Deck 1: Introduction

Question 1

Based on your reading of this chapter, what is the best answer to the question, "Why study research methods?" Studying research methods

A) is a necessity for those who plan to conduct their own research.
B) will enhance the resumes of those who apply to graduate school.
C) will clarify the link between the natural sciences and social sciences.
D) can benefit you as both a consumer and producer of research evidence.

Answer 1

D

Question 2

One media report of Karpinski's study of Facebook use and grades used the following headline: "Sad but true: Using Facebook can lower your GPA." This headline is misleading because the study

A) showed that Facebook use is only a problem for first-year students.
B) merely showed an association between Facebook use and poor grades.
C) was limited to students on Facebook.
D) found a causal relationship only for humanities and social science students.

Answer 2

B

Question 3

To study the effect of mood on altruism, investigators manipulated subjects' moods by giving some of them cookies, after which all subjects were asked to donate money to a local charity. This research is an example of

A) an experiment.
B) a survey.
C) field research.
D) the use of available data.

Answer 3

A

Question 4

With this approach, researchers observe people's behavior after they systematically introduce changes into the environment.

A) experiments
B) surveys
C) field research
D) use of available data

Question 5

With his approach, researchers focus on what people say as opposed to what they do.

A) experiments
B) surveys
C) field research
D) use of available data

Question 6

A study of altruism in which members of a large group of people were questioned about their charitable acts would characterize

A) experiments.
B) surveys.
C) field research.
D) use of available data.

Question 7

Deciding which observations to record and when and how to record them are among the most basic problems of the

A) experimenter.
B) survey researcher.
C) field researcher.
D) analyst of available data.

Question 8

Assessing the effect of the 9/11 attacks on helping others by using records of the Salvation Army and United Way to chart donations before and after the attacks is an example of

A) an experiment.
B) a survey.
C) field research.
D) the use of available data.

Question 9

Which approach is best suited for studying the past and social change?

A) experiments
B) surveys
C) field research
D) use of available data

Question 10

According to the text's discussion of the basic approaches to social research,

A) some approaches are more scientific than others.
B) experimentation is the only truly scientific approach to social research.
C) quantitative approaches are superior to qualitative approaches.
D) there are more than two dozen distinctive approaches.
E) each approach has its own strengths and weaknesses.

Question 11

According to the authors of your textbook,

A) social science findings seldom are reported in the media because few journalists understand and appreciate the value of social research.
B) most social research is designed to assess the effects of social programs and policies.
C) studying research methods will cultivate your skepticism about research evidence.
D) studying social research methods mainly benefits students who pursue graduate work in sociology.

Question 12

An association between two phenomena (such as Facebook use and grades) implies that one is the cause of the other.

Question 13

A knowledge of research methods can benefit you both as a consumer and a producer of research evidence.

Question 14

Researchable questions are necessarily narrow and specific.

Question 15

According to the text, altruism has the same meaning as simply helping others.

Question 16

The basic approaches to social research are usually equally suitable or feasible to answer a given research question.

Question 17

There are two basic approaches to social research: qualitative and quantitative.

Question 18

In the experiment on social exclusion and helping, students made to feel excluded were less likely to help others.

Question 19

Anthropological studies of remote societies in which researchers live among the
inhabitants for long periods typify field research.

Question 20

A survey researcher would study helping behavior primarily by observing people engaged in naturally occurring acts of helping.

Question 21

A major problem encountered by social researchers who want to use available data is finding data appropriate to address the research question.

Question 22

Write an essay answering the following question: Why care about research methods? Be sure to discuss and give examples of how studying research methods can benefit you personally as both a consumer and producer of research evidence.

Question 23

Briefly describe the four basic approaches to social research.