Question 1

An example of primary historical evidence on the 1930s Depression decade is

Accepted Answer

A film made in 1936 is a primary source as it was created during the time of the 1930s Depression, providing direct evidence from that era.

Question 2

Where would a researcher look to find information that represents a compilation of ethnographic studies conducted by anthropologists on many different cultures?

Accepted Answer

The Human Relations Area Files (HRAF) is a research agency that specializes in the organization and distribution of primary source materials on the cultures and societies of the world. It provides a vast compilation of ethnographic and cultural data, making it an ideal resource for researchers looking to find comprehensive information on various cultures as studied by anthropologists.

Question 3

Professor Trainor examined the way in which divorce takes place in Uganda and Pakistan. This is an example of

Accepted Answer

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Question 4

Which the following is a weakness of historical-comparative research?

Accepted Answer

Historical-comparative research often involves analyzing a limited number of cases, which can limit the generalizability of the findings. This is because it focuses on in-depth analysis of historical events, processes, or patterns across different societies or periods, which may not always allow for a large sample size.

Question 5

Professor Roberts began his study comparing 18th century New York with 18th century York England) by ignoring all theory, concepts, and assumptions. He wanted a "blank slate" when looking at data and to do research without analytic categories. He committed which problem or fallacy?

Accepted Answer

The Baconian fallacy refers to the error of conducting research without any theoretical framework or preconceived notions, believing that pure observation can lead to objective truth. This approach overlooks the importance of theories and hypotheses in guiding research and interpreting data.

Question 6

Which of the following is an example of internal criticism of a letter by General Rao written in 1904?

Accepted Answer

Internal criticism involves evaluating the content of a document for its authenticity, consistency, and reliability. Checking that the general witnessed the events referred to in the letter and that the meanings within the letter are consistent is an example of assessing the internal validity of the document.

Question 7

An example of primary historical evidence on the 1920s U.S. Prohibition era is

Accepted Answer

Primary historical evidence consists of documents or physical objects that were created or written during the time under study. A local police department report from 1922 detailing raids on "speakeasies" is an original document from the Prohibition era, making it primary evidence.

Question 8

The pure historian and the historical-comparative sociologist differ. The sociologist is more likely to

Accepted Answer

The historical-comparative sociologist is more likely to make empirical generalizations and use limited theory, as they often seek to identify patterns and make comparisons across different historical contexts, unlike pure historians who focus on specific details.

Question 9

Historical-comparative research is grounded in the Annales School. Which of the following best describes the Annales School?

Accepted Answer

The Annales School, founded by French historians, emphasizes long-term historical structures over the traditional event-based history. It integrates various social science disciplines, including sociology, anthropology, and geography, to understand societal changes, focusing on the experiences of ordinary people and broad social trends rather than just political events.

Question 10

Which of the following is a characteristic of a distinct historical-comparative research method?

Accepted Answer

Historical-comparative research often views causality as contingent, meaning that outcomes depend on a combination of factors and contexts, rather than being directly caused by one variable. This approach uses combinational explanations to understand how different elements interact over time to produce particular outcomes, distinguishing it from methods that strictly operationalize variables for hypothesis testing.

Question 11

Dr. Rowe wants to study the distinctive worldview perspective and assumptions about daily life that prevailed in the consciousness of ordinary people in Denmark in the 1790s. She wants to study

Accepted Answer

The term "mentalities" refers to the collective attitudes, values, and outlooks of a group of people in a specific time and place, fitting Dr. Rowe's interest in the worldview and assumptions of ordinary people in Denmark in the 1790s.

Question 12

Suzie studied the language of the Nuzski. In the language, there is no word equal to the English word "compassion." This illustrates a problem with

Accepted Answer

Lexicon equivalence refers to the challenge of finding exact word-for-word translations between languages. The absence of a direct equivalent for "compassion" in the Nuzski language highlights this issue, as it suggests a gap in the direct translation of concepts between English and Nuzski.

