Question 1

This data-gathering method does not include the possibility that the researcher's facial expression or body language will influence respondents to answer in a particular way.This method is

Accepted Answer

Self-administered questionnaires are completed by respondents without the researcher's presence, so the possibility of the researcher's influence through facial expressions or body language is eliminated.

Question 2

For the Gender Concepts of Swedish and American Youth study, researchers distributed surveys to Swedish and American teens.The instructions asked them to list attributes they thought 'characterized most women, most men, most boys, most girls, and themselves; to write "change-sex stories" about what their lives would be like if they found they had become the other sex'.The researchers used which one of the following methods?

Accepted Answer

The study used a self-administered questionnaire where the participants were instructed to fill out the survey themselves.

Question 3

The research for the book Unbound Feet drew upon '45 years of a Chinese language newspaper and numerous organizational archives, such as the Presbyterian Mission Homes, the Chinese YWCA, the Square and Circles Club, and the Chinese Ladies Garment Workers Union'.The researchers used which one of the following methods?

Accepted Answer

The researchers used secondary sources, specifically archival materials and newspapers, to conduct their research for the book. No mention is made of using participant or non-participant observation, or self-administered questionnaires.

Question 4

A group of Grade 4 learners are observed to determine whether a new teaching method increases learner participation in class.The learners are aware that they are part of a study and as a result they actively participate in class.This is the result of

Accepted Answer

The Hawthorne Effect is a phenomenon where individuals alter their behavior as a result of being observed or studied. In this case, the Grade 4 learners are aware that they are part of a study, which increases their participation in class. Therefore, the Hawthorne Effect best explains the observed increase in learner participation.

Question 5

Researchers choose to study non-representative samples for all but which one of the following reasons.

Accepted Answer

Non-representative samples may not accurately reflect the larger population being studied, but they can still provide valuable insights into certain issues or subgroups. Researchers may choose to study non-representative samples because they have special or unique characteristics (C) that cannot be found in a representative sample or when the experiences of those in the sample help to clarify important social issues (D). Additionally, researchers may choose to study non-representative samples when little is known about the members who make up the sample (B), as this can help to identify new areas of research or provide a more nuanced understanding of a particular topic. However, researchers should not choose non-representative samples simply because they are easy to study (A), as this can lead to biased or incomplete results.

Question 6

The US census form, which is mailed out to every household every 10 years, is an example of

Accepted Answer

The US census form is a self-administered questionnaire, as it is sent to households for individuals to fill out and return themselves.

Question 7

Which of the following would be the best option to obtain a representative sample of students at your university?

Accepted Answer

Randomly drawing a sample from the most recent applications list ensures that all students have an equal chance of being selected and provides a more representative sample of the student population at the university. The other options may result in a biased sample, as they only target certain groups of students (those eating in the cafeteria, those leaving class or the parking lot).

Question 8

The dependent variable in the hypothesis 'Retired populations have a higher suicide rate than employed populations' is

Accepted Answer

The dependent variable in this hypothesis is the suicide rate, as it is the variable being compared between retired and employed populations. The independent variable, which is not given in the options, would be retirement status (retired or employed).

Question 9

In a structured interview, the question-answer sequence

Accepted Answer

In a structured interview, the question-answer sequence is set in advance, meaning that researchers plan and prepare specific questions to ask each participant. This creates a standardized approach to interviewing, which helps to reduce bias and facilitate the comparison of responses across participants.

Question 10

Observational techniques are especially useful for all but one of the following purposes.

Accepted Answer

Observational techniques may not be the most efficient way to learn about large numbers of people at one time, as it is time-consuming and resource-intensive to observe many individuals. Surveys or other quantitative methods may be more suitable for this purpose.

Question 11

An unintended effect resulting from the attention one receives from being the subject of the research is the

Accepted Answer

The Hawthorne Effect is a phenomenon in which subjects change their behavior or performance in response to being observed or participating in an experiment. This effect can occur even if the experiment is designed to simply observe normal behavior, and can therefore be an unintended result of the attention given to subjects during research.

Question 12

In an unstructured interview, the question-answer sequence is

Accepted Answer

Unstructured interviews are characterized by open-ended questions and a flexible question-answer sequence. The interviewer may ask follow-up questions or delve deeper into certain topics, allowing for a free-flowing conversation rather than a rigid and structured interview.

Question 13

The variable that helps to explain and predict the behaviour of interest is known as the ______ variable.

Accepted Answer

The independent variable is the one that is manipulated or varied by the researcher to observe its effect on another variable, making it the variable that helps to explain and predict the behavior of interest.

Question 14

Researcher Kandi Stinson spent two years as a weight loss group member, 'studying how women spoke about and understood losing weight'.Stinson used which one of the following methods?

Accepted Answer

Stinson's method of studying the weight loss group involved her actively participating as a member of the group, observing their discussions and interactions. This method is called participant observation.

Question 15

When engaged in __________, researchers must be especially careful not to misinterpret or misrepresent what is happening.

Accepted Answer

When engaged in observation research, researchers directly observe and record behavior, which can be subjective and open to interpretation. Therefore, researchers must be careful not to misinterpret or misrepresent what is happening. Structured interviews and survey research involve standardized questions and responses, which can help to minimize misinterpretation. Unstructured interviews may be more prone to misinterpretation, but may also provide valuable in-depth insights if conducted carefully.

Question 16

The dependent variable in the hypothesis 'the longer a U.S.line worker has been employed at a U.S.-based assembly plant, the more time it takes for that worker to find new employment when the assembly plant moves to Mexico' is

Accepted Answer

The dependent variable is the variable that is being measured or observed in the hypothesis. In this case, it is the length of time it takes for the worker to find new employment, which is represented by option D.

Question 17

In research, the variable to be explained or predicted is known as

Accepted Answer

The dependent variable is the variable being observed or measured in a study, and it is the variable to be explained or predicted. The independent variable is the variable that is manipulated by the researcher to determine its effect on the dependent variable. The hypothesis is a proposed explanation or prediction about the relationship between variables. The control variable is a variable that is held constant in an experiment to ensure that it does not influence the results.

Question 18

The independent variable in the hypothesis 'the longer a U.S.line worker has been employed at a U.S.-based assembly plant, the more difficult it is for that worker to find new employment when the assembly plant moves to Mexico' is

Accepted Answer

The independent variable is the variable that is manipulated or controlled by the experimenter. In this hypothesis, the variable that is being manipulated or controlled is the length of time employed at the US-based assembly plant. Therefore, choice C, "the length of time employed at line work in US assembly plant", is the independent variable.

Question 19

The independent variable in the hypothesis 'Retired populations have a higher suicide rate than employed populations' is

Accepted Answer

The independent variable in this hypothesis is employment status. The hypothesis is testing whether employment status (retired or employed) has an effect on suicide rate. Therefore, employment status is the independent variable being manipulated, while suicide rate (the dependent variable) is being observed and measured.

Question 20

If a researcher decides to live with his or her subjects for a month, the researcher is using ____________.

Accepted Answer

Living with subjects for a month is a form of observation research, as the researcher is observing the subjects in their natural environment and daily routines. Structured interviews involve a pre-determined set of questions asked in a specific order, while self-administered questionnaires are completed by the subjects on their own. Survey research involves administering a set of questions to a large sample of participants, but does not necessarily involve living with them.

Quiz 3: Social Research