Question 1

Raoul had returned home after a semester at university and was excitedly talking about the experiential learning component in one class,and the small group discussions and projects of another.His grandfather interjected,"Back in my day,the professor lectured,and we took notes and then studied like crazy to memorize the right answers for the tests." Which concept explains the difference between Raoul's and his grandfather's experience?
A) divergent thinking
B) paradigm shift
C) mutation of educational practice
D) lowering educational standards

Accepted Answer

Raoul's experience represents a paradigm shift in education, which refers to a fundamental change in the way things are done or thought about. This applies to the shift from a traditional lecture-based approach to a more experiential and collaborative approach, which Raoul experienced in his classes.

Question 2

Students who work at part-time jobs get lower grades than those who do not work.In methodological terms,what kind of variable are students' grades?
A) mediating
B) independent
C) dependent
D) confounding

Accepted Answer

Students' grades are the variable being measured or predicted, therefore they are the dependent variable.

Question 3

In research,what term is used to refer to the accuracy or relevancy of measurement in relation to the theoretical concept that it is supposed to measure?
A) reliability
B) internal consistency
C) validity
D) randomization

Accepted Answer

Validity refers to the extent to which a measurement tool or instrument actually measures the construct or concept it is intended to measure. It is a measure of the accuracy or relevancy of the measurement in relation to the theoretical concept it is supposed to measure. Reliability refers to the consistency of the measurement, while internal consistency refers to the degree of coherence or correlation between different components of a measurement tool. Randomization refers to the process of randomly assigning participants to different groups in a study. None of these terms directly relate to the accuracy or relevancy of measurement for a given construct or concept.

Question 4

Scientists can conclusively declare solar flares and the resulting radiation knocks out satellite transmissions.What can ultimately be said about these two events?
A) They are correlated.
B) They are both related.
C) They are both associated.
D) They are causally connected.

Accepted Answer

The statement "solar flares and the resulting radiation knocks out satellite transmissions" implies a causal relationship between the two events. This means that if there were no solar flares or radiation, satellite transmissions would not be affected. Therefore, D - "They are causally connected" - is the best choice.

Question 5

Carly believes that,contrary to the stereotype of silent men and chatty women,men chat as often-if not more-as women do when they're eating.For four months,Carly eats her lunch in the university cafeteria,recording the talking time of males and females in couples and in groups during their food breaks.What type of study is Carly conducting?
A) observational
B) participant observation
C) objective analytical
D) group experimental

Accepted Answer

Carly is observing and recording the behavior of the individuals in the university cafeteria without manipulating any variables, making it an observational study.

Question 6

When discussing her research project on family violence,Serena says that she will use official police statistics and data from Statistics Canada as her main source of data.Tom pointed out to her that she may have a problem with validity of her findings.Why would Tom say this?
A) Official statistics are less reliable for social research than for the natural sciences.
B) Official statistics are collected by bureaucrats who often find results that support their interests.
C) Official statistics do not meet the criteria of falsifiability.
D) Statistics are problematic since they are not objective factors on which everyone agrees.

Accepted Answer

The answer of When discussing her research project on family...

Question 7

In what kind of study do researchers attempt to closely control the research environment?
A) the field experiment
B) participant observation
C) survey research
D) experimental research

Accepted Answer

Experimental research is the kind of study in which researchers attempt to closely control the research environment. They manipulate an independent variable to observe its effect on the dependent variable while controlling for extraneous variables. This allows for the establishment of cause-and-effect relationships. In participant observation, the researcher becomes part of the group being studied and does not attempt to strictly control the environment. In survey research, the study participants are asked to answer a set of questions, but the environment is not closely controlled. Field experiments are conducted in real-life situations, which makes it difficult to control the environment.

Question 8

After observing little girls at play,a researcher concluded that those girls wearing dresses acted in a more feminine manner.However,in reality,some of the girls wearing pants acted similarly.What may have influenced the researcher's erroneous finding?
A) participant observation
B) objective definition of femininity
C) sociological practices
D) observer bias

Accepted Answer

Observer bias is when the researcher's own beliefs and assumptions affect their interpretation of data. In this case, the researcher may have had a preconception that dresses are more feminine and therefore paid more attention to those girls wearing dresses, leading to an erroneous finding.

