Discover Sociological Research Test Questions & Answers Ch.2 - Complete Test Bank Discover Sociology 5e with Answers by Daina S. Eglitis. DOCX document preview.
Chapter 2: Discover Sociological Research
Test Bank
Multiple Choice
1. The process of gathering empirical (scientific and specific) data, creating theories, and rigorously testing theories is known as ______.
a. the sociological method
b. the scientific method
c. data collection
d. theoretical reasoning
Learning Objective: 2.1: Describe the scientific method and distinguish between qualitative and quantitative research.
Cognitive Domain: Knowledge
Answer Location: Sociology and Common Sense
Difficulty Level: Easy
2. ______ reasoning starts from general information and theories that are then reduced to more specific and testable hypotheses.
b. Inductive
c. Empirical
d. Subjective
Learning Objective: 2.1: Describe the scientific method and distinguish between qualitative and quantitative research.
Cognitive Domain: Knowledge
Answer Location: Sociology and Common Sense
Difficulty Level: Easy
3. Which type of reasoning starts from specific information and uses that information to identify larger patterns from which to generalize?
a. quantitative
b. inductive
c. deductive
d. qualitative
Learning Objective: 2.1: Describe the scientific method and distinguish between qualitative and quantitative research.
Cognitive Domain: Knowledge
Answer Location: Sociology and Common Sense
Difficulty Level: Easy
4. Which of the following is an example of deductive reasoning?
a. Hailey got a higher grade than Sarah, Sarah got a higher grade than Adam, and therefore Hailey got a higher grade than Adam.
b. The apples in the bowl are red, therefore all apples are red.
c. The candies pulled out of the bag are all green, therefore all candies in the bag are green.
d. Nathan is Hispanic and his neighbor his Hispanic, therefore the whole neighborhood is Hispanic.
Learning Objective: 2.1: Describe the scientific method and distinguish between qualitative and quantitative research.
Cognitive Domain: Application
Answer Location: Sociology and Common Sense
Difficulty Level: Hard
5. Which of the following is an idea about society, derived from theory, which can be disproved when tested against observation?
a. common wisdom
b. common knowledge
c. a hypothesis
d. a variable
Learning Objective: 2.1: Describe the scientific method and distinguish between qualitative and quantitative research.
Cognitive Domain: Knowledge
Answer Location: Sociology and Common Sense
Difficulty Level: Easy
6. When using deductive reasoning, it is important to break the broad theories down by using specific and testable ______.
a. variables
b. populations
c. hypotheses
d. observations
Learning Objective: 2.1: Describe the scientific method and distinguish between qualitative and quantitative research.
Cognitive Domain: Comprehension
Answer Location: Sociology and Common Sense
Difficulty Level: Medium
7. A researcher watches a debate on television and hypothesizes about the personality traits of each candidate based on their behaviors. What is the researcher using to generate the hypothesis?
a. inductive reasoning
b. deductive reasoning
c. quantitative analysis
d. common wisdom
Learning Objective: 2.1: Describe the scientific method and distinguish between qualitative and quantitative research.
Cognitive Domain: Analysis
Answer Location: Sociology and Common Sense
Difficulty Level: Medium
8. Which of the following is characterized by data that can be converted into numbers?
a. qualitative research
b. empirical research
c. quantitative research
d. inductive research
Learning Objective: 2.1: Describe the scientific method and distinguish between qualitative and quantitative research.
Cognitive Domain: Knowledge
Answer Location: Sociology and Common Sense
Difficulty Level: Easy
9. Which of the following is the best example of quantitative research?
a. forty in-depth interviews with residents of a suburban neighborhood
b. field observations of people interacting and dancing in a nightclub
c. content analysis of meme images on a popular blogging website
d. two thousand survey questionnaires that measure respondents’ drug use habits
Learning Objective: 2.1: Describe the scientific method and distinguish between qualitative and quantitative research.
Cognitive Domain: Application
Answer Location: Sociology and Common Sense
Difficulty Level: Hard
10. Which of the following is the best example of quantitative research?
a. a research project that involves in-depth interviews with a select sample
b. a research project that relies on focus groups, participant and nonparticipant observation, interviews, content analysis, and archival research
c. a research project that is based on surveys of a representative sample of the population
d. a research project that involves market research and phone interviews
Learning Objective: 2.1: Describe the scientific method and distinguish between qualitative and quantitative research.
Cognitive Domain: Application
Answer Location: Sociology and Common Sense
Difficulty Level: Hard
11. Which of the following is true of qualitative research?
a. Data are quantified or converted into numbers.
b. It is often conducted through large-scale surveys.
c. It generates in-depth knowledge of social life, institutions, and processes.
d. It generally involves large sample sizes.
Learning Objective: 2.1: Describe the scientific method and distinguish between qualitative and quantitative research.
