Deck 2: Applying Sociological Research Methods

Question 1

Participatory action research is a field method designed to focus on policy reforms intended to increase physical activity among specific age groups and communities.

Answer 1

False

Question 2

Inductive reasoning is a theory-driven approach that typically concludes with generalizations based on research findings.

Answer 2

False

Question 3

A senior citizen who gives his age as ten years younger than his actual age is an example of the inaccuracies possible in surveys.

Answer 3

True

Question 4

Findings from a research study indicate that increasing the number of postings on Facebook strengthens feelings of inclusion and connection with others.

Question 5

Books, magazines, and television programs can all be sources of data for secondary analysis.

Question 6

Self-administered questionnaires work best with open-ended questions.

Question 7

The dependent variable is presumed to cause the independent one.

Question 8

The Nuremburg Code ended concerns about ethical misconduct.

Question 9

The major advantage of an experiment is the researcher's control over the environment and the ability to isolate the experimental variable.

Question 10

Rather than being a fact-based source of empirical evidence, sociology is considered an important and informative source of common sense and personal opinion forums that influences the thoughts and attitudes of everyday Canadians.

Question 11

A needs assessment, as part of empowerment research, includes asking "What is the nature of the social change required to improve conditions for a particular social group?"

Question 12

Participant observation involves collecting systematic observations while being part of the activities of the group being studied.

Question 13

Samples do not necessarily need to represent the larger population from which they are drawn.

Question 14

Debriefing is the process of discussing the ethical outcomes at the end of a research project.

Question 15

The method of participant observation typically employs random samples of individuals or groups.

Question 16

The best way to draw conclusions from research is to revisit the original research question.

Question 17

Dr. Smith designed and conducted her sociological research within a narrowly defined view of what the scientific method included. Her research design and programs were developed with a strict adherence to the positivistic process so that all mainstream scientific journals would recognize and approve of her research findings. All sociologists agree with and have a similar attitude for any sociological research completed in Canada.

Question 18

Confidentiality cannot exist without anonymity.

Question 19

Sociological research is primarily intended to prove or disprove a social phenomenon.

Question 20

Statistics Canada is a significant resource for social science researchers who need descriptions of numerous aspects and characteristics of Canada's population.

Question 21

With qualitative research, the goal is scientific objectivity.

Question 22

When researchers operationalize their main variables, they are defining the variables in a general manner that is not necessarily measurable.

Question 23

If a questionnaire is administered to a specific group rather than a randomly selected group, what kind of sample will the research produce?

A)a multivariate sample
B)a representative sample
C) a restricted sample
D) a sample of convenience

Question 24

Who bears the primary ethical responsibility in university-based academic research?

A)funding agencies
B)ethics boards
C) researchers
D) subjects

Question 25

Which of the following terms refers to studying people where they live, work, and play?

A)participant observation
B)ethnography
C) case investigation
D) field experimentation

Question 26

What kind of research should a social scientist use to clearly establish the causal relationship between two variables?

A)experimental research
B)direct observation
C) correlational research
D) ethnographic research

Question 27

The text used recent exploratory research studies around text messaging to illustrate efforts to affect which social issue?

A)improve relationships between parents and adolescents
B)change attitudes toward promoting physical activity among adolescents
C) improve written language and spelling abilities
D) reduce feelings of isolation among adolescents by setting up a "texting hotline"

Question 28

Two researchers, Dressler and Farmer, hypothesized that novice marathon runners would run farther and longer if they were exposed to veteran runners who could mentor them through the early days of marathon training. The researchers began with existing theories, developed a new hypothesis, and then organized a research program to test the premise. Which form of reasoning is described here?

A)reductionist
B)deductive
C) inductive
D) empirical

Question 29

Which of the following refers to obtaining consistent results with the same measure?

A)multiple causation
B)reliability
C) experimenter presence
D) validity

Question 30

In a study of the health of 16-year-old runaways in Toronto, the researcher examined housing, employment, and education. In this research, which of the following is an independent variable?

A)age
B)housing
C) employment
D) health

Question 31

For a research project about vacation practices, Sam will look at the influence of a person's income on her or his vacation destination. He proposes that the higher the income, the more luxurious the accommodation choice will be. What is the name for the outcome (in this case, for the accommodation choice)?

A)an independent variable
B)a dependent variable
C) a spurious variable
D) an intervening variable

Question 32

Social scientists use experiments as often as natural scientists do because they provide a reliable source of data.

Question 33

What does the term "validity" mean in relation to experimental research?

A)verification of results by outside parties
B)consistency of measurement
C) a good indicator of the intended concept
D) accuracy of measurement

Question 34

Systematic observation involves taking part in a social group or process.
Indicate the answer choice that best completes the statement or answers the question.

