Research Design Exam 2
A researcher who is interested in studying the effects of poverty in a low-income neighborhood introduces himself to the residents as a researcher,and informs them of his research interest.In gathering data,not only does he observe and record the routine activities of these residents,but also participates in neighborhood council meetings,and even accompanies some of the residents to employment agencies.This researcher is known as a(n)________. A)complete participant B)participant-as-observer C)observer-as-participant D)complete observer E)accomplice
b
An instrumentation effect occurs when a. the instrument employed for the pretest has an effect that shows up on the posttest b. the measurement instrument is changed from pretest to posttest c. there is a change on the dependent variable from the pretest score to the posttest score d. there is a chance on the independent variable from the pretest score to the posttest score e. the instrument was not an appropriate one
b
In general, as sample size increases a) standard error increases in size b) standard error decreases in size c) standard error will remain the same regardless of changes in sample size d) standard error is a constant e) standard error fluctuates in size
b
Multistage sampling designs tend to have smaller sampling errors than single-stage sampling designs. a) True b) False
b
The general guideline for the cluster design is to minimize the number of clusters selected while increasing the number of elements within each cluster. a) True b) False
b
The Hawthorne effect most clearly demonstrates the need for a. a dependent variable b. a field setting for the study c. a control group d. an independent variable e. informed consent
c
Walker took a systematic sample from the list of members in his car club by selecting every sixth member. The list of members is known as the a) sampling interval b) sampling ratio c) sampling frame d) sampling error e) sampling unit
c
An experiment examines the effect of the: a. dependent variable on the independent variable b. posttest on the pretest c. control group on the experimental group d. independent variable on the dependent variable e. independent variable on the stimulus
d
The unit about which information is collected and that provides the basis of analysis is called a(n) a) universe b) sampling unit c) unit of analysis d) sampling frame e) element
e
Unobtrusive research cannot be quantitative research. T/F
f
When a researcher tries to examine the experiences of powerless groups from their perspective, he or she is doing grounded theory research. T/F
f
A knowledgeable and reliable informant is extremely important when performing snowball sampling. T/F
t
The possibility that patterns of behavior at a group level do not reflect corresponding patterns on an individual level is known as A)an ecological fallacy. B)replication. C)verstehen. D)unobtrusive measurement. E)hermeneutics.
a
Unlisted telephone numbers creates a special problem for accurate a) sampling frames b) confidence intervals c) informants d) sampling units e) identification
a
When respondents in an interview give inappropriate or incomplete responses,the interviewer should A)probe. B)go on to the next question. C)ask if there are any problems. D)call the interviewing supervisor for advice. E)call them on it
a
Which of the following is NOT a good source of existing statistics? A)Local newspaper B)Bureau of the Census C)Department of Education D)Bureau of Transportation Statistics E)Central Intelligence Agency
a
Which of the following is generally NOT suggested as a good practice in online survey development? a) enforce time limits b) use specific, but simple instructions c) ensure clear visibility and readability d) consider technical variations, such as operating systems and web browsers e) offer to share survey results with participants
a
Which of the following is not an advantage of interviews over questionnaires? a. bias is reduced by the presence of an interviewer b. the number of "don't knows" is reduced c. higher response rate d. can clarify confusing items e. can read kinesics (body language)
a
Which of the following types of surveys yields the LEAST amount of interviewer bias? a) mail surveys b) personal interviews c) telephone interviews d) computer-assisted telephone interviewing e) combination of any method
a
Within a local college, sociology majors constitute 20% of freshmen, 20% of sophomores, 30% of juniors, and 25% of seniors. Jennifer wants to make sure that her sample proportionally matches the population of sociology majors. Which method of sampling should she employ to be successful? a) quota sampling. b) cluster sampling. c) simple random sampling. d) accidental sampling. e) systematic sampling.
a
_______________ is especially suited for topics that a researcher wants to study over a long time span because the data sets are relatively stable and the data is gathered over multiple time points. A)Secondary data B)Primary data C)Manifest content D)Nonreactive research E)Physical trace analysis
a
In his study of the behavior of psychiatric nurses, Lamilton is concerned with reactivity amongst the study population. Which of the following would likely NOT be a concern regarding reactivity? a) the nurses might ignore his presence and not provide useful information to observe b) the nurses may act differently than they normally would due to his presence c) the nurses may ask him to leave d) the nurses may ask for transfer or reassignment to not be observed e) the nurses may intentionally not converse amongst each other while at work
a
A key problem associated with secondary analysis is a) cost b) validity c) sample selection d) data collection strategies e) questionnaire construction
b
Another term for snowball sampling methods is: a) iceberg sampling b) chain referral c) open referral d) quota sampling e) expanding sampling
b
As Arsenio was performing a content analysis of the portrayal of transgender persons in popular magazines,he counted the number of times the word "transgender" appeared in the various articles.The word is an example of A) unit of analysis. B) manifest content. C) latent content. D) dependent variable. E) unit of observation.
