Deck 16: Writing the Research Report and the Politics of Social Research

Question 1

Discuss similarities and differences among the following ideas: academic freedom, objectivity, relational position, and value neutrality.

Answer 1

not answered

Question 2

One model of James Rule's models of relevance urged, by such famous people as Herbert Spencer, that scientific knowledge can be used by anyone for any purpose and the knowledge or process producing it are neutral. Which model is it?

A) special constituency, government
B) special constituency, the uncoopted
C) no net effects
D) direct and positive effects

Answer 2

C

Question 3

What are the major differences between a report on qualitative versus quantitative research?

Answer 3

not answered

Question 4

When writing a report about a field research study, researchers often mix data and analysis together. If they do NOT do so, they are committing

A) Bacon's fallacy.
B) separation of inference.
C) error of reductionism.
D) error of segregation.

Question 5

Which of the following is NOT a tenet of "academic freedom?"

A) A researcher/professor can express ideas freely, within broad limits set by his or her peer professors/researchers but not outside political or other leaders in society.
B) A researcher/professor can teach any topic of study, even if he or she is not trained in that area.
C) A researcher/professor is allowed to make controversial statements.
D) A researcher/professor is able to study any topic of interest even if very controversial.

Question 6

A common problem in the politics of social research is that

A) politicians sometimes allocate government funds for research projects that tend to favor their ideological values, not projects that are scientifically most significant or the absolute highest quality.
B) politicians want researchers to work for their political campaign without pay.
C) politicians tend to look to scientific research to better understand the social problems that face our country.
D) politicians like to control who the researcher votes for.

Question 7

Explain the idea of "models of relevance," their purpose, and major types.

Question 8

Which of the following is often found in a quantitative data research report, but rarely in a research report based on qualitative data from a field or historical-comparative study?

A) an informal writing tone
B) a separate section labeled methods or data
C) a statement about the researcher's personal experiences while conducting the study
D) a "natural history" style of organization

Question 9

Rule discusses how social research should be used to aid the disadvantaged/underprivileged groups of society. Project Camelot is an example of how social research can be used to suppress the already disadvantaged. How does one reconcile these differences? Where does academic freedom enter into this discussion?

Question 10

After an author engages in freewriting, he or she should edit, revise and rewrite. During this rewrite process, the author should be aware of the following issues EXCEPT

A) cisplatin.
B) coherence.
C) mechanics.
D) structure.

Question 11

You read a report that says the following: "We find that the same social conditions and behaviors are defined by some as a social problem and by others as agreeable. Yet, there is a core of conditions which nearly everyone holds to be undesirable crime, poverty, epidemics). Sociological truth may not instantly make us free of the problems or eliminate dysfunctions in society. But by discovering the consequences of actual practices and making these known, sociology provides a basis for their reexamination and perhaps, in the long run, their modification."
Which of James Rule's five models of relevance best fits the quotation?

A) no net effects
B) special constituency, the proletariat
C) direct and positive effects
D) special constituency, the uncoopted

Question 12

In what ways does political/economic power influence the process of social scientific research?

Question 13

Professor Yang said she just received an RFP in the mail. What is an RFP?

A) Request for Proposals - a funding agency announcement that is asking for research proposals.
B) Rejection from Peers - a research report that is rejected by a scholarly journal.
C) Requiem from Pretense - a scholarly literature term stating that one's research study is only a repeat of past work and contains nothing original.
D) Response From Police - a notification that one has engaged in illegal research activity.

Question 14

According to Rule's models of relevance, social research should be used to aid the disadvantaged or underprivileged of society. This is called

A) special constituency, the uncoopted.
B) direct and positive effects.
C) no net effects.
D) special constituency, the government.

Question 15

What is a "SLAPP suit?"

A) Researchers sue the sponsors of research for putting limits on what they can study.
B) A government agency sues the researcher for misusing research money.
C) The IRB sues the researcher for acting unethically.
D) A powerful organization, usually a major corporation, sues researchers who testify in court as independent experts to intimidate them and stop public testimony.

Question 16

Borrowing someone else's ideas or words and failing to properly document the original source is called

A) writer's block.
B) editing.
C) plagiarism.
D) paraphrasing.

Question 17

The term occurs when politicians earmark funds or grants for specific projects at a particular university or research institute due to political favoritism.

A) research dressing
B) pork barrel money
C) potato chip funds
D) project Camelot

Question 18

When writing a research report, the author must be aware of all of the following EXCEPT

A) the audience of the report.
B) all the issues related to the report and more.
C) the style and tone of the report.
D) organizing the author's thoughts.

Question 19

In the writing process, in which step should you organize initial notes, make lists of ideas, outline thoughts, and make certain that your bibliographic citations are complete?

A) rewriting
B) revising
C) prewriting
D) editing

Question 20

Quinetta said she was going to attend a workshop on grantsmanship next week. What will she learn?

A) how to run an IRB and principles of ethical research procedure
B) the legal ways to distribute money to charities and needy persons
C) proper interview procedures for different types of situations and people
D) how to locate funding sources for research and ways to write more competitive proposals when requesting funds for a study

Question 21

The text discusses, at length, some of the difficulties of obtaining research funding. What would you suggest to alleviate many of these issues?

Question 22

Generally speaking, qualitative research reports are longer than quantitative research reports. Why?

Question 23

Many researchers suffer from writer's block when trying to put together an academic report. List and discuss 4 strategies that might help the researcher be more productive.

Question 24

Rule developed 5 modes of relevance for social research. Since their inception, a sixth mode of relevance, think tanks, has emerged. Discuss think tanks as a mode of relevance. How do think tanks compliment/contradict Rule's modes of relevance?

Question 25

Outline the major sections of a quantitative research report. Briefly describe what information is located in each of the six parts.