Question 35

A sociologist starts hanging out with Italian immigrants. In addition to the hanging out, he informally conducts interviews with the immigrants, and supplements his research with official statistics and government reports. Then he publishes a book on his work that gives an in-depth insider's look at Italian immigrant life in Canada, contrasted with the official information. His work both confirms some aspects of official data, and confronts some government claims about immigration. What kind of research is this?

A)an experimental research project
B)a survey research project
C) an ethnographic research project
D) an academic writing project

Question 36

People who are both frequent text message and Facebook users are known to develop a reduced ability to spell combined with an overall reduction in written language skills.

Question 37

If a person's sex is said to affect his or her income, then what kind of variable is sex?

A)an independent variable
B)a control variable
C) a dependent variable
D) an effective variable

Question 38

Mike and Johanna wanted to study the notion that Internet dating site users developed more self-confidence about their personal appeal as a potential partner over a six-month time frame. Which form of research would reveal this particular social phenomenon?

A)descriptive
B)exploratory
C) explanatory
D) deductive

Question 39

Elisa has 1,000 participants over the age of 21 for a research project on urban lifestyles, providing people in one group with a car, and another group with public transit passes. What procedure is best for selecting who will be in the group given a car?

A)select by age
B)select by residential area
C) select by education level
D) flip a coin

Question 40

Descriptive research is a useful research method for tracking whether or not groups, events, activities, and/or situations remain static or experience changes.

Question 41

According to the text, what is the biggest limitation of a survey?

A)It is difficult to verify the accuracy of the findings.
B)It is hard to administer without establishing rapport.
C) It is hard to obtain sensitive information.
D) Surveys are time consuming for both the researcher and the participants.

Question 42

A sociologist publishes an article on an experiment. Another interested researcher uses the same methodology and replicates the experiment with similar results. What can be said about the original experimental results?

A)They show causation.
B)They have confidence.
C) They have verifiability.
D) They have reliability.

Question 43

According to the text, which of the following is the primary means of collecting social science evidence?

A)a survey
B)a field study
C) an ethnographic study
D) an experiment

Question 44

A research group was interested in exploring the experiences of temporary foreign workers (TFW) who discovered that their Canadian work visas required them to return to their country of origin for a period of 3 months out of any 12-month timeframe in order to requalify for the TFW status. Which form of reasoning is described here?

A)interpretive
B)inductive
C) integrative
D) independent

Question 45

According to the text, what is a researcher doing when he is pursuing change while studying a social system?

A)community research
B)social research
C) responsible research
D) action research

Question 46

Research in online chat rooms is challenging. Even if researchers announce that they have logged in, someone logging in later might not be aware of their presence. What does this important research issue pertain to?

A)technology
B)ethics
C) research intent
D) research outcomes

Question 47

A research group was interested in comparing the saving habits of Canadians across three groups of working-aged adults, regionally across Canada, by level of education, and geographic location. The group required access to data that contained information regarding levels of gross income, education, geographic location, gender, work occupation, and age. From what source might the researchers obtain this information?

A)Vital Statistics
B)Better Business Bureau
C) Statistics Canada
D) Canada Revenue Agency

Question 48

What is the best scientific methodology for a scientist to use to isolate a cause?

A)an experiment
B)a survey
C) field research
D) observation studies

Question 49

According to the text, which of the following is one problem with the use of secondary analysis?

A)The data are not readily available.
B)The data may be biased or incomplete.
C) The data are very expensive to obtain.
D) The chance of bias on the part of the researcher is greatly increased.

Question 50

According to your text, what is the goal of explanatory research in sociology?

A)subjectivity
B)correlation
C) value neutrality
D) understanding

Question 51

According to the text, how is ethnography best defined?

A)It is the reification of the characteristics of multi-ethnic societies.
B)It is the examination of the textual histories of various ethnic groups.
C) It is the gathering data to describe everyday behavior in natural settings.
D) It is the only analysis of the oral culture of an ethnic group.

Question 52

In a study of the effects of exposure to pornographic films on men's attitudes toward women, what is the name of the group of research participants who are NOT exposed to the films?

A)the control group
B)the research group
C) the master group
D) the experimental group

Question 53

For a research project about rates of tobacco use among socioeconomic groups, Tyson will examine the influence of income upon rates of use and ages of start-up. He suggests that the lower the income, the higher the rates of tobacco use with younger start-up rates. Which of the following terms best describes the concept that includes income as an indicator?

A)socialization
B)social capital
C) social class
D) social causation theory

Question 54

When are measurements in research considered reliable?

A)when they are correlated
B)when they are consistent or repeatable
C) when they measure what they were supposed to measure
D) when they are accurate and relevant

Question 55

How will acquiring a basic understanding of the science that informs sociology assist you?

A)by adjusting to the inevitable social changes that are occurring on a global scale
B)by determining which is the correct political party to vote for
C) by avoiding some of the common pitfalls of "common sense" and allowing you to find dependable answers to life's questions
D) by comparing social systems on a global scale

Question 56

What is the main reason that sociologists review previous research?