b
Francesca developed conceptual models of family structures that she discovered in various decades,and these models were composed of the essential characteristics of family structures.She employed A)corroboration. B)ideal types. C)verstehen. D)content analysis. E)comparative analysis
b
Gilbert wanted to study only students who do very well in class because such students would best help him test his theory.He asked 20 professors for the names of high achieving students and he then interviewed them.Which sampling design does this example reflect? A)reliance on available subjects B)purposive C)snowball D)quota E)expert
b
If a researcher was conducting field research within a labor union protest, and found herself neither believing nor disbelieving in the union's stance,,she is experiencing: A)naturalism B)reflexivity C)non-reflexivity D)reaction E)universality
b
In evaluating how effective an anti-bullying program in a school is, Iori asks students how many times they have been bullied in the past four months at the beginning and middle of the semester. However, since he did not use a control group, what form of invalidity may be a problem? a) compensation b) maturation c) statistical regression d) experimental mortality e) causal time order
b
Jessica is concerned with the problem of reactivity in her study of a local diet group. Which of the following is NOT one of her reactivity concerns? a) the members of the diet group might alter their behaviors because they know they are being studied b) the members of the diet group might alter their lifestyles and behavior because they joined the group to lose weight c) the members of the group might expel her from doing the research d) the members of the group might alter their discussion of diet strategies because they know that she is studying the group e) the members of the group may quit the program out of fear that their identities will be revealed
b
Jessica is concerned with the problem of reactivity in her study of a local diet group.Which of the following is NOT one of her reactivity concerns? A)The members of the diet group might alter their behaviors because they know they are being studied. B)The members of the diet group might alter their lifestyles and behavior because they joined the group to lose weight. C)The members of the group might expel her from doing the research. D)The members of the group might alter their discussion of diet strategies because they know that she is studying the group. E)All of these choices concern Jessica because of her concern with reactivity.
b
Martin performed an experiment at the local university. Students were measured on their views towards stem cell research, then shown a documentary on the topic. After the film, the students were given a survey to measure their opinion. This survey after the movie is an example of a(n): a) independent variable b) posttest c) pretest d) experimental group e) control variable
b
Nonprobability sampling a) always produces samples that possess distorted characteristics relative to the population b) denies the researcher the use of statistical theory to estimate the probability of correct inferences c) should never be used under any circumstances d) includes stratified sampling e) requires the use of sampling frames
b
Professor Hall was planning to do a field study of hitchhikers.Hall wanted to be sure that persons representing all different age,racial,and sex categories were included in the sample of hitchhikers.What kind of sampling scheme would you recommend? A)deviant cases B)quota sampling C)stratified sampling D)snowball sampling E)cluster sampling
b
Professor Perlman was interested in comparing two textbooks to determine whether one used more sexist language than the other.Perlman counted the number of times a gender reference (ex: "he," "she," "chairman," etc. )appeared in each book.Perlman was doing A)latent content coding B)manifest content coding C)quota sampling D)the ecological fallacy E)base counting
b
Professor Smidlapp mailed a questionnaire to students on the issue of academic dishonesty. Smidlapp planned to use inferential statistics in the analyses and was concerned about the response rate. You tell Smidlapp that technically the use of inferential statistics assumes that: A)all members of the population complete and return the questionnaire. B)all members of the initial sample complete and return the questionnaire. C)at least 50% of the members of the initial sample complete and return the questionnaire. D)at least 50% of the population complete and return the questionnaire. E)the overall response rate exceeds 75%.
b
The difference between the experimental and control groups should be that the a. experimental group receives the dependent variable and the control group does not b. experimental group receives the independent variable and the control group does not c. control group receives the dependent variable and the experimental group does not d. control group receives the independent variable and the experimental does not e. experimental group receives random assignment and the control group does not
b
The easiest of the true experimental designs to conduct is the: a. one-shot case study b. posttest-only control group design c. one-group pretest-posttest design d. Solomon four-group design e. classical design
b
The experimental and control groups should be comparable on a) variables that are likely to be related to the independent variable under study b) variables that are likely to be related to the dependent variable under study c) age, education, and ethnicity d) variables that are likely to affect the pretest e) level of interest in the study
b
To examine the social interactions of online role playing gamers, a relatively new social phenomena, Anthony developed a rough outline of what to look for before setting out on observation. This outline was intended to guide, but not specifically structure the observations. What approach did Anthony use? a) ethnomethodology b) grounded theory c) case study d) the extended case method e) participatory action approach
b
When a police officer goes undercover and joins the Ku Klux Klan in an effort to determine if there are any criminal activities being planned, he/she has engaged in _________. a) simple observation b) participant observation c) natural observation d) experimental observation e) complex observation
b
When a police officer goes undercover and joins the Ku Klux Klan in an effort to determine if there are any criminal activities being planned,he/she has engaged in _________. A)simple observation B)participant observation C)natural observation D)experimental observation E)complex observation
b
When might a researcher prefer to use a weighted sampling method? a) whenever possible: weighted methods are cheaper and easier to perform b) ensure underrepresented populations are adequate in the sample c) give preference to some groups rather than others d) to ensure an adequately large sample e) weighted sampling methods are always discourages
b
Which of the following exemplifies a breaching experiment? A)Walking into an elevator and turning to face the door. B)Opening an umbrella on a beautiful day. C)Closing an umbrella after the rain ends. D)Looking at the sky when birds fly by. E)Wearing sunglasses on a sunny day.
