Question 1

Which of the following represents an ethical consideration when doing research?

Accepted Answer

Ethical considerations include protecting the privacy and dignity of participants, not causing harm, and obtaining informed consent. Exposing participants to embarrassment would violate these ethical principles. A, B, and C are more related to methodological considerations rather than ethical ones.

Question 2

What does the operationalization process do?

Accepted Answer

The operationalization process involves translating abstract concepts into specific variables that can be measured, manipulated, and analyzed in empirical research. Therefore, the correct answer is A. B, C, and D are incorrect because they do not accurately describe the purpose of operationalization.

Question 3

If you label all of the people seated in your classroom as "students," which process are you using?

Accepted Answer

The answer of If you label all of the people...

Question 4

When conducting research with human beings, what must sociologists respect?

Accepted Answer

Sociologists must respect the research participants' rights, including informed consent, confidentiality, and the right to withdraw from the research at any time. This is essential for upholding ethical standards in research and protecting the well-being and dignity of the individuals involved. While scientific knowledge and the reputation of the university may also be important considerations, they should not come at the expense of violating participants' rights. The need for public information may also be a consideration, but it should be balanced with the potential risks to participants and their right to privacy.

Question 5

Answer questions based on the following table.
-What is the meaning of the "25%" in the table?

Accepted Answer

The statement "25 percent of females are unhappy" directly corresponds to the meaning of "25%" in the context of the table, indicating that out of all females surveyed, 25% reported being unhappy.

Question 6

In the 1970s, a sociologist observed sexual encounters in public washrooms without revealing his identity to participants.What would have been the researcher's best attempt to minimize the invasion of the participants' privacy?

Accepted Answer

Debriefing the respondents would be the best attempt to minimize the invasion of privacy. This would involve informing the participants about the true nature of the research and giving them the opportunity to ask questions or withdraw their participation. It would also allow the researcher to address any potential negative consequences that could arise from their involvement. Not using any recording equipment or revealing respondents' identity only to colleagues may not fully address the issue of invasion of privacy. Becoming a participant in the activity could also raise ethical concerns related to the researcher's own behavior and potential harm to themselves or others.

Question 7

John tells Renée, "If you work hard you can get ahead, because my parents told me that this has happened to several people they know." What type of unscientific thinking is John guilty of?

Accepted Answer

The answer of John tells Renée, "If you work hard...

Question 8

A researcher decides to measure happiness by the number of times a person smiles each hour.Which statement best describes the relationship between happiness and smiling?

Accepted Answer

Happiness is a concept that is abstract and cannot be directly measured, while smiling is a variable that can be quantified and used as an indicator of happiness.

Question 9

Answer questions based on the following table.
-What is the total sample size?

Accepted Answer

The total sample size is the sum of the sample sizes in each category, which is 100+100+100=300. Choice C is the only option that matches the total sample size.

Question 10

A researcher decides to measure happiness by the number of times a person smiles each hour.What process has she accomplished?

Accepted Answer

The researcher has operationalized the concept of happiness by defining it as the number of times a person smiles each hour. Operationalization involves taking an abstract concept, like happiness, and defining it in a specific, measurable way, like counting smiles. This process enables the researcher to collect data that can be analyzed to draw conclusions about the concept being studied.

Question 11

Jonah is studying student life on campus.He moves into a dorm, joins pick-up football games on campus, and helps tutor first-year students.He tells everyone he meets that he is a researcher.Which of the following roles is Jonah taking?

Accepted Answer

Jonah is participating in campus activities while also observing and gathering data as a researcher, making him a participant-as-observer.

Question 12

According to the textbook, why do researchers examine the effects of control variables?

Accepted Answer

The answer of According to the textbook, why do researchers...

Question 13

Surveys can gather numeric data about numerous characteristics of many respondents in a short period of time and at a relatively low cost.Which of the following theorists is LEAST likely to be interested in such data?

Accepted Answer

John Herbert Mead, a symbolic interactionist, is least likely to be interested in numeric survey data as his focus is on understanding social processes and interactions through qualitative methods.

Question 14

If one variable changes systematically as the other changes, the variables are said to be which of the following?

Accepted Answer

When one variable changes systematically as the other changes, the variables are said to be related, indicating a correlation or association between them.

Question 15

Two sociologists studying a new religious movement are concerned that their interpretations are consistent.What issue are the two sociologists concerned about?

Accepted Answer

The sociologists are concerned about the reliability of their interpretations, meaning they want to ensure consistency in their observations and findings. Spuriousness refers to a false correlation between variables, while validity is about whether the research measures what it claims to measure.

Question 16

The textbook makes a point that concrete level of experience is, by itself, which of the following?

Accepted Answer

The answer of The textbook makes a point that concrete...

Question 17

Which of the following terms best describes the thought process of grouping all chairs-wooden, metal, upholstered, and hard-into a single category?

Accepted Answer

Conceptualization involves the process of grouping similar objects or concepts together based on common characteristics or attributes. In this case, chairs are being grouped together regardless of their material or design, which is an example of conceptualization.

Question 18

What is the dependent variable?

Accepted Answer

The dependent variable is the one that is being measured or tested in an experiment. In this case, "happiness" is the dependent variable because it is the outcome that is being measured. "Gender" and "male" are not outcomes being measured, and "happy" is an adjective and not a variable.

Question 19

Income is not likely to be the cause of gender.Which test of causality is the relationship of these variables likely to fail?

Accepted Answer

The sequencing test examines the temporal order of the variables in determining causality. In this case, income and gender are not temporally related, so the sequencing test will likely reveal a lack of causality between these variables. The authenticity test and relationship test may provide useful information for determining causality, but they are less likely to be the cause of the failure of the relationship between income and gender. The non-spuriousness test examines whether the observed relationship is not simply due to a third variable, and it is unlikely to fail in this case.

Question 20

Life is meaningful for humans because of which level of experience?

Accepted Answer

The abstract level refers to our capacity to think and reflect on abstract concepts such as love, justice, and meaning. It is at this level that we find the most profound expressions of human experience, and where our sense of purpose and meaning are derived. While traditional, concrete, and sensate experiences also contribute to our overall experience of life, it is the abstract level that is most closely associated with a sense of meaning and purpose.

Quiz 2: How Sociologists Do Research