Question 1

Which of the following is part of the "Tri-Council Policy Statement: Ethical Conduct for Research Involving Humans" standards for conducting research?

Accepted Answer

The "Tri-Council Policy Statement: Ethical Conduct for Research Involving Humans" includes standards such as voluntary participation, confidentiality, and anonymity for research participants. Option B is incorrect because research participants should never be harmed, regardless of potential gains in knowledge. Option C is incorrect because researchers must maintain independence from funders and not compromise research integrity. Option D is incorrect because researchers have a duty to pursue sensitive and politically incorrect areas of inquiry, as long as they do so ethically and respectfully.

Question 2

With respect to height,which of the following describes the purpose of a bathroom scale?

Accepted Answer

A bathroom scale is a reliable measure as it consistently provides the same measurement when used under the same conditions. However, it is not a valid measure for height as it only measures weight, not height.

Question 3

Which of the following is NOT a major component of a research design?

Accepted Answer

While making policy recommendations may be a possible outcome of a research study, it is not a necessary or universal component of research design. The three other options - data collection, data analysis, and drawing conclusions - are fundamental components of any research design.

Question 4

In the process of drawing conclusions,what should a researcher always do?

Accepted Answer

Revisit the original research question ensures that the conclusions are aligned with the initial purpose of the study.

Question 5

Which term refers to obtaining consistent results with the same measure?

Accepted Answer

Reliability refers to obtaining consistent results with the same measure.

Question 6

Which statement best defines "maintaining confidentiality"?

Accepted Answer

Maintaining confidentiality means that a researcher can identify a participant's responses but commits to not disclosing this information to others, ensuring the participant's privacy is protected.

Question 7

A sociologist publishes an article on a study in which she estimated the level of religious commitment in the population.Another interested researcher uses the same methodology and replicates the experiment and produces the same estimate.What can be said about the original study result?

Accepted Answer

The fact that the replication produced the same estimate as the original study indicates that the original study result has reliability, meaning that the results can be consistently reproduced. However, it does not necessarily guarantee causation, confidence or verifiability.

Question 8

What is the main reason that sociologists review previous research?

Accepted Answer

Sociologists review previous research to determine what is already known and where gaps or limitations exist, in order to inform their own research and contribute to the advancement of knowledge in their field. The other options (A, C, D) are not the main reasons for reviewing previous research.

Question 9

Which term refers to a testable research statement that includes at least two variables?

Accepted Answer

A hypothesis is a testable statement that includes at least two variables. A theory is a well-supported explanation for a phenomenon, but it may not be testable or include specific variables. An empirical prediction is a statement about what might happen in the real world based on research findings, but it may not be testable or include specific variables. An exploratory statement is a general statement about a topic that is meant to prompt further investigation, but it may not be testable or include specific variables.

Question 10

Which of the following best defines "operationalization"?

Accepted Answer

Operationalization refers to the process of translating abstract concepts into concrete and measureable variables. This is a crucial step in research design as it allows researchers to measure the variables they are interested in studying. Option B refers to the development of a research question, while option C refers to data analysis, and option D refers to the use of theory to inform data collection, but none of these options accurately capture the meaning of operationalization.

Question 11

What does the term "validity" mean in relation to survey research?

Accepted Answer

Validity in survey research refers to whether the survey questions are actually measuring what they are intended to measure. One way to assess validity is to ensure that at least one variable in the survey is a good indicator of the intended concept. Consistency of measurement and representativeness of the sample are important factors to consider, but they are not directly related to the concept of validity. Verification by outside parties may increase the credibility of the results but does not necessarily ensure validity. Therefore, choice C is the best answer.

Question 12

Qualitative methodologies are usually associated with which of the following?

Accepted Answer

Qualitative methodologies are usually associated with an inductive approach, where researchers build theories and hypotheses based on observations and experiences rather than testing pre-existing theories.

Question 13

When are measurements in research considered reliable?

Accepted Answer

Reliability refers to the consistency or repeatability of measurements. If the measurements are consistent over time or across different researchers, then they are considered reliable. Correlation refers to the degree of association between two variables, accuracy refers to how close a measurement is to the true value, and relevance refers to how applicable the measurement is to the research question. While these are all important concepts in research, they are not the primary indicators of reliability.