Cognitive Domain: Comprehension
Answer Location: Sociology and Common Sense
Difficulty Level: Medium
12. A researcher wants to study self-esteem among teenage boys. How would the researcher most likely conduct qualitative research?
a. have male teenagers rate their level of self-esteem on a scale from 1 to 6
b. survey male teenagers to assess how many have positive self-esteem
c. conduct a few case studies and gain in-depth answers from each male teenager
d. review records from previous studies
Learning Objective: 2.1: Describe the scientific method and distinguish between qualitative and quantitative research.
Cognitive Domain: Application
Answer Location: Sociology and Common Sense
Difficulty Level: Hard
13. ______ provide explanations to the how and why of scientific observation.
a. Concepts
b. Variables
c. Scientific methods
d. Scientific theories
Learning Objective: 2.2: Describe the components of a scientific theory and how a scientific theory is tested.
Cognitive Domain: Knowledge
Answer Location: Research and the Scientific Method
Difficulty Level: Easy
14. Which of the following is a characteristic of a good scientific theory?
a. It is varied and unpredictable.
b. It can be proven with no limitations.
c. It is not testable in other circumstances.
d. It could possibly be revised.
Learning Objective: 2.2: Describe the components of a scientific theory and how a scientific theory is tested.
Cognitive Domain: Comprehension
Answer Location: Research and the Scientific Method
Difficulty Level: Medium
15. Ideas that summarize a set of phenomena are known as which of the following?
a. theories
b. concepts
c. hypotheses
d. methods
Learning Objective: 2.2: Describe the components of a scientific theory and how a scientific theory is tested.
Cognitive Domain: Knowledge
Answer Location: Research and the Scientific Method
Difficulty Level: Easy
16. What is an operational definition?
a. It describes a concept in such a way that it can be observed and measured.
b. It is regarded as a flawed definition.
c. It is a definition that includes quantities.
d. It is a definition that involves circular reasoning.
Learning Objective: 2.2: Describe the components of a scientific theory and how a scientific theory is tested.
Cognitive Domain: Knowledge
Answer Location: Research and the Scientific Method
Difficulty Level: Easy
17. Which of the following would be considered a quantitative variable?
a. employment status
b. occupation
c. job title
d. annual salary
Learning Objective: 2.2: Describe the components of a scientific theory and how a scientific theory is tested.
Cognitive Domain: Application
Answer Location: Relationships Between Variables
Difficulty Level: Hard
18. What is the name for variables that have a subjective element?
a. deductive
b. qualitative
c. inductive
d. quantitative
Learning Objective: 2.2: Describe the components of a scientific theory and how a scientific theory is tested.
Cognitive Domain: Comprehension
Answer Location: Relationships Between Variables
Difficulty Level: Medium
19. Which of the following would be considered a qualitative variable?
a. the respondent’s religious affiliation
b. the number of times the respondent goes to church each month
c. the amount of money the respondent donates to his or her church
d. the number of hours spent volunteering for a church
Learning Objective: 2.2: Describe the components of a scientific theory and how a scientific theory is tested.
Cognitive Domain: Application
Answer Location: Relationships Between Variables
Difficulty Level: Hard
20. What is the name for the degree in which two or more variables are associated with one another?
a. causation
b. correlation
c. deduction
d. relation
Learning Objective: 2.2: Describe the components of a scientific theory and how a scientific theory is tested.
Cognitive Domain: Knowledge
Answer Location: Relationships Between Variables
Difficulty Level: Easy
21. Correlations are calculated in what type of studies?
a. quantitative studies
b. qualitative studies
c. ethnographic studies
d. case studies
Learning Objective: 2.2: Describe the components of a scientific theory and how a scientific theory is tested.
Cognitive Domain: Analysis
Answer Location: Relationships Between Variables
Difficulty Level: Medium
22. When the relationship between two variables is explained by a third, unmeasured factor, it is referred to as what type of relationship?
a. causal
b. statistical
c. spurious
d. correlated
Learning Objective: 2.2: Describe the components of a scientific theory and how a scientific theory is tested.
Cognitive Domain: Knowledge
Answer Location: Relationships Between Variables
Difficulty Level: Easy
23. Which of the following is the best name for a variable that directly leads to changes in another variable?
a. generalizable variable
b. dependent variable
c. spurious variable
d. causal variable
Learning Objective: 2.2: Describe the components of a scientific theory and how a scientific theory is tested.
Cognitive Domain: Comprehension
Answer Location: Relationships Between Variables
Difficulty Level: Medium
24. A researcher finds that as a respondent’s income increases, the monthly spending of the respondent also increases. This is an example of which of the following?
a. a positive correlation
b. a positive causation
c. a negative correlation
d. a spurious relationship
Learning Objective: 2.2: Describe the components of a scientific theory and how a scientific theory is tested.
