the available data that has been collected is a disadvantage to using this as a source of information.

Accepted Answer

A)   cost of
B)   interpretation of
C)   reliability of
D)   research already done using
E)   personal records of

Question 8

One important danger of using available data is

Accepted Answer

A)   the possibility of becoming confused about your unit of analysis.
B)   the possibility of making inferences about groups based on information about individuals.
C)   the possibility of being too obtrusive.
D)   the possibility of becoming confused about your unit of analysis and the possibility of being too obtrusive.
E)   none of these.

Question 9

According to the ASA code of ethics,researchers must require participant confidentiality when collecting information from public records.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 10

Professor Smithson is interested in learning which radio stations people really listen to.He has asked auto mechanics to record the stations that were tuned in when individuals bring their cars in for repair.This is an example of

Accepted Answer

A)   an erosion measure.
B)   a Nielson rating.
C)   an accretion measure.
D)   none of these
E)   the ecological fallacy.

Question 11

Sometimes you can locate data that very nearly meet your research needs,so the issue of_______arises.

Accepted Answer

A)   attrition
B)   validity
C)   reliability
D)   rigidity
E)   none of these

Question 12

If we take group based results and infer that individuals in those groups share those characteristics,we are committing ecological fallacy.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 13

A disadvantage to using physical traces to gather data is their unobtrusiveness.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 14

One concern of using available data is being confused about the unit of analysis.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 15

The ecological fallacy refers to

Accepted Answer

A)   using inappropriate units of analysis.
B)   making inferences about individuals from data about aggregates.
C)   the continuity of availability.
D)   using secondary data that is unreliable or invalid.
E)   falsely analyzing data.

Question 16

There are few sources of available data that allow researchers to examine changes over time.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 17

The "continuum of availability" refers to

Accepted Answer

A)   the chance that all the subjects you wish to interview will be available.
B)   the fact that at least available data is often worth exploring.
C)   a measure of the worth of a source.
D)   how researchers measure the value of a source against the costs of securing the data.
E)   none of these

Question 18

What are the key differences between primary and secondary data? When using secondary data,what are the main issues researchers need to be aware of?

Accepted Answer

The answer of What are the key differences between primary...

Question 19

In the focal research by Martinez and Lee,Martinez had to spend hours with police detectives who acted as gatekeepers for the data.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 20

Emile Durkheim's classic study on suicide is based on

Accepted Answer

A)   qualitative interviews.
B)   secondary data analysis.
C)   field research.
D)   qualitative interviews and field research.
E)   none of these

Exam 12: Using Available Data

In general,the________in studies based on existing statistics is not the individual.

A major advantage of using available data is that data are usually

What is the dependent variable in the focal research by Martinez and Lee?

Describe the ecological fallacy and how you might avoid it.

Secondary data is

Personal records tend to have easier access than physical traces.

The fact that we cannot be certain about the________the available data that has been collected is a disadvantage to using this as a source of information.

One important danger of using available data is

According to the ASA code of ethics,researchers must require participant confidentiality when collecting information from public records.

Professor Smithson is interested in learning which radio stations people really listen to.He has asked auto mechanics to record the stations that were tuned in when individuals bring their cars in for repair.This is an example of

Sometimes you can locate data that very nearly meet your research needs,so the issue of_______arises.

If we take group based results and infer that individuals in those groups share those characteristics,we are committing ecological fallacy.

A disadvantage to using physical traces to gather data is their unobtrusiveness.

One concern of using available data is being confused about the unit of analysis.

The ecological fallacy refers to

There are few sources of available data that allow researchers to examine changes over time.

The "continuum of availability" refers to

What are the key differences between primary and secondary data? When using secondary data,what are the main issues researchers need to be aware of?

In the focal research by Martinez and Lee,Martinez had to spend hours with police detectives who acted as gatekeepers for the data.

Emile Durkheim's classic study on suicide is based on