Deck 9: Researching Law in Society

Question 1

Which of the following is not one of the main methods for researching law in society?

A) experimental
B) survey
C) control group
D) historical

Answer 1

C

Question 2

The difference between the four main methods of researching law in society is _____________.

A) the amount of time it takes to complete
B) the data collection strategy used
C) the number of participants
D) the use of a laboratory or field setting

Answer 2

B

Question 3

The best method of data collection to study a sequence of events by the participants:

A) survey
B) experimental
C) observation
D) historical

Answer 3

C

Question 4

The best method of data collection for studying the norms, rules, and status in a particular group:

A) observation
B) survey
C) control group
D) interview

Question 5

The best method for determining the numbers, proportions, and the ratios about the subjects in a study:

A) survey
B) experiment
C) interview
D) historical research

Question 6

The best method of data collection for measuring the effect of an independent variable on a dependent variable:

A) survey
B) experiment
C) interview
D) observation

Question 7

Which of the following type of research is a critical investigation of events and experiences of the past?

A) historical
B) observation
C) interview
D) survey

Question 8

All of the following are examples of sources in historical research except _____________.

A) court records
B) tax records
C) personal diaries
D) All of these are examples of historical research.

Question 9

A difficulty of the historical method:

A) accuracy and thoroughness of available information
B) use of life-histories
C) use of personal information
D) inability to test theories

Question 10

A mechanical observer may include which of the following?

A) judges
B) participant observer
C) historical figure
D) camera

Question 11

Advantages to the observational method of research include which of the following?

A) high validity
B) use in large social settings
C) bias in the study
D) high reliability

Question 12

Disadvantages to the observational method of research include which of the following?

A) researcher bias
B) high levels of validity
C) inability to participate
D) lack of use in a laboratory

Question 13

This is the prevalent method for testing causal relations by social scientists:

A) observation in a lab
B) field observation
C) experimental method
D) survey

Question 14

Experiments in sociology face difficulties, including _____________.

A) lack of control
B) prohibitive cost
C) untrained observers
D) failure of experimental variable

Question 15

The problem of people behaving differently when they know they are being observed is called _____________.

A) the Wisconsin effect
B) the Hawthorne effect
C) the laboratory effect
D) the Milgram effect

Question 16

Method of data collection where respondents are asked a series of standardized questions:

A) observation
B) participant
C) survey
D) experiment

Question 17

Which of the following is a disadvantage of survey research?

A) Response rate
B) Face-to-face interview
C) Length of questionnaire
D) Use by government

Question 18

This governmental entity conducts the National Crime Victimization Survey:

A) the Department of Defense
B) Homeland Security
C) the Federal Bureau of Investigation
D) the Department of Justice

Question 19

Which of the following is not an advantage of victimization surveys?

A) They seek out information rather than wait for it to be reported.
B) People are more willing to discuss crimes committed against them.
C) People who have committed crime generally do not respond.
D) They include more representative sampling.

Question 20

Which of the following is a disadvantage of victimization surveys?

A) Criminals don't respond.
B) They deal primarily with major cities.
C) They are relatively inexpensive.
D) Victims are reluctant to report.

Question 21

The search for knowledge without concern for its practical use:

A) pure science
B) applied science
C) experimental science
D) research-based science

Question 22

The search for ways of using scientific knowledge to solve practical science:

A) practical science
B) experimental science
C) applied science
D) pure science

Question 23

This term generally refers to purposive legal measures that are adopted and pursued by representatives of government by representatives tasked with particular social conditions:

A) applied science
B) sociolegal policymaking
C) social policy
D) policymaking

Question 24

This term refers to the process of identifying alternative courses of action that may be followed and choosing among them:

A) policymaking
B) social policy
C) pure science
D) applied science

Question 25

What percentage of the general public could not guess the U.S. population within plus or minus 50 million?

A) 24%
B) 30%
C) 50%
D) 60%

Question 26

The U.S. population in 2010 was approximately _____________.

A) 298 million
B) 315 million
C) 374 million
D) 412 million

Question 27

In the Westoff study, what percentage of sexually active unmarried teenage girls reported the use of a contraceptive?

A) 10%
B) 20%
C) 30%
D) 40%

Question 28

Which example best demonstrates the direct impact of sociology on enacted policy?

A) court decision outlawing segregation
B) the use of experimental data in the Department of Justice
C) the use of victimization surveys
D) the court decision of Miranda v. Arizona.

Question 29

The Coleman Report was a study of _____________.

A) abortion in the 1970s
B) equal education opportunities in the 1960s
C) population in the 1990s
D) immigration in 2002

Question 30

Which of the following is not a criteria distinguishing evaluation research from other types of research?

A) priority goes to the program, rather than the evaluation
B) the emphasis on results useful for policy decisions
C) the objective evaluation of whether program goals are being met
D) the flow of the logic model used in program evaluation

Question 31

This president is known for the Great Society legislation:

A) Kennedy
B) Johnson
C) Regan
D) Wilson

Question 32

Determination of the purpose of a law or regulation can be difficult because of _____________.

A) the participation of diverse individuals
B) the discernment of whose intention is to be considered
C) the multiple or conflicting purpose of some laws
D) all of the above

Question 33

Which of the following is not a difficulty in measuring the impact of a certain law?

A) limitations of field study
B) differing approaches to study
C) ethical issues
D) absence of control groups

Question 34

All of the following are approaches to measuring the impact of law except _____________.

A) survey
B) one-shot
C) before and after
D) controlled

Question 35

This term refers to the study of a group of individuals from the target program after it has been exposed to a program:

A) controlled experiment
B) observation
C) one-shot
D) before and after

Question 36

There are only four methods that can be applied in researching law and society.

Question 37

In historical research, personal diaries are a valuable source of data.

Question 38

Participant observation is a relatively new research method.

Question 39

The experimental group in which the variable is introduced is called the control group.

Question 40

The law in the United States prohibits some experiments that may eliminate the right of due process.

Question 41

Sociology is neither a pure science nor an applied science.

Question 42

Law should be seen separately from the broad social context.

Question 43

Using research methods, measuring the relative impact of social science on policy is fairly easy.

Question 44

The evaluation of enacted policy is a relatively old practice.

Question 45

Law can have intended consequences, unintended consequences, or both.

Question 46

Identify and detail the methods of research most commonly used in data collection in sociology. Use at least two (2) examples of each.

Question 47

What are the advantages and disadvantages of the four methods of data collection? Include a discussion of how these advantages and disadvantages affect the use of these methods in the study of policy and law.

Question 48

Distinguish between pure and applied science and describe how each impacts social policy. Include a discussion of social policy and policymaking.

Question 49

Describe in detail three (3) instances in which sociology has played a role in the development of policy recommendations.

Question 50

Compare and contrast evaluation research and impact studies. Give at least two examples of each.