Cognitive Domain: Application
Answer Location: Testing Theories and Hypotheses
Difficulty Level: Hard
25. A study finds that when fast food restaurants move into a neighborhood, the average weight of residents increases. Which of the following represents the best conclusion of this study?
a. There is a positive correlation between fast food restaurants and weight gain.
b. There is a negative correlation between fast food restaurants and weight gain.
c. There is a spurious relationship between fast food restaurants and weight gain.
d. There is a negative causal relationship between fast food restaurants and weight gain.
Learning Objective: 2.2: Describe the components of a scientific theory and how a scientific theory is tested.
Cognitive Domain: Application
Answer Location: Testing Theories and Hypotheses
Difficulty Level: Hard
26. A study finds that the more years someone has spent driving, the number of accidents they are involved in decreases. This is an example of which of the following?
a. a negative causation
b. a negative correlation
c. a positive correlation
d. a spurious relationship
Learning Objective: 2.2: Describe the components of a scientific theory and how a scientific theory is tested.
Cognitive Domain: Application
Answer Location: Testing Theories and Hypotheses
Difficulty Level: Hard
27. The results of a research study indicate that the more people exercise, the faster they lose weight. This best represents which of the following?
a. a positive correlation
b. a negative correlation
c. a quantitative analysis
d. a qualitative analysis
Learning Objective: 2.2: Describe the components of a scientific theory and how a scientific theory is tested.
Cognitive Domain: Application
Answer Location: Testing Theories and Hypotheses
Difficulty Level: Hard
28. Good theories are constructed in a way that makes it logically possible to prove them wrong. This idea is best known as which concept?
a. a spurious relationship
b. a negative correlation
c. the principle of falsification
d. the principle of validity
Learning Objective: 2.2: Describe the components of a scientific theory and how a scientific theory is tested.
Cognitive Domain: Comprehension
Answer Location: Testing Theories and Hypotheses
Difficulty Level: Medium
29. When concepts and measurement are valid, they are considered ______.
a. spurious
b. accurate
c. biased
d. falsifiable
Learning Objective: 2.2: Describe the components of a scientific theory and how a scientific theory is tested.
Cognitive Domain: Knowledge
Answer Location: Validity and Reliability
Difficulty Level: Easy
30. Which of the following represents the best example of reliability?
a. The major funder of a study is not allowed to be part of the research process because it is considered a conflict of interest.
b. A study conducted in 2019 has different results than a similar study conducted by another researcher in 2005.
c. The hypothesis of one study is tested by two different researchers, and they reach the same conclusion.
d. A study is revisited every 10 years, and different researchers have different findings each time.
Learning Objective: 2.2: Describe the components of a scientific theory and how a scientific theory is tested.
Cognitive Domain: Application
Answer Location: Validity and Reliability
Difficulty Level: Hard
31. Which of the following is the best example of how bias is introduced into a study?
a. Respondents tell the truth to prevent stigma or embarrassment.
b. The researcher creates a complete operational definition.
c. The sample size is representative of the population.
d. The researcher is studying marijuana legislation and supports decriminalization.
Learning Objective: 2.2: Describe the components of a scientific theory and how a scientific theory is tested.
Cognitive Domain: Application
Answer Location: Validity and Reliability
Difficulty Level: Hard
32. The use of inappropriate measurement instruments can introduce ______ into the results.
a. dependent variables
b. bias
c. validity
d. stratified sampling
Learning Objective: 2.2: Describe the components of a scientific theory and how a scientific theory is tested.
Cognitive Domain: Knowledge
Answer Location: Validity and Reliability
Difficulty Level: Easy
33. A researcher is conducting a study on illegal drug use among people recently paroled from prison. How might bias be introduced into this study?
a. clearly defining who paroled individuals are
b. selecting individuals from a specific socioeconomic status
c. including individuals who have and have not reported drug use since they were paroled
d. asking parolees about their current employment status
Learning Objective: 2.2: Describe the components of a scientific theory and how a scientific theory is tested.
Cognitive Domain: Analysis
Answer Location: Validity and Reliability
Difficulty Level: Medium
34. Harriet, a 24-year-old White woman, is conducting a 5-hour in-depth interview with Bereket, a 68-year-old Ethiopian man, about his experience of moving to the United States 40 years ago. Which of the following would impact the validity of this study?
a. Harriet could take several breaks during the interview.
b. Bereket could refuse to answer some questions.
c. Harriet could identify areas she does not understand.
d. Bereket could misunderstand a question and give an answer based on this misunderstanding.
Learning Objective: 2.2: Describe the components of a scientific theory and how a scientific theory is tested.
