Question 1

Why are experiments much less common in sociology than in the natural sciences?

Accepted Answer

In sociology, it is often difficult to bring large groups of people into a laboratory setting, and even when small groups are brought in, the presence of observers can alter their behavior, making it difficult to get accurate results. As a result, experiments are much less common in sociology than in the natural sciences.

Question 2

Philip Zimbardo's prison experiment involved setting up a make-believe jail and randomly assigning male student volunteers to the roles of guards and prisoners. The researcher concluded that:

Accepted Answer

Zimbardo's experiment demonstrated that the behavior of the participants was largely influenced by the nature of the prison setting, rather than individual personality characteristics. The guards quickly became abusive towards the prisoners, demonstrating the power of situational factors in shaping human behavior. The study has been criticized for its ethical issues, but it remains a landmark in understanding the power of social roles and institutions.

Question 3

Tom develops a questionnaire for his study on Facebook usage that allows subjects to indicate whether they strongly agree, agree, disagree, or strongly disagree with various statements. These types of questions are known as:

Accepted Answer

The questionnaire with the four response options (strongly agree, agree, disagree, or strongly disagree) is known as a standardized questionnaire, as it provides a set of standardized response options. Experimental questions are used in experimental research designs, fieldwork refers to research conducted in natural settings rather than a laboratory, and open-ended questions allow for open and varied responses rather than a set of predetermined options.

Question 4

Which of the following describes an advantage of survey research?

Accepted Answer

Survey research allows for easy quantification and analysis of results, making it a valuable tool in gathering numerical data for research and decision-making processes.

Question 5

Kelly develops a questionnaire to test on a few subjects to find potential problems with it before conducting the full study. What is this trial run called?

Accepted Answer

The trial run that Kelly is conducting is called a pilot study. A pilot study is a small-scale preliminary study conducted to test the feasibility and potential issues with a larger study. It helps researchers identify any potential problems or gaps in the research design before conducting the full study.

Question 6

Using participant observation in the sociological research process requires:

Accepted Answer

Participant observation involves the researcher becoming a member of the group being studied and observing their behavior, attitudes, and interactions from the inside. This requires gaining the trust of group members and creating a personal relationship with them, which can be done through various means such as participating in group activities or engaging in conversations with group members. Therefore, using great skill and sensitivity in gaining the trust of numerous members of the group being studied is crucial in participant observation research.

Question 7

Robert Park's vision of sociology included:

Accepted Answer

Robert Park believed in the importance of careful firsthand observation, which is why he emphasized fieldwork in sociology. He believed that sociologists should immerse themselves in the communities they are studying and use their own experiences and observations as the basis for their research. While statistics and theory were also important to Park's approach, his emphasis on firsthand observation sets his vision apart from other sociological perspectives.

Question 8

Kevin is interested in doing a study on student attitudes toward the general education requirements on his campus. He surveys 50 students. This small group of students he surveyed is known as the:

Accepted Answer

The group of 50 students that Kevin surveyed is a sample, as it is a subset of the larger population of all students on his campus. The population would include all of the students on his campus, and the control and experimental groups would only be relevant if Kevin was conducting an experimental study with specific interventions or treatments.

Question 9

Frank develops a questionnaire for his study on Internet dating. One of his questions asks, "How do you feel about Internet dating?" What type of question is this?

Accepted Answer

This is an open-ended question as it allows the respondent to provide their own personal opinion or feelings about Internet dating rather than selecting from a list of predetermined options.

Question 10

For a sample to accurately reflect the characteristics of the study population, it must be:

Accepted Answer

A representative sample is necessary for accurate reflection of the study population. This means that the sample is selected in a way that each member of the population has an equal chance of being included in the sample, and that the demographics and characteristics of the sample closely match those of the larger population. The size of the sample depends on the study design and goals, and it does not need to be very large in order to be representative. Publicity and standardization are not factors that necessarily ensure representativeness.

Question 11

The main purpose of sampling is to:

Accepted Answer

The main purpose of sampling is to select a set of people who are representative of the population. This means that the sample should share the same characteristics as the population from which it is drawn. This allows researchers to make inferences about the population based on the sample.

