Exam 1: Why Do Research

Thomas T. Jones, a hospital administrator, has heard a lot about gay men getting HIV and AIDS. He has watched male patients at his hospital admitted for AIDS. He thinks all of the men look like homosexuals as well as almost all their male visitors. In actuality, 60 percent of the HIV positive male patients were heterosexual and 80 percent of their visitors were neighbors, co-workers, or immediate family members. He most clearly made which type of error?

Professor Rodgers examined survey information about people who were 65 years of age and older. He found the average level of happiness reported increased from 1982 to 2002. He concluded that people under 65 years of age also experienced increasing levels of happiness from 1982 to 2002. The error he committed is called

Prestige and honor within the scientific community depend largely on

Organized skepticism

Describe the scientific community, its role in the production of knowledge and its norms.

In qualitative research, an important first step in the research process is to "acknowledge the social self." Why is this step important for qualitative research, but not quantitative research?

How do pseudoscience and junk science differ?

Discuss three alternative sources of knowledge to social research. Explain why social research is better even if it is not always right and cannot answer every question.

One source of knowledge is personal experience. Is personal experience flawed with illusions? If so, how? If not, how does personal experience stand up to the rigors of social research?