b
Which of the following is NOT part of grounded theory? A)analyses of patterns B)analyses of singular points of view C)analyses of common categories D)analyses of observational data E)analyses of themes.
b
Which of the following statements is FALSE about participatory action research (PAR)? a) the researcher's function is to serve as a resource to those being studied b) researchers should define their subject's problems, define the desired remedies, and take the lead in helping subjects realize their aims c) advocates of PAR often believe that the distinction between the researcher and the researched should disappear d) advocates of PAR often believe that traditional research is elitist e) advocates of PAR usually support the position of those they are working with
b
Which of the following statements is(are)FALSE about participatory action research (PAR)? A)The researcher's function is to serve as a resource to those being studied. B)Researcher's should define their subject's problems,define the desired remedies,and take the lead in helping subjects realize their aims. C)Advocates of PAR often believe that the distinction between the researcher and the researched should disappear. D)Advocates of PAR often believe that traditional research is elitist. E)Advocates of PAR usually support the position of those they are working with.
b
You are doing research on hospital personnel including orderlies, technicians, nurses and doctors. You want to be sure you draw a sample that has cases in each of the personnel categories. You want to use nonprobability sampling. An appropriate strategy would be a) simple random sampling b) quota sampling c) cluster sampling d) stratified sampling e) accidental sampling
b
A new program designed to boost math scores based on different teaching strategies is enacted in a classroom. Neither the teacher, nor the students know specifically that they are the experimental group in this research project. This would be an example of: a. true experiment b. post hoc c. double blind d. secure experiment e. secret experiment
c
A study population is a) the hypothetical aggregation of all the elements in a study. b) the theoretically specified aggregation of study elements. c) that aggregation of elements from which the sample is actually selected. d) that aggregation or set of elements considered for selection in some stage of sampling. e) that aggregation of elements from which information is collected.
c
After taking a random start between 1 and 20 and then taking every 20th element from the sampling frame, Smith learned that 40% of the sample believed the company's president was doing a good job. The calculated standard error was 3 percent. Assuming a normal distribution, this means that a) between 37% and 43% of the employees believe the president is doing a good job. b) you are 95% certain that between 37% and 43% of the employees believe the president is doing a good job. c) you are 68% certain that between 37% and 43% of the employees believe the president is doing a good job. d) you are 99% certain that between 37% and 43% of the employees believe the president is doing a good job. e) between one and twenty percent of the sample believes the president is doing a good job.
c
An advantage of field research is A)it enables the researcher to draw statistical conclusions about the population. B)the researcher can control the variables under study. C)social processes can be studied over time. D)hypotheses can be rigorously tested. E)it always employs the newest form of technology.
c
An example of unobtrusive data collection is A)an interview with college freshmen to determine why they selected a particular school. B)a laboratory experiment designed to determine whether people really prefer Pepsi or Coke. C)a researcher examining files of students who completed college 25 years ago. D)a researcher who joins a fraternity to understand its rituals. E)a mailed survey designed to discern students' attitudes toward a planned change in the school's calendar..
c
Field research is advantageous in comparison to other methods because it: a) yields precise descriptive statements about a large population b) involves the uniform application of precise operational definitions c) allows for the modification of research design d) produces definitive conclusions e) is an extremely reliable technique
c
In comparison to experiments and surveys,field research has: A)greater reliability and greater validity. B)greater reliability and less validity. C)less reliability and greater validity. D)less reliability and less validity. E)the same reliability and validity.
c
In her research project,Ella wants to study the processes involved in lesbian partners adopting children.She starts off by interviewing lesbian couples who have adopted in the past,and they in turn,give her names of other lesbian couples who have adopted.The process by which Ella gets her sample is called A)simple random sampling. B)convenience sampling. C)snowball sampling. D)systematic sampling. E)multistage cluster sampling.
c
Izzie performed a study in which she introduced a stimulus--longer coffee breaks--and then measured how often employees left early--the dependent variable. No pretests were done. Which design did she use? A. solomon 4 group study b. double-blind design c. one shot case study d. static group comparison e. classical design
c
Maggie wanted to do a study of women who had participated in extramarital affairs. Since there is no sampling frame listing all such women, she visited a women's group and asked for volunteers among those who had participated in an affair. She then asked each of those women for the names of other possible study participants. She was using which design? a) quota sampling b) purposive sampling c) snowball sampling d) simple random sampling e) stratified sampling
c
Michelle, an undergraduate English major at the local university was recruited to take part in a survey that examined student perceptions on which graduate courses in computer science she was planning to take. Her responses would be problematic for the researcher because they were: a) erroneous because the questions were not clear b) erroneous because the questions were double-barreled c) erroneous because he was not competent to answer the questions d) relevant because he was willing to answer e) relevant because the questions were clear
c
Michelle,an undergraduate English major at the local university was recruited to take part in a survey that examined student perceptions on which graduate courses in computer science she was planning to take.Her responses would be problematic for the researcher because they were: A)erroneous because the questions were not clear. B)erroneous because the questions were double-barreled. C)erroneous because he was not competent to answer the questions. D)relevant because he was willing to answer. E)relevant because the questions were clear.