Question 9

As a sociologist,I decide to study the social phenomenon of suicide;I am not value-free in choosing this topic,as I had a cousin who took his own life.What will I have to be mindful of when conducting my research?
A) randomization
B) confounding
C) validity
D) objectivity

Accepted Answer

As a sociologist conducting research on a sensitive topic that is personally relevant, it is crucial to prioritize objectivity in order to avoid allowing personal emotions or biases to influence the research process and results. This means attempting to remain as impartial and unbiased as possible, and being aware of any potential ways in which personal experiences or emotions could impact the research. Randomization, confounding, and validity are also important concepts to consider when conducting research, but in this specific scenario, maintaining objectivity is the most crucial factor.

Question 10

By imagining yourself in the role of another,you come to appreciate someone else's point of view.This process is called "taking the role of the other." Whose work made use of this process?
A) Max Weber
B) George Herbert Mead
C) Erving Goffman
D) Gregor Mendel

Accepted Answer

The answer of By imagining yourself in the role of...

Question 11

Jodi and Paula were discussing their research proposals and Jodi asked Paula what form of data collection activity she was going to undertake.Paula answered,"The primary one of social science research." What is Paula going to use in her research project?
A) social survey
B) field study
C) ethnographic study
D) experiment

Accepted Answer

The term "social survey" is commonly used to refer to a particular form of data collection activity in social science research. This type of research involves collecting data from a sample of individuals, usually through a structured questionnaire or survey instrument. It is a commonly used method for studying attitudes, beliefs, behaviors, and other social phenomena in a population. Therefore, Paula's research proposal is most likely focused on conducting a social survey.

Question 12

Which technique is often employed by social scientists to eliminate the problem of external validity associated with experiments?
A) participant observation
B) personal interviews
C) the survey technique
D) the field experiment

Accepted Answer

The field experiment allows social scientists to conduct experiments in real-life settings, thus increasing external validity.

Question 13

Fatima meets with an immigrant woman without legal status to discuss a potential research project.The immigrant talks about her daily life and how she works without being identified by the authorities.However,Fatima is frustrated to hear how the immigrant was able to come to this country without going through the legal procedures that Fatima's parents had to go through.According to the text,why should Fatima NOT study this immigrant?
A) The immigrant may be identified and deported.
B) Fatima lacks objectivity.
C) The immigrant may disclose information harmful to other immigrants.
D) Fatima may reveal insights into her life.

Accepted Answer

Fatima's frustration and bias could affect her ability to remain objective in her research. It is important for researchers to remain impartial in order to accurately represent their subjects and their experiences.

Question 14

An experimenter sets up a situation to observe people's behaviour when they are subjected to certain variables that she is testing.However,she begins to suspect that her presence alone is changing the behaviour of the subjects.What is this phenomenon called?
A) self-monitoring
B) Hawthorne effect
C) self-consciousness
D) experiment anxiety

Accepted Answer

The phenomenon described in the scenario is known as the Hawthorne effect, where the presence of an observer or experimenter in a study can influence the behaviour of participants being observed. This effect was first observed in the Hawthorne Works factory in the 1920s, where an experiment on improving worker productivity yielded unexpected results due to the attention paid to the workers during the study.

Question 15

Over time,scientists made systematic observations of the heavens and concluded the earth was not at the centre of the solar system.Eventually,even the Catholic Church could no longer support the belief that the Earth was at the centre of everything.Which term best describes this process?
A) paradigm shift
B) bias resistance
C) meaning creation
D) Newtonian physics

Accepted Answer

A paradigm shift refers to a fundamental change in the way we understand and interpret a particular phenomenon. The shift from a geocentric to a heliocentric model of the solar system is a classic example of a paradigm shift in science. The process involved a rejection of the prevailing belief system, followed by the acceptance of a new and more accurate model based on empirical evidence and logical reasoning.

Question 16

A group of researchers were conducting a study of management-employee relationships in the workplace.Julie and her co-workers noticed that they were given increased attention and recognition by their boss when the researchers were in the office.What term can be used to describe this phenomenon?
A) Hawthorne effect
B) observation bias
C) confounding correlation
D) Social Impression effect

Accepted Answer

The Hawthorne effect refers to the phenomenon where study participants modify their behavior because they are aware that they are being observed. In this case, the employees may work harder or receive more recognition because they are being studied, rather than as a result of their manager's normal behavior.

Question 17

Tammy was extremely interested in exploring the connection between morality and the level of integration of people within a society.Whose writings should she be using in her research paper?
A) Max Weber
B) Auguste Comte
C) Émile Durkheim
D) Karl Marx

Accepted Answer

Durkheim's work focused heavily on the idea of social integration and its relationship to morality. His book "Suicide" analyzed how levels of social integration impacted suicide rates, and his broader sociological theory emphasized the importance of social norms and values in shaping individual behavior. While Weber, Comte, and Marx all made important contributions to the field of sociology, Durkheim's work is the most closely related to Tammy's research interests.