Cognitive Domain: Application
Answer Location: Validity and Reliability
Difficulty Level: Hard
35. A study wants to test for intelligence and asks questions about hobbies and athleticism. What is the major concern with this study?
a. a lack of reliability
b. a lack of validity
c. a lack of correlation
d. a lack of ethics
Learning Objective: 2.2: Describe the components of a scientific theory and how a scientific theory is tested.
Cognitive Domain: Application
Answer Location: Validity and Reliability
Difficulty Level: Hard
36. During a focus group, the researchers ask the participants about their social class. Instead of answering truthfully, some participants state that they are middle class because they perceive that the interviewer is also middle class. Which concept best describes this phenomenon?
a. falsification bias
b. social desirability bias
c. stereotype bias
d. discrimination bias
Learning Objective: 2.2: Describe the components of a scientific theory and how a scientific theory is tested.
Cognitive Domain: Application
Answer Location: Validity and Reliability
Difficulty Level: Hard
37. Researchers must be willing to accept that the data they collect might contradict their most passionate beliefs. Which concept does this statement best reflect?
a. reliability
b. validity
c. objectivity
d. falsifiability
Learning Objective: 2.2: Describe the components of a scientific theory and how a scientific theory is tested.
Cognitive Domain: Analysis
Answer Location: Objectivity in Scientific Research
Difficulty Level: Medium
38. The repetition of a previous study in a different setting to verify or refute the original findings is referred to as ______.
a. verification
b. replication
c. validation
d. reliability
Learning Objective: 2.2: Describe the components of a scientific theory and how a scientific theory is tested.
Cognitive Domain: Knowledge
Answer Location: Objectivity in Scientific Research
Difficulty Level: Easy
39. For a study to be ______, other researchers should conduct their studies in the same manner as the original study.
a. bias-free
b. quantitative
c. stratified
d. replicated
Learning Objective: 2.2: Describe the components of a scientific theory and how a scientific theory is tested.
Cognitive Domain: Comprehension
Answer Location: Objectivity in Scientific Research
Difficulty Level: Medium
40. Which of the following best characterizes a study with value neutrality?
a. The researcher focuses solely on the information that is in accordance with the hypothesis.
b. The researcher acknowledges biases and takes steps to prevent these from influencing results.
c. The researcher doesn’t address the limitations of the study.
d. The results of the study are consistent with the researcher’s beliefs.
Learning Objective: 2.2: Describe the components of a scientific theory and how a scientific theory is tested.
Cognitive Domain: Analysis
Answer Location: Objectivity in Scientific Research
Difficulty Level: Medium
41. Which of the following variables best represents a qualitative variable?
a. crime rates
b. frequency of drug use
c. years of education
d. gender
Learning Objective: 2.3: Identify key methods employed in sociological research and explain when it is appropriate to use them.
Cognitive Domain: Application
Answer Location: Doing Sociological Research
Difficulty Level: Hard
42. To avoid bias in survey research, sociologists utilize what type of sampling?
a. fixed sampling
b. random sampling
c. convenience sampling
d. snowball sampling
Learning Objective: 2.3: Identify key methods employed in sociological research and explain when it is appropriate to use them
Cognitive Domain: Knowledge
Answer Location: Survey Research
Difficulty Level: Easy
43. Which of the following best represents random sampling?
a. A researcher asks for volunteers to participate in a study and pays each volunteer $25.
b. A researcher is upfront about the goal of the study while talking with the research participants.
c. A researcher writes the names of his students on an individual piece of paper, puts these in a hat and, while blindfolded, takes five pieces of paper out of the hat and those will be his respondents.
d. A researcher goes to the campus library and asks the people at the front desk if they want to fill out a questionnaire.
Learning Objective: 2.3: Identify key methods employed in sociological research and explain when it is appropriate to use them.
Cognitive Domain: Application
Answer Location: Sociological Research Methods
Difficulty Level: Hard
44. What is the main characteristic of a random sample?
a. The study includes everyone who wants to be included.
b. Everyone has an equal chance to be included in the study.
c. The study also includes a few friends of the participants.
d. The study also includes immediate relatives of the participants.
Learning Objective: 2.3: Identify key methods employed in sociological research and explain when it is appropriate to use them
Cognitive Domain: Comprehension
Answer Location: Survey Research
Difficulty Level: Medium
45. A social desirability bias is what kind of bias?
a. sample bias
b. gender bias
c. racial/ethnic bias
d. response bias
Learning Objective: 2.3: Identify key methods employed in sociological research and explain when it is appropriate to use them
Cognitive Domain: Knowledge
Answer Location: Survey Research
Difficulty Level: Easy
46. A major think tank wants to publish a report about the attitudes of Americans regarding increasing the federal minimum wage. Which of the following would be the most appropriate research method?
a. a survey of 2,500 men and women
b. in-depth interviews with 50 men and women
c. an ethnographic study of minimum wage workers
d. an analysis of congressional debates on increasing the minimum wage
Learning Objective: 2.3: Identify key methods employed in sociological research and explain when it is appropriate to use them.
