Chapter 3: A Social Scientific Approach to Studying Religion

Test Bank

Multiple Choice

1. Which of the following is a primary focus of sociologists investigating religion?

A. defining moral responsibility

B. the relationship between the divine and humanity

C. organizational patterns of religious groups

D. mental and emotional aspects of individuals’ religious experiences

2. The sociological approach to beliefs stresses the question of ______.

A. how beliefs influence behavior

B. whether a person’s beliefs are logically consistent

C. which beliefs are eternally true

D. whether religious beliefs lead to ethical actions

3. The sociological perspective is characterized by two fundamental principles: ______ and ______.

A. objectivity; argumentation

B. argumentation; interpretation

C. interpretation; empiricism

D. empiricism; objectivity

4. Objectivity in sociology means that sociologists should ______.

A. study only topics they are not directly affected by

B. identify and analyze any biases they may hold

C. reject any commitment to any religious group

D. work to discover the underlying unbiased truth

5. Which of the following is an example of an empirical question that sociologists might analyze?

A. Do miracles really happen?

B. Why do bad things happen to good people?

C. What percentage of people in the United States attend religious services?

D. What is the best religion for developing a moral compass?

6. What does empiricism entail?

A. collecting and analyzing data observable via our five sense

B. using only objective research methods to collect data

C. applying scientific methods to studying supernatural phenomena

D. using data to assess which societies are superior

7. Which of the following has been the dominant mode of research in sociology?

A. participant observation

B. statistical analysis of survey data

C. interviews

D. experiments

8. Understanding the subjective religious meanings of individuals can be best accomplished through which of the following research strategies?

A. historical-comparative analysis

B. survey

C. content analysis

D. participant observation

9. One reason that little experimental research is conducted in sociology of religion is that ______.

A. religious groups generally prevent researchers from experimenting on them

B. ethical issues limit researchers’ ability to design an effective experiment

C. the cost of running an experiment is prohibitive

D. researchers struggle to find willing participants

10. Which of the following is an advantage of participant observation?

A. Researchers usually have a personal connection to the group they study.

B. Research usually go unnoticed.

C. Researchers can readily steady multiple sites for comparison.

D. Researches can directly analyze behaviors.

11. Which of the following is a significant limitation of participant observation?

A. Researchers may not be able to study people’s actual behaviors.

B. Researchers can usually study only one case, which limits generalizability.

C. Researchers gain so much data they cannot investigate in depth.

D. Researchers often need a research assistant, which costs money.

12. One important limitation of survey research is that ______.

A. people may not accurately report their behaviors

B. the data can rarely be generalized

C. people rarely want to participate

D. open-ended questions make the surveys take a long time

13. A major advantage of survey research is that it ______.

A. accurately determines causal relationships

B. allows for a nuanced analysis of meaning

C. has no room for interpretation

D. effectively establishes a correlation between variables

14. A research method that can be used to analyze existing material to understand changing cultural or religious meanings is ______.

A. surveying

B. participant observation

C. experimentation

D. content analysis

15. When a researcher uses an interview schedule with a series of prompts without preestablished answers, the researcher is conducting ______.

A. a quasi experiment

B. a semi-structured interview

C. a closed ended survey

D. preliminary content analysis

16. Triangulation refers to the process of ______.

A. using three theories to analyze data

B. reaching multiple conclusions using the same data

C. using multiple methods to see whether they reach similar conclusions

D. analyzing themes across different forms of media

17. Which of the following questions could best be answered using content analysis?

A. Why are some denominations more accepting of gay and lesbian members than others?

B. How do statements from religious leaders discuss homosexuality?

C. How do pastors perform same-sex marriages?

D. Do religious people in the United States think homosexuality is a sin?

18. Which of the following questions could best be answered using participant observation?

A. How do religious websites talk about recruiting new members?

B. Why is church shopping common in the United States but not in Europe?

C. How do religious groups welcome newcomers?

D. How many people visit a new religious group each year?

19. What is a major strength of historical-comparative methods?

A. the ability to connect events in the past to the present situation

B. the ability to isolate single causal events

C. the reliance on multiple methods to reach conclusions

D. tThe use of interviews to gain multiple perspectives

20. According to Ammerman, who should you talk to after observing a worship service?

A. only the leader(s) of the congregation

B. no one—you should immediately leave to type up notes.

C. other visitors to the congregation

D. anyone who will talk to you

Essay

When it comes to essay questions, students sometimes write poorly because they are guessing about what the instructor wants, even if the question seems to be perfectly clear. For that reason we strongly recommend provision of an audience (so students know how much to assume in use of sociological vocabulary as well as how much must be made explicit) and criteria for evaluation (which is information that any writer needs to know.) Below are two sample statements that might be used as part of an essay question.

A. This essay calls for presentation and defense of an informed opinion. You should write for a well-educated reader, but one unfamiliar with sociological approaches to the study of religion. You will be graded on (a) provision of a clearly stated thesis, (b) the clarity and sophistication of your rationale, and (c) the ability to support your argument with strong evidence. Sophistication of rationale refers to awareness of the complexity of the issues. The side of the argument that you support is irrelevant to the grading criteria.

B. Your audience for this essay should be senior sociology majors who know sociological vocabulary but have never specifically studied the sociology of religion. The criteria for evaluation will be (1) accuracy of explanation, (2) clarity of illustrations or examples, and (3) thoroughness in exploring all dimensions of the issue.

Since some of these questions call for careful reflection, you might consider giving students a list of these and other essay questions in advance.

1. What is the unique contribution of sociology to the understanding of religion? How does the sociological perspective differ from the approach offered by other disciplines that study religion?

2. Explain the sociological approach to studying religion. What do you see as potential strengths and limitations of this approach?

3. Compare and contrast surveys with interviews, particularly as they apply to sociological research on religion. What are the strengths and limitations of both?

4. Why is the experiment such an important method of testing hypotheses in the social sciences? Why is this research method so difficult to use in the study of religious behavior?

5. Explain content analysis and historical-comparative analysis in your own words. Then, develop a research question about religion and explain how you would answer it using one of these two methods.

6. Some estimate that 85% of all published research in sociology is based on statistical analysis of survey data. With specific reference to the sociology of religion, what is gained by sociologists through this heavy reliance on survey research and statistical analysis, and what is lost?

7. Explain the difference between “quantitative” and “qualitative” research, and discuss the strengths and weaknesses of each approach to the sociological study of religion.

8. What is considered “evidence” in sociology—that is, what is considered sound enough to reach a conclusion? Support your position with as many specifics as possible.

9. Following Nancy Ammerman’s guidelines on “Participant Observation of Local Congregations,” create a (fictional) series of brief diary entries that chronicle your (imaginary) visit to a religious congregation. You should include entries for the various steps Ammerman outlines: before you go, getting there, going inside, observing the service, after the service, and going home. The entries must make clear that you understand the purpose for Ammerman’s various instructions. (For Instructors: This question is best suited to a take-home exam and may require a page/word limit and clear instructions from you as to the point of the essay and the criteria for evaluation.)