Deck 2: The Tools of Sociology

Question 1

Which of the following steps is NOT one used by sociologists to study certain social phenomenon?

A) Defining the problem.
B) Review the literature.
C) Decide the outcome of the study before it has been analyzed with data.
D) Formulate questions.

Answer 1

Decide the outcome of the study before it has been analyzed with data.

Question 2

In measuring and comparing any social phenomena such as suicide across different countries, the researcher needs to consider

A) the sizes of the populations being studied
B) the means of suicide
C) the ages of the individuals
D) the socioeconomic status of the victims

Answer 2

the sizes of the populations being studied

Question 3

In an effort to determine if similar research has been done on a particular topic, which step in the research process would a researcher follow?

A) deciding on the problem
B) formulating research questions
C) reviewing the literature
D) analyzing the data

Answer 3

reviewing the literature

Question 4

Which of the following would be suitable as a sociological research question?

A) Does God exist?
B) Is Buddhism true?
C) What is the best religious code of values?
D) What relationship, if any, exists between religious practice and beliefs about abortion?

Question 5

A statement that expresses a guess about a possible relationship between two or more phenomena is termed:

A) a functional explanation.
B) a hypothesis.
C) a scientific hunch.
D) theory.

Question 6

Which of the following statements qualifies as a hypothesis?

A) Deafness is a seriously handicapping condition.
B) Hearing teenagers are more likely to hold traditional attitudes toward sex roles than are deaf teenagers.
C) Only a small percentage of teenagers are hearing-impaired.
D) Sign language is the principal means of communication in the deaf community.

Question 7

Which of the following is the BEST example of a hypothesis that can be tested through empirical observation?

A) Most people on welfare are lazy and don't want to work.
B) People on welfare are cheating hard-working taxpayers out of their money.
C) The government should lower welfare payments.
D) Welfare dependency increases as the divorce rate increases.

Question 8

The basic question in Durkheim's study of suicide dealt with the:

A) social variables that could explain differences in numbers of suicides.
B) functional importance of deviant behavior in all societies.
C) the psychological factors that cause people to take their lives.
D) the role of religious factors in suicide.

Question 9

In Durkheim's analysis of suicide, the dependent variable was:

A) age.
B) marriage rates.
C) religion.
D) the suicide rate.

Question 10

Durkheim's independent variable in his study of suicide was

A) suicide.
B) social integration.
C) depression.
D) self destruction.

Question 11

In sociology, certain characteristics of individuals, groups, or entire societies can vary from one case to another. These social characteristics are referred to as ________.

A) cases
B) variables
C) norms
D) values

Question 12

Characteristics of individuals, groups, or entire societies that can change from one case to another are termed:

A) indicators
B) norms
C) relationships
D) variables

Question 13

Through research social scientists are trying to explain the ____________

A) antecedent variable.
B) dependent variable.
C) independent variable.
D) intervening variable.

Question 14

The factor that the scientist believes causes changes in the behavior under investigation is termed the:

A) dependent variable.
B) independent variable.
C) intervening variable.
D) antecedent variable.

Question 15

In research to study the influence of education on political participation, the independent variable is the:

A) age of the subjects.
B) level and kind of political activity.
C) political party of the candidates.
D) years of education attained.

Question 16

Dr. Susan Frank is interested in studying the relationship between diet and life expectancy. In this case, "life expectancy" is the:

A) antecedent variable.
B) dependent variable.
C) independent variable.
D) intervening variable.

Question 17

Dr. Smith is interested in studying daily life in a small community in the rural south. Which research methods would she use?

A) observation
B) survey
C) controlled experiment
D) field experiment

Question 18

In examining the magnitude of a problem such as suicide, which type of study would be the most appropriate?

A) observations
B) community studies
C) demographic studies
D) unobtrusive measures

Question 19

What method would be used to gather responses from a specific population?

A) field experiment
B) controlled experiment
C) unobtrusive measures
D) survey

Question 20

Demographic studies are most useful in providing what information?

A) testimonials from research participants
B) the functions of social policies
C) the magnitude of a major social phenomenon
D) all of these

Question 21

Which of the following questions is typical of the interactionist approach to research?

A) How does interaction with others influences their lives?
B) What groups or organizations are involved?
C) Who has the power?
D) Who? How many? Where?

