Question 1

A sociologist sets up an experiment on television violence and children.She shows one set of children (group A)violent cartoons and then observes their play.She shows a second set of children (group B)nonviolent cartoons and then observes their play.Which of these groups would be considered the experimental group?

Accepted Answer

Group A would be considered the experimental group because they are the ones being exposed to the independent variable (violent cartoons) and their behavior is being observed and measured. Group B would be considered the control group because they are not being exposed to the independent variable and are used as a comparison to the experimental group.

Question 2

When a researcher collects information about a group through direct involvement and inspection,this is known as

Accepted Answer

Direct involvement and inspection suggests that the researcher is physically present and making observations in real time. This is a characteristic of observation as a research method. Surveys involve collecting responses to questions from individuals, secondary analysis involves using existing data sets or research, and experiments involve manipulating variables to see their effects on a group.

Question 3

A sociologist attends meetings at all the schools and churches in his community over several years,and meets as many residents as he can for the purpose of exploring all facets of the community's social life.He then compiles a detailed description of the community.He is conducting

Accepted Answer

The sociologist is immersing himself in the community over a period of time, interacting with community members and gathering data through observation and interviews. This is an example of ethnographic research, which aims to provide a holistic understanding of a particular community or culture. Content analysis involves the systematic analysis of written or recorded material, secondary analysis involves using existing data for a new research purpose, and quantitative studies involve the use of statistical methods to analyze numerical data.

Question 4

A sociologist decides to study the interaction among students in the college's computer center.When the students realize they are under observation,they become shy and reserved in their interactions.This is an example of

Accepted Answer

The situation described is an example of the Hawthorne effect. The Hawthorne effect occurs when study participants alter their behavior in response to being observed or studied. In this case, the students became shy and reserved because they knew they were being observed. Replication involves repeating a study to see if the results are consistent. Secondary analysis involves using existing data for research purposes. Value neutrality refers to the idea that researchers should not allow their own biases to influence their research.

Question 5

Sociologists consider secondary analysis to be

Accepted Answer

Sociologists consider secondary analysis to be a nonreactive form of research, meaning that it does not influence or alter the behavior of the individuals or groups being studied.

Question 6

A research design is a(n)

Accepted Answer

A research design is a detailed plan or method for scientifically obtaining data. It outlines the steps that a researcher will take to test their research question or hypothesis, including the methods for collecting and analyzing data. A research design usually includes information about the sample, data collection tools or instruments, data analysis methods, and potential limitations or biases.

Question 7

Secondary analysis includes a variety of research techniques that use

Accepted Answer

Secondary analysis involves using data that has already been collected, either by accessing publicly available data sets or using data collected by another researcher. Questionnaires, interviews, participant observation, and control groups are techniques used in primary research.

Question 8

Researchers found which of the following to be true of cell phone users compared to landline users?

Accepted Answer

Researchers found that cell phone users were more likely to screen incoming calls, break off a call mid-survey, and there was a higher proportion of non-adults on cell phones. Therefore, all of these answers are correct.

Question 9

People may behave differently in artificial situations than they would in the "real world." This poses a particular problem for researchers using

Accepted Answer

Laboratory experiments can create artificial situations, which may lead to participants behaving differently than they would in the real world. This can compromise the validity of the results obtained from the experiment. Other research methods such as questionnaires, content analysis, and replication may not be affected by artificiality in the same way.

Question 10

A researcher studies adolescent attitudes about senior citizens by analyzing depictions of the elderly in the lyrics of popular music and the content of teen magazines.This is an example of

Accepted Answer

This is an example of content analysis since the researcher is analyzing depictions of the elderly in popular music lyrics and teen magazines. Content analysis involves systematically analyzing and interpreting different forms of communication, such as media or speeches. In this case, the researcher is examining the content of popular music lyrics and teen magazines to gain insight into adolescent attitudes towards senior citizens. The other options, such as replication, survey research, and an experiment, do not accurately describe this particular study.

Question 11

Regina wants to study the homeless in her hometown.In order to do so,she lives at a homeless shelter for a month.During this time,she does everything that the women she is studying does and tells no one of her true identity.This method would be

Accepted Answer

Regina is participating in participant observation by immersing herself in the culture and daily life of the homeless women she is studying. She is observing their behavior and experiences firsthand, rather than just asking them questions or conducting an experiment with manipulated variables.