Cognitive Domain: Application
Answer Location: Survey Research
Difficulty Level: Hard
47. Which of the following is a characteristic of surveys?
a. They are limited to in-person interviews.
b. They can consist of open-ended or closed-ended questions.
c. They must include every member of the population of interest to be accurate.
d. They can only be distributed to a small number of people.
Learning Objective: 2.3: Identify key methods employed in sociological research and explain when it is appropriate to use them
Cognitive Domain: Comprehension
Answer Location: Survey Research
Difficulty Level: Medium
48. Dividing a population into a series of subgroups and taking random samples from each subgroup is known as what type of sampling?
a. simple random sampling
b. snowball sampling
c. stratified sampling
d. nonrandom sampling
Learning Objective: 2.3: Identify key methods employed in sociological research and explain when it is appropriate to use them.
Cognitive Domain: Knowledge
Answer Location: Survey Research
Difficulty Level: Easy
49. A researcher is interested in acquiring an in-depth understanding of relationship-building and team culture of professional football teams. Which of the following would be the most appropriate research method?
a. content analysis of previously aired football games
b. a random survey of 1,500 football fans
c. observing team interactions and participating in a few professional team-building exercises
d. interviews with professional football team coaches, trainers, and owners
Learning Objective: 2.3: Identify key methods employed in sociological research and explain when it is appropriate to use them.
Cognitive Domain: Application
Answer Location: Fieldwork
Difficulty Level: Hard
50. Which of the following is another term used to describe fieldwork, the in-depth study of a group or community?
a. ethnography
b. casework
c. quantitative research
d. community research
Learning Objective: 2.3: Identify key methods employed in sociological research and explain when it is appropriate to use them.
Cognitive Domain: Knowledge
Answer Location: Fieldwork
Difficulty Level: Easy
51. Vanessa is a student who wants to observe the gender dynamics on a college campus. Which research method would be best suited for her study?
a. quantitative research
b. ethnographic research
c. experimental research
d. survey research
Learning Objective: 2.3: Identify key methods employed in sociological research and explain when it is appropriate to use them.
Cognitive Domain: Application
Answer Location: Fieldwork
Difficulty Level: Hard
52. Which type of research method asks questions that typically allow respondents to answer in their own words?
a. interview
b. survey
c. experiment
d. observation
Learning Objective: 2.3: Identify key methods employed in sociological research and explain when it is appropriate to use them.
Cognitive Domain: Comprehension
Answer Location: Fieldwork
Difficulty Level: Medium
53. Which of the following is an example of a leading question?
a. Do you oppose increasing state funding for health clinics that target low-income women?
b. Do you believe that harsher drunk-driving laws decrease the number of car accidents?
c. Wouldn’t you agree that our president should be doing more to stop the deforestation of Brazil?
d. Do you support legislation that decriminalizes marijuana?
Learning Objective: 2.3: Identify key methods employed in sociological research and explain when it is appropriate to use them.
Cognitive Domain: Application
Answer Location: Fieldwork
Difficulty Level: Hard
54. Sociologists who conduct which type of research should give extra consideration to ethics, as subjects may engage in illegal or dangerous activities?
a. quantitative research
b. participant research
c. random research
d. population research
Learning Objective: 2.3: Identify key methods employed in sociological research and explain when it is appropriate to use them.
Cognitive Domain: Comprehension
Answer Location: Fieldwork
Difficulty Level: Medium
55. Which type of variable is changed intentionally to produce an effect?
a. a random variable
b. a stratified variable
c. an independent variable
d. a dependent variable
Learning Objective: 2.3: Identify key methods employed in sociological research and explain when it is appropriate to use them.
Cognitive Domain: Comprehension
Answer Location: Experimentation
Difficulty Level: Medium
56. A research team conducts a study to determine test performance in three different temperature settings. The results indicate that students do not perform as well in higher temperature settings. Which of the following is the independent variable in this study?
a. the different temperatures
b. the students
c. the tests
d. the students’ performance
Learning Objective: 2.3: Identify key methods employed in sociological research and explain when it is appropriate to use them.
Cognitive Domain: Application
Answer Location: Experimentation
Difficulty Level: Hard
57. Danny is conducting a study about the effects on depression of a new medication for depression of people already using another medication. Three groups are identified in this way: one group is given the new medication, one group remains on the old medication, and one group has never had either medication. Which of the following is the dependent variable?
a. the new medication
b. the old medication
c. the participants
d. the level of depression
Learning Objective: 2.3: Identify key methods employed in sociological research and explain when it is appropriate to use them.
