Question 1

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.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 2

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

Accepted Answer

A)  regression analysis 
B)  data manipulation 
C)  descriptive statistics breakdown 
D)  pie charts

Question 3

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?

Accepted Answer

A)  multivariate sample 
B)  cross-sectional sample 
C)  random sample 
D)  multistage sample

Question 4

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?

Accepted Answer

A)  technology 
B)  ethics 
C)  research intent 
D)  research outcomes

Question 5

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?

Accepted Answer

A)  Max Weber 
B)  Auguste Comte 
C)  Émile Durkheim 
D)  Karl Marx

Question 6

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

Accepted Answer

A)  It must meet the test of significance. 
B)  It must be based on knowledge. 
C)  It must be falsifiable. 
D)  It must meet the test of induction.

Question 7

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?

Accepted Answer

A)  the sampling frame 
B)  the social group 
C)  the professional community 
D)  the sociological sample

Question 8

Which of the following best defines randomization?

Accepted Answer

A)  It is the assigning of subjects to experimental conditions on the basis of chance. 
B)  It is the selecting of stories for use in content analysis. 
C)  It is the process of selecting samples for survey research. 
D)  It is the selective assigning of subjects to experiments on the basis of purpose.

Question 9

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

Accepted Answer

A)  the Hawthorne effect 
B)  ethnocentrism 
C)  creating meaning 
D)  unobtrusive measures

Question 10

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?

Accepted Answer

A)  member test validity 
B)  reliability testing 
C)  ensuring generalizability 
D)  random minimization

Question 11

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?

Accepted Answer

A)  linear regression 
B)  multiple regression 
C)  contingency tables 
D)  descriptive statistics breakdown

Question 12

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

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 13

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

Accepted Answer

The answer of Summarize the basic principles of the logic...

Question 14

When are measurements in research considered reliable?

Accepted Answer

A)  when they are correlated 
B)  when they are consistent or repeatable 
C)  when they measure what they were supposed to measure 
D)  when they are accurate and relevant

Question 15

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

Accepted Answer

A)  objectivity and subjectivity 
B)  understanding and correlation 
C)  value neutrality and bias 
D)  explanation and understanding

Question 16

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

Accepted Answer

A)  statistical significance 
B)  causal mechanisms 
C)  representative samples 
D)  nonrecursive sequencing

Question 17

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.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 18

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

Accepted Answer

A)  Who is the oldest? 
B)  Who was the most recent person to arrive home? 
C)  What is your favourite number? 
D)  Who had the most recent birthday?

Question 19

What is external validity?

Accepted Answer

A)  It is the accuracy of external measures. 
B)  It is validity established outside the experimental design. 
C)  It is the generalizability of research findings. 
D)  It is research assessments made by peer reviewers.

Question 20

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?

Accepted Answer

A)  Sociologists do not follow a prescribed method for researching. 
B)  Sociologists have to consider the meaningful action that underlies data collection 
C)  Chemistry is based on subjectivity and sociology is based on objectivity. 
D)  Chemistry is based on absolute truth and sociology is based on contextual truth.

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?