Question 1

Using the wear down of tiles in a museum to estimate the popularity of certain exhibits is an example of _________________.

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Question 2

What is physical erosion, and what is an example of an erosion study?

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Question 3

What is physical accretion, and what is an example of an accretion study?

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Question 4

Using the court transcripts of the O.J. Simpson trial to create a commentary on the exchanges between the defense and prosecution is an example of ______________.

Accepted Answer

Using court transcripts as a source for commentary involves archival strategies, which involves collecting and analyzing historical records and documents for research purposes. Actuarial records involve statistical analysis of data to determine potential risks, and accretion and physical erosion are geological processes that are not relevant to this context.

Question 5

Explain what type of unobtrusive data collection a personal letter is, and describe an example of when letters have been used in research scenarios.

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Question 6

What is the diary method, and what are the advantages to using it?

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Question 7

Define commercial media accounts, and give an example of how they can be used as an unobtrusive data source.

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Question 8

Explain what research technique researchers should use to corroborate unobtrusive data sources (especially physical trace sources), and why.

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Question 9

Using a blogger's entries as a digital journal of the blog writer's life to study an aspect of the blogger population is an example of using which type of unobtrusive method?

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This is because the method described involves looking at archived blog entries, which falls under archival strategies as an unobtrusive method.

Question 10

Why is video record becoming such a valuable research tool?

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Question 11

Which research technique must researchers be sure to employ to corroborate data obtained unobtrusively?

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Triangulation involves the use of multiple methods or sources of data to confirm or cross-validate findings. This is particularly important when using unobtrusive measures, where there may be a greater risk of bias or interpretation errors. The science of garbology involves analyzing waste to gather information about consumption habits, while covert observations involve observing participants without their knowledge or consent. Coding involves categorizing and organizing data.

Question 12

Define unobtrusive research, and explain how it works.

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Question 13

An example of a type of measure is an analysis of the possessions that people of wealth display conspicuously to explain the social identities of the leisure class. What type of trace record is this study examining?

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This study is examining accretion, which refers to the process of cultural accumulation through the display of conspicuous possessions.

Question 14

What are the three types of autobiographies, and how are they used?

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Question 15

What ethical concern do researchers need to be aware of when using unobtrusive data?

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Question 16

Define actuarial records and give an example of how they can be used as an unobtrusive data source.

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Question 17

Using publicly published police records and the accompanying video or audio recordings of the police report to study crimes committed during the day or evening of the published account is an example of which type of unobtrusive method?

Accepted Answer

Using publicly published police records and accompanying video or audio recordings falls under the category of official documentary records, which is one of the unobtrusive methods used in social research.

Question 18

Examining graffiti in a neighborhood to create a typology of symbolic messages in various graffiti renderings is an example of _________________.

Accepted Answer

Accretion refers to the process of gathering and accumulating information or objects over time. Examining graffiti in a neighborhood and creating a typology of symbolic messages involves the accretion of data to develop a comprehensive understanding of the graffiti culture and its symbolic meanings.

Question 19

Define official documentary records, and provide an example of their use as an unobtrusive data source.

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Question 20

Studying tombstones to create social comparisons between cemetery structure and social structure is an example of _____________.

Accepted Answer

Studying tombstones to understand social structures involves analyzing historical records or documents that are preserved, which falls under archival strategies. This method does not involve the physical alteration or accumulation of materials, hence it is not accretion or physical erosion, and it is not based on official documentary records but rather on physical artifacts and their inscriptions.

Quiz 8: Unobtrusive Measures in Research