c
Stephanique used this item in her questionnaire: "My working conditions are not satisfactory," and used "strongly agree" to "strongly disagree" as responses. What is the major weakness with this item? a) it is too short b) it is not relevant c) it is a negative item d) it is biased e) it asks for an opinion
c
Surveys are particularly appropriate to A)study a small group of church members. B)use in an experiment in the laboratory. C)collect original data to describe a large population. D)conduct analyses of people in observation studies. E)ethnographic data
c
Surveys are particularly appropriate to A)study a small group of church members. B)use in an experiment in the laboratory. C)collect original data to describe a large population. D)conduct analyses of people in observation studies. E)ethnographic data
c
Surveys are particularly appropriate to a) study a small group of church members b) use in an experiment in the laboratory c) collect original data to describe a large population d) conduct analyses of people in observation studies e) ethnographic data
c
The classical experimental design a) helps guard against the sources of internal and external validity b) helps guard against the sources of external invalidity c) helps guard against the sources of internal invalidity d) cannot guard against the sources of either internal or external invalidity e) what it helps guard against depends upon the particular experiment
c
The double-blind experiment is one in which a. the experimenters do not know which is the experimental group and which is the control group b. the experimental subjects do not know that they are in the experimental group, and the control subjects know that they are in the control group c. neither the subjects in the experimental or control groups nor the experimenter know which are the experimental and control groups d. the control group subjects do not know that they are in the control group, and the experimental group subjects know that they are in the experimental group e. the experimental and control groups are given placebos
c
The questionnaire item "Did you file federal and state income tax reports last year?" with a response set of yes, no, can't remember, other, is an example of a) an open-ended question b) an ordinal variable c) a double-barreled question d) a negative item e) ratio variable
c
To accumulate a sample of 500 telephone numbers,I decide to include every 20ᵗʰ telephone number in the local telephone directory beginning randomly with the letter "N." I have engaged in A)simple random sampling. B)snowball sampling. C)systematic sampling. D)stratified sampling. E)quota selection
c
To ensure that all your participants have an equal opportunity to be in either the experimental or the control group, you decide to toss a coin to determine who gets placed in which group. You have engaged in _______. a. selective participation b. random sampling c. random assignment d. random participation e. matching
c
Using multiple methods (corroboration)increases validity and: A)is disadvantageous. B)increases reliability. C)increases time and cost. D)decreases reliability E)decreases time and cost
c
What is the desired ordering of items in interviews and self-administered questionnaires? A)Ask the demographic items first in both. B)Ask the demographic items last in both. C)Ask the demographic items first in interviews and last in questionnaires. D)Ask the demographic items first in questionnaires and last in interviews. E)Make a decision based on the interviewer's rapport with the interviewee.
c
What is the difference between quota sampling and stratified sampling? A)Stratified sampling is a convenience sampling method. B)Quota and stratified sampling are the same thing. C)Stratified sampling is based upon a randomly drawn sample. D)Stratified sampling specifies proportions to be sampled based on characteristics. E)Quota sampling is based upon a sampling frame.
c
When events (e.g. life stressors) outside of the researcher's control have the likelihood to affect a participant's response, especially in longitudinal studies, this threat to validity is: a. maturation b. mortality c. history d. statistical regression e. testing
c
When follow-ups are planned with mail surveys: a. the anonymity of the respondents can no longer be guaranteed b. more thoughtful answers are usually provided by those who wait until the follow-up to respond c. response rate typically increases d. response bias can no longer be estimates e. costs are rarely manageable for the researcher
c
Which of the following is NOT associated with how field research is conducted? a) seldom approaches the task with precisely defined hypotheses to be tested b) attempts to make sense out of an ongoing process that cannot always be predicted in advance c) follows a rigorous data collection protocol d) makes initial observations, develops tentative conclusions that suggest further observation, and revises the conclusions e) alternates between induction and deduction
c
Which of the following is POOR advice for a qualitative field interviewer? a) learn to listen, think, and talk almost at the same time b) be more interested than interesting c) do not deviate from your schedule of pre-established questions d) don't try to half your respondent's line of discussion even if it's not on topic e) enter the interview with an open mind of what the results may be
c
Which of the following techniques does Babbie recommend as the "best" for the presentation of response categories to the respondent? A)a code number B)brackets C)boxes D)parentheses E)quotation marks.
c
William Robinson,a sociologist,found that during the 1930s there was a positive relationship between the literacy rate and percentage of the population that was foreign born.If you concluded on this basis that your neighbor,Yasmine,who is a foreign-born resident,has a higher literacy rate than other native-born residents,you would be committing the A)individualistic fallacy. B)ex post facto fallacy. C)ecological fallacy. D)part-whole fallacy. E)ecological reductionism.
c
The classical experiment includes all of the following except a. independent and dependent variables b. pretesting and posttesting c. laboratory and natural settings d. experimental and control groups e. with or without double-blind
c.