Question 12

Which of the following was NOT one of the goals of social scientists embedded with the U.S.military in Afghanistan and Iraq?

Accepted Answer

Conducting experiments on local communities was not a goal of social scientists embedded with the U.S. military in Afghanistan and Iraq. Instead, they aimed to identify local customs, look at family structures, and identify local internal social conflicts to better understand the social and cultural landscape of these countries.

Question 13

What term do sociologists use to describe the phenomenon whereby subjects deviate from their typical behavior because they realize they are under observation?

Accepted Answer

Sociologists use the term "the Hawthorne effect" to describe the phenomenon whereby subjects deviate from their typical behavior because they realize they are under observation. This effect is named after a series of studies conducted by Elton Mayo and colleagues at the Hawthorne Works factory in the 1920s and 1930s, which found that workers' productivity increased regardless of changes to their working conditions, simply because they were being observed as part of the study.

Question 14

In an experiment,the group that is not exposed to the independent variable is called the

Accepted Answer

The group that is not exposed to the independent variable is called the control group. This group serves as a baseline for comparison with the experimental group, which is exposed to the independent variable. The control group helps researchers to determine whether the effects observed in the experimental group are actually due to the independent variable, or whether they might have occurred anyway.

Question 15

An inherent problem in using secondary sources of data is that

Accepted Answer

The statement "an inherent problem in using secondary sources of data is that the researcher may not find the exact data needed for his or her own research" is true. Secondary sources of data are collected for a specific purpose, and the data may not be applicable or relevant to a researcher's specific research question. Additionally, there may be errors or inconsistencies in the data that can lead to inaccurate conclusions if not carefully considered by the researcher. However, the other options presented are not always necessarily true, as statistical errors and careless use of data can occur with both primary and secondary data sources. Similarly, the notion that all analysis has been completed by an initial research team is not a problem exclusive to secondary data sources, as primary data sources may also be analyzed by a research team.

Question 16

Ethnography is the most common form of ________ research,which relies on what is seen in the field and in naturalistic settings more than it does on statistical data.

Accepted Answer

Ethnography is a qualitative research method that relies on observing people in their natural settings and collecting data through participant observation, interviews, and other non-statistical methods. Therefore, the correct choice is B - qualitative.

Question 17

An artificially created situation that allows the researcher to manipulate variables and to introduce control variables is known as a(n)

Accepted Answer

An experiment is the only option among the choices that involves creating an artificial situation in which the researcher can manipulate variables and introduce control variables. A survey involves collecting data through questionnaire, interview or observation. Replication involves repeating a study to see if the results can be confirmed. Research design refers to the overall plan for the conduct of the study.

Question 18

When a sociologist actually joins a group for a period to get an accurate sense of how it operates,the approach is called

Accepted Answer

Participant observation is a research method in which a sociologist actually participates in and observes the group being studied in order to gain insight into its operation, norms, and values. In contrast, experiments involve manipulating variables to test hypotheses, ethnography involves studying a culture or society as a whole, and face-to-face interviews involve asking individuals about their experiences and perspectives.

Question 19

To conduct a cross-cultural study of job discrimination against women,a sociologist interviews 75 women between the ages of 20 and 40 in an American city,and 75 women in the same age group in a Canadian city.This study would be classified as

Accepted Answer

The study involves collecting data through interviews with a specific group (women between the ages of 20 and 40) in two different countries. This method is known as a survey, which is a commonly used research method in social science disciplines.

Question 20

A study,generally in the form of an interview or a questionnaire,that provides sociologists with information concerning how people think or act is known as

Accepted Answer

A survey is a research method that involves the collection of data through interviews or questionnaires. Surveys are commonly used by sociologists to gather information about people's thoughts, behaviors, attitudes, and opinions on various topics. Surveys can be administered in a variety of ways, such as in-person, over the phone, or online. They are a useful tool for sociologists to gain insights into social phenomena and can help inform policies and programs aimed at addressing social issues.

Quiz 6: Major Research Designs