Question 1

In a study, Hans found that the length of a prison sentence varied based on the convict's race, social class, and number of prior arrests. What was the dependent variable in his study?

Accepted Answer

A)  race 
B)  social class 
C)  length of prison sentence 
D)  number of prior arrests

Question 2

Researchers who make their findings known to nonacademic audiences are engaging in

Accepted Answer

A)  the peer-review process. 
B)  public sociology. 
C)  applied research. 
D)  basic research.

Question 3

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

Accepted Answer

A)  survey 
B)  field research 
C)  experiment 
D)  intensive interviewing

Question 4

Glenna was asked by a journal to evaluate a research study written by another scholar. After reading the paper, she provided feedback to the author and said that more work was needed to improve the quality of the paper before it was published. Glenna is participating in

Accepted Answer

A)  providing expert feedback on the draft. 
B)  editing a draft for publication. 
C)  ensuring only quality research is published. 
D)  the journal's peer-review process.

Question 5

Takumi decided to measure education by the number of years of school completed. By doing this, he has

Accepted Answer

A)  defined his measures. 
B)  operationalized his variable. 
C)  declared his independent variable. 
D)  declared his dependent variable.

Question 6

Evidence that is based in numbers is known as ________ data.

Accepted Answer

A)  computer-based 
B)  survey 
C)  quantitative 
D)  qualitative

Question 7

Studies that provide anonymity

Accepted Answer

A)  do not allow the participant to know the true purpose of the research study. 
B)  change the names of participants so that their identity will not be known. 
C)  group participant data based on characteristics like race or gender. 
D)  guarantee that the information provided cannot be traced back to the participant.

Question 8

What type of research focuses on how individuals create meaning in their everyday lives?

Accepted Answer

A)  positivist social science 
B)  interpretive social science 
C)  critical social science 
D)  All these answers are correct.

Question 9

Evidence that is non-numerical, such as information gathered from interviews or observation, is known as ________ data.

Accepted Answer

A)  survey 
B)  content 
C)  quantitative 
D)  qualitative

Question 10

When completing her research on reasons 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

A)  finding patterns in everyday life 
B)  collecting empirical data 
C)  providing transparency in methods 
D)  reporting provisional knowledge

Question 11

Henry read two research studies on men's contributions to housework. One study found that men did 50 percent of the housework and the other study found that men did 30 percent of the housework. In order to assess the differences in these findings, what question should Henry ask?

Accepted Answer

A)  What was the sample? 
B)  Are these findings justified? 
C)  How were the variables operationalized? 
D)  What was the research question?

Question 12

Steven's college has a major problem with student drinking on campus. He decided to study student drinking behavior by focusing on the factors that influence drinking behavior and the variables that predict that a student will engage heavy drinking. What type of research is he conducting?

Accepted Answer

A)  positivist social science 
B)  interpretive social science 
C)  critical social science 
D)  All these answers are correct.

Question 13

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

A)  focus group 
B)  intensive interviewing 
C)  content analysis 
D)  survey

Question 14

What is the first step in the sociological research process?

Accepted Answer

A)  designing the research 
B)  identifying a research question 
C)  considering the ethics of the study 
D)  exploring a topic

Question 15

Sociologists evaluate research by asking all of the following questions EXCEPT

Accepted Answer

A)  What is the sample? 
B)  What theory informed this research? 
C)  What data was used? 
D)  Who paid for this research?

Question 16

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

A)  unemployment 
B)  employment 
C)  employment status 
D)  deviant behaviors

Question 17

The manuscript review process ensures that only quality research findings are published.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 18

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

Accepted Answer

A)  The findings represent the truth about the study from the data collected. 
B)  The findings represent the truth about what sociologists know about the topic. 
C)  The findings are subject to change with the discovery of new information. 
D)  The findings are temporary and based on early data analysis.

Question 19

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

Accepted Answer

A)  secondary data analysis 
B)  survey 
C)  content analysis 
D)  experiment

Question 20

Steven's college has a major problem with student drinking on campus. He decided to study student drinking behavior by focusing on the reasons students drink and the meanings they attach to their behaviors. What type of research is he conducting?

Accepted Answer

A)  positivist social science 
B)  interpretive social science 
C)  critical social science 
D)  All these answers are correct.

Exam 2: Understanding the Research Process

In a study, Hans found that the length of a prison sentence varied based on the convict's race, social class, and number of prior arrests. What was the dependent variable in his study?

Researchers who make their findings known to nonacademic audiences are engaging in

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

Glenna was asked by a journal to evaluate a research study written by another scholar. After reading the paper, she provided feedback to the author and said that more work was needed to improve the quality of the paper before it was published. Glenna is participating in

Takumi decided to measure education by the number of years of school completed. By doing this, he has

Evidence that is based in numbers is known as ________ data.

Studies that provide anonymity

What type of research focuses on how individuals create meaning in their everyday lives?

Evidence that is non-numerical, such as information gathered from interviews or observation, is known as ________ data.

When completing her research on reasons 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?

Henry read two research studies on men's contributions to housework. One study found that men did 50 percent of the housework and the other study found that men did 30 percent of the housework. In order to assess the differences in these findings, what question should Henry ask?

Steven's college has a major problem with student drinking on campus. He decided to study student drinking behavior by focusing on the factors that influence drinking behavior and the variables that predict that a student will engage heavy drinking. What type of research is he conducting?

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?

What is the first step in the sociological research process?

Sociologists evaluate research by asking all of the following questions EXCEPT

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

The manuscript review process ensures that only quality research findings are published.

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

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

Steven's college has a major problem with student drinking on campus. He decided to study student drinking behavior by focusing on the reasons students drink and the meanings they attach to their behaviors. What type of research is he conducting?