Cognitive Domain: Application
Answer Location: Experimentation
Difficulty Level: Hard
58. Which of the following best describes document analysis?
a. quantitative information obtained from entities that collect data for their own or others’ use
b. detailed conversations designed to obtain in-depth information about a person and his or her activities
c. documents that are invariable sources of data but must be interpreted with great caution
d. the examination of written materials or cultural products
Learning Objective: 2.3: Identify key methods employed in sociological research and explain when it is appropriate to use them.
Cognitive Domain: Knowledge
Answer Location: Working With Existing Information
Difficulty Level: Easy
59. Framing your research question involves which of the following?
a. defining your terms and concepts
b. following a formula that indicates exactly how to proceed
c. choosing the appropriate research method
d. sharing your findings with the sociological community
Learning Objective: 2.4: Understand the basic steps in building a sociological research project.
Cognitive Domain: Comprehension
Answer Location: Frame Your Research Question
Difficulty Level: Medium
60. When you are reviewing existing knowledge, the focus of your literature review should center around which of the following?
a. newspaper articles
b. Internet blogs
c. college textbooks
d. peer-reviewed journals
Learning Objective: 2.4: Understand the basic steps in building a sociological research project.
Cognitive Domain: Knowledge
Answer Location: Review Existing Knowledge
Difficulty Level: Easy
61. When you are selecting a research method, which question should you ask yourself?
a. Which of the research methods will give the best results for my project?
b. Which of the research methods will allow me to obtain results quickly?
c. Which of the research methods am I most familiar with?
d. Which of the research methods involves document analysis and historical research?
Learning Objective: 2.4: Understand the basic steps in building a sociological research project.
Cognitive Domain: Comprehension
Answer Location: Review Existing Knowledge
Difficulty Level: Medium
62. In order for humans to be involved in a research study, which of the following is the most important first step?
a. consent
b. survey
c. ethics
d. participant observation
Learning Objective: 2.4: Understand the basic steps in building a sociological research project.
Cognitive Domain: Knowledge
Answer Location: Weigh the Ethical Implications
Difficulty Level: Easy
63. Why was the Nuremberg Code adopted?
a. The Milgram study caused harm to the participants, and this code acted to prevent it from happening again.
b. The Stanford prison experiment violated human rights and needed to be addressed.
c. The research conducted by the Nazis during World War II created a need for guidelines.
d. The Nuremberg trials created so many different questions about ethics that they designed the guidelines for clarity.
Learning Objective: 2.4: Understand the basic steps in building a sociological research project.
Cognitive Domain: Comprehension
Answer Location: Weigh the Ethical Implications
Difficulty Level: Medium
64. A researcher wants to conduct a study on shoplifting at self-checkout registers in a grocery store. The researcher asks people in the parking lot if they want to participate, tells them to forget to pay for a few items at the self-checkout register, and then sends them into the store. Thereafter, the participants report to the researcher which items they “forgot” to pay for. How ethical is this study based on the Nuremberg Code?
a. The study is ethical. The participants are told what they will be doing and gave their consent.
b. The study is unethical. The participants were sent to an area where they could not be observed.
c. The study is ethical. The participants did not face any physical threat.
d. The study is unethical. The participants were asked to do something illegal, which could result in mental or physical injury.
Learning Objective: 2.4: Understand the basic steps in building a sociological research project.
Cognitive Domain: Application
Answer Location: Weigh the Ethical Implications
Difficulty Level: Hard
65. In 1971, Philip Zimbardo conducted the famous Stanford prison experiment, in which participants were assigned to be either a prisoner or a prison guard. The prison guards started to abuse the prisoners, even though both groups consisted of student volunteers. This research would not be approved today based on which of the following concerns?
a. concerns about the research question
b. methodological concerns
c. ethical concerns
d. data collection concerns
Learning Objective: 2.4: Understand the basic steps in building a sociological research project.
Cognitive Domain: Analysis
Answer Location: Weigh the Ethical Implications
Difficulty Level: Medium
66. Which of the following is the most common consideration when conducting good sociological research?
a. choosing participants that you know will confirm your hypotheses
b. training interviewers to look for answers that will align with the study
c. selecting a sample from a homogenous population
d. avoiding conclusions that are speculative or not warranted by the actual research results
Learning Objective: 2.4: Understand the basic steps in building a sociological research project.
Cognitive Domain: Comprehension
Answer Location: Collect and Analyze the Data
Difficulty Level: Medium
67. Spreadsheets and statistical software are typically used for which type of methods?
a. qualitative methods
b. observational methods
c. ethnographic methods
d. quantitative methods
Learning Objective: 2.4: Understand the basic steps in building a sociological research project.
Cognitive Domain: Comprehension
Answer Location: Collect and Analyze the Data
Difficulty Level: Medium
68. Which of the following methods typically uses closed-ended questions?
a. ethnography
b. case study
c. qualitative
d. quantitative
Learning Objective: 2.4: Understand the basic steps in building a sociological research project.
