Question 1

What is the difference between representative sampling and random sampling? When would you choose to use representative sampling over random sampling?

Accepted Answer

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Question 2

Typically, sociologists who work with quantitative data (such as surveys) wait until after they have concluded their research before they engage in data analysis. However, ethnographers usually engage in data analysis while they are conducting their investigations. Is this behavior reasonable given the nature of these types of methods? Why?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Typically, sociologists who work with quantitative data...

Question 3

What is the scientific method? Explain each step of the scientific method.

Accepted Answer

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Question 4

Catherine is taking a research methods class in which the semester project involves conducting original research. Catherine is interested in finding out if viewing particular television programs has an impact on behavior. She wants to see if children are more likely to engage in aggressive behavior after they watch television shows that exhibit violent images. Catherine's tentative prediction is what scientists refer to as __________.

Accepted Answer

Catherine's prediction is a tentative statement that proposes a relationship between two variables, which is what scientists refer to as a hypothesis.

Question 5

You want to understand how American views on violence in the media differ from the views of Germans. To complete your comparison of these two populations, what type of research should you conduct?

Accepted Answer

Cross-national comparison is the best choice because it involves comparing two or more populations in different countries to identify similarities and differences in their attitudes, beliefs, and practices. This method will allow for a systematic analysis of American and German views on violence in the media and provide a better understanding of how they compare to each other. Ethnography, demographic analysis, and longitudinal-historical research may provide valuable insights on this topic, but they may not be as effective in comparing the views of two different national populations.

Question 6

You are an ethnographer studying poverty in Chicago. Over the course of your research, you live in a low-rent apartment, join a number of social clubs, and take several jobs in the community. The total time you spend on this project takes several years. Given what you know about ethnography and proper data analysis, when should you analyze your data?

Accepted Answer

In ethnography, the data collection and analysis are intertwined, and it is recommended to analyze the data continuously throughout the project. Analyzing the data on an ongoing basis allows the researcher to adjust their approach and focus as needed, and also helps to identify any gaps in data collection or potential biases. Therefore, continually analyzing the data will provide the most comprehensive and accurate understanding of poverty in Chicago.

Question 7

When determining correlations, sociologists sometimes fall victim to spurious relationships. What is a spurious relationship, and how did the Coleman Report demonstrate a spurious relationship between school resources and test scores?

Accepted Answer

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Question 8

You are studying homicide rates in a major city, and your data seem to be indicating something quite peculiar. You notice that ice cream consumption seems to be correlated with an increase in murder rates. Upon more careful reflection, you recall that murder rates tend to rise in the summer, when people are outside more (and, consequently, eating more ice cream). Your first conclusion is an example of __________.

Accepted Answer

The first conclusion drawn about ice cream consumption being correlated with an increase in murder rates is an example of a spurious relationship. It is not a causal relationship, but rather, an association that is coincidental and influenced by a third variable (in this case, the summer season).

Question 9

You want to conduct a research study on the sexual behaviors of married couples in rural America. You plan on interviewing individuals using an in-depth survey method. After finding individuals to interview, but before you conduct the interviews, what is needed to make sure that this project is ethical?

Accepted Answer

Informed consent from all participants is necessary to ensure that they are aware of the purpose and nature of the study, their rights as participants, and any potential risks or benefits of participation. This protects the participants' autonomy and prevents them from being coerced into participating. Approval from professional organizations or department chairs is not necessary for ethical research, although it may be required for funding or institutional support. Follow-up interviews may also be conducted, but this is not directly related to the ethical considerations of conducting the initial interviews.

Question 10

You want to study a riot that occurred over 60 years ago. You have access to a handful of survivors, but they likely cannot provide all the information you need. Which two research methods should you use to complete the study?

Accepted Answer

Since the riot occurred over 60 years ago, historical research would be a suitable choice to gather information about the incident. Interviews with survivors would also be helpful in providing a first-hand account of what happened during the riot. Combining both methods would give a comprehensive understanding of the incident. Ethnography and experiments are not relevant in this scenario. Surveys may not be applicable since the population being studied is limited to a handful of survivors.

Question 11

Which of the following responses best encapsulates why some sociologists strive for empirical generalizability?

Accepted Answer

Empirical generalizability refers to the ability to apply research findings to populations beyond the initial sample studied. Sociologists strive for this because it enhances the external validity of their research and allows for the application of findings to a larger population.

Question 12

Which of the following potential projects studying convenience stores could be said to be utilizing a qualitative research method?

Accepted Answer

Observing and interacting with people in a real-world setting is a qualitative research method known as ethnography. This method involves gathering descriptive data about human behavior, culture, and social phenomena through direct observation and participation in the context under study. In this case, the researcher is observing how people interact with clerks at convenience stores, which can provide insights into customer service, communication, and buying behavior. The other choices involve quantitative methods such as inventory analysis, statistical modeling, and data mining that focus on numerical and objective data rather than subjective observations.

Question 13

Kordell is interested in distributing questionnaires to college freshmen regarding their study habits. He has targeted several colleges where he wants to carry out the research. What must Kordell do first?

Accepted Answer

Before conducting research involving human subjects, it is important to obtain approval from the institutional review board (IRB) at each targeted college. The IRB ensures that the research meets ethical and legal standards, and protects the rights and welfare of the study participants. Informed consent forms are also necessary, but they are typically obtained after IRB approval has been granted. Briefing students on the study purpose and identifying target classes can come after IRB approval.

Quiz 3: Studying the Social World