Question 1

When completing her research on reasons why couples make the decision to live together,Lavonne included a section in her report that described the data she collected and how she reached her conclusions.What aspect of social research is she conducting?

Accepted Answer

Lavonne is providing transparency in methods by describing how she collected and analyzed her data, which is an essential aspect of social research.

Question 2

What kind of research involves the analysis of data that one did not collect oneself?

Accepted Answer

Secondary data analysis involves analyzing data that was collected by someone else. This can include data from sources such as government databases, academic studies, or historical records.

Question 3

Mahmoud found that unemployed young men are more likely to engage in deviant activities than employed young men.What is the independent variable?

Accepted Answer

The independent variable is the factor that is changed or controlled in a scientific experiment to test the effects on the dependent variable. In this case, "employment status" (which encompasses both unemployment and employment) is the variable being manipulated or considered to see its effect on deviant behaviors, making it the independent variable.

Question 4

Suriya designed a study to see if study sessions increased her students' performance on exams.She assigned only half of her class to participate in a study session before an exam.What kind of research is she conducting?

Accepted Answer

Suriya is conducting an experiment because she is manipulating a variable (study sessions) to see if it has an effect on her students' exam performance. She also has a control group (the other half of the class) which allows her to make comparisons and draw causal inferences.

Question 5

Laud was interested in what type of men engaged in anonymous homosexual sex in public places.He spent time in a public bathroom where men engaged in sex with other men,and he secretly observed the types of men who visited the bathroom.What kind of research was he conducting?

Accepted Answer

Laud was conducting field research, as he was directly observing and gathering data in a natural setting (the public bathroom where men engaged in anonymous homosexual sex). Intensive interviewing involves in-depth questioning of individuals, content analysis involves analyzing texts or media, and secondary data analysis involves analyzing existing data collected by someone else.

Question 6

In what data collection technique does the researcher ask open-ended questions to participants and record their responses for analysis?

Accepted Answer

This data collection technique is known as an intensive interview or open-ended interview. The researcher asks open-ended questions and records the responses for analysis. This technique allows for detailed and in-depth exploration of the research topic, allowing the researcher to gain a deeper understanding of participant experiences and perspectives.

Question 7

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 is a research method that involves asking standardized questions of a sample of individuals. Closed-ended questions are a common feature of surveys, in which respondents are given a limited set of response options to choose from.

Question 8

Which term is used for data that represents different values?

Accepted Answer

Data that represents different values are called variables. A variable is a characteristic or attribute that can take on different values in a population or a sample. For example, age, gender, height, and weight are all examples of variables that can vary among individuals.

Question 9

The two key components of social research are theory and

Accepted Answer

Theory and data are the two key components of social research. Theory provides the framework for understanding the social world, while data is collected and analyzed to test and refine theories. Without data, theories are merely hypothetical, and without theory, data lacks cohesiveness and direction. Therefore, theory and data are indispensable to social research.

Question 10

Amelie used data collected by the United States Census Bureau to study changes in family size over the past 100 years.What kind of research is she conducting?

Accepted Answer

Amelie is using data that has already been collected by the United States Census Bureau, which is an example of secondary data analysis.

Question 11

The data collection method in which researchers evaluate information gathered from sources such as news articles,television shows,or magazine ads is called

Accepted Answer

Content analysis involves analyzing and evaluating information gathered from different sources like news articles, TV shows, or magazine ads. It is not field research, surveys, or secondary data analysis, as those methods involve collecting data directly from individuals or original sources.

Question 12

Qualitative data and quantitative data are examples of

Accepted Answer

Qualitative and quantitative data are both types of empirical evidence, which is evidence that is based on observation and measurement. This evidence is often used to support scientific hypotheses and theories.

Question 13

What term refers to when researchers share how they collected and analyzed their data?

Accepted Answer

The answer of What term refers to when researchers share...

Question 14

What does it mean for a sociologist to report provisional knowledge?

Accepted Answer

Reporting provisional knowledge means that the findings are subject to change with the discovery of new information. This acknowledges that sociological knowledge is not final or absolute, but rather a continuously evolving field as new research is conducted and analyzed.

Question 15

Closed-ended questions are used in ________ research.

Accepted Answer

Closed-ended questions are commonly used in surveys where respondents are presented with a set of predetermined answer choices that they can choose from. This allows for easy quantification and analysis of the responses. Closed-ended questions may also be used in content analysis and secondary data analysis, but surveys are the most common use case. Intensive interviewing typically involves open-ended questions to allow for more detailed and personalized responses.

Question 16

What data-gathering technique includes focus groups?

Accepted Answer

The answer of What data-gathering technique includes focus groups?
...

Question 17

Rebekkah collected advertisements for beauty products from popular women's magazines.She systematically analyzed the images in order to study how gender was represented.What kind of research is she conducting?

Accepted Answer

Rebekkah is conducting content analysis, which involves systematically analyzing and interpreting the content of a communication, such as advertisements in magazines, to study how gender is represented.

Question 18

The term that refers to scholars' gathering and evaluation of data is

Accepted Answer

Research methods refer to the systematic gathering and analysis of information to increase understanding of a particular topic or phenomenon. Field methods refer specifically to the collection of data in naturalistic settings, while applied research refers to the use of research to solve practical problems, and basic research refers to the pursuit of knowledge for its own sake. Therefore, A) research methods is the most appropriate term to describe the gathering and evaluation of data by scholars.

Question 19

Which of the following is NOT a role theory plays in the research process?

Accepted Answer

Theory does not typically dictate the specific research methods to be used; rather, it helps in understanding and interpreting data and identifying topics and patterns.

Question 20

Sammy noticed that her test grades were better when she attended classes.She decided to create a study to see if there was a relationship between class attendance and test performance.In what aspect of the social research process has Sammy engaged?

Accepted Answer

Sammy is observing patterns in her own life (noticing a correlation between her class attendance and test grades) and is considering studying this relationship further, which is the initial step in the social research process.

Quiz 2: Understanding the Research Process