Cognitive Domain: Comprehension
Answer Location: Collect and Analyze the Data
Difficulty Level: Medium
69. Which of the following is true of good research?
a. Good research doesn’t have to unequivocally support your results.
b. Good research should be analyzed using statistical software.
c. Good research should contain field notes.
d. Good research doesn’t need to include all of your results.
Learning Objective: 2.4: Understand the basic steps in building a sociological research project.
Cognitive Domain: Comprehension
Answer Location: Collect and Analyze the Data
Difficulty Level: Medium
70. Which of the following is the best way to share the findings of your study with the larger sociological community?
a. publishing the results on Wikipedia
b. creating a file on your computer
c. presenting the results at a conference
d. talking about your study within your department
Learning Objective: 2.4: Understand the basic steps in building a sociological research project.
Cognitive Domain: Comprehension
Answer Location: Share the Results
Difficulty Level: Medium
True/False
1. Deductive reasoning starts from a specific truism and generalizes from there.
Learning Objective: 2.1: Describe the scientific method and distinguish between qualitative and quantitative research.
Cognitive Domain: Comprehension
Answer Location: Sociology and Common Sense
Difficulty Level: Medium
2. Quantitative research uses in-depth interviews as a method of data collection.
Learning Objective: 2.1: Describe the scientific method and distinguish between qualitative and quantitative research.
Cognitive Domain: Knowledge
Answer Location: Sociology and Common Sense
Difficulty Level: Easy
3. Bias is associated with inappropriate measurement instruments.
Learning Objective: 2.3: Identify key methods employed in sociological research and explain when it is appropriate to use them.
Cognitive Domain: Knowledge
Answer Location: Validity and Reliability
Difficulty Level: Easy
4. Qualitative research uses inductive reasoning.
Learning Objective: 2.1: Describe the scientific method and distinguish between qualitative and quantitative research.
Cognitive Domain: Comprehension
Answer Location: Sociology and Common Sense
Difficulty Level: Medium
5. Qualitative studies have large population samples.
Learning Objective: 2.1: Describe the scientific method and distinguish between qualitative and quantitative research.
Cognitive Domain: Comprehension
Answer Location: Sociology and Common Sense
Difficulty Level: Medium
6. Operational definitions can be defined either in terms of qualities or quantities.
Learning Objective: 2.2: Describe the components of a scientific theory and how a scientific theory is tested.
Cognitive Domain: Knowledge
Answer Location: Research and the Scientific Method
Difficulty Level: Easy
7. Correlation is a synonym for causation. If two variables are associated with one another, then it means that one variable causes the other variable.
Learning Objective: 2.2: Describe the components of a scientific theory and how a scientific theory is tested.
Cognitive Domain: Comprehension
Answer Location: Relationships Between Variables
Difficulty Level: Medium
8. Social desirability is known as a response bias.
Learning Objective: 2.3: Identify key methods employed in sociological research and explain when it is appropriate to use them.
Cognitive Domain: Knowledge
Answer Location: Doing Sociological Research
Difficulty Level: Easy
9. Snowball and convenience sampling are both random samples.
Learning Objective: 2.3: Identify key methods employed in sociological research and explain when it is appropriate to use them.
Cognitive Domain: Comprehension
Answer Location: Survey Research
Difficulty Level: Medium
10. Reviewing the existing literature occurs during the early stages of research..
Learning Objective: 2.4: Understand the basic steps in building a sociological research project.
Cognitive Domain: Knowledge
Answer Location: Review Existing Knowledge
Difficulty Level: Easy
Short Answer
1. Explain the difference between an independent variable and a dependent variable. Identify and describe both types of variables in the following research question: “How does phone use before bedtime affect sleep?”
Learning Objective: 2.3: Identify key methods employed in sociological research and explain when it is appropriate to use them.
Cognitive Domain: Application
Answer Location: Experimentation
Difficulty Level: Hard
2. Discuss the difference between quantitative and qualitative research.
Learning Objective: 2.1: Describe the scientific method and distinguish between qualitative and quantitative research.
Cognitive Domain: Analysis
Answer Location: Sociology and Common Sense
Difficulty Level: Medium
3. Discuss how sociological research helps us have a better understanding when it comes to common wisdom.
Learning Objective: 2.1: Describe the scientific method and distinguish between qualitative and quantitative research.
Cognitive Domain: Analysis
Answer Location: Sociology and Common Sense
Difficulty Level: Medium
4. What are the two characteristics of a good scientific theory?
Learning Objective: 2.2: Describe the components of a scientific theory and how a scientific theory is tested.
