Question 1

A trial explanation predicting a relationship between independent and dependent variables is a(n)

Accepted Answer

A trial explanation predicting a relationship between independent and dependent variables is a hypothesis.

Question 2

Researchers do not always follow in order the steps of scientific method.

Accepted Answer

While the scientific method provides a structured approach to research, it is not always necessary or desirable to follow the steps in a linear order. Sometimes, researchers may need to modify the steps or use different methods to account for the unique aspects of their research question or study design.

Question 3

The dependent variable in the hypothesis 'the more proficient in English undocumented immigrants are, the less likely they are to be apprehended by Border Patrol' is likelihood of apprehension.

Accepted Answer

The dependent variable in the hypothesis is the likelihood of apprehension.

Question 4

The question 'Is this operational definition really measuring what it claims to measure?' addresses concerns surrounding

Accepted Answer

The question about whether an operational definition is measuring what it claims to measure directly addresses the issue of validity, which is concerned with whether a measure assesses the construct or variable it is intended to measure. Sampling is concerned with the selection of participants, reliability refers to the consistency of measurements, and correlations refer to the statistical relationship between variables, so these options are not as relevant to the specific question being asked.

Question 5

It is impossible to compile a list of topics that sociologists study.

Accepted Answer

Sociologists study a wide range of topics related to human behavior, institutions, and interactions in society, and the field is constantly evolving. Therefore, it is not possible to create a comprehensive list of all the topics sociologists study.

Question 6

Personal interest should not be a factor in choosing a topic for research.

Accepted Answer

Personal interest should be a factor in choosing a topic for research as it motivates the researcher to be more engaged and passionate in their work, which can lead to better quality research and a more enjoyable experience.

Question 7

University staff announce that 90 per cent of the student body support starting a football team.The sample consisted of 200 students who returned a survey that appeared in the campus newspaper.On the basis of this information, one could question the study with regard to

Accepted Answer

The study's generalisability or external validity can be questioned as the sample size is small (only 200 students) and it is unclear whether this sample is representative of the entire student population. Therefore, it is questionable whether the reported 90% support for a football team would be true for the entire student population or if it's just limited to the sample.

Question 8

Researchers should never hide their identity and purpose from those they are observing.

Accepted Answer

In certain types of research, particularly in covert ethnography or when studying groups that are difficult to access, researchers might hide their identity and purpose to avoid influencing the behavior of the participants and to gather more authentic data. However, this approach raises ethical considerations that must be carefully weighed against the benefits of the research.

Question 9

A researcher finds a strong correlation between shoe size and reading ability in primary school children - the larger the shoe size the better a child is at reading.However, this does not mean having a large shoe size causes a child to read well.Instead, an intervening variable - age - causes both shoe size and reading ability to increase.This accidental relationship between shoe size and reading ability is known as

Accepted Answer

The accidental relationship between shoe size and reading ability is known as a spurious correlation, as it is not a causal relationship but rather due to the common influence of a third variable (age) on both.

Question 10

Structured interviews are flexible and open-ended in style.

Accepted Answer

Structured interviews are standardized and designed to ask specific questions in a consistent manner to all participants. The questions are usually predetermined and closed-ended, meaning that they offer a limited set of response options. This results in a more systematic and objective approach to gathering data. Open-ended questions are more commonly used in unstructured interviews where the interviewer is free to ask follow-up questions based on the respondent’s answers.

Question 11

A spurious correlation is one that is

Accepted Answer

A spurious correlation is coincidental or accidental, meaning that there may be a correlation between two variables, but it is not a causal relationship. The correlation is due to some other factor, not a direct cause-and-effect relationship. Spurious correlations can be misleading and important to recognize in statistical analysis.

Question 12

Under which one of the following conditions are findings from a sample not generalisable to a larger population?

Accepted Answer

Findings from a sample of interesting case studies cannot be generalised to a larger population as case studies involve a detailed analysis of a specific individual, group, or event and do not represent the larger population. The other options, high response rate, high participation rate, and random sampling, improve the generalisability of a study's findings to a larger population.

Question 13

Sociology is distinguished from other disciplines not by the topics it studies but by the perspective it uses to study any topic.

Accepted Answer

Sociology can study a wide range of topics such as culture, inequality, organizations, and social change. However, what distinguishes sociology is its sociological perspective, which seeks to examine social phenomena in relation to broader social structures and historical context. This perspective emphasizes the importance of social norms, institutions, and social interaction in shaping individual behavior and social outcomes.

Question 14

If research is good, it does not require theory.

Accepted Answer

Research and theory are closely intertwined. Research helps to test and support theories while theories guide and inform research. Good research is grounded in theory, as it provides a framework for interpreting and understanding data. Therefore, good research requires theory.

Question 15

Researchers can manipulate data if the deception supports well-intentioned personal, economic, and political agendas.

Accepted Answer

Manipulating data to support any agenda, regardless of intention, compromises the integrity and reliability of research findings.

Question 16

A researcher studying hand washing uses guidelines set by the Department of Health to determine if hand washing has taken place: use warm or hot running water and soap while washing for 10 to 15 seconds all surfaces, including wrists, palms, backs of hands, and under fingernails.This guideline is considered

Accepted Answer

The guideline provided by the Department of Health is an operational definition because it defines the specific actions that need to be taken in order to meet the criteria for "hand washing."

Question 17

A professor tells a class that exams will cover information from class lectures, class discussion, and reading assignments.However, the exam includes questions related to only reading assignments.Students complain because the exam is

Accepted Answer

The exam is not valid because it is not covering the full range of material that the professor said would be included. Since it only covers reading assignments, it is not an accurate measure of the students' understanding of the course material.

Question 18

If one respondent gives different answers to the same question at two different points in time, the researcher should be concerned about

Accepted Answer

This situation indicates a lack of consistency in responses, which is a concern for reliability. Reliability refers to the consistency and stability of measurements over time or across different researchers. If responses are not consistent, it is difficult to draw valid conclusions from the data. Validity, on the other hand, refers to the accuracy and truthfulness of the data, rather than its consistency. Representativeness pertains to an accurate reflection of the characteristics of the population being studied, and the Hawthorne Effect refers to the possibility that participants may change their behavior because they know they are being observed. Neither of these concepts is directly relevant to the situation described.

Question 19

__________ are concrete and specific criteria for observing and measuring independent and dependent variables.

Accepted Answer

Operational definitions are concrete and specific criteria for observing and measuring independent and dependent variables. Hypotheses are educated guesses about the relationship between variables, units of analysis refer to the level of observation (individual, group, organization, etc.), and traces refer to physical evidence left behind by past events.

Question 20

Information gathered through sociological research is pretty much just common sense.

Accepted Answer

Sociological research involves systematic gathering and analysis of data, often using sophisticated methods and theories. While some findings may confirm common sense notions, they can also challenge or contradict them. Sociology also brings a critical perspective to common sense ideas and questions taken-for-granted assumptions, leading to a deeper understanding of social phenomena.

Quiz 3: Social Research