Deck 5: How Sociologists Do Research

Question 1

When utilizing correlations to assess variables related to human behavior, the researcher will seldom find either a perfect positive correlation or a perfect negative correlation.

Answer 1

True

Question 2

Researchers are violating people's privacy when gathering information from Facebook because the Internet is technically a private domain.

Answer 2

False

Question 3

Not knowing who gathered the data or which research methods were employed to gather them are major issues to consider when using secondary analysis as a research method.

Answer 3

True

Question 4

Studying the level of whiskey consumption in a "dry" town by counting the number of empty whiskey bottles in trashcans is an example of research that uses unobtrusive measures.

Question 5

The first step in the research model is to formulate a hypothesis.

Question 6

When an instrument measures what it is intended to measure, it is considered to possess the quality of reliability.

Question 7

If two variables have a perfect correlation, they will be represented by a correlation coefficient of zero.

Question 8

"Research bias" and "research fraud" are concepts that can be used interchangeably because they are virtually identical.

Question 9

For an independent variable to be the cause of an event, it must precede that which is changed (the dependent variable).

Question 10

The mean is commonly the most representative measure of the average when comparing scores in a distribution.

Question 11

A correlation simply means that two or more variables are present together.

Question 12

Commonsense ideas are the best topics to choose for sociological research, because they represent "what everyone knows."

Question 13

Interviewer bias may occur because of a researcher's sex, race, or perceived ethnicity.

Question 14

In order to establish rapport with a sample while researching sensitive and personal issues, the researcher should begin by asking emotional and personal questions so he or she can relate to the respondents.

Question 15

The individuals that are intended to represent the population to be studied are referred to as the sample.

Question 16

While marketing tools such as face-recognition cameras at kiosks that classify people by age and sex in order to post targeted ads to customers can be considered unobtrusive measures for collecting data, they raise ethical issues of invasion of privacy.

Question 17

Access to resources, access to subjects, purpose of the research, and training of researchers are the four primary factors that affect which research method to use.

Question 18

One of the liabilities in using the participant observation as a research method is that findings are difficult to generalize.

Question 19

On the micro level, sociologists study matters such as race relations and multinational corporations; on the macro level, they study human interactions, such as the behavior seen on street corners and in doctor-patient relationships.

Question 20

A multiple-choice exam is an example of a test structure composed of closed-ended questions.

Question 21

What is the defining characteristic of a random sample?

A) It consists of an equal number of men and women.
B) It is created by asking questions of people who randomly happen to walk by.
C) It gives each person in the population of interest an equal chance of being chosen.
D) It ensures that every person in the sample represents a specific racial, gender, or religious group.

Question 22

Which of the following represents a correct sequence of steps in the research process?

A) Select a topic, collect the data, review the literature, share the results.
B) Review the literature, select a topic, collect the data, choose a research method.
C) Choose a research method, select a topic, collect the data, formulate a hypothesis.
D) Select a topic, review the literature, collect the data, share the results.

Question 23

Which research method involves collecting data by having people answer a series of questions?

A) unobtrusive measures
B) secondary analysis
C) experimentation
D) survey

Question 24

A small group of seven students evaluated Professor Zanylo's lectures. On a scale of 1 to 10, the scores the students registered were 4, 5, 7, 8, 9, 9, 10. Professor Zanylo's mode score was ________ and his median score was ________.

A) 7.4; 9
B) 10; 7.4
C) 4; 10
D) 9; 8

Question 25

What is the greatest flaw in using self-administered questionnaires for a research study?

A) They can be administered only to small groups.
B) They are expensive compared to other research techniques.
C) They are labor-intensive.
D) They cause the researcher to lose control of the data collection.

Question 26

The term "________" refers to the extent to which different studies come up with similar results.

A) validity
B) replication
C) reliability
D) duplication

Question 27

Precise ways to measure variables in research so that comparisons can be made and replications can later be done are referred to as ________.

A) reliability
B) correlation
C) validity
D) operational definitions

Question 28

A statement that describes how variables are expected to be related to one another, often according to predictions from a theory, is known as a ________.

A) correlation
B) hypothesis
C) secondary prediction
D) primary function

Question 29

Tiffany has a keen interest in the original theories of William Sheldon regarding the relationship between body type and juvenile delinquency. She has duplicated the study using Sheldon's original methodology to see if her results are compatible to Sheldon's. Such a study illustrates the concept of ________.