Question 18

Jason had slept in,and after a hurried shower was rushing out the door to school when his mother stopped him and told him to wear a hat to cover his wet hair.Jason asked why and his mother replied,"It's cold outside and if you don't,you'll catch a cold." What was Jason's mother implying?
A) a fixed variation between having a shower and needing to wear a hat
B) a spurious relationship between sleeping in and developing a cold
C) a causal relationship between wet hair in the cold and being sick with a cold
D) a negative correlation between wearing a hat and having wet hair

Accepted Answer

Jason's mother is implying a causal relationship between wet hair in the cold and being sick with a cold. This is a common misconception, as the common cold is actually caused by a virus, not by cold temperatures. However, there is some evidence to suggest that exposure to cold temperatures may weaken the immune system and make it more susceptible to infection, which could contribute to this belief.

Question 19

What is external validity?
A) It is the accuracy of external measures.
B) It is validity established outside the experimental design.
C) It is the generalizability of research findings.
D) It is research assessments made by peer reviewers.

Accepted Answer

External validity refers to the extent to which research findings can be generalized to other settings, populations or contexts beyond the particular sample and conditions used in the original study. In other words, it is about the ability to draw conclusions that are applicable to real-world situations, rather than being limited to the specific experimental conditions or group studied in the research. Therefore, it is not about the accuracy of external measures or the opinion of peer reviewers, nor is it necessarily established outside the experimental design (as internal validity can also be important).

Question 20

The professor was curious if a five percent bonus mark would influence students to submit their term essays on time.Half the students were offered the bonus mark for on-time submission,the other half were not offered any bonus marks.What kind of variable is the bonus mark incentive?
A) independent
B) randomized
C) dependent
D) control

Accepted Answer

The bonus mark incentive is the independent variable because it is being manipulated by the researcher to see if it has an effect on the dependent variable (submission of essays on time).

Quiz 2: Research Methods

Students who work at part-time jobs get lower grades than those who do not work.In methodological terms,what kind of variable are students' grades?

In research,what term is used to refer to the accuracy or relevancy of measurement in relation to the theoretical concept that it is supposed to measure?

Scientists can conclusively declare solar flares and the resulting radiation knocks out satellite transmissions.What can ultimately be said about these two events?

When discussing her research project on family violence,Serena says that she will use official police statistics and data from Statistics Canada as her main source of data.Tom pointed out to her that she may have a problem with validity of her findings.Why would Tom say this?

In what kind of study do researchers attempt to closely control the research environment?

After observing little girls at play,a researcher concluded that those girls wearing dresses acted in a more feminine manner.However,in reality,some of the girls wearing pants acted similarly.What may have influenced the researcher's erroneous finding?

As a sociologist,I decide to study the social phenomenon of suicide;I am not value-free in choosing this topic,as I had a cousin who took his own life.What will I have to be mindful of when conducting my research?

By imagining yourself in the role of another,you come to appreciate someone else's point of view.This process is called "taking the role of the other." Whose work made use of this process?

Jodi and Paula were discussing their research proposals and Jodi asked Paula what form of data collection activity she was going to undertake.Paula answered,"The primary one of social science research." What is Paula going to use in her research project?

Which technique is often employed by social scientists to eliminate the problem of external validity associated with experiments?

An experimenter sets up a situation to observe people's behaviour when they are subjected to certain variables that she is testing.However,she begins to suspect that her presence alone is changing the behaviour of the subjects.What is this phenomenon called?

Over time,scientists made systematic observations of the heavens and concluded the earth was not at the centre of the solar system.Eventually,even the Catholic Church could no longer support the belief that the Earth was at the centre of everything.Which term best describes this process?

A group of researchers were conducting a study of management-employee relationships in the workplace.Julie and her co-workers noticed that they were given increased attention and recognition by their boss when the researchers were in the office.What term can be used to describe this phenomenon?

Tammy was extremely interested in exploring the connection between morality and the level of integration of people within a society.Whose writings should she be using in her research paper?

Jason had slept in,and after a hurried shower was rushing out the door to school when his mother stopped him and told him to wear a hat to cover his wet hair.Jason asked why and his mother replied,"It's cold outside and if you don't,you'll catch a cold." What was Jason's mother implying?

What is external validity?

The professor was curious if a five percent bonus mark would influence students to submit their term essays on time.Half the students were offered the bonus mark for on-time submission,the other half were not offered any bonus marks.What kind of variable is the bonus mark incentive?