A)to determine if they will be able to get their own research published in a scholarly journal
B)to determine what is already known and where gaps or limitations exist
C) to criticize the work of other sociologists
D) to decide on one or more of the research methods available for the research design

Question 57

Which research method places the most emphasis on understanding the members of a group from their own point of view?

A)unobtrusive measurement
B)participant observation
C) survey research
D) the experiment

Question 58

Which of the following terms refers to research on copies of suicide notes done to establish the types of themes that occur most often in them?

A)field research
B)content analysis
C) participant observation
D) ethnography

Question 59

Which of the following research models has scientific objectivity as a goal and focuses on data that can be measured numerically?

A)quantitative
B)qualitative
C) inductive
D) both quantitative and qualitative

Question 60

A researcher might administer a questionnaire to a small group that closely resembles the population of interest. What label would a sociologist give this group?

A)multivariate sample
B)representative sample
C) restricted sample
D) sample of convenience

Question 61

What kind of research is Statistics Canada's national census?

A)secondary research
B)an experiment
C) a representative sample
D) a field study

Question 62

When a researcher meets with the research participants in her study and asks each of them a series of questions, altering the questions as necessary, which data collection method is she using?

A)a researcher-administered questionnaire
B)an unstandardized interview
C) a structured survey
D) a structured experiment

Question 63

What kind of research is designed to facilitate improving the conditions within a particular social setting or for a particular social group?

A)exploratory
B)experimental
C) empowerment
D) evaluation

Question 64

For a research project about vacation practices, Sam will look at the influence of a person's income on his or her vacation destination. He proposes that the higher the income, the more luxurious the accommodation choice will be. Which of the following terms best describes "the person's income"?

A)a variable
B)a hypothesis
C) a theory
D) an operational definition

Question 65

According to the text, what is the principal component of any theory?

A)research
B)reliability
C) variables
D) concepts

Question 66

Characteristics and features of the Canadian population are collected every five years via Statistics Canada. This information is very useful for understanding current and future policy surrounding pension, retirement planning, and pension reform. Which form of research helped to reveal these findings?

A)descriptive
B)exploratory
C) explanatory
D) deductive

Question 67

What is the greatest advantage of an experimental design?

A)It's easy to set up.
B)It's seen as legitimate.
C) It is seen as authentic.
D) It allows for tests of causality.

Question 68

Suppose that a person receives the same score when he or she takes an IQ test more than once. Which of the following would best apply to this test?

A)It is valid.
B)It is a good predictor.
C) It is reliable.
D) It is dependable.

Question 69

If a researcher collects observations about a group while taking part in the activities of the group, what kind of research is being performed?

A)participant observation
B)a survey
C) environmental behaviour
D) an experiment

Question 70

Rosa finished her fieldwork before developing her theory about what social phenomenon was occurring. According to the text, what is the name of this research approach?

A)deductive reasoning
B)inductive reasoning
C) common reasoning
D) reliable reasoning

Question 71

Julio went shopping with Lei to see she what she bought on a weekly basis. However, the five bags of chips and two containers of ice cream contradicted Lei's claim that her family eats only healthy food. When asked about the food, she replied "a little treat now and then doesn't hurt anyone." This contradiction between the conversation and the shopping experience was identified through which methodology?

A)interview
B)measurements
C) participant observation
D) hypothesis

Question 72

In what kind of study do researchers attempt to explain features of particular social phenomena to understand the potential for the positive, negative, or neutral effects it might have on society?

A)exploratory
B)experimental
C) expository
D) explanatory

Question 73

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

Question 74

Which of the following terms refers to a printed research instrument containing a series of items to which research participants (or "subjects") respond by choosing from a list?

A)pretest
B)posttest
C) observational device
D) questionnaire

Question 75

What kind of research answers the question "What is X like?"

A)descriptive
B)explanatory
C) exploratory
D) critical

Question 76

Which of the following would best be utilized when studying how people in a small town recover and rebuild after an earthquake has devastated most of their homes and businesses?

A)systemic research models
B)quantitative research models
C) observational research models
D) qualitative research models

Question 77

The text used Stanley Milgram's study on obedience to authority as an example of the importance of which sociological issue?

A)obedience
B)reliability
C) ethics
D) experimentation

Question 78

Sanjay is interested in finding out people's attitudes about crime in his neighbourhood. In a brief face-to-face interview, he goes door to door and asks his neighbours identical questions using the questionnaire he designed. Which of the following methods of research is he using?

A)participant observation
B)survey
C) experiment
D) ethnography

Question 79

According to the text, what kind of reasoning is theory driven, typically concluding with generalizations based on research findings?

A)deductive
B)inductive
C) common
D) reliable

Question 80

Suppose that scientists want to determine if an experimental vaccine is effective in preventing a particular disease. In an experiment designed to test the vaccine, those participants who receive a placebo (nonmedicinal) solution rather than the proposed vaccine are part of what group?

A)control
B)research
C) placebo
D) experimental