Question 1

Riding in unmarked police cars to collect data on drug dealers is using:
A) a longitudinal survey.
B) a laboratory experiment.
C) participant observation.
D) a semi-structured interview.
E) secondary observation.

Accepted Answer

This method is participant observation, as the researcher is actively participating in the environment being studied (riding in the unmarked police car) while observing and collecting data on drug dealers. This is an example of participant observation, where the researcher is personally involved and observing a particular group or activity. In this case, the researcher is riding in unmarked police cars to observe and collect data on drug dealers, which constitutes as a form of participant observation.

Question 2

Which of the following is a statement of causality?
A) Rural areas have fewer services than urban areas.
B) This sociology course is difficult.
C) Poverty produces low self-esteem.
D) Mean income in New York is higher than mean income in Florida.
E) On average, more persons are murdered in Texas than Arizona.

Accepted Answer

This statement shows a cause-effect relationship between poverty and low self-esteem. The statement implies that poverty causes low self-esteem, indicating causality. The other statements are simply statements of fact or comparison without implying a causal relationship.

Question 3

Failure to achieve a representative sample is known as:
A) researcher bias.
B) sampling error.
C) subjectivity.
D) stratified sampling.
E) all of the above

Accepted Answer

Sampling error occurs when the sample chosen is not representative of the population being studied, leading to inaccurate or biased results. The other options are not the correct answer to the given question. Sampling error occurs when a sample is not representative of the population, leading to a biased result. Options A, C, and D are not correct as they refer to different aspects of research methodology, and option E is incorrect as it includes all the answer choices, which is not accurate in this case.

Question 4

Social class background is a good predictor of achievement in school. In this statement, achievement in school is the:
A) independent variable.
B) dependent variable.
C) significant variable.
D) control variable.

Accepted Answer

Achievement in school is the variable being predicted or affected by social class background, making it the dependent variable. In this statement, social class background is being used as the predictor variable, while achievement in school is the outcome variable that is being predicted. Therefore, achievement in school is the dependent variable.

Question 5

When two variables are related but one does not cause the other, researchers term the situation:
A) a validity.
B) an association.
C) a bias.
D) a reliability.
E) an establishment.

Accepted Answer

When two variables are related but one does not cause the other, researchers call it an "association." This means that the two variables may be correlated or connected in some way, but there is no evidence to suggest that one variable is causing the other to change. An example of this might be the association between ice cream sales and crime rates. While these two variables may be related, it is unlikely that ice cream sales are causing crime rates to go up or down. Instead, there may be other factors at play that are influencing both variables. When two variables are related but one does not cause the other, researchers refer to this as an association. This means that the variables may be correlated or connected in some way, but one cannot be said to directly cause the other. The other choices (validity, bias, reliability, and establishment) do not accurately describe this particular situation.

Question 6

Sociologists utilizing the Census, the FBI statistics, or statistics from the Department of Labor would be engaged in which type of data collection method?
A) participant observation
B) survey research
C) experiments
D) secondary analysis

Accepted Answer

Sociologists utilizing the Census, the FBI statistics, or statistics from the Department of Labor would be engaged in secondary analysis, which involves using pre-existing data sources for research purposes. Sociologists utilizing the Census, the FBI statistics, or statistics from the Department of Labor would be engaged in secondary analysis, which involves analyzing data collected by other researchers or organizations.

Question 7

Using a structured interview:
A) might allow useful information to be ignored or lost.
B) guarantees that useful information will not be lost.
C) guarantees that researchers bias will not affect the study.
D) provides results that are valid.
E) provides the only true method of achieving reliability.

Accepted Answer

While a structured interview can provide consistency in questioning and responses, it also may limit the amount and type of information gathered. This can result in useful information being ignored or lost. While a structured interview can be useful for standardization and comparison of responses, it is still possible for relevant information to be overlooked or omitted, particularly if the interviewer has a preconceived notion of what is important. Therefore, it does not guarantee that useful information will not be lost.

Question 8

People are selected from a group in such a way that every person has the same chance of being selected. The people who are selected make up what type of sample?
A) representative
B) random
C) stratified
D) cross-sectional
E) unintentional

Accepted Answer

A sample where each person has an equal chance of being selected is called a random sample. A random sample is one where every person has an equal chance of being selected, regardless of any other factors. This type of sample is often considered to be the most representative of the population from which it is drawn. Therefore, the people who are selected in this way make up a random sample.

