Question 1

Which of the following is the best example of a puzzle-solving research question?

Accepted Answer

Puzzle-solving research questions typically ask "why" something has occurred, seeking explanations for observed phenomena. Option B asks for an explanation for a decline in voter turnout, fitting the criteria of a puzzle-solving question.

Question 2

For a research project in his sociology class, Jose is studying dating preferences among college students. He has already decided to conduct a survey of his classmates and has developed a hypothesis. What should be his next step?

Accepted Answer

Jose's next step should be to carry out the research, as he has already developed a hypothesis and decided on the method of conducting a survey.

Question 3

Sociological research projects usually:

Accepted Answer

Sociological research projects are generally exploratory and lead to the development of new research questions and problems, rather than providing clear-cut answers. The goal of sociological research is to better understand social processes and phenomena, and this often leads to the identification of new areas for investigation. The purpose of research is not to influence the behavior of subjects, but rather to observe and analyze it objectively. Anecdotal information is not considered reliable or valid evidence in sociological research.

Question 4

A recent study of Facebook users that attempted to predict whether our romantic relationships would last found that:

Accepted Answer

The study found that if two people had the same group of friends, they had a higher likelihood of staying together.

Question 5

For a research project in his sociology class, Joe is studying cheating among college students. He is currently deciding between creating a questionnaire and conducting interviews. What stage of the research process is he in now?

Accepted Answer

Joe is currently deciding between creating a questionnaire and conducting interviews, which falls under selecting an appropriate research design. Therefore, he is in the stage of selecting an appropriate research design.

Question 6

For a research project in his sociology class, Jamal is studying eating disorders among college students. He is currently interviewing several subjects. What stage of the research process is he in now?

Accepted Answer

Jamal is currently carrying out the research by interviewing subjects. The other stages of the research process are defining the research problem, selecting an appropriate research design, and interpreting the results.

Question 7

The research method that relies on personal and group interviews and observation is called a(n) ________ approach.

Accepted Answer

The qualitative approach relies on personal and group interviews and observation to collect data. This approach allows for a more in-depth exploration of a topic and focuses on understanding behaviors, attitudes, and experiences of participants rather than just numerical data.

Question 8

Sociologists studying a population to which they do not belong-for example, a white researcher studying Chinese Americans or a male researcher studying women-should employ which research standard?

Accepted Answer

The research standard that sociologists studying a population to which they do not belong should employ is reflexivity. This involves reflecting on how their own background and position may influence their research, and taking steps to minimize bias and ensure that the perspectives of those being studied are adequately represented.

Question 9

For a research project in her sociology class, Joan has decided to study gender wage differences between men and women. What should be her next step?

Accepted Answer

before Joan can develop a hypothesis, interpret results, or report findings, she needs to review the existing literature on gender wage differences. This will help her to identify gaps in knowledge, explore different theories and explanations, and develop a clear research question to guide her study.

Question 10

In her 1986 book Uncoupling, Diane Vaughn uses what kind of research to focus on the rich details of how individuals dissolve their relationships?

Accepted Answer

Diane Vaughn's research method for her book Uncoupling involved conducting interviews with individuals in order to capture detailed information about how relationships dissolve.

Question 11

Which of the following statements is an example of a hypothesis?

Accepted Answer

A hypothesis is a testable statement that seeks to explain a phenomenon or predict a relationship between two variables. In this case, statement D predicts that there is a negative relationship between unmarried motherhood and marriage to men with college degrees. It can be tested through empirical research. Statements A and B are descriptive facts, not testable hypotheses, while statement C is a generalization that lacks specificity and testability.

Question 12

What are the four basic standards that establish social research as scientific?

Accepted Answer

The four basic standards that establish social research as scientific are generalizability (ability to draw conclusions beyond the specific participants and context of the study), replicability (ability to replicate the study and obtain similar results), uncertainty (acknowledging and accounting for potential sources of error), and reflexivity (acknowledging and addressing the researchers' own biases and assumptions). Choice A accurately identifies and describes each of these four standards. Choices B, C, and D do not accurately identify the four standards.

Question 13

A good hypothesis will be formulated in such a way that the:

Accepted Answer

A good hypothesis should be testable and the goal is to gather factual material that can either support or disprove it. If the factual material gathered always supports the hypothesis, then it may be biased and not a truly objective hypothesis. Similarly, if the factual material gathered always disproves the hypothesis, then it may not have been formulated correctly or the experiment may not have been designed well.

Question 14

The strongest sociological research begins with problems that:

Accepted Answer

The strongest sociological research begins with problems that are puzzles created by a gap in our knowledge or understanding, and this gap typically involves some sort of social phenomenon or event. The research then seeks to answer the puzzle by collecting and analyzing evidence, which may involve standardizing facts but must also involve interpreting those facts in light of theories and/or policy concerns. While exploring new social phenomena/events can be a worthwhile pursuit, it is not necessarily the strongest starting point for sociological research.

Question 15

Sasha, a student in a sociology class, lost points on a graded research paper for not citing a famous study done five years earlier that was nearly identical to his own research. What step in the research process should he have done more carefully?

Accepted Answer

Sasha should have reviewed the evidence and literature more carefully in order to identify past studies similar to his own and properly cite them.

Question 16

Beginning in the 1920s in American sociology, largely at the University of Chicago, the discipline of sociology began to transform in what way?

Accepted Answer

The discipline began to transform by making a stronger attempt to ground sociological concepts and theories in facts and data, which is reflected in the emergence of empirical research methods and data-driven studies. This shift was largely driven by the influence of scholars such as Robert Park and Ernest Burgess at the University of Chicago, and it marked a departure from the more speculative and theoretical approach that had dominated early sociological thinking.

Question 17

A researcher will survey college students concerning their attitudes toward lowering the legal drinking age to 18. Which of the following is a good research hypothesis for this particular study?

Accepted Answer

This hypothesis makes a clear and specific prediction about a potential difference in attitudes between two groups of college students based on age. This hypothesis can be tested through survey data analysis. The other choices do not make a clear prediction about the relationship between variables or are not relevant to the specific research question.

Question 18

Which statement best characterizes sociology in its early development?

Accepted Answer

Sociology in its early development was characterized by a strong emphasis on theoretical frameworks to understand and explain social phenomena, rather than focusing primarily on empirical research or specific types of interactions.

Question 19

Which of the following studies best exemplifies a qualitative methodological approach?

Accepted Answer

Observing interactions between parents at a series of school-related meetings is an example of qualitative research because it involves collecting non-numerical data (such as behaviors and attitudes) through observation and interpretation. The other options involve quantitative research, which involves collecting numerical data that can be analyzed statistically.

Question 20

A research project sets out to use large amounts of objective data to describe the rates and averages of several characteristics of a population and the correlations between them. The method it will most likely need to use is _________.

Accepted Answer

The question states that the research project aims to use large amounts of objective data, which necessitates the use of quantitative methods. Hypothesis testing is a specific type of quantitative method that may or may not be appropriate for the project, depending on its research questions and hypotheses. Observation could also be a useful method, but on its own, it is not sufficient for describing rates and averages or identifying correlations. Qualitative methods would not be appropriate for this type of project, as they typically rely on subjective interpretations of data rather than objective measurements. Therefore, the best choice for this research project is the quantitative method.

Quiz 2: Asking and Answering Sociological Questions