Cognitive Domain: Comprehension
Answer Location: Research and the Scientific Method
Difficulty Level: Medium
5. You are conducting a study on gender. Provide an operational definition of gender from a sociological perspective.
Learning Objective: 2.2: Describe the components of a scientific theory and how a scientific theory is tested.
Cognitive Domain: Application
Answer Location: Research and the Scientific Method
Difficulty Level: Hard
6. Explain the differences between qualitative and quantitative variables and provide an example of each.
Learning Objective: 2.2: Describe the components of a scientific theory and how a scientific theory is tested.
Cognitive Domain: Application
Answer Location: Relationships Between Variables
Difficulty Level: Hard
7. Discuss the importance of replication in sociological research.
Learning Objective: 2.2: Describe the components of a scientific theory and how a scientific theory is tested.
Cognitive Domain: Analysis
Answer Location: Objectivity in Scientific Research
Difficulty Level: Medium
8. Explain the difference between statistical data analysis and content or document analysis.
Learning Objective: 2.3: Identify key methods employed in sociological research and explain when it is appropriate to use them.
Cognitive Domain: Analysis
Answer Location: Working With Existing Information
Difficulty Level: Medium
9. List each stage of sociological research.
Learning Objective: 2.4: Understand the basic steps in building a sociological research project.
Cognitive Domain: Comprehension
Answer Location: Doing Sociology: A Student’s Guide to Research
Difficulty Level: Medium
10. Why is it important to understand sociological research, its methods, and results when watching news reports?
Learning Objective: 2.3: Identify key methods employed in sociological research and explain when it is appropriate to use them.
Cognitive Domain: Comprehension
Answer Location: Doing Sociology: A Student’s Guide to Research
Difficulty Level: Medium
Essay
1. Propose a qualitative study on the impact of the gender wage gap on women. Discuss how you would conduct this study and what types of questions you would ask participants.
Learning Objective: 2.1: Describe the scientific method and distinguish between qualitative and quantitative research.
Cognitive Domain: Application
Answer Location: Sociology and Common Sense
Difficulty Level: Hard
2. You are having a discussion with someone who does not think that Hispanics are impacted by police brutality in the same manner as Black people. From a sociological research perspective, what type of study would you conduct?
Learning Objective: 2.2: Describe the components of a scientific theory and how a scientific theory is tested.
Cognitive Domain: Application
Answer Location: Research and the Scientific Method
Difficulty Level: Hard
3. Explain what it means to be value neutral in the context of conducting a research study. Present an argument for whether you think sociological research can be truly value neutral.
Learning Objective: 2.2: Describe the components of a scientific theory and how a scientific theory is tested.
Cognitive Domain: Analysis
Answer Location: Objectivity in Scientific Research
Difficulty Level: Medium
4. Almost anyone can theorize about social phenomena but formulating a good theory can be difficult. Outline four components of a good theory and explain why they are important.
Learning Objective: 2.2: Describe the components of a scientific theory and how a scientific theory is tested.
Cognitive Domain: Analysis
Answer Location: Research and the Scientific Method
Difficulty Level: Medium
5. Explain why it is important for research to be objective.
Learning Objective: 2.2: Describe the components of a scientific theory and how a scientific theory is tested.
Cognitive Domain: Analysis
Answer Location: Objectivity in Scientific Research
Difficulty Level: Medium
6. What is a convenience sample and when is it appropriate for a researcher to use a convenience sample?
Learning Objective: 2.3: Identify key methods employed in sociological research and explain when it is appropriate to use them
Cognitive Domain: Analysis
Answer Location: Sociological Research Methods
Difficulty Level: Medium
7. Discuss why sampling and random sampling are important for sociological research.
Learning Objective: 2.3: Identify key methods employed in sociological research and explain when it is appropriate to use them.
Cognitive Domain: Analysis
Answer Location: Survey Research
Difficulty Level: Medium
8. What is a snowball sample? Describe the major advantage of snowball sampling.
Learning Objective: 2.3: Identify key methods employed in sociological research and explain when it is appropriate to use them.
Cognitive Domain: Analysis
Answer Location: Survey Research
Difficulty Level: Medium
9. Define ethnography and explain its use. Imagine you want to learn about the discrimination that LGBTQ college students experience at a college campus. How would you use ethnography as a method to study this subject?
Learning Objective: 2.3: Identify key methods employed in sociological research and explain when it is appropriate to use them.
Cognitive Domain: Application
Answer Location: Fieldwork
Difficulty Level: Hard
10. In what type of study would you utilize historical methods as a research method? What would be an appropriate topic?
Learning Objective: 2.3: Identify key methods employed in sociological research and explain when it is appropriate to use them
Cognitive Domain: Application
Answer Location: Working With Existing Information
Difficulty Level: Hard
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Connected Book
Complete Test Bank Discover Sociology 5e with Answers
By Daina S. Eglitis