"Going native" is associated with A)playing the complete observer role. B)doing any type of field research. C)doing qualitative interviews. D)playing the complete participant role. E)not playing a role but actually adopting characteristics of the group under study
d
"Natural" experiments refers to experiments which a. contain no humans as participants. b. occur naturally in the laboratory. c. encourage people to act naturally. d. occur naturally without the experimenter's intervention. e. have no independent variable.
d
A qualitative interview is most like a(n) A)experiment. B)oral questionnaire. C)ethnography. D)conversation. E)role playing
d
A sampling interval of 5 was used to select a sample from a population of 1000.How many elements are to be in the sample? A)5 B)50 C)100 D)200 E)1000
d
Babbie recommends that the interviewer training session begin with A)a discussion of general guidelines and procedures. B)a description of the specifications. C)a demonstration interview. D)a description of what the study is about. E)a description of the questionnaire.
d
Bill conducted an experiment to determine the effectiveness of a drug prevention program in high school. This group was compared to students at another high school that did not take part in the program. The students were given an exam before and after taking part in the program. As the students completed the posttest, many realized that it was the same test they took before the program and put in random answers, as teenagers would. This is a case of what invalidity problem? a) history b) maturation c) instrumentation d) testing e) mortality
d
Bill conducted an experiment to determine the effectiveness of a drug prevention program in high school. This group was compared to students at another high school that did not take part in the program. The students were given an exam before and after taking part in the program. As the students completed the posttest, many realized that it was the same test they took before the program and put in random answers, as teenagers would. This is a case of what invalidity problem? a. history b. maturation c. instrumentation d. testing e. mortality
d
Chip used the local yellow pages to compile a random sample of 100 small businesses to take part in his experiment about hiring decisions. He then used a quota matrix containing the variables she felt would most likely influence the decision to hire, and assigned businesses within each matrix cell alternately to the experimental and control groups. What method of assigning subjects to the experimental and control groups was used? a) nonprobability sampling b) probability sampling c) randomization d) matching e) simple random selection
d
Chip used the local yellow pages to compile a random sample of 100 small businesses to take part in his experiment about hiring decisions. He then used a quota matrix containing the variables she felt would most likely influence the decision to hire, and assigned businesses within each matrix cell alternately to the experimental and control groups. What method of assigning subjects to the experimental and control groups was used? a. nonprobability sampling b. probability sampling c. randomization d. matching e. simple random selection
d
Experiments are least appropriate for research projects that involve a) small-group interaction b) hypothesis testing c) testing relatively limited and well-defined concepts and propositions d) descriptive purposes e) explanatory purposes
d
Experiments are least appropriate for research projects that involve: a. small-group interaction. b. hypothesis testing c. testing relatively limited and well-defined concepts and propositions. d. descriptive purposes. e. explanatory purposes.
d
Focus groups are typically used in a) post-experiment debriefing b) educational research c) developing a theory d) marketing research e) therapy
d
Grounded theory A)is an inductive approach to the study of social life. B)involves the constant comparison of unfolding observations. C)is a deductive approach to the study of social life. D)is an inductive approach to the study of social life that involves the constant comparison of unfolding observations. E)is a deductive approach to the study of social life that involves the constant comparison of unfolding observations.
d
If you wanted to conduct a content analysis of the attitudes of lyricists toward women,as portrayed in contemporary music,which of the following would not be a good source of information? A)rock music B)country and western music C)rap music D)instrumental jazz E)Christian music
d
If you were performing research within a police department and you wanted to ensure that an equal number of officers from each rank and division were included,but you want to use a method of selecting them based on probability,what would you choose as your method? A)simple random sampling. B)quota sampling. C)cluster sampling. D)stratified sampling. E)accidental sampling.
d
In designing an online survey regarding drug treatment availability for convicted felons,one of Euphoria's questions is "Do you support drug treatment supported by the government for convicted felons?".Why is her question problematic? A) the respondent would not be competent to answer. B) it is a long question. C) it is a negative question. D) it uses biased terms. E) it is a double-barreled question.
d
In his qualitative research project,Chris is conducting an interview study among a white supremacist group on campus.Chris initially focuses on the group's friendship networks to determine membership and participation.In the course of his research,however,he finds out there are university administrative officials who are also affiliated with this group.Chris then decides to expand his sample to include these university officials and other students that they interact with.This sampling method which evolves and directs the sampling in certain directions is known as A)convenient sampling. B)snowball sampling. C)purposive sampling. D)theoretical sampling. E)quota sampling.
d
John studied underground miners by becoming a miner.He became increasingly concerned about his role,how he might affect what he studied,and how much he should become involved in the lives of the miners.He gave these issues a lot of thought,particularly regarding their impact on the study.This sense of things acting on themselves is known as A)indexicality. B)focus groups. C)symbolic realism. D)reflexivity. E)sensibility
d
Kenny performed an experiment on the effects of after-school educational activities on students' academic performance. His experimental group involved after-school educational activities and his control group involved after-school non-educational activities. The children in the control group felt left out and gave up on the experiment. Which source of internal invalidity is reflected? a. instrumentation b. testing c. statistical regression d. demoralization e. history
d
Lyle conducted a study to determine if a new class program could increase the test performance of students with high functioning autism. His experiment specifically included those students who already had high test scores. He should be concerned about which potential form of internal invalidity in his experiment? a. mortality b. testing c. maturation d. statistical regression e. history
d
Matilda wanted to bring about a dozen first-time users of personal digital assistants to a room where they could engage in a guided discussion of the topic. She should use a) institutional ethnography b) participatory action research c) naturalism d) focus groups e) ethnomethodology
d
Paul wants to conduct research on the neutralization habits of adolescent gang members.What would be the best strategy for him to use to select a sample? A)reliance on available subjects B)systematic sampling. C)simple random sampling. D)snowball sampling. E)cluster sampling.