Question 22

In the sociological research process, "reviewing the literature" means reading which of the following?

A) All previously done research related to the issue in books/journal articles.
B) As little as possible, so as to keep your mind unbiased by the opinions and findings of others.
C) Newspaper and general magazine articles written on the topic.
D) Those books and journal articles that support your own ideas about the issue.

Question 23

Which of the following is an example of a hypothesis?

A) Hispanics living in south Texas are more likely to support the use of Spanish as their primary language, than are those living in other states.
B) Mexican life and culture are much influenced by the United States.
C) In recent years, there has been considerable controversy between the United States and Mexico.
D) The life expectancy in the United States and Mexico is roughly the same.

Question 24

In sociological research the initial review of the literature is performed for the purpose of all of the following questions EXCEPT:

A) What budgetary resources will be required to complete the study?
B) What is already known about the matter under consideration?
C) What issues have been addressed by researchers?
D) What theoretical perspectives have informed research on this issue?

Question 25

For her sociology class project, Courtney wants to find out if class attendance is related to academic performance. Of the following methodologies, her best choice would be:

A) a field study.
B) a literature review.
C) a survey.
D) secondary analysis.

Question 26

The type of research in which the observer participates to some degree in the lives of people being observed is known as:

A) a national census.
B) an opinion poll.
C) a panel study.
D) participant observation.

Question 27

In her study of teenagers in an affluent community, which research method did Donna Gaines use in order to collect data from a firsthand experience?

A) a controlled experiment
B) participant observation
C) a social survey
D) a field experiment

Question 28

Solomon Asch's study conducted in the early 1950s where subjects were asked to judge the lengths of various lines by comparing them with other lines on a card showed that the opinions of a majority can have a great deal of influence on the individual's opinions. This study was an example of

A) a controlled experiment
B) participant observation
C) unobtrusive measures
D) a field experiment

Question 29

The ecological perspective leads to which two types of studies?

A) religion and community
B) demographic and participant observation
C) demographic and community
D) participant observation and community

Question 30

One shortcoming of observational "qualitative" research is that it:

A) is not easily generalizable.
B) is often shallow and lacks sensitivity to social nuances.
C) is so heavily numerical that it is difficult to interpret.
D) serves as a basis for generating hypotheses for further research.

Question 31

Television programs sometimes feature the use of hidden cameras that film people without their knowledge. Sociologists using this technique would be engaging in:

A) participant observation.
B) quantitative investigation.
C) survey research.
D) unobtrusive observation.

Question 32

The research technique that allows the sociologist to manipulate an independent variable in order to observe and measure changes in a dependent variable is known as:

A) a controlled experiment.
B) archival research.
C) participant observation.
D) survey research.

Question 33

In an experiment, the group that experiences a change in the independent variable is the:

A) control group.
B) experimental group.
C) field group.
D) reference group.

Question 34

In an experiment, the group that does not experience the treatment but whose behavior is compared with that of the experimental group is known as the:

A) comparative group.
B) control group.
C) field group.
D) reference group.

Question 35

The most significant difference between the sociological surveys of today and the "social surveys" conducted by early sociologists around the turn of the century lies in the:

A) bias built into early studies.
B) lack of generalizability of contemporary surveys to other groups and communities.
C) lack of generalizability of early surveys to other groups and communities.
D) statistical techniques that are used to analyze the data collected in contemporary surveys.

Question 36

Which of the following is not a use of the United States Census data?

A) determining living conditions
B) learning existing family patterns of consumption
C) testing sampling techniques
D) determining age distribution

Question 37

Donna Gaines' study of affluent teenagers in which she spent months hanging out with teenagers is an example of

A) quantitative research.
B) qualitative research.
C) controlled experiment.
D) unobtrusive research.

Question 38

The term sample refers to

A) a selection.
B) a set of respondents.
C) a probability.
D) a number of individuals.

Question 39

Which of the following is an example of an opinion poll?

A) the Census
B) the Gallup Poll
C) the Hawthorne Study
D) the Survey Opinion Research Study

Question 40

Professor Johnson wishes to study the effects that violence in the movies has on aggressive behavior. She divides 30 subjects into two groups of 15. One group of subjects watches Terminator 3, and the other group watches Bruce Almighty. After viewing the movies, the members of both groups are placed in a stressful situation and their behavior is monitored. In this experiment, the group viewing Terminator 3 is the:

A) control group.
B) experimental group.
C) field group.
D) reference group.

