Question 1

Ethical standards for research originally developed

Accepted Answer

Ethical standards for research were developed as a result of the experiments conducted by Nazi doctors during the Second World War. The Nuremberg Code was developed as a set of principles to guide ethical research and was later expanded upon by other organizations, such as the World Medical Association, to include more detailed guidelines for ethical research.

Question 2

What do quantitative researchers use as their main methods of data collection?

Accepted Answer

Quantitative researchers typically use surveys and questionnaires as their main methods of data collection because they allow for the measurement of numerical data that can be analyzed statistically. Other methods, such as interviews and observations, may also be used in combination with surveys, but they are not the primary data collection methods in quantitative research. Radical interpretive inquiry and transcriptions and interviews are not typically associated with quantitative research.

Question 3

According to the textbook,terms such as mankind and man-made are examples of

Accepted Answer

The answer of According to the textbook,terms such as mankind...

Question 4

Participatory action research

Accepted Answer

Participatory action research must contain both an action component and a collaboration component.

Question 5

Which of the following statements is not true?

Accepted Answer

Both conflict and functionalist theorists tend to approach society from a macro-sociological perspective, not a micro-sociological perspective. Micro-sociology is concerned with the interactions between individuals, while macro-sociology looks at the big picture of society.

Question 6

Amarnath is recruiting participants for a research study.Each participant is asked to fill out a questionnaire about his or her dating experiences.He hands each potential participant a page of information explaining how long the questionnaire will take,the risks that the participant might face,and the benefits that participating in the study might provide.What other information must Amarnath tell potential participants?

Accepted Answer

Amarnath must inform potential participants that participation in the study is completely voluntary, and the participant has the right to withdraw at any time. This is a crucial piece of information that ensures the participant is fully informed and has the freedom to choose whether or not to participate. Choice B is incorrect as the participant still has the right to withdraw at any time, so participation is ultimately voluntary. Choice C is not necessary information to provide to potential participants as it is not required by ethical guidelines. Choice D is not sufficient information to provide as it does not address the important aspect of voluntariness and withdrawal rights.

Question 7

A sociologist named Sudhir Venkatesh recently spent almost a decade studying a street gang in Chicago.He spoke with various gang members,spent time with them in their hangouts,and accompanied them when they conducted business dealings.Which research methods did Venkatesh use?

Accepted Answer

Sudhir Venkatesh used participant observation, by spending time with the gang members in their hangouts, and interviews by speaking with them, to conduct his research.

Question 8

According to the textbook,"familism" occurs when

Accepted Answer

Familism refers to the cultural value placed on the family as the primary unit of social organization and support. This value can lead researchers to focus on families as the smallest unit of analysis, without adequately considering the role of individual members within those families. Option A refers to a bias against single mothers, option C refers to a male-centric view of the world, and option D refers to a narrow understanding of family dynamics.

Question 9

Which of the following is not a criticism of ethical research guidelines?

Accepted Answer

This is not a criticism of ethical research guidelines as current ethical guidelines do account for the possibility of psychological harm. Informed consent, debriefing, and confidentiality are some of the measures taken to protect participants from experiencing psychological harm. A, B, and D are all valid criticisms of ethical research guidelines.

Question 10

One of the major principles of current research ethics is _______________,as upheld through current practices of _________________.

Accepted Answer

The principle of respect for others, also known as respect for persons, is a fundamental principle in current research ethics, which emphasizes the respect for individuals' autonomy, privacy, and confidentiality. Informed consent is a common practice to uphold this principle, where participants are fully informed about the study's purpose, procedures, risks, and benefits before they agree to participate. Review boards, while important, do not directly uphold the principle of respect for others but ensure that research studies adhere to ethical guidelines and standards. Similarly, academic freedom is an important value for researchers but does not directly address ethical considerations in research, including the treatment of participants. Therefore, option D is the correct answer.

Question 11

Which of the following is a disadvantage of secondary research analysis?