A) validity
B) reliability
C) replication
D) correlation

Question 30

In research, to generalize one's findings to a total population, what is the most important quality that the sample must possess?

A) It must include at least 25 percent of the total population.
B) It must be representative of the total population.
C) It must consist of people who are selected and people who volunteer.
D) It must be quantitative in order to make comparisons.

Question 31

When reading a table, a comment located just below the title that gives more detailed information on how the data was collected or how the data are presented is called a ________.

A) source
B) byline
C) reference
D) headnote

Question 32

Which of the following statements is the best example of a hypothesis?

A) "All men are created equal."
B) "A penny saved is a penny earned."
C) "Unemployed men are more likely to commit spousal abuse than employed men."
D) "More than 300 million people live in the United States."

Question 33

Dr. Zak is trying to determine what traits, if any, high-achieving students have that students who do poorly on his exams do not possess. To assess personal information from both groups of students, what research method should Dr. Zak probably use?

A) an experimental method
B) an ethnographic study
C) a form of secondary data analysis
D) a survey

Question 34

Of the following research topics, which most qualifies as research on the micro level?

A) doctor-patient relationships
B) race relations
C) the military
D) multinational corporations

Question 35

Many sociologists believe that theory is unnecessary when doing research.

Question 36

One of the early concerns of IQ tests was that they tested the subject's knowledge of the upper-class white culture of the scientists who developed them, and not the true educational potential of the person tested. In view of this, which assessment of the early IQ tests is most accurate?

A) The early IQ tests lacked reliability.
B) The early IQ tests were based on a faulty hypothesis.
C) The early IQ tests lacked validity.
D) The early IQ tests were improperly administered.

Question 37

Walker is conducting research on scholarship recipients at Faber College. In his sample of 250 students, he is ensuring he has a proportionate number of students based on class standing, race, sex, and major course of study. Walker's sample is an example of a ________.

A) stratified random sample
B) self-administered sample
C) closed-ended sample
D) universal sample

Question 38

Michael is going to survey members of the gay and lesbian student union and gather data on their personal lives, interests, and demographics to develop a profile of their membership. To be most successful and receive the most valid responses, what should Michael do?

A) Michael should include a statement in his survey that he is gay.
B) Michael should refrain from asking for data on sexual behavior.
C) Michael should distribute the survey only to volunteers.
D) Michael should begin the questionnaire by asking neutral questions.

Question 39

In the statement, "Poverty causes crime," the words "poverty" and "crime" are best described as ________ because they are subject to change.

A) unobtrusive measures
B) variables
C) parametric measures
D) correlations

Question 40

In the research model, the step in which the researcher specifies what he or she wants to learn about a specific topic of study is called ________.

A) defining the problem
B) formulating the hypothesis
C) choosing the research model
D) analyzing the results

Question 41

Dr. Zimbardo is examining the effect that pornographic movies have on the ways in which single men respond to the needs of women. He has one group of men watch pornographic films and another watch Three Stooges episodes. He then tests their reactions to women in need by showing them short film clips and following up with a series of questions. What research method is Dr. Zimbardo using?

A) the survey
B) the experiment
C) participant observation
D) secondary analysis

Question 42

Sam is conducting interviews to assess students' opinions on how President Bush handled the second Gulf War. Because this is a controversial topic at Sam's conservative campus, what is the best way for him to develop a sense of rapport with the sample?

A) He should pay the interviewed students a stipend for their cooperation.
B) He should begin by asking neutral questions and holding off on sensitive issues.
C) He should tell the students he interviews their identities will be kept secret.
D) He should begin by telling the participants that he is a Democrat.

Question 43

While conducting research on domestic abuse, Tanya asked workers at a battered women's shelter, "What do you think causes some men to abuse their wives?" She then permitted the workers to elaborate on their answers. What is the term used to describe such a question, one that leads to this type of answering option?

A) The question and answer are a part of secondary analysis.
B) This is an example of an open-ended question.
C) This is an example of a closed-ended question.
D) The question and answer are examples of generalizability in research.

Question 44

Which of the following research errors is less likely to be classified as fraud and more likely to be considered as simply sloppy work?

A) analyzing the data incorrectly
B) choosing a biased sample
C) asking biased questions
D) disregarding undesirable results

Question 45

If a researcher is reading diaries to collect information about the attitudes of rape victims, he or she is using ________ to collect the data.

