Question 1

Discuss how qualitative and quantitative methods of social research look at causality. How does each method deal with potential errors of causation?

Accepted Answer

Qualitative and quantitative methods of social research approach causality in different ways.

Qualitative methods, such as interviews, observations, and case studies, often seek to understand the underlying reasons and motivations behind social phenomena. They focus on exploring the context and meaning of social interactions and events, and how they contribute to the emergence of certain outcomes. In terms of causality, qualitative research looks at the complex interplay of various factors and how they interact to produce a particular result. It often emphasizes the importance of understanding the subjective experiences and perspectives of individuals and how these shape their actions and behaviors.

On the other hand, quantitative methods, such as surveys and experiments, typically aim to establish causal relationships between variables through statistical analysis. These methods focus on measuring and analyzing the relationships between different factors and determining the extent to which one variable influences another. Quantitative research often seeks to identify patterns and correlations in large datasets to make inferences about causality.

In terms of dealing with potential errors of causation, qualitative research often acknowledges the subjective nature of its findings and the potential for bias or misinterpretation. Researchers using qualitative methods may employ techniques such as member checking, peer debriefing, and triangulation to enhance the credibility and trustworthiness of their findings. They also emphasize the importance of reflexivity and transparency in their research process to address potential errors of causation.

Quantitative research, on the other hand, often employs rigorous experimental designs and statistical techniques to control for potential confounding variables and establish causality. Researchers using quantitative methods may use randomized controlled trials, regression analysis, and other statistical tools to minimize the impact of errors of causation. They also emphasize the importance of replicability and generalizability of their findings to ensure the validity of their causal inferences.

In conclusion, qualitative and quantitative methods of social research approach causality differently, with qualitative methods focusing on understanding the context and meaning of social phenomena, while quantitative methods seek to establish causal relationships through statistical analysis. Each method has its own strategies for dealing with potential errors of causation, with qualitative research emphasizing transparency and reflexivity, and quantitative research employing rigorous experimental designs and statistical techniques.

Question 2

State a hypothesis with an independent and dependent variable. At what unit of analysis is your hypothesis aimed? List and explain two control variables that may influence your hypothesis.

Accepted Answer

Hypothesis: 
Independent variable: Amount of exercise 
Dependent variable: Weight loss 
Unit of analysis: Individual participants

Control variables: 
1. Diet: The type and amount of food consumed by the participants could influence their weight loss, so it is important to control for diet in the hypothesis. 
2. Age: Age could also impact weight loss, as older individuals may have a slower metabolism or different exercise capabilities compared to younger individuals. Therefore, age should be controlled for in the hypothesis.

Question 3

Refer to the following paragraph to answer the questions below.
Joyce James tested whether the "military effort of modern industrial nations" is caused by the "electoral success by the right-wing parties" or the "popularity of nationalist beliefs" in a society. She tested the theory by looking at data on 22 large industrial nations during 1969-1999. She measured military effort as the "share of the gross national product" for military e.g. weapons, training, stationing troops), right-wing party success by the percent of votes going to right-wing political parties in both national and local elections, and nationalist beliefs by attitude data from each nation. Data for the share of the gross national product came from the International Labor Organization, data for right-wing party power and nationalist attitudes came from previous studies by other researchers.
-Most quantitative scientists follow an explicit research process, where one's research is based on standardization and formal rules. This is called

Accepted Answer

A)   psychologism.
B)   reconstructed logic.
C)   logical promiscuity.
D)   logic in practice. B

Question 4

A recent article on the topic of gun control legislation argued that those who said they oppose gun control laws do so because they have a negative attitude towards laws controlling guns. The problem with the article is

Accepted Answer

A)   tautology.
B)   ecological fallacy.
C)   teleology.
D)   spurious statement.

Question 5

Dr. Thompson said, "A democratic form of government will develop in Sudan because it is human nature to want a democratic political structure." Which logical error in causal explanation is Dr. Thompson making?

Accepted Answer

A)   reductionism
B)   spurious statement
C)   teleology
D)   ecological fallacy

Question 6

Which of the following is a double-barreled hypothesis?

Accepted Answer

A)   Taxpayers tend to accept taxes that both go for services they directly receive road repair)  and are collected in a more subtle manner cigarette and casino taxes) .
B)   Taxpayers tend to object strongly to new taxes when economic conditions are declining and to ones that wealthiest people do not have to pay.
C)   Generally speaking, taxpayers are more likely to support tax hikes when the government is seen as efficient and elected officials win office by a large majority.
D)   Taxpayers who tend to oppose increases in tax rates for high-income families generally support market- oriented economic tax breaks.

Question 7

What is grounded theory? When is it used? How is grounded theory different from other theoretical methods of research?

Accepted Answer

The answer of What is grounded theory? When is it...

Question 8

Refer to the following paragraph to answer the questions below.
Mary Rodale studied discrimination against women plumbers. She hypothesized that individuals who believe strongly in traditional sex roles would be more discriminatory than individuals who showed strong non-traditional sex roles. She contacted 100 individual home owners who planned to hire a plumber. She offered each subject six possible plumbers to choose from. The plumbers had varying levels of experience and training and charged different rates. One of the six was a woman and the other five were men. Every single home owner who believed strongly in traditional sex roles chose a male. All those who believed in non-traditional sex roles ignored gender and chose on the basis of skill and price alone.
-What is the null hypothesis for the study?

Accepted Answer

A)   There is no discrimination by homeowners against women plumbers.
B)   Men and women both discriminate against women plumbers.
C)   Traditionalist homeowners are more likely to discriminate against women who are plumbers.
D)   Regardless of sex role values, all homeowners discriminate against women plumbers.

Question 9

Refer to the following paragraph to answer the questions below.
Joyce James tested whether the "military effort of modern industrial nations" is caused by the "electoral success by the right-wing parties" or the "popularity of nationalist beliefs" in a society. She tested the theory by looking at data on 22 large industrial nations during 1969-1999. She measured military effort as the "share of the gross national product" for military e.g. weapons, training, stationing troops), right-wing party success by the percent of votes going to right-wing political parties in both national and local elections, and nationalist beliefs by attitude data from each nation. Data for the share of the gross national product came from the International Labor Organization, data for right-wing party power and nationalist attitudes came from previous studies by other researchers.
-Teleology is an error of causal explanation. It states that

Accepted Answer

A)   the causal relationship is untestable because the independent variable cannot be empirically measured.
B)   the causal relationship should not be supported because an unmeasured variable is the true cause of the dependent variable.
C)   the causal relationship does not exist due to the lack of supporting evidence.
D)   the causal relationship is testable because the independent variable and the dependent variable are the same.

Question 10

Millie conducted a study on the different attitudes children have towards the president of the U.S. Her unit of analysis is

Accepted Answer

A)   children's attitudes.
B)   the individual child.
C)   attitudes.
D)   the president.

Question 11

Professor Staulbaumer looked at the number of arrests for drunken driving on the roads in ten urban and ten rural counties of Nebraska. He found police made more arrests on roads in the rural counties. The professor concluded that people who live in rural areas are more likely to drink and drive than are people who live in urban areas. Staulbaumer's conclusion has the problem of

Accepted Answer

A)   reductionism.
B)   teleology.
C)   spuriousness.
D)   ecological fallacy.

Question 12

Refer to the following paragraph to answer the questions below.
Joyce James tested whether the "military effort of modern industrial nations" is caused by the "electoral success by the right-wing parties" or the "popularity of nationalist beliefs" in a society. She tested the theory by looking at data on 22 large industrial nations during 1969-1999. She measured military effort as the "share of the gross national product" for military e.g. weapons, training, stationing troops), right-wing party success by the percent of votes going to right-wing political parties in both national and local elections, and nationalist beliefs by attitude data from each nation. Data for the share of the gross national product came from the International Labor Organization, data for right-wing party power and nationalist attitudes came from previous studies by other researchers.
-Which of the following is a good research question?

Accepted Answer

A)   Does capital punishment detour criminal activity?
B)   Who is most likely to be sentenced to capital punishment?
C)   Controlling for the type of crime committed, are poor people more likely to be sentenced to capital punishment than rich people?
D)   Should capital punishment be legal?

Question 13

Which of the following is a characteristic of quantitative research design?

Accepted Answer

A)   Researchers begin by developing hypotheses then they test them using empirical data.
B)   Researchers ignore past research studies on their topic so that their work can be original.
C)   Researchers never attempt to replicate their findings in a diverse social setting.
D)   Researchers develop measurement tools during the data collection phase.

Question 14

Refer to the following paragraph to answer the questions below.
Joyce James tested whether the "military effort of modern industrial nations" is caused by the "electoral success by the right-wing parties" or the "popularity of nationalist beliefs" in a society. She tested the theory by looking at data on 22 large industrial nations during 1969-1999. She measured military effort as the "share of the gross national product" for military e.g. weapons, training, stationing troops), right-wing party success by the percent of votes going to right-wing political parties in both national and local elections, and nationalist beliefs by attitude data from each nation. Data for the share of the gross national product came from the International Labor Organization, data for right-wing party power and nationalist attitudes came from previous studies by other researchers.
-In this study, the unit of analysis is

Accepted Answer

A)   the nation.
B)   the military program.
C)   the individual.
D)   the right-wing party.

Question 15

What are an ecological fallacy and reductionism? In what ways do the ecological fallacy and reductionism involve problems with the units of analysis?

Accepted Answer

The answer of What are an ecological fallacy and reductionism?...

Question 16

What type of logical error in making a causal statement is illustrated by the statement below? "Members of the Ku Klux Klan dislike black people because they are highly prejudiced against Blacks."

Accepted Answer

A)   tautology
B)   ecological fallacy
C)   reductionism
D)   teleology

Question 17

Compare qualitative and quantitative research methods on the logic of the research path. How do qualitative and quantitative research differ in their use of logic?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Compare qualitative and quantitative research methods on...

Question 18

Refer to the following paragraph to answer the questions below.
Mary Rodale studied discrimination against women plumbers. She hypothesized that individuals who believe strongly in traditional sex roles would be more discriminatory than individuals who showed strong non-traditional sex roles. She contacted 100 individual home owners who planned to hire a plumber. She offered each subject six possible plumbers to choose from. The plumbers had varying levels of experience and training and charged different rates. One of the six was a woman and the other five were men. Every single home owner who believed strongly in traditional sex roles chose a male. All those who believed in non-traditional sex roles ignored gender and chose on the basis of skill and price alone.
-What is are the units of analysis in the study?

Accepted Answer

A)   plumbers
B)   sex roles
C)   home owners
D)   skills, experience, and price

Question 19

The global "War on Terror" of the 2000s was caused by 19 hijackers who flew commandeered airplanes into the World Trade Centers in New York, the Pentagon in Washington, D.C., and a field in Pennsylvania. Which logical error of causal explanation is presented in this explanation of the "War on Terror"?

Accepted Answer

A)   tautology
B)   reductionism
C)   teleology
D)   ecological fallacy

Question 20

Explain the logic of disconfirming hypotheses. Use an example to explain now negative evidence is more convincing than supporting evidence.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Explain the logic of disconfirming hypotheses. Use...

Exam 6: Strategies of Research Design