Deck 3: Thinking About Theory and Research

Question 1

All of the following have been identified as goals of theory EXCEPT

A) explanation
B) understanding
C) reviewing
D) social change

Answer 1

reviewing

Question 2

The scientific method follows

A) deductive logic
B) interpretive logic
C) inductive logic
D) law-like logic

Answer 2

deductive logic

Question 3

Theory is defined as a _________ system of _________ with indications of the _________ among the concepts that help us to understand a phenomenon.

A) important/relationships/concepts
B) abstract/concepts/relationships
C) interesting/variables/utility
D) abstract/relationships/concepts

Answer 3

abstract/concepts/relationships

Question 4

In the __________ approach, communication behavior is believed to be governed by forces that are predictable and able to be generalized.

A) rules
B) systems
C) covering law
D) inductive

Question 5

When a theory's explanations make sense and do not appear to contradict each other, the theory is said to have

A) good scope
B) logical consistency
C) heuristic appeal
D) utility

Question 6

Rules theorists view our behavior as being restricted by all of the following conditions EXCEPT

A) the choices of others
B) the previous choices we have made
C) cultural and social conditions
D) economic conditions

Question 7

At Westco Company, a mission statement is presented to all new employees promoting the philosophy that all departments depend on quality performance from one another for the success of the company as a unit. When one unit fails, others will suffer. Which of the following systems approach elements is being promoted in this mission statement?

A) hierarchy
B) boundaries/openness
C) interdependence
D) equifinality

Question 8

The _________ epistemology rejects the notion that truth exists apart from the knower of the truth. Truth can only be understood from the viewpoint of individual experiences.

A) objectivist
B) naturalist
C) interpretivist
D) axiologist

Question 9

The McAllister family has a rule that there will be no viewing of television after eight o'clock on school nights. Which of Lull's rules governing television viewing is represented by this rule?

A) tactical rules
B) habitual rules
C) parametric rules
D) authoritative rules

Question 10

_________ addresses questions about the role of values in the research process.

A) axiology
B) epistemology
C) ontology
D) astrology

Question 11

The criterion of parsimony is most accurately described in which of the following statements?

A) Parsimony requires that theories contain as many concepts as possible.
B) Parsimony requires that a theory's explanations be simplistic in nature.
C) Parsimony requires consistent explanations and clear assumptions.
D) Parsimony requires simplicity without sacrificing completeness.

Question 12

__________ focuses on questions of the nature of reality and what we should be studying.

A) Axiology
B) Ontology
C) Metatheology
D) Epistemology

Question 13

Of the approaches discussed in the book, the _________ approach assumes that individuals have the highest degree of free will.

A) covering law
B) rules
C) equifinality
D) systems

Question 14

When scientists have disagreements about how we go about knowing and what counts as knowledge, there is a disagreement about

A) axiology
B) heurism
C) testability
D) epistemology

Question 15

In ____________ research, the focus is on generating knowledge and theory for its own sake.

A) pure
B) applied
C) theoretical
D) axiological

Question 16

Converting raw data into a category system, such as when a researcher analyzes newspaper coverage of an event by quantifying and classifying the various topics covered in the articles into categories, is called

A) coding
B) triangulation
C) textual analysis
D) operationalization

Question 17

A researcher who has no concern for issues of control or ability to generalize, instead choosing focus on providing rich descriptions would be following the _________ approach.

A) positivistic/empirical
B) interpretive
C) critical
D) scientific

Question 18

Researchers are concerned with the extent to which they are actually measuring the true variable of interest, such as whether the standard I.Q. test is really capturing an individual's intelligence. This concern is about

A) coding
B) testability
C) validity
D) experimentation

Question 19

Reliability is the opposite of validity.

Question 20

Homeostatic systems are ones that stay the same over time.

Question 21

Most social science researchers do not seek covering law explanations; instead, they may seek "probabilistic"
statements that can be said to have a certain degree of probability

Question 22

All of us in daily life think like researchers, using implicit, naïve theories to help us understand behavior.

Question 23

Nominal concepts are concepts that are observable.

Question 24

Ontology is sometimes called the first philosophy.

Question 25

When considering the role and influence of values in scholarly research, our authors argue that it is realistic to expect that research always be value-free.

Question 26

Concepts are the words or terms that label the most important elements in a theory.

Question 27

According to the Wallace's wheel of science, most researchers tend to strictly adhere to either deductive or inductive logic, but never use both.

Question 28

Some critical theorists, such as Stuart Hall, argue that power imbalances are not always the result of intentional strategies on the part of the powerful, but may instead be accidentally reproduced.

Question 29

Describe the elements of the systems approach. Provide a real-life example of a system by applying each of the elements in your description.

Question 30

Explain the difference between ontology, epistemology, and axiology. Write an original question to illustrate your understanding of each of these approaches.

Question 31

While there is no universally accepted definition for theory, identify and explain the definition forwarded by our authors. Do you agree with this definition? Are there ideas or concepts you would like to add or subtract from this definition?

Question 32

Differentiate between the positivistic, interpretive, and critical approaches to conducting research. Identify the paradigm that you think best describes your approach to research. Explain why you chose this approach.

Question 33

Select the three criteria for evaluating theory that you deem most important. For each one, provide a definition, an explanation of what that criterion entails, and an argument as to why you believe it is among the most important criteria for evaluating communication theory.