Question 1

The target group a researcher is interested in studying is the

Accepted Answer

The target group that a researcher is interested in studying is the population. The term population refers to the entire group of people, objects, or events that the researcher wants to study and make inferences about. The other options, such as sample, data, and model, are related to the population but are not the specific group of interest.

Question 2

Which of the following is NOT a sampling technique?

Accepted Answer

Quota sampling, random sampling, and convenience sampling are all legitimate sampling techniques that are commonly used in research. Intermediary sampling, however, is not a recognized sampling technique. It is possible that the term is referring to a type of sampling that is unique to a specific research study or discipline, but it is not a commonly used method of sampling.

Question 3

In his study of workplace harassment, George changed the names of the participants that he quoted in his final report. This was done to ensure

Accepted Answer

Changing the names of participants in a study is a measure taken to ensure confidentiality, protecting the identity of the participants while still allowing their data to be used in the research.

Question 4

What is the first step in the sociological research process?

Accepted Answer

The answer of What is the first step in the...

Question 5

You are planning to conduct a survey about student opinions of dining on campus. In constructing your questionnaire, you should avoid all of the following EXCEPT

Accepted Answer

Clearly phrased questions are essential in creating an effective and unbiased survey. Loaded language, double-barreled questions, and unclear definitions can all impact the validity and reliability of the survey results. Therefore, it is important to avoid these issues when creating a survey.

Question 6

Closed-ended questions are used in ________ research.

Accepted Answer

Closed-ended questions are commonly used in surveys as they provide specific options for respondents to choose from and make responses easier to quantify and analyze. Content analysis, secondary data analysis, and intensive interviewing may use open-ended questions which allow for more detailed and varied responses.

Question 7

Studies that provide anonymity

Accepted Answer

Studies that provide anonymity guarantee that the information provided cannot be traced back to the participant. This means that the researcher does not collect any identifiable information such as name, address, phone number, or email address. Anonymity is important for protecting privacy and confidentiality of participants, which can encourage them to be more honest in their responses.

Question 8

What is the portion of a population studied by researchers that represents the whole population?

Accepted Answer

A sample is a portion of a population that is studied by researchers in order to make inferences about the entire population. It is selected in a way that is representative of the larger group and allows for generalization of findings.

Question 9

Which of the following is one way a researcher can ensure confidentiality?

Accepted Answer

Changing personal details that might identify a person, such as their name, age, or location, is a way to ensure confidentiality. It is important to protect participants' privacy and keep their personal information confidential in research studies, and this can be achieved by de-identifying their data. Options A and B do not directly ensure confidentiality, and option C would violate confidentiality by revealing participants' names.

Question 10

Levi collects data for a study by questioning anybody who walks by his store at the mall. What data collection method is he using?

Accepted Answer

Levi is using convenience sampling, which is a non-probability sampling technique where data is collected from individuals who are easily accessible and available to the researcher. This method is usually less costly and less time-consuming than other sampling techniques, but it may not provide a representative sample of the population being studied.

Question 11

Before Leann starts interviewing her research participants, she informs them of the risks and benefits of their participation in her study. By doing this, she is ensuring

Accepted Answer

By informing the participants of the risks and benefits of their participation, Leann is ensuring that they are giving their informed consent to participate in the study. This is an ethical practice in research, as it allows participants to make an informed decision about whether or not they want to take part. Anonymity and confidentiality also relate to ethical practices in research, but they are not directly related to the act of informing participants about the study's risks and benefits. Value-neutrality refers to the researcher's ability to remain impartial and not let their own values and biases influence the research results. While important, it is not directly related to the act of informing participants about the study.

Question 12

Dr. Karner is interested in learning how students in his department feel about the courses being offered. To select the students who will take the questionnaire, he wrote the names of every student on small slips of paper and blindly drew 100 names from a hat. What sampling method did he use?

Accepted Answer

Dr. Karner used random sampling as each student had an equal chance of being selected, and the selection process was done blindly without any bias or influence.

Question 13

Julie works for Knowledge Works, a company that calls individuals in the United States and asks them closed-ended questions about their knowledge of different social policies. What kind of research is she conducting?

Accepted Answer

Julie is conducting a survey, which involves asking closed-ended questions to a large group of individuals in order to gather quantitative data. Focus groups involve open-ended discussions with a small group of individuals, intensive interviewing is a type of in-depth qualitative research, and content analysis involves analyzing written or recorded materials for themes and patterns.

Question 14

The sampling method that involves selecting cases to include by chance is called ________ sampling.

Accepted Answer

Random sampling ensures that every member of the population has an equal chance of being selected, eliminating any potential biases that may arise in other sampling methods.

Question 15

Which research method allows for specific variables to be controlled and manipulated?

Accepted Answer

Experiments allow researchers to manipulate and control specific variables in a systematic way, making them the best choice for this question. Intensive interviews, surveys, and focus groups may provide valuable data, but they do not allow for the same level of control over variables.

Question 16

What does it mean for researchers to generalize their findings?

Accepted Answer

Generalizing findings means that researchers are able to apply their findings to larger groups or populations beyond those who participated in the study. This requires understanding patterns and trends that may exist beyond the sample group being studied.

Question 17

Tammy created a survey to study how much alcohol students drink. On the survey she asked the following question: In the past seven days, how many times have you consumed alcohol or smoked marijuana? What is the main problem with how this survey question is worded?

Accepted Answer

The question is asking about both alcohol and marijuana consumption, making it a double-barreled question. This can lead to confusion or inaccurate responses. It would be better to ask separate questions about alcohol and marijuana use.

Question 18

Salvatore is participating in a survey. Before starting, the researcher tells him that he will be paid five dollars for participating and that he can stop the survey at any point and still be compensated for his time. This is an example of

Accepted Answer

This scenario describes informed consent, as Salvatore is being informed of the details of the study (including compensation and the ability to withdraw at any time), and has the option to consent or decline participation. Confidentiality and anonymity may also be important principles in the study, but they are not specifically addressed in this scenario.

Question 19

Ja'nice interviewed a group of students with disabilities about the barriers they face in the classroom. She concluded that other students with disabilities to whom she did not talk probably face similar problems. What is she doing?

Accepted Answer

Ja'nice is making a generalization about the barriers faced by other students with disabilities based on the experiences of the group she interviewed. This is a common practice in research, but it is important to recognize that generalizations are not always accurate and can be influenced by factors such as the sample size and diversity.

Question 20

Which of the following research methods can effectively describe large populations in a cost-effective way?

Accepted Answer

Surveys can effectively describe large populations in a cost-effective way as they can reach a large number of people with standardized questions and can be administered through various methods such as online, mail or phone. Focus groups and intensive interviews involve small sample sizes and are not cost-effective for large populations. Field research is time-consuming and requires intensive resources, making it expensive.

Quiz 2: Understanding the Research Process