Deck 2: C: Sociological Investigation

Question 1

A researcher doing participant observation may "break in" to a setting more easily with the help of a:

A)key informant.
B)research assistant.
C)bigger budget.
D)All of the above are correct.

Answer 1

A

Question 2

Which German word meaning "understanding" was used by Max Weber in describing his approach to sociological research?

A)Gemeinschaft.
B)Gesellschaft.
C)Verstehen.
D)Verboten.

Answer 2

C

Question 3

List the three conditions required to establish cause and effect in social scientific research.

Answer 3

In social scientific research, establishing cause and effect is crucial for understanding the relationship between variables. To determine that one variable (the cause) is responsible for influencing another variable (the effect), researchers typically need to satisfy three main conditions:

1. Temporal Precedence: This condition requires that the cause happens before the effect. In other words, there must be evidence that the independent variable (the presumed cause) occurred in time prior to the dependent variable (the presumed effect). This helps to establish a chronological order that supports the possibility of causation.

2. Covariation of Cause and Effect: There must be a demonstrated association or correlation between the cause and effect. This means that when the independent variable changes, the dependent variable also changes. Researchers look for patterns of variation; for example, if an increase in one variable tends to be associated with an increase (or decrease) in another variable, this suggests a possible causal link.

3. Elimination of Alternative Explanations: The researcher must provide evidence that no other factors are responsible for the observed relationship between the independent and dependent variables. This involves ruling out extraneous variables that could confound the results. By controlling for other potential causes, researchers can be more confident that the relationship they observe is not due to some other unmeasured variable.

Meeting these three conditions strengthens the argument for a causal relationship, but it is important to note that establishing causation can be challenging, especially in social sciences where controlled experiments are often difficult to conduct. Researchers may use various methods, such as randomized controlled trials, natural experiments, longitudinal studies, and statistical controls, to address these conditions and argue for a causal interpretation of their findings.

Question 4

Critical sociology can best be described as a(n)________ approach.

A)activist
B)scientific
C)qualitative
D)value-free

Question 5

In making judgments about how society should be improved,the ________ approach in sociology rejects Max Weber's goal that researchers be value-free.

A)interpretive
B)critical
C)scientific
D)positivist

Question 6

William Foote Whyte's study of Cornerville (Street Corner Society)used which sociological research method?

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

Question 7

A positivist approach assumes that reality exists "out there."

Question 8

The sociologist who called on his colleagues to be value free was:

A)Karl Marx.
B)Emile Durkheim.
C)Herbert Spencer.
D)Max Weber.

Question 9

Qualitative research has special appeal to investigators who favor which theoretical approach?

A)the structural-functional approach
B)the symbolic-interaction approach
C)the social-conflict approach
D)All of the above are correct.

Question 10

Natural scientists often have an easier time than social scientists in identifying cause-and-effect relationships.