Question 41

The control group is best defined as the group that

A) will change
B) will not experience the treatment
C) will directly receive the treatment
D) none of these

Question 42

In the series of experiments conducted by Solomon Asch, the independent variable was the:

A) ability of people to judge spatial relationships.
B) group pressure.
C) intensity of light in the room.
D) size of the group.

Question 43

In the series of experiments conducted by Solomon Asch, the experimental group consisted of subjects who were asked to:

A) announce their decisions out loud in a group setting.
B) guess the opinions of others in the group.
C) state their feelings toward the other members of the group.
D) write their decisions down on a piece of paper.

Question 44

The research technique that is most likely to be used in evaluating outcomes of specific educational programs is:

A) the controlled experiment.
B) the field experiment.
C) participant observation.
D) survey research.

Question 45

Questions that allow respondent to answer in whatever form she/he pleases are called

A) open questions.
B) selective questions.
C) closed questions.
D) functional questions.

Question 46

The single most important factor in determining which research method the sociologist will use is:

A) the amount of money available for the project.
B) the group paying for the research.
C) the type of questions being asked.
D) whether the results will be published.

Question 47

The research method in which the sociologist becomes an active member of the group or community being studied is known as:

A) experimentation.
B) participant observation.
C) secondary analysis.
D) survey research.

Question 48

The use of field notes is most likely to be employed in which of the following research methods?

A) archival research
B) experimentation
C) participant observation
D) survey research

Question 49

A high correlation between two variables means that:

A) the research question has been definitively answered and no further research is required on the relationship between the two variables.
B) the research was poorly designed.
C) they are causally related.
D) they may or may not be causally related.

Question 50

The control group and the experimental group are virtually identical except that the:

A) dependent variable is introduced into the control group.
B) dependent variable is introduced into the experimental group.
C) independent variable is introduced into the control group.
D) independent variable is introduced into the experimental group.

Question 51

Subjects whose behavior is influenced by the attention they receive in an experiment are demonstrating a phenomenon known as the:

A) ecological fallacy.
B) expectancy effects.
C) Hawthorne effect.
D) Peter principle.

Question 52

In the Hawthorne experiments, the dependent variable was:

A) coffee breaks.
B) communication between workers and managers.
C) lighting conditions.
D) worker productivity.

Question 53

In the Western Electric's Hawthorne plant study, the real independent variable was:

A) improved working conditions.
B) the level of worker productivity.
C) the rate at which workers were paid.
D) the attention the workers' received because they were participating in an experiment.

Question 54

John wishes to evaluate the effectiveness of a program for first generation college students to determine the effectiveness of mentors. His best choice of research methodology is:

A) a field experiment.
B) a survey.
C) participant observation.
D) secondary analysis.

Question 55

A full enumeration of every member of a society is called:

A) a market survey
B) a national census
C) an opinion poll
D) a sample survey

Question 56

The purpose of the U.S. Census is

A) to pry into the personal sometimes private lives of U.S. citizens.
B) to enumerate the resident population of the United States for the purpose of establishing proportional representation of each state in Congress.
C) to determine the attitudes of citizens on such issues as environmental preservation.
D) none of these

Question 57

Which of the following is provided by the Current Population Survey (CPS)?

A) monthly estimates of employment.
B) political projections.
C) environmental concerns of the population.
D) public opinion on the census.

Question 58

The national census is an example of which of the following research methods?

A) a field experiment
B) archival research
C) participant observation
D) survey research

Question 59

If a sociologist wished to study certain aspects of an entire population, she would most likely use which of the following research methods?

A) a laboratory experiment
B) ethnographic reports
C) participant observation
D) survey research

Question 60

The Current Population Survey is conducted by the Bureau of the Census in order to:

A) describe local and regional populations not tapped by the decennial census.
B) improve the data collection methods of the Census Bureau.
C) train new census takers.
D) update the decennial national census with monthly data.