A) ethnography
B) dramaturgical analysis
C) documents
D) unstructured interviews

Question 46

Using Facebook to study the race-ethnicity of friendships among college students would be an example of which research method?

A) the survey
B) the experiment
C) participant observation
D) analysis of documents

Question 47

Juanita is conducting survey research for the Colgate-Palmolive Company. The company recently sent several cases of personal-sized toothpaste to Dr. Yankum as a part of a promotion. Juanita is surveying patients as they leave Dr. Yankum's office to ask if the dentist gave them any hygiene items to continue quality dental care. Juanita has discovered that practically every patient received Colgate and has concluded in her report that dentists prefer Colgate toothpaste over other brands. What flaw exists in Juanita's research?

A) She has chosen an inappropriate research design.
B) She is using a biased sample to collect her data.
C) She is relying on marketing research, which is unscientific and therefore invalid.
D) She is conducting research that is tainted by interviewer bias.

Question 48

Max has developed the hypothesis that the stress felt by unemployed men increases the probability of spousal abuse. In this case, stress would be considered the ________ variable and spousal abuse would be considered the ________ variable.

A) dependent; independent
B) dependent; control
C) independent; dependent
D) independent; control

Question 49

Phillip would like to collect information from a large number of people, but he has a limited budget. In order to sample a large number, but to keep the cost low, Phillip should use ________ as a research method.

A) structured interviews
B) unstructured interviews
C) stratified random samples
D) self-administered questionnaires

Question 50

Jasmine is an African American graduate student. She is conducting research on the effects that affirmative action programs have had on American corporations. She found that 95 percent of the subjects she personally interviewed with open-ended questions, covering a diverse sample of 500 corporate executives, stated that they approved of affirmative action. Her response rate approving affirmative action programs was dramatically higher than the national average. In view of this, Jasmine's research was most likely affected by ________.

A) research fraud
B) interviewer bias
C) biased sample
D) poor interviewing technique

Question 51

Which of the following examination formats is most likely to incorporate closed-ended questions?

A) an essay exam
B) a multiple-choice exam
C) an oral exam
D) a fill-in-the-blank exam

Question 52

The feeling of trust that researchers establish with their respondents is referred to as ________.

A) commitment
B) rapport
C) empathy
D) confidentiality

Question 53

When a researcher focuses on a single event, situation, or individual, the resulting research is known as ________.

A) an experiment
B) fieldwork
C) a case study
D) secondary analysis

Question 54

Jarod is conducting research on the homeless. For six weeks, he has lived among the homeless "24/7," sleeping on the street or at a shelter, and engaging in the same activities as the population he is studying. By doing so, Jarod has been able to gather a broad understanding of the homeless, their needs, and characteristics. In view of this, Jarod is using ________ as a method of gathering data.

A) representative sampling
B) secondary analysis
C) content analysis
D) participant observation

Question 55

What is the major problem with using participant observation as a research tool?

A) It often leads to findings that lack generalizability.
B) It is unacceptable based on standards of the American Sociological Association.
C) It lacks both validity and reliability.
D) It is highly biased.

Question 56

An attractive African American woman is conducting random interviews on campus to gather data on students' opinions on the reverse discrimination suit filed by white students at the University of Michigan School of Law. Four out of five of the white respondents and virtually all of the African American respondents favor the court's ruling and supports "bonus points" being given to applicants of color. Based on this information, what is probably affecting the data collection process?

A) interviewer bias
B) faulty hypothesis
C) inappropriate research method
D) misunderstanding of the subjects' world

Question 57

Every research method has its drawbacks. Which method often leads the current researcher to question the manner in which the data were gathered, the accuracy of the data, and the training of the original researchers?

A) secondary analysis
B) participant observation
C) experiments
D) interviews

Question 58

What is another term used to describe the research method called participant observation?

A) content analysis
B) fieldwork
C) survey research
D) unobtrusive measures

Question 59

In an experiment, one group of participants is exposed to treatment, another is exposed to an application identified to them as treatment, and another is not exposed to any treatment. In such a procedure, the participants who are not exposed to any form of treatment, either genuine or false, are classified as the ________ group.

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

Question 60

A researcher is asking questions of a serious nature, and a respondent gives only "socially acceptable" answers. This is an example of ________.