d
Professor Miller taped eight focus groups to examine citizens' attitudes toward park development.As a research methods student,you told her that an advantage of the focus group is that A)focus group moderators need little skill. B)focus group moderators can easily control the focus group's discussion. C)focus group data tapes are easily analyzed. D)focus groups have high face validity. E)focus groups are easily to coordinate.
d
Ralph wants to study juries,and more specifically what forepersons do on juries.According to the Loflands,Ralph is most interested in studying A)practices. B)episodes. C)encounters. D)roles. E)settlements.
d
The categories used in content analysis codes should be A)mutually exclusive. B)exhaustive. C)nominal. D)mutually exclusive and exhaustive. E)mutually exclusive, exhaustive, and nominal.
d
The chief advantage of telephone surveys over those conducted face-to-face center primarily on A)greater response rates. B)more complete responses given by respondents. C)better sampling techniques. D)time and money. E)randomization
d
The following are all sampling strategies in field research except A)random sampling. B)quota sampling. C)snowball sampling. D)purposive sampling. E)These are all sampling strategies used in field research.
d
The posttest-only control group most closely represents which preexperimental design? a. one-shot case study b. Solomon four-group design c. one-group pretest-posttest design d. static-group comparison design e. classical design
d
The question, "Do you believe that the United States should not withdraw its troops from Iraq" is problematic because a) the respondent is not competent to answer b) it is a double-barreled question c) the respondent may not be willing to answer d) it is a negative question e) it is not a short question
d
Which of the following advantages of the interview may raise ethical issues? A)its higher response rate B)its fewer number of "don't knows" C)the ability of interviewers to clarify questions D)the ability of interviewers to observe respondents as well as ask questions E)its ease in data collection.
d
Which of the following is NOT a disadvantage of focus groups? A)Focus group moderators require special skills. B)Focus group data is difficult to analyze. C)Focus groups are often difficult to assemble. D)Focus groups allow for multiple viewpoints to be heard. E)Focus groups afford the researcher less control than individual interviews.
d
Which of the following is NOT an advantage of interviews as compared to self-administered questionnaires? A)Interviews are more effective in dealing with complicated issues. B)Interviews produce fewer incomplete questions. C)Interviews have higher response rates. D)Interviews handle sensitive issues more effectively. E)Interviews allow the researcher to probe for additional information.
d
Which of the following is NOT an advantage of the telephone interview as compared to the face-to-face interview? a.telephone interview Saves time b.telephone interviews are Less expensive c.telephone interviews are Safer d. telephone interviews prevent interviewer bias c. telephone interviews are less intimidating
d
Which one of the following is an example of unobtrusive research? A)Sophrinia did an interview of church members B)Valencia did a questionnaire of Girl Scouts C)Winkler did a laboratory study on communication patterns D)Angelo did a study of social class and wedding announcements E)Jake did a study on kindergarteners' opinion of super-heroes.
d
You want to select a sample of 3,000 people from a population of 300,000. To use the table of random numbers you need to work with a a) 3000 digit number. b) 4-digit number. c) 5-digit number. d) 6-digit number. e) 300,000 digit number.
d
Assume that the following would be reasonable conversational questions/statements based on a subject's previous statement.Which is the best probe? A)"In what ways is that a better job?" B)"How is that a better job?" C)"Tell me more about why that's a better job." D)"How do you mean that's a better job?" E)All of these are equally good probes.
e
In reviewing the detailed and accurate descriptions of the stories told by battered women living in a shelter,an ethnomethodologist would say that the battered women in the shelter were A)describing their socially constructed reality. B)reporting their world as they made sense of it. C)describing their world "as it really is." D)telling us how and why the world made sense to them. E)describing their socially constructed reality and reporting their world as they made sense of it.
e
Subjects who leave an experiment before it is completed is an example of _______. a. maturation b. testing c. history d. statistical regression e. mortality
e
The age distribution of all citizens within a sample from a city is an example of a A)variable. B)parameter. C)confidence level. D)confidence interval. E)statistic.
e
What type of sampling is used in content analysis? A)simple B)random C)stratified D)cluster E)any sampling method is appropriate
e
Which of the following does NOT exemplify a natural experiment? a. Exploring the behavioral consequences on families when the breadwinner is killed on the job. b. Doing a comparative analysis of families that choose to stay and those who choose to move out of an ethnically changing neighborhood to find out the underlying causes for the difference in their choices c. Determining the effects of an exodus of employees on the morale of the remaining employees d. Comparing the results of standardized test scores between boys and girls after the school year e. Recruiting participants to watch a documentary and then measuring their opinions
e
You want to examine the relationship between family size and family cohesion.You use as your sample all the students in this research methods class.What kind of sampling design are you using? A)simple random sampling. B)quota sampling. C)cluster sampling. D)stratified sampling. E)available sampling.