Question 61

When every member of a specific population has an equal chance of being selected to answer a survey's questions, the result is:

A) a controlled sample.
B) an unbiased sample.
C) a random sample.
D) a stratified sample.

Question 62

Which of the following procedures would be more likely to produce an unbiased sample for a survey?

A) conducting "man-on-the-street" interviews.
B) placing an advertisement in the paper for volunteer subjects.
C) producing a list of random phone numbers.
D) selecting every third name in the telephone book.

Question 63

In Asking Questions: A Practical Guide to Questionnaire Design, Seymour Sudman and Norman Bradburn argue that one of the most common abuses of survey methods is the use of questions that:

A) are difficult for the average respondent to understand.
B) are non-neutral and biased.
C) do not allow the researcher to formulate quantifiable hypotheses.
D) violate the respondent's right to privacy.

Question 64

In 1936, the Literary Digest conducted a telephone survey that incorrectly predicted the results of that year's presidential election. The survey was wrong because:

A) it did not take sample biases into account.
B) most respondents lied.
C) researchers were not able to interview every voter.
D) there was low voter turnout.

Question 65

What amount of sampling error is acceptable in a national sample of 1500 to 3000 respondents?

A) 5 to 10 percentage points.
B) plus or minus 3 percentage points.
C) less than one percentage point.
D) plus or minus 5 percentage points.

Question 66

Which of the following is included as a "household" based on the Statistical Abstracts?

A) Married couple with a family.
B) Male householder with no own children under 18.
C) Married couple family with no own children under 18.
D) All of these.

Question 67

Researchers are most likely to use random sampling in cases where:

A) respondents are reluctant to answer.
B) they wish to generalize to a larger population.
C) they wish to provide descriptions of how members of a specific group feel about an issue.
D) they wish to be unobtrusive.

Question 68

James is interested in the formation and maintenance of social relationships in a large inner city housing project. A good way to study this social phenomenon would be:

A) a controlled experiment.
B) an opinion poll.
C) participant observation.
D) secondary analysis.

Question 69

In survey research, a set of respondents selected from a specific population is called a(n):

A) control group.
B) independent variable.
C) sample.
D) universe.

Question 70

A question that requires a respondent to select from a set of predetermined answers is:

A) a closed question.
B) an open question.
C) an unobtrusive question.
D) a semi-structured question.

Question 71

The question "Please tell me about the social experiences you had in college" is an example of:

A) an empirical question.
B) an open question.
C) a semi-structured question.
D) a structured question.

Question 72

Survey instruments that rely on open questions are also known as:

A) interview guides.
B) question formats.
C) research designs.
D) respondent menus.

Question 73

The right of the individual to define for himself, when and on what terms his acts should be revealed to the general public is termed:

A) confidentiality.
B) informed consent.
C) the exclusion factor.
D) the right of privacy.

Question 74

The right that ensures that information will not be passed on to anyone else in a form that can be traced to the respondent is known as:

A) confidentiality
B) constitutional protection
C) informed consent
D) the exclusion factor

Question 75

A statement that tells respondents what they are being asked and how the information they supply will be used refers to the right of:

A) confidentiality
B) full disclosure
C) informed consent
D) privacy

Question 76

When two variables tend to change together in some predictable direction, we can state that:

A) one caused the other to occur
B) no relationship exists between the two
C) there is probably little sample bias in the study
D) the two are correlated with one another

Question 77

When a researcher "maps" social data, she/he is

A) choosing the physical location where the research project will occur
B) correlating the variable with the location in which it is found
C) keeping track of travel expenses in gathering the data
D) preparing a travel guide for future social scientists

Question 78

Which of the following statements concerning sociological theories is correct?

A) From a scientific perspective, sociologists have been unable to develop any theories.
B) Most sociologists are not interested in predicting the future.
C) Sociologists have developed some theories that have predicted future events.
D) Sociologists have developed theories similar to those found in physics.

Question 79

A theory may be described as:

A) a hunch about how things fit together
B) a set of interrelated concepts that seeks to explain an observable phenomenon
C) opinions about the way things ought to be related
D) predictions of the future

Question 80

Theoretical perspectives are sets of interrelated theories that

A) are similar in scope to those found in the physical sciences
B) do not rely on empirical investigation
C) have relatively little explanatory power
D) provide a framework of ideas and explanations