Deck 1: Introduction: Why Care About Research Methods?

Question 1

What do the textbook authors suggest about using the website Ratemyprofessors.com to get information about a professor?

A) Its ratings provide an objective and valid source of information.
B) Though limited, it is as useful as any other source of information.
C) It is an untrustworthy source of information.
D) Its reliability depends on whether a professor is rated by a large enough sample of students.

Answer 1

C

Question 2

In general, developing measures and selecting a sample are part of which step in the research process?

A) Formulating a research question
B) Preparation of a research design
C) Data collection
D) Data analysis and interpretation

Answer 2

B

Question 3

To assess racial discrimination in the labor market, a researcher sends resumes to help-wanted ads in the newspaper. She assigns Black-sounding names to half of the résumés and white-sounding names to the other half; then she records whether each job applicant was called back for an interview. This is an example of

A) an experiment.
B) a survey.
C) field research.
D) the use of existing data.

Answer 3

A

Question 4

This approach is best for deepening one's understanding of the context and meanings behind behaviors and emotions.

A) Experiments
B) Surveys
C) Field research
D) Use of existing data

Question 5

Assessing the effect of the 9/11 attacks on helping others by using the records of the Salvation Army to chart donations before and after the attacks is an example of

A) an experiment.
B) a survey.
C) field research.
D) the use of existing data.

Question 6

Which of the following is an example of survey research?

A) Analyzing the gender displays of Instagram selfies posted by 170 women
B) Observing and conducting interviews with gang members to understand how they use social media to challenge rivals
C) Analyzing the mobilization of social protests by asking a large sample of respondents about their use of social media and their participation in the Women's March
D) Manipulating exposure to fact checks to determine whether they reduce beliefs in misinformation

Question 7

Which of the following is an example of the analysis of existing data?

A) Analyzing the gender displays of Instagram selfies posted by 170 women
B) Observing and conducting interviews with gang members to understand how they use social media to challenge rivals
C) Analyzing the mobilization of social protests by asking a large sample of respondents about their use of social media and their participation in the Women's March
D) Manipulating exposure to fact checks to determine whether they reduce beliefs in misinformation

Question 8

Studying research methods mainly benefits those who will be in a position to conduct social research.

Question 9

The basic approaches to social research can be divided into the scientific and the unscientific.

Question 10

Experiments are the best research strategy for investigating the causes of phenomena.

Question 11

Field research focuses on the meaning and processes of social behavior.

Question 12

Write an essay answering the following question: Why care about research methods? Be sure to give examples of how studying research methods can benefit you personally as both a consumer and a producer of research evidence.