Question 14

Research in online chat rooms is challenging.Even if researchers announce that they have logged in,someone logging in later might not be aware of their presence.What does this important research issue pertain to?

Accepted Answer

This important research issue pertains to ethics since the lack of awareness of the researcher's presence in the online chat room could potentially violate ethical guidelines regarding informed consent and privacy.

Question 15

Suppose that a person receives the same score when he or she takes an IQ test more than once.Which statement best describes this test?

Accepted Answer

If a person receives the same score when taking an IQ test more than once, it shows that the test is consistent and produces reliable results. Reliability refers to the extent to which a test can produce consistent and stable results every time it is administered. Therefore, the statement "It is reliable" is the most appropriate description of the test in this scenario.

Question 16

The text used Stanley Milgram's study on obedience to authority as an example of the importance of which sociological issue?

Accepted Answer

The text refers to Milgram's study to illustrate the importance of ethical considerations in sociological research. Milgram's study was controversial because it involved deceiving participants and subjecting them to high levels of stress, raising concerns about the ethics of the study.

Question 17

In social science research,which statement best summarizes the matter of ethics?

Accepted Answer

The Tri-Council Policy Statement (TCPS) is a set of national ethical guidelines for research involving human participants in Canada. It is developed collaboratively by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC). The TCPS essentially outlines ethical principles and guidelines that researchers should follow in order to ensure respect for human dignity, fairness, and justice when conducting research. Therefore, in social science research, ethics are specified by the TCPS.

Question 18

Which term refers to the process of defining variables in a precise manner that is measureable?

Accepted Answer

Operationalization refers to the process of defining variables in a precise and measurable manner so that they can be observed and analyzed. Conceptualization is the process of defining abstract concepts and theories, whereas theorization is the process of developing a theory or an explanation for a phenomenon. Variablization is not a term used in research methodology.

Question 19

Which term refers to obtaining consistent results with the same measure?

Accepted Answer

Reliability refers to obtaining consistent results with the same measure.

Question 20

What is generally the last step in the research process?

Accepted Answer

Dissemination of findings is generally the final step in the research process, as it involves sharing the results and conclusions of the research with the wider community. This step may involve publishing papers in academic journals, presenting findings at conferences, or communicating results to stakeholders or policymakers. Termination of analysis may occur earlier in the process, once sufficient data has been collected to answer the research question. Data distribution refers to the sharing of data with other researchers, but this may occur at various points throughout the research process. Securing ethical approval is an important early step in the process to ensure that research is conducted in an ethical and responsible manner, but it is not the final step.

Quiz 2: Applying Sociological Research Methods

Which of the following is part of the "Tri-Council Policy Statement: Ethical Conduct for Research Involving Humans" standards for conducting research?

With respect to height,which of the following describes the purpose of a bathroom scale?

Which of the following is NOT a major component of a research design?

In the process of drawing conclusions,what should a researcher always do?

Which term refers to obtaining consistent results with the same measure?

Which statement best defines "maintaining confidentiality"?

A sociologist publishes an article on a study in which she estimated the level of religious commitment in the population.Another interested researcher uses the same methodology and replicates the experiment and produces the same estimate.What can be said about the original study result?

What is the main reason that sociologists review previous research?

Which term refers to a testable research statement that includes at least two variables?

Which of the following best defines "operationalization"?

What does the term "validity" mean in relation to survey research?

Qualitative methodologies are usually associated with which of the following?

When are measurements in research considered reliable?

Research in online chat rooms is challenging.Even if researchers announce that they have logged in,someone logging in later might not be aware of their presence.What does this important research issue pertain to?

Suppose that a person receives the same score when he or she takes an IQ test more than once.Which statement best describes this test?

The text used Stanley Milgram's study on obedience to authority as an example of the importance of which sociological issue?

In social science research,which statement best summarizes the matter of ethics?

Which term refers to the process of defining variables in a precise manner that is measureable?

Which term refers to obtaining consistent results with the same measure?

What is generally the last step in the research process?