Question 1

Universalism

Accepted Answer

Universalism refers to the principle that scientific claims are evaluated based on their merit, independent of the personal attributes or affiliations of the individuals involved in the research.

Question 2

Disinterestedness

Accepted Answer

Disinterestedness in science refers to the principle that scientists should be neutral, impartial, and open-minded, not allowing personal biases or attachments to influence their acceptance of new ideas or evidence.

Question 3

Prestige and honor within the scientific community depend largely on

Accepted Answer

Prestige and honor in the scientific community are primarily based on a researcher's contributions to their field, as evidenced by publications in respected scholarly journals. This demonstrates the individual's ability to conduct significant research and contribute new knowledge, which is highly valued in academia and scientific circles. Popularity as a teacher, connections with powerful individuals, or media appearances do not directly contribute to a scientist's prestige and honor in the same way.

Question 4

Communalism

Accepted Answer

Communalism in science refers to the principle that scientific knowledge is a collective product and should be shared openly with the community. It emphasizes that discoveries and insights belong to everyone and should be accessible for further research and development, rather than being kept secret or proprietary.

Question 5

When one designs a study in qualitative and quantitative research, the next step in the research process is to .

Accepted Answer

After designing a study in both qualitative and quantitative research, the next step is to collect data. This involves gathering the necessary information through various methods such as surveys, interviews, observations, or experiments to address the research questions or hypotheses.

Question 6

Professor Rodgers examined survey information about people who were 65 years of age and older. He found the average level of happiness reported increased from 1982 to 2002. He concluded that people under 65 years of age also experienced increasing levels of happiness from 1982 to 2002. The error he committed is called

Accepted Answer

Professor Rodgers made an error of overgeneralization by assuming that the findings about one group (people 65 years and older) would apply to another group (people under 65 years of age) without having specific data to support this broader claim.

Question 7

On your way to meet with your Methods instructor, you pass an office where you overhear two sociologists aggressively discussing a research project. One of the sociologists is criticizing the project's design and trying to find flaws in it. You are witnessing which norm of the scientific community?

Accepted Answer

Organized skepticism refers to the norm within the scientific community where ideas and research findings are critically scrutinized and questioned. This ensures that conclusions are well-supported by evidence and helps in identifying any flaws or biases in research designs. The scenario described, where a sociologist is critically analyzing a research project, exemplifies this norm.

Question 8

Albert Einstein was offered the presidency of Israel in 1952, but turned the position down because of his failing health. The assumption that a Nobel winning physicist would understand the dynamics of nation building falls under which error of personal experience?

Accepted Answer

The assumption that a Nobel-winning physicist would understand the dynamics of nation building falls under the halo effect. This cognitive bias occurs when one's overall impression of a person (in this case, Einstein's brilliance in physics) influences beliefs about their abilities in other areas (like nation-building).

Question 9

Thomas T. Jones, a hospital administrator, has heard a lot about gay men getting HIV and AIDS. He has watched male patients at his hospital admitted for AIDS. He thinks all of the men look like homosexuals as well as almost all their male visitors. In actuality, 60 percent of the HIV positive male patients were heterosexual and 80 percent of their visitors were neighbors, co-workers, or immediate family members. He most clearly made which type of error?

Accepted Answer

Thomas T. Jones made a selective observation error by focusing only on the patients and visitors who fit his stereotype, ignoring the actual statistics that contradict his assumptions.

Question 10

The halo effect occurs when

Accepted Answer

The halo effect refers to the cognitive bias where an individual's positive traits in one area lead to positive perceptions in other areas, even if unrelated. This means people might assume someone who is attractive or successful in one aspect is also competent, kind, or intelligent in other areas, without direct evidence.

Question 11

Professional researchers may devote years of work and money to have their results published in a scholarly journal. Yet, they rarely receive commission or royalties from the publication. Which norm of the scientific community pressures them to do this and share the results with others?

Accepted Answer

Communalism is the norm that emphasizes the sharing of scientific results with the community. It supports the idea that scientific knowledge is a collective product and should be openly shared for the advancement of science.

Question 12

In qualitative research, an important first step in the research process is to "acknowledge the social self." Why is this step important for qualitative research, but not quantitative research?

Accepted Answer

The answer of In qualitative research, an important first step...

Question 13

There are several alternative sources of knowledge authority, tradition, personal experience) to social research. Explain how social research attempts to overcome the shortcomings of these alternative sources of knowledge.

Accepted Answer

The answer of There are several alternative sources of knowledge...

Question 14

The television show "COPS" has been broadcasted on FOX since March 1989 and its limited portrayal of crime can leave many viewers with an inaccurate view of the social world. This alternative medium of social knowledge is called .

Accepted Answer

The correct term is "media myths," which refers to the simplified and often distorted representations of reality that are presented by the media, including television shows like "COPS." These portrayals can shape public perceptions and understandings of social issues, such as crime, in ways that do not accurately reflect their complexity or reality.

Question 15

Organized skepticism

Accepted Answer

Organized skepticism refers to the practice of critically evaluating new ideas and evidence, questioning and challenging them rather than accepting them uncritically.

Question 16

Professor Davis said that his research report is undergoing a "blind review." What does this mean?

Accepted Answer

In a blind review process, the identities of both the author(s) and the reviewers are kept anonymous to eliminate bias and ensure a fair evaluation of the work.

Question 17

Sara conducted a study on religion. She developed a questionnaire and planned an accurate sample of 500 people. She ran off copies of her questionnaire. She contacted people in her sample. Sara next interviewed the sample and carefully recorded all the information. She used various statistics to analyze the data and interpreted her statistics to bring out their meaning. Lastly, she wrote about her findings and method for a paper that she presented at professional meetings and sent to a scholarly journal for possible publication. Which step in the process of research did Sara skip?

Accepted Answer

Sara conducted all other steps mentioned except for focusing her research question, which is a crucial initial step in the research process to guide the study.

Question 18

It has been said that science cannot provide people with "absolute Truth." Even as all disciplines of science become more rigorous, why is science unable to provide people with "absolute Truth?"

Accepted Answer

The answer of It has been said that science cannot...

Question 19

________research measures objective facts; _______research, by contrast, constructs social reality.

Accepted Answer

Quantitative research measures objective facts, while qualitative research constructs social reality.

Question 20

The president of Big Hotdog, Inc. considered changing the wage structure to increase worker productivity. She called in the firm's top management team to make a decision. The vice president for sales said, "I read an article in last week's Fortune magazine on it, and it proves that the proposed new wage structure always is best." Which error does the vice president of sales make?

Accepted Answer

The vice president for sales is making an appeal to authority as a basis of knowledge by referencing an article in Fortune magazine as proof that the proposed new wage structure is always best. This suggests that the decision is being influenced by the credibility of the source rather than a critical evaluation of the evidence.

Quiz 1: Why Do Research