Question 13

In 1957, President Gorz posed for an official photograph in front of the presidential palace, which was the only photograph ever taken of him. Before the picture was taken, he had the barbed wire on the roof of the palace removed. He also took off the gun he always wore. He wanted to hide the militaristic and brutal nature of his rule. This illustrates

Accepted Answer

This illustrates bowdlerization, which refers to the practice of removing or modifying content considered offensive, sensitive, or unsuitable, in this case, to present a more favorable image of President Gorz's rule by hiding its militaristic and brutal aspects.

Question 14

Todd conducted a study of American Indian tribes in the state of New Mexico between 1850 and 1870. Although it was not directly in the evidence he examined, Todd knew that the expansion of the railroad and the U.S. Civil War were major events of the period and had an indirect impact on his research topic. This is called

Accepted Answer

Non-source based knowledge refers to information that a researcher knows about the historical context or background of their study topic, which is not directly derived from the primary or secondary sources being examined but is crucial for understanding the broader implications of the research. In this case, Todd's awareness of the expansion of the railroad and the U.S. Civil War's impact on American Indian tribes, despite not being part of his direct evidence, is an example of non-source based knowledge.

Question 15

Galton's Problem is

Accepted Answer

Galton's Problem refers to the issue in social science research where units of analysis (such as societies or cultures) may seem to be independent but are actually interconnected or similar, leading to potential biases in comparative studies.

Question 16

Dr. Josh Lang attempted to interview people in Indonesia about mental illness in their family history. He had difficulty learning anything because mental illness is taboo in Indonesian culture. This illustrates

Accepted Answer

Courtesy bias occurs when respondents give answers they think the interviewer wants to hear, or avoid sharing truthful but potentially embarrassing or socially taboo information. In this case, the difficulty Dr. Lang faced in gathering information about mental illness due to its taboo status in Indonesian culture is an example of courtesy bias, where participants might withhold information to avoid discomfort or perceived judgment.

Question 17

You pick up a book called Australia in the Penal Colony Years. When reading it, you notice that the author really only discusses the lives and ideas of five individuals based upon their diaries. The book is very micro- level. It only tells about the particular people with no generalization or integrating themes. This book illustrates which problem with secondary sources?

Accepted Answer

The book's focus on the lives and ideas of five individuals based on their diaries, without generalization or integrating themes, illustrates an individualistic bias. This means the historian has focused on the actions and experiences of specific individuals, as revealed in primary sources, rather than providing a broader analysis or context.

Question 18

Professor Jones gathers existing statistical information from various United Nations Publications and other sources on 120 nations. She then analyzes the information to see whether nations with certain forms of government e.g., democratic versus dictatorship) and economies e.g., industrial versus agricultural) have particular social programs e.g., public health programs). This is which type of comparative research?

Accepted Answer

Cross-national research involves comparing countries or cultures to understand differences and similarities, which is what Professor Jones is doing by analyzing various nations' forms of government, economies, and social programs.

Question 19

Professor Janzen was studying the settlement and statehood of Nebraska. He mistakenly dated admission to statehood in 1876, when it was actually admitted to the Union in 1867. He was also mistaken that Nebraska was the 33rd state admitted into the Union, when in actuality it was the 37th state admitted into the Union. This illustrates

Accepted Answer

An anachronism occurs when something is placed in a time where it does not belong, either through incorrect dating or by presenting an event, object, or person in the wrong historical context. In this case, Professor Janzen's errors regarding the date of Nebraska's statehood and its order of admission into the Union are examples of anachronisms, as they misplace the event in time.

Question 20

Professor Wallen went to the state historical library and state revenue department. He looked up the records of taxes paid each year by the twenty largest companies in the state between 1950 and the present. This type of data is best classified as

Accepted Answer

Running records are continuous data collected over time, such as tax records, which are maintained by institutions like the state revenue department.

Quiz 14: Historical-Comparative Research