Question 9

A major drawback of open-ended interviews is that:
A) some interviews may not cover topics important to the research project.
B) information obtained will be somewhat different for each subject, and therefore unreliable.
C) researchers continuously have to make up new questions.
D) analysis of the information is a complex and time-consuming process.
E) respondents do not like open-ended interviews.

Accepted Answer

Open-ended interviews generate diverse and detailed responses, making the analysis complex and time-consuming.

Question 10

In the early 1960s, sociologist Herbert Gans moved into a newly developed suburb in New Jersey where he lived for two years, observing and interviewing his neighbors. In research terms, Gans conducted a _____ study.
A) documentary
B) experimental
C) survey
D) participant observation
E) secondary analysis

Accepted Answer

Gans conducted a participant observation study by living among and studying his neighbors in the suburb. The description of Herbert Gans moving into a community and observing and interviewing his neighbors for a period of two years indicates that he conducted a participant observation study.

Question 11

Cigarette smoking has been shown to be related to lung disease. This proposition includes:
A) a statement of bias against smoking.
B) a statement of association.
C) no independent variable.
D) all of the above
E) none of the above

Accepted Answer

The statement is a statement of association, as it indicates that there is a relationship between cigarette smoking and lung disease. It does not show bias against smoking, as it is a factual statement. There is also an independent variable (cigarette smoking) that is being related to the dependent variable (lung disease). The statement is a statement of association between cigarette smoking and lung disease. It does not contain bias against smoking, nor does it have an independent variable. Therefore, options A, C, D, and E can be eliminated.

Question 12

Bob grew up in the church, where he proposed to study ethics in church finance. He found it difficult to say anything negative or critical about the people who were part of his community, even when he discovered some financial manipulations by members of the congregation. Which of the following is a potential problem in this study?
A) a high degree of subject object conflict
B) unintentional bias created by the emotional attachment of the researcher to subjects
C) a frequent inability to get at the subtleties and nuances of social interaction
D) differences between generations in experience
E) Selecting what to report as significant is normal, so there is no problem.

Accepted Answer

The emotional attachment of Bob to the members of his congregation could create unintentional bias in his study, leading him to overlook or downplay negative findings. The emotional attachment of the researcher to the subjects can create unintentional bias and make it difficult for the researcher to say anything negative or critical about them, which can pose a potential problem in the study.

Question 13

In what type of interview does the investigator ask a list of questions, but is free to vary them or make up new questions on topics that take on importance during the course of the interview?
A) a structured interview
B) an open-ended interview
C) an invalid experiment
D) a participant observation
E) subject to interviewer bias

Accepted Answer

This is an example of an open-ended interview, where the investigator has a list of questions as a guide, but can tailor the conversation to follow up on interesting topics or ask new questions as they arise. This type of interview is known as an open-ended interview where the investigator has a list of questions but is free to vary them or make up new questions on topics that take on importance during the course of the interview. The other options listed are not relevant to this type of interview.

Question 14

Which of the following research designs is least used by sociologists?
A) survey research
B) participant observation
C) controlled experiment
D) structured interview
E) secondary analysis

Accepted Answer

Controlled experiments are least used by sociologists because they often involve manipulating variables in ways that are not practical or ethical in sociological settings. Additionally, sociological phenomena are often too complex to be fully understood through the narrow focus of a controlled experiment. Sociologists instead typically rely on observational and correlational methods, such as participant observation and surveys, as well as secondary analysis of existing data. Structured interviews are also commonly used in sociological research. Controlled experiments are the least used research design in sociology because it is often difficult to manipulate variables in a way that is ethical and practical in a social context. Many social phenomena are complex and multifaceted, making it difficult to isolate and control for individual factors in an experiment. Additionally, sociologists often prioritize qualitative and naturalistic methods, which do not lend themselves well to the controlled manipulation of variables. Survey research, participant observation, structured interviews, and secondary analysis are all commonly used research designs in sociology.

Question 15

On average, the taller a person is, the more she or he is likely to weigh. The evidence for this statement would most likely be:
A) a statement causality.
B) random insight.
C) an examination of the first ten persons walking into a classroom in a non-biased way.
D) a statement of association.
E) a firm biological relationship.

Accepted Answer

This statement describes an association between height and weight, meaning that these two variables are likely to be correlated. It does not suggest causal direction or provide evidence of a biological relationship, and it is not based on random insight or a small, biased sample. Therefore, option D - a statement of association - best describes the type of evidence that would support this claim. The statement describes a correlation, or association, between height and weight. Therefore, the evidence would support a statement of association, as choice D. The other options (causality, random insight, examination of a small sample, firm biological relationship) are not applicable or do not fully capture the nature of the evidence.