Question 12

Reilly, a sociology master's student, wants to do research on the homeless in her city. She would like to provide a rich, detailed, inside view of being homeless. What research method should she choose?

Accepted Answer

Ethnography involves immersing oneself in a social setting to gain an in-depth understanding of the culture and behaviors of the people involved. This would allow Reilly to provide a rich, detailed, inside view of being homeless. Comparative research involves comparing two or more groups or societies, and an experiment involves manipulating variables under controlled conditions. A survey would not provide the level of detailed understanding that Reilly is seeking.

Question 13

Alice Goffman spent six years hanging out with and observing the everyday life of a group of black men who were on the run from the criminal justice system in a poor neighborhood in Philadelphia. Her research methods most closely resemble the work of:

Accepted Answer

Alice Goffman's research methods of participant observation and ethnography align closely with the work of Robert Park, who is considered one of the founders of the Chicago School of sociology and emphasized the importance of studying the everyday life of urban communities through direct observation and interaction. Ogburn and Durkheim focused more on quantitative analysis and theoretical frameworks, while Marx's work was centered on the role of economics and class struggle in society.

Question 14

Recently, social scientists using participant observation have written about how their race, class, gender, and sexual orientation:

Accepted Answer

Social scientists' race, class, gender, and sexual orientation can affect their research process due to power differences. For example, a researcher who is of a different race or social class than the group they are studying may face challenges in gaining trust and building relationships with participants due to a lack of shared experiences. Additionally, they may subconsciously bring biases or assumptions into their research that can impact the validity of their findings. It is important for researchers to reflect on and acknowledge their positionality and potential biases in order to conduct ethical and effective research.

Question 15

Random sampling makes a sample representative by ensuring that __________.

Accepted Answer

Random sampling ensures that everyone in the population has an equal chance of being selected for the sample, which helps to make the sample representative of the population.

Question 16

If a researcher would like to get in-depth information based on interviews and firsthand observations, she should use the methodological approach known as a(n) _________.

Accepted Answer

Ethnography is a methodological approach that involves in-depth interviews, firsthand observations, and an immersion in the culture to obtain detailed insights into the phenomenon being studied. Surveys are a methodological approach that involve a standardized set of questions to collect data from a large population, whereas pilot studies are small-scale studies used to test the feasibility of a larger study. Experiments are a methodological approach that involve manipulation of variables to test cause-and-effect relationships. Therefore, ethnography is the best choice for obtaining in-depth information based on interviews and firsthand observations.

Question 17

What kind of research method would be best if your goal was to learn how the residents in a gated community feel about racial desegregation?

Accepted Answer

Surveys would allow for a large sample size and quantitative data on the residents' opinions about racial desegregation. Participant observation would provide qualitative data by allowing the researcher to observe and interact with the residents in their community and gain a deeper understanding of their attitudes and experiences. Historical analysis and experiments would not be relevant to this research question.

Question 18

In order for a sample to be representative, it must be selected with __________.

Accepted Answer

Randomization allows for every member of the population to have an equal chance of being selected, ensuring that the sample is not biased towards any particular subgroup. Ethnography, census-based data, and standardization may be useful in certain research methods but do not necessarily guarantee representativeness of the sample.

Question 19

Which research method would be best to use if you wanted a large, representative sample of people's attitudes toward married women with children working outside the home?

Accepted Answer

A survey would be the best choice to obtain a large, representative sample of people's attitudes toward married women with children working outside the home. Surveys can be conducted on a large scale and can reach a diverse group of people in different locations. Additionally, surveys can be anonymous, which may encourage respondents to answer honestly and openly about their attitudes.

Question 20

William Ogburn's vision of sociology included:

Accepted Answer

William Ogburn believed that sociology should be transformed to look more like the natural sciences, with a greater emphasis on quantitative research methods and the use of statistical data analysis. He was a proponent of the positivist approach, which emphasizes the use of empirical data and scientific methods in the study of social phenomena.

Quiz 2: Asking and Answering Sociological Questions