e
You were asked to participate in an experiment to test the effectiveness of review sessions on exam grades. As a research methods student, you concluded that you had been assigned to the control group because you simply took the scheduled exams. Since you did not want the students in the experimental group to get higher grades than you did on the exams, you organized a review session with other control group subjects. This illustrates a) compensation b) the testing effect c) demoralization d) maturation e) compensatory rivalry
e
A focus group is organized to bring together as diverse a population as possible. T/F
f
A researcher studying papers in a newspaper article would be determining units of observation, not units of analysis. T/F
f
Content analysis by definition never includes quantitative analysis. T/F
f
Existing statistics should be used as supplemental data only. T/F
f
Field research differs from surveys and experiments in that the researcher's role in the field research is likely to be more objective. T/F
f
Field researchers are like journalists; the two share a similar relationship to data. T/F
f
In content analysis, the units of observation and the units of analysis are the same. T/F
f
Open-ended questions are analogous to multiple choice questions and closed-ended questions are analogous to essay questions. T/F
f
Qualitative field researchers should wait to record observations until enough time has passed to put events in proper perspective. T/F
f
Secondary analysis is synonymous with the analysis of existing statistics. T/F
f
The estimated probability that a population parameter lies within a given confidence interval. T/F
f
The extended case study approach is a valuable technique for deciding whether to reject or approve a theory. T/F
f
The problem of inter-rater reliability is an issue when examining manifest content. T/F
f
The size of the population must be taken into account when deciding on sample size. T/F
f
The terms "field research" and "participant observation" and synonyms. T/F
f
The use of inferential statistics in survey analysis assumes that at least 55% of the initial sample completed and returned their questionnaires. T/F
f
Unobtrusive measures measure the impact of the researcher on the phenomena being studied. T/F
f
the phrasing used in a closed-ended question should allow respondents to attach their own meanings and interpretations to the question. T/F
f
Content analysis is a method of data collection in which some for of communication (tv, letters, newspaper articles) is studied systematically. T/F
t
During interview surveys, demographic questions should be asked up front. T/F
t
Generally, the more heterogenous the population, the more beneficial it is to use stratified sampling. T/f
t
In a sample stratifies by gender, the sampling error on this variable is reduced to zero. T/F
t
In most interviewing protocols, it is usually better to establish rapport before proceeding with difficult or sensitive topics. T/F
t
Sample selection depends on what the unit of analysis is. T/F
t
Specific methods do not link to specific paradigms. T/F
t
The concrete and clearly observable variables in content analysis is the manifest content. T/F
t
The most effective method of determining whether Michael's questionnaire on sexual assault has problems due to the ordering of the questions is to pretest various versions of the questionnaire. T/F
t
The study of deviant cases is an example of a purposive study. T/F
t
Today, probability sampling remains the primary method of selecting large, representative samples for social research, including national political polls. T/F
t
When recording responses to open-ended questions, it is okay for the interviewer to rephrase the respondent's answers.
F
Periodicity is a danger involved in the use of stratified sampling. T/F
F
Surveys may be used for descriptive and explanatory purposes but not for exploratory purposes. T/F
F
The change in subjects' behavior simply from being observed is known as the Pygmalion effect. T/F
F
The political poll that demonstrated the importance of sampling was between Thomas Dewey and Theodore Roosevelt. T/F
F
The terms "field research" and "participant observation" are synonyms. T/F
F
To overcome the effect of the order of questions on respondent's answers, it is important to randomize the order of the items. T/F
F
Unstructured interviews are less appropriate for field designs than structured interviews. T/F
F
In terms of probability theory,the standard error is valuable because A)it is an estimate of the parameter. B)it is an estimate of the statistic. C)it indicates the extent to which the sample estimates will be distributed around the population parameter. D)it indicates the extent to which the sample estimates will be distributed around the population parameter and thereby gives us an estimate of the parameter. E)it indicates the extent to which the sample estimates will be distributed around the population parameter and thereby gives us an estimate of the statistic.
C
Autoethnography is the exploration of phenomena in cyberspace. T/F
F
Experimental mortality effects only need to be controlled when your research focuses on the elderly. T/F
F
If a household has more than one telephone listed in a directory, both should be included in the sampling frame. T/F
F
Interview surveys are best for addressing sensitive topics such as criminal behavior. T/F
F
Laboratory experiments are only useful in the natural sciences and psychology. T/F
F
A demonstrated lack of response bias is more important than a high response rate. T/F
T
Advocates of PAR equate access to information with power. T/F
T
If you were interested in conducting a large-scale survey of voter's preferences for the presidential candidate, you would follow history and use a probability sample. T/F
T
In a natural experiment, the researcher does NOT manipulate the independent variable. T/F
T
In conducting interview surveys, Sheila is best able to gain rapport by beginning with obtaining demographic information. T/F
T
Probes are used more frequently in open-ended questions than in closed-ended ones. T/F
T
Sampling error is typically reduced by either increasing sample size or by increasing the homogeneity of the elements being sampled. T/F
T
The effectiveness of randomization in experimentation is affected by the number of subjects involved. T/F
T
The interviewer should be a neutral medium through which questions and answers are transmitted. T/F
T
The most effective method of determining whether Michael's questionnaire on sexual assault has problems due to the ordering of the questions is to pretest various versions of the questionnaire. T/F
T
The use of an experimental group allows the researcher to detect any effect of the experiment itself. T/F
T
The use of computer-assisted telephone interviewing (CATI)enables a researcher to begin analyzing data before the interviewing is complete. T/F
T
Oregonia wanted to survey women who came to a battered women's shelter,and was particularly concerned with hearing women's own answers to questions.It would be best to use A)open-ended questions. B)items. C)closed-ended questions. D)matrix questions. E)contingent questions
a
Sampling error reflects A)the degree of error to be expected for a given sample design. B)the mistakes we make in picking our sample. C)the probability of selecting each element. D)the degree to which our interval is incorrect in systematic sampling. E)the probability of error expected for future samples from the same population.