Question 16

In a recent national survey, it was learned that the grade point average of college seniors was correlated with their class attendance. In that study, the independent variable was:
A) class attendance.
B) class rank, e.g., senior status.
C) grade point average.
D) the national survey.

Accepted Answer

The independent variable is the variable that is being manipulated or varied in the study. In this case, the independent variable is class attendance since it is being varied to determine its correlation with grade point average. Class rank and the national survey are not being manipulated variables in this study, and grade point average is the outcome variable that is being measured, not manipulated. The independent variable is the variable that is being manipulated in the study. In this case, class attendance is being manipulated (or measured) and its effect on grade point average is being studied. Therefore, class attendance is the independent variable.

Question 17

A variable is:
A) anything that can change.
B) a testable statement about the relationship between two or more hypotheses.
C) a factor that always remains constant.
D) a statement of association.
E) a fact given a definition in a research process.

Accepted Answer

A variable is anything that can change, such as an independent variable that is manipulated by the researcher, or a dependent variable that is measured in response to the manipulation of the independent variable. Variables can take on different values or levels, and are important for testing hypotheses and making conclusions about relationships between different factors. A variable is a factor that can vary or change in a research study. It is something that can be measured, manipulated or controlled. Therefore, option A is the correct choice because it defines the concept of a variable accurately. B is incorrect since it describes a hypothesis. C is incorrect as a variable doesn't always remain constant. D is incorrect because it describes an association, not a variable. E is not a characteristic of a variable.

Question 18

Men who live in cities are more likely to marry young than men who live in the country. In this hypothesis, the dependent variable is the:
A) place of residence (city or country).
B) marital status (single or married).
C) age at marriage.
D) sex.
E) There is no dependent variable in this example.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Men who live in cities are more...

Question 19

The main advantage of experiments in social research is that:
A) people tend to act more naturally in laboratory settings.
B) researchers have control over the variables of the study.
C) interactions of large groups can easily be studied.
D) it is the least expensive form of research design.
E) subjects respond most honestly.

Accepted Answer

The main advantage of experiments in social research is that researchers have control over the variables of the study. This allows for the establishment of cause-and-effect relationships between variables. Experiments in social research allow for control over the variables of the study, which is a major advantage. This allows researchers to isolate and manipulate the variables of interest, leading to more accurate and reliable results. Additionally, experiments can be replicated and the results can be generalized to a larger population.

Question 20

In research, a sample is defined as:
A) all the people who share a particular characteristic of research interest.
B) two or more people who share the same values.
C) the portion of the total population chosen for study.
D) the one case or person that best represents a particular social category.
E) a small group of volunteers for the study.

Accepted Answer

A sample refers to a portion of the total population chosen for study. Therefore, option C is the correct choice. Option A refers to a population and not a sample. Option B refers to a group with shared values, but not necessarily chosen for a study. Option D refers to a case study design and not a sample. Option E refers to the recruitment method of volunteers, but not a sample. In research, a sample refers to the portion of the total population that is selected for study. This selection process is usually done to ensure that the sample represents the population as accurately as possible while avoiding the cost and time necessary to study everyone in the population. Therefore, option C is the best choice.

Quiz 2: Doing Sociology: Research Methods

Riding in unmarked police cars to collect data on drug dealers is using:

Which of the following is a statement of causality?

Failure to achieve a representative sample is known as:

Social class background is a good predictor of achievement in school. In this statement, achievement in school is the:

When two variables are related but one does not cause the other, researchers term the situation:

Sociologists utilizing the Census, the FBI statistics, or statistics from the Department of Labor would be engaged in which type of data collection method?

Using a structured interview:

People are selected from a group in such a way that every person has the same chance of being selected. The people who are selected make up what type of sample?

A major drawback of open-ended interviews is that:

In the early 1960s, sociologist Herbert Gans moved into a newly developed suburb in New Jersey where he lived for two years, observing and interviewing his neighbors. In research terms, Gans conducted a _____ study.

Cigarette smoking has been shown to be related to lung disease. This proposition includes:

In what type of interview does the investigator ask a list of questions, but is free to vary them or make up new questions on topics that take on importance during the course of the interview?

Which of the following research designs is least used by sociologists?

On average, the taller a person is, the more she or he is likely to weigh. The evidence for this statement would most likely be:

In a recent national survey, it was learned that the grade point average of college seniors was correlated with their class attendance. In that study, the independent variable was:

A variable is:

Men who live in cities are more likely to marry young than men who live in the country. In this hypothesis, the dependent variable is the:

The main advantage of experiments in social research is that:

In research, a sample is defined as: