Question 1

Quantitative research generally seeks to test idiographic causal explanations using either experimental or nonexperimental designs.

Accepted Answer

Quantitative research typically aims to test nomothetic causal explanations, focusing on generalizable findings across populations, rather than idiographic explanations, which are concerned with individual cases or specific instances.

Question 2

A study that surveys millennials every 3 years for 9 years is an example of what kind of study?

Accepted Answer

The answer of A study that surveys millennials every 3...

Question 3

The unit of analysis is the level of social life from which data are collected.

Accepted Answer

The answer of The unit of analysis is the level...

Question 4

The cases about which measures actually are obtained in a sample are known as ______.

Accepted Answer

Units of observation refer to the cases about which information is collected in a sample, focusing on the specific entities from which data are gathered.

Question 5

Melissa responds to a survey questionnaire every few weeks.Each survey is on a different topic such as her recycling behaviors and her view on gun control.What kind of study is this an example of?

Accepted Answer

This is an example of a panel study, where the same group of individuals is surveyed repeatedly over time on different topics.

Question 6

If a contextual effect exists,then causality cannot be established.

Accepted Answer

A contextual effect does not preclude the establishment of causality; it simply means that the effect of an intervention may vary depending on the context. Causality can still be established through careful study design and analysis that accounts for these contextual factors.

Question 7

An explanation of behavior problems in grade school classrooms that focus on the children's personalities,rather than on classroom structure,teacher behavior,or the surrounding neighborhood is an example of ______.

Accepted Answer

This explanation is an example of reductionist fallacy, which means simplifying complex phenomena by overly focusing on one factor or aspect. By solely attributing the behavior problems to the children's personalities, it oversimplifies the causes and ignores other potential factors.

Question 8

Cross-sectional research collects data at one point in time.

Accepted Answer

Cross-sectional research collects data at a specific point in time and does not involve following individuals over time. Therefore, it is a snapshot of the population at that specific moment.

Question 9

Time order cannot be established in cross-sectional research designs.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Time order cannot be established in cross-sectional...

Question 10

In their study of influences on violent crime in Chicago neighborhoods,Robert Sampson,Stephen Raudenbush,and Felton Earls (1997,p.919)hypothesized that efficacy would influence neighborhood crime rates.Collective efficacy was defined conceptually as a characteristic of the neighborhood: the extent to which residents were likely to help other residents and were trusted by other residents.To test this hypothesis,the researchers surveyed individuals from different neighborhoods.What is the unit of analysis in this study?

Accepted Answer

The unit of analysis in this study is neighborhoods. The researchers surveyed individuals within those neighborhoods to gather data on collective efficacy and crime rates, but the focus of analysis is on the characteristics and behaviors of neighborhoods as a whole.

Question 11

In some studies,the unit of analysis and the unit of observation are the same.

Accepted Answer

In some studies, the unit of analysis and the unit of observation refer to the same individual, group or entity. This means that the researcher collects data about the same unit they are analyzing, without aggregating or averaging data from different sources. However, in other cases, the unit of analysis and observation may differ, which can influence the validity and generalizability of the study findings.

Question 12

A trend study has a repeated cross-sectional design.

Accepted Answer

A trend study involves the collection of data at multiple time points, but each time point involves a different sample of individuals (or other units of analysis). This is known as a repeated cross-sectional design, as opposed to a longitudinal design where the same individuals are followed over time.

Question 13

What is critical for developing a causal analysis but can be an insurmountable problem with a cross-sectional design?

Accepted Answer

Time order is critical for developing a causal analysis because it establishes that the cause precedes the effect. However, it can be an insurmountable problem with a cross-sectional design because data is collected at one point in time, making it impossible to determine which variable came first.

Question 14

Interviewing survivors of the 9-11 attacks is an example of a cohort study.

Accepted Answer

A cohort study follows a group of individuals with a common characteristic over a period of time to observe the development of certain outcomes. In this case, the group being followed are the survivors of the 9-11 attacks, and the outcome being observed may be the development of physical or mental health conditions related to the attacks.

Question 15

Quantitative projects lead to what kind of causal explanations?

Accepted Answer

Nomothetic causal explanations focus on identifying general patterns and relationships among variables using quantitative methods. Therefore, quantitative projects are more likely to lead to nomothetic causal explanations rather than idiographic explanations which focus on unique cases and individual experiences. Nonspuriousness is important in establishing causality but it is not a type of causal explanation in itself.

Question 16

If a study contains a reductionist fallacy,it has drawn conclusions about individuals based on group-level data.

Accepted Answer

The answer of If a study contains a reductionist fallacy,it...

Question 17

What is the first criterion for identifying a nomothetic causal effect?

Accepted Answer

Association is the first criterion for identifying a nomothetic causal effect, as it establishes that there is a relationship between the independent and dependent variables.

Question 18

A researcher conducts four surveys over 4 months measuring voters' support for a proposed policy in his county.What kind of study is this an example of?

Accepted Answer

This is an example of a trend study because it involves measuring changes in opinions or behaviors over time within a population, in this case, voters' support for a proposed policy over four months.

Question 19

If a study contains an ecological fallacy,it has drawn conclusions about individuals from group-level data.

Accepted Answer

The definition of an ecological fallacy is that it draws conclusions about individuals based on group-level data, so the statement is true.

Question 20

What is the appearance of phenomena at a group level that cannot be explained by the properties of individuals within the group?

Accepted Answer

Emergence refers to the appearance of new properties or phenomena at a collective or system level that cannot be explained by the properties or behavior of individual elements within the system. This phenomenon is commonly observed in complex systems, including biological, social, and ecological systems, where emergent properties may arise from the interactions between individual agents or components of the system.

Quiz 6: Research Design and Causation