Question 1

Explanatory studies are designed to find answers to which of the following questions?

Accepted Answer

A) What is the educational profile of people who change careers in midlife? 
B) Why are people changing careers in midlife? 
C) How many people change careers in midlife? 
D) Does the occupational prestige of a career tend to increase for midlife career changers? 
E) Who changes careers in midlife?

Question 2

In cases where one variable seems to cause another, yet the relation between the two makes no sense, there is a:

Accepted Answer

A) spurious relationship. 
B) synthetic relationship. 
C) nomothetic relationship. 
D) causal relationship. 
E) correlational relationship.

Question 3

There is a strong correlation between the number of firefighters that show up at a fire and the amount of damage produced by the fire. The size of the fire influences both the number of firefighters and the amount of damage. This illustrates that the relationship between the number of firefighters and the amount of damage is:

Accepted Answer

A) caused by a third factor. 
B) causal. 
C) not correlational. 
D) a real relationship. 
E) unpredictable from the information given.

Question 4

Which of the following statements is TRUE?

Accepted Answer

A) Being arrested is a necessary cause for having a criminal trial. 
B) A child's birth is a sufficient cause for having a cigar. 
C) A child's birth is a necessary cause for having a cigar. 
D) Being arrested is a sufficient cause for having a criminal trial. 
E) Taking classes is a sufficient cause for getting a degree.

Question 5

A research proposal describes what you intend to accomplish and how.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 6

The units of analysis and the aggregates that we generalize about are the same.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 7

Identify and give an example of four units of analysis. Illustrate the ecological fallacy using your examples.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Identify and give an example of four...

Question 8

List and discuss the various forms of longitudinal research that we have discussed in class. In addition, give a potential scenario where each one may or may not be used. What are the benefits and shortcomings?

Accepted Answer

The answer of List and discuss the various forms of...

Question 9

Researchers ignore previous work on a topic so that their research can be original.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 10

In Sweden, there is a very strong correlation between the number of storks and the number of babies born. However, both of these variables are associated with region (rural vs. urban). This illustrates:

Accepted Answer

A) that there is a causal relationship between the number of storks and the number of babies born. 
B) that the number of babies born is a sufficient condition of the number of storks. 
C) that there is no causal relationship between the number of storks and the number of babies born. 
D) that the number of storks is a necessary condition of the number of babies born. 
E) that people in Sweden believe that storks bring babies.

Question 11

Cross-sectional studies can be used to approximate a longitudinal study.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 12

Professor Stone designs a study to examine the effect of a teenage pregnancy on the career choices of the teens. Stone interviews a sample of teenage women during their pregnancy, after the birth, and one year later. Stone is using a:

Accepted Answer

A) cross-sectional design. 
B) trend study. 
C) cohort study. 
D) panel study. 
E) cannot tell from the given information.

Question 13

A researcher examined newspaper editorials from papers published in major U.S. cities to determine what issues concerned readers. The unit of analysis in these cases is:

Accepted Answer

A) issues that concern readers. 
B) the major cities. 
C) the newspapers. 
D) the newspaper editorials. 
E) newspaper readers.

Question 14

The final stage of the research process is:

Accepted Answer

A) operationalization. 
B) application. 
C) analysis. 
D) data processing. 
E) conceptualization.

Question 15

Which of the following studies uncovers only net changes?

Accepted Answer

A) Cohort and trend studies 
B) Trend and panel studies 
C) Cohort and panel studies 
D) Cohort and cross-sectional studies 
E) Trend and cross-sectional studies

Question 16

A(n)_____ is probabilistic and usually incomplete.

Accepted Answer

A) nomothetic explanation 
B) idiographic explanation 
C) spurious relationship 
D) theory 
E) correlation

Question 17

Tyler finds that in burglary cases male and female jurors are equally likely to vote to acquit. Tyler should conclude that:

Accepted Answer

A) there is no relationship between burglary and gender. 
B) there is no relationship between burglary and verdicts. 
C) there is a relationship between gender and verdict in burglary cases. 
D) there is no relationship between gender and verdict in burglary cases. 
E) there is a relationship between gender and type of offense.

Question 18

Professor Root was studying the arrest rates for driving under the influence in urban and rural areas of Ohio. It was found that the arrest rate was higher in the rural areas. Professor Root concluded that people who live in rural areas are more likely to drive while intoxicated than are people who live in urban areas. Root's conclusion illustrates the:

Accepted Answer

A) ecological fallacy. 
B) individualistic fallacy. 
C) usefulness of good deductive reasoning. 
D) importance of trend studies. 
E) reductionist fallacy.

Question 19

List and explain the three specific criteria of causality suggested by Babbie. Give an example of a causal statement.

Accepted Answer

The answer of List and explain the three specific criteria...

Question 20

What stage of the research design is the researcher dealing with when he or she is facing the question "from whom or what information would be gathered"?

Accepted Answer

A) Purposes of research 
B) Units of analysis 
C) Topics for research 
D) Time dimension 
E) Motivations for research

Exam 4: Research Design

Explanatory studies are designed to find answers to which of the following questions?

In cases where one variable seems to cause another, yet the relation between the two makes no sense, there is a:

Which of the following statements is TRUE?

A research proposal describes what you intend to accomplish and how.

The units of analysis and the aggregates that we generalize about are the same.

Identify and give an example of four units of analysis. Illustrate the ecological fallacy using your examples.

List and discuss the various forms of longitudinal research that we have discussed in class. In addition, give a potential scenario where each one may or may not be used. What are the benefits and shortcomings?

Researchers ignore previous work on a topic so that their research can be original.

In Sweden, there is a very strong correlation between the number of storks and the number of babies born. However, both of these variables are associated with region (rural vs. urban) . This illustrates:

Cross-sectional studies can be used to approximate a longitudinal study.

Professor Stone designs a study to examine the effect of a teenage pregnancy on the career choices of the teens. Stone interviews a sample of teenage women during their pregnancy, after the birth, and one year later. Stone is using a:

A researcher examined newspaper editorials from papers published in major U.S. cities to determine what issues concerned readers. The unit of analysis in these cases is:

The final stage of the research process is:

Which of the following studies uncovers only net changes?

A(n) _____ is probabilistic and usually incomplete.

Tyler finds that in burglary cases male and female jurors are equally likely to vote to acquit. Tyler should conclude that:

List and explain the three specific criteria of causality suggested by Babbie. Give an example of a causal statement.

What stage of the research design is the researcher dealing with when he or she is facing the question "from whom or what information would be gathered"?