Accepted Answer

Secondary analysis relies on pre-existing data and information, and therefore is only possible if information on the topic has already been recorded and collected. This can be a disadvantage if the desired information is not available or if the existing data is incomplete or inaccurate. Option B and C are incorrect as secondary analysis can be useful in a variety of fields, not just criminology and not just for studying past events. Option D is incorrect as secondary sources can include books, government reports, and online databases in addition to newspapers and magazines.

Question 12

Matthew spends 20 minutes studying for his sociology mid-term,and gets 60 percent.He spends one hour studying for his sociology final,and he gets 80 percent on the exam.What can we not conclude from this information?

Accepted Answer

The statement "The relationship between Matthew's studying time and his exam grades is completely spurious" cannot be concluded as we do not have enough information to make such a strong claim. A spurious relationship is one where two variables appear to be related but are actually the result of a third variable. Without additional information, we cannot determine if the relationship between Matthew's studying time and exam grades is spurious or not.

Question 13

Psychologist Philip Zimbardo is best known for conducting the infamous Stanford Prison Experiment.Which of the following research questions motivated Zimbardo's study?

Accepted Answer

Zimbardo's research question was "What happens when you put good people in an evil place?" This question motivated him to conduct the Stanford Prison Experiment to investigate the psychological effects of power and authority on individuals' behavior.

Question 14

Which of the following is a disadvantage of self-administered questionnaires?

Accepted Answer

One of the main disadvantages of self-administered questionnaires is that researchers are unable to provide clarification or answer questions from the respondent. This may result in respondents not fully understanding the questions and providing inaccurate responses.

Question 15

Which of the following statements about correlation is true?

Accepted Answer

A correlation is defined as a relationship between two variables. It does not imply causation. The relationship can be strong or weak, positive or negative. Weak correlations are not necessarily "spurious" or meaningless, as they can still provide important information about the relationship between two variables.

Question 16

Why is the Canadian Census a particularly important tool for researchers?

Accepted Answer

The stability of the census questions allows for analyzing data over time, which is particularly important for researchers studying shifting trends in society. Other options are not entirely accurate as the Canadian Census is conducted about every five years, not every year (D), and while Census questions are tested for privacy, it's not the primary reason why it's an important tool for researchers (C). While the data can be used by both qualitative and quantitative researchers (B), this is not the primary reason why it's particularly important for researchers.

Question 17

Anita wants to design a research study to investigate whether Canadians in wealthier cities give more money to charities than Canadians who live in less wealthy cities.What is the dependent variable in Anita's study?

Accepted Answer

The dependent variable in Anita's study is the amount of money donated to charities, as this is the variable that she will be measuring and comparing between the wealthier and less wealthy cities. The other options listed are either independent variables (such as the average income in the cities or the operational definition of wealth) or potential confounding variables (such as the average income of the research participants, which may influence their likelihood to donate regardless of the wealth of their city).

Question 18

While different kinds of research exist,almost all researchers share the following in common:

Accepted Answer

The answer of While different kinds of research exist,almost all...

Question 19

Which of the following is not an ethical criticism of Milgram's Obedience Study?

Accepted Answer

Milgram's refusal to pay his research participants is not an ethical criticism of his obedience study. While not paying participants could be seen as unethical in some situations, it is not directly related to the ethical concerns surrounding the study's use of deception, lack of full informed consent, and potential psychological harm to participants.

Question 20

Mary is researching the experiences that AIDS patients have with community health organizations.She and her research assistant meet regularly with AIDS patients and advocates,discussing what health issues are most pressing for patients and how these issues could best be addressed.Her goal is to persuade legislators to increase the funding provided to community health-care organizations.What research method/s is/are Mary using?

Accepted Answer

Mary is using participatory action research, which involves collaborating with participants and advocates to address a specific social issue. This research method is often used to bring about social change and influence public policy, which aligns with Mary's goal of increasing funding for community health organizations. Option A (participant observation) and Option D (quantitative interviews) do not accurately describe Mary's research method, as she is not simply observing or conducting structured interviews with participants. Option C (in-person surveying and advocacy) does touch on some aspects of Mary's research, but does not fully capture the collaborative and participatory nature of participatory action research.

Quiz 4: C: Research,methodology,and Ethics