A) research fraud
B) poor sample selection
C) interviewer bias
D) research bias

Question 61

Matthew is completing his master's thesis, which addresses the culture of outlaw motorcycle gangs. For the past six months, he has been riding with a gang, observing and describing behaviors in an attempt to present a view of these groups from a gang member's perspective. Like Mario Brajuha, he is determined to keep the identities of his subjects confidential. Which research method is Matthew employing?

A) case study
B) documentary
C) participant observation
D) unobtrusive measures

Question 62

In experimental research, the variable that is the cause of change (the independent variable) must precede that which is changed (the dependent variable). This condition is called ________.

A) reliability
B) rapport
C) random selection
D) temporal priority

Question 63

What topics qualify as appropriate for sociological research?

Question 64

In research, what is meant by replication?

Question 65

There is a high correlation between the number of Americans who pay income tax in the month of April and the number of swimsuits sold. Which of the following statements is the best description of this relationship?

A) It is a spurious relationship.
B) It is a cause-and-effect relationship.
C) It is an indirect relationship.
D) It is classified as a null hypothesis.

Question 66

The three conditions necessary for causation between variables are ________, ________, and ________.

A) correlation coefficient; temporal priority; positive correlation
B) temporal priority; negative correlation; positive correlation
C) negative correlation; spurious correlation; correlation coefficient
D) correlation; temporal priority; lack of spurious correlation

Question 67

Why did a number of sociologists think Laud Humphreys' research on tearooms was unethical?

A) He did not identify himself as a researcher.
B) His study findings could not be replicated.
C) He used students to gather and tabulate the data and did not give them credit.
D) He plagiarized in some of his writings.

Question 68

Diana Scully and Joseph Marolla conducted structured interviews of convicted rapists who were in prison. They divided the interviews equally between themselves, utilizing the same questions and methods. The primary objective for dividing the group of interviews equally was to ________.

A) assure representativeness of the sample
B) improve rapport with the respondents
C) reduce the chance of interviewer bias
D) minimize the effects of spuriousness

Question 69

Which sociologist argued that research without theory is simply a collection of unrelated "facts"?

A) Talcott Parsons
B) Elton Mayo
C) Paul Light
D) C. Wright Mills

Question 70

When sociologists Diana Scully and Joseph Marolla (1984, 2014) interviewed convicted rapists in prison they were concerned that the prisoners might shift their answers depending on which researcher was interviewing them because one was male and one was female. They were concerned that gender might lead to…

A) interviewer bias.
B) generalizability.
C) ethical issues.
D) plagiarism.

Question 71

In addition to choosing the appropriate research method, sociologists must follow research _______ to achieve truth, honesty, and openness.

A) guidelines
B) procedures
C) regulations
D) ethics

Question 72

What are the three qualities on which research ethics is based?

A) rapport; generalizability; validity
B) honesty; truth; openness
C) random sample; observation; fieldwork
D) consistency; accuracy; clarity

Question 73

Why did Mario Brajuha refuse to turn over his research notes to the authorities, even when subpoenaed?

A) He was fearful of being imprisoned.
B) He knew that as an undocumented worker he would be deported.
C) He was concerned that he would be accused of plagiarism.
D) He wanted to protect his respondents.

Question 74

Steve and Naomi are counting the empty whiskey bottles in trashcans to measure the level of whiskey consumption in town. These researchers are using a method of research referred to as ________.

A) documentation
B) participant observation
C) survey research
D) unobtrusive measures

Question 75

What are the three ways to measure the "average" of a set of scores?

Question 76

Which two research methods did Laud Humphreys utilize in his classic "tearoom" study?

A) participant observation and surveys
B) experiments and documents
C) secondary analysis and surveys
D) unobtrusive measures and secondary analysis

Question 77

What is the difference between a "sample" and a "random sample"?

Question 78

What are the eight basic steps followed in scientific research?

Question 79

Which of the following would not be considered unobtrusive measures?

A) Malls tracking patrons through their Smartphones so stores can send them targeted ads.
B) Face-recognition cameras at kiosks that classify people by age and sex and post targeted ads.
C) Bionic mannequins that greet customers' and ask them targeted questions about their purchasing habits.
D) Cameras that follow you through the store recording your every move.

Question 80

When Peter Rossi and the National Opinion Research Center studied the homeless, it was necessary for them to develop a practical and accurate description to determine exactly what constituted being homeless. This description would be classified as a(n) ________.

A) research objective
B) hypothesis
C) operational definition
D) correlation