a
Sara wanted to learn about battered women. She entered the world of a battered women's shelter and lived with the women in order to fully learn about the views of these women. She wanted to write a detailed and accurate description about the lives that the women reported. Which of the following approaches best describes Sara's research paradigm? a) naturalist b) ethnomethodology c) grounded theory d) case studies e) qualitative interviewing
a
Sara wanted to learn about battered women.She entered the world of a battered women's shelter and lived with the women in order to fully learn about the views of these women.She wanted to write a detailed and accurate description about the lives that the women reported.Which of the following approaches best describes Sara's research paradigm? A)naturalist B)ethnomethodology C)grounded theory D)case studies E)qualitative interviewing
a
Starting at a random point between 1 and 15,and then choosing every 15 element is what kind of sampling scheme? A)systematic. B)stratified. C)simple random. D)quota. E)multistage cluster.
a
A researcher was conducting an experiment on a new method to reduce fear of flying and did not use a control group. During this experiment, a high-profile plane crash was reported in the media. What threat to internal validity is this? a) history b) experimental mortality c) selection biases d) testing e) statistical regression
a
A return rate graph A)begins on the day the questionnaires were mailed. B)begins on the day the first response is received. C)begins on the day when at least ten responses are received. D)begins on the day the second mailing is planned. E)varies as to when it should begin depending on the nature of the project.
a
A table of random numbers is used for which design? A)simple random sampling B)systematic sampling C)cluster sampling D)quota sampling E)stratified sampling
a
Chloe did an experiment on children in a classroom. She measured their attitude towards learning on Monday, randomly assigned half of them to be taught yoga on Wednesday, and measured their attitude again on Friday. Teaching half of the children yoga on Wednesday is the- a. independent variable. b. dependent variable. c. control group.- d. posttest. e. pretest
a
Drawing a judgmental sample a) allows researchers to use their knowledge about the topic or population. b) enlists the aid of uninformed respondents. c) results in a sample that has no researcher bias. d) ensures a representative sample. e) requires the development of a quota matrix.
a
Due to Federal Communications Commission requirements regarding cell phones,what does the AAPOR recommend researchers do in order to contact participants who have not given explicit prior consent? A) dial telephone numbers manually (rather than with a computer). B) use "robocalling" computer programs. C) avoid telephone surveys altogether. D) rely only on a telephone book. E) use voice dialing computer programs.
a
During an interviewer training session,Jones,a trainee,asks you,"What should I do if...?" You tell Jones: A)check the specifications. B)do whatever you think is most appropriate in that situation. C)it will not happen. D)call me,if it happens. E)jot down problems and skip that part of the interview.
a
Findings based on a sample can be taken as representing only the aggregation of elements that compose the sampling frame. a) True b) False
a
From a scientific perspective, the preexperimental design that provides the weakest evidence of a relationship between the dependent and independent variables is the: a. posttest-only control group design b. Solomon four-group design c. pretest-only control group design d. classical experimental design e. one-shot case study
a
If a field researcher wanted to learn a political organization's pattern of recruitment over time,the researcher might begin by interviewing a fairly recent recruit and ask who introduced that person to the organization.Then the researcher might interview the person named and ask who introduced that person to the political organization.This would be an example of A)snowball sampling. B)systematic sampling. C)deviant cases sampling. D)accidental sampling. E)quota sampling.
a
If you were interested in the difference between commercials during children's and adults' TV programs,your units of observation would be _________ and your units of analysis would be _________. A)children's and adults' TV programs; commercials attached to those programs B)commercials attached to the programs; children's and adults' TV programs C)all commercials; all programs D)all programs; all commercials E)sports programming
a
Joelle was conducting a six-month experiment in which she was interviewing members of the community to determine if a new police-community outreach program increased positive perception of police officers amongst the community. Four months into the experiment, a scandal regarding police brutality hit the news in a neighboring city, which had an effect upon this community's perception of police. Which source of internal invalidity does this example reflect? a) maturation b) instrumentation c) compensation d) selection bias e) history
a
The adage that you must walk a mile in another person's shoes before judging the person is similar to the sociological concept(s)of A)verstehen. B)comparative and historical research. C)ideal types. D)the ecological fallacy. E)content analysis.
a