Research Methods Quiz 3

All content analysis results in counting. T/F

False

When a researcher has a distribution in which two nonadjacent categories have about the same number of cases, this is referred to as a: A. Frequency B. Binomial C. Unimodal D. Mean E. Bimodal

Bimodal

Identity disclosure is of greatest ethical concern for which type of qualitative researcher?A. Complete observers B. Covert participants C. Gatekeepers D. Key informants E. Participant observers

Covert Participants

The services delivered or new products produced by a social program are program: A. Process B. Participation C. Outputs D. Theory E. Evaluation

Outputs

Which of the following is NOT a sign system used in semiotics? a. Language b. Music c. Mathematics d. Etiquette e. All of these choices are sign systems

All choices

Anthropologists call the intention of representing a setting under study in the participants' own terms: A. Qualitative focus B. Emic focus C. Participant focus D. Etic focus E. Progressive focus

Emic Focus

When a researcher is representing a setting with the participants' terms, she is taking the: A. Qualitative focus B. Participant focus C. Emic focus D. Etic focus E. Progressive focus

Emic Focus

A nominal variable is a discrete variable. T/F

True

A focus group usually involves how many subjects:A. 11 to 20 B. 3 to 6 C. 1 or 2 D. 7 to 10 E. More than 20

7-10

Unstructured interviews are less appropriate for field research than structured interviews. T/F

False

Using existing statistics, Professor Ford finds that areas with low median incomes tend to have higher crime rates than areas with high median incomes. Ford concludes that poor people are more likely to commit crimes than high income people. Ford is a. Doing replication b. Doing content analysis c. Using verstehen d. Committing the ecological fallacy e. Developing ideal types

Committing the ecological fallacy

Evaluability assessments generally rely on quantitative methods T/F

False

Focus groups with very different subjects (i.e., heterogeneous focus groups) are usually more willing to talk and share feelings than are homogenous focus groups. T/F

False

The "don't know" category should always be excluded from analysis T/F

False

The difference between just a case study and the extended case method involves a. Units of analysis b. Testing social theory c. Interpretation of results d. Data analysis e. Difference in research paradigms

Testing Social Theory

You are conducting a study of how effective a midnight basketball program is on reducing inner city juvenile crime. You measure the number of crimes reported to the police before and after the program is instituted, and you compare your findings to the crime rates in another city of similar size that does not have such a program. What sort of evaluation design are you using? a. the posttest-only control group design b. the one-shot case study c. the time-series d. the multiple time-series e. the nonequivalent control group design

The nonequivalent control group design

Which of the following choices is NOT a benefit of content analysis a. easy to adjust measurement strategies once the research has begun b. flexible units of analysis c. can explain almost any social phenomenon d. relatively inexpensive e. can be performed by the researcher alone

can explain almost any social phenomenon

Michael is studying the pattern of volunteers at a local battered women's shelter. Specifically, he was following how college-age students first volunteer, then take on an internship, and then finally seek employment at the agency. What is Michael studying? a. frequencies b. magnitudes c. causes d. processes e. structures

Processes

Looking at your data and frequency distribution, you find that a variable labeled LEVEL has only whole number values between 1 and 5. You can conclude then that the variable is a(n) a. dichotomous variable b. interval variable c. discrete variable d. continuous variable e. ratio variable

Discrete Variable

A frequency polygon is the most relevant graph for displaying discrete, nominal variables. T/F

False

Stakeholders objectively define needs in a needs assessment T/F

False

Impact analysis generally relies on what sort of research design? A. Open-ended surveys B. One-shot case studies C. Experimental and quasi-experimental D. Key informant interviewing E. Closed-ended surveys

Experimental and quasi-experimental

A participant centered understanding attempts to understand something from which perspective?

Participants'

Many existing statistics can be found on the internet. T/F

True

Which of the following statements is (are) TRUE? a. Computers cannot be used for qualitative research b. Concept mapping is appropriate for qualitative analysis only c. Concept mapping is appropriate for quantitative analysis only d. Memos should only be used in qualitative research e. Concept mapping can be used for either quantitative or qualitative analysis

Concept mapping can be used for either quantitative or qualitative analysis

The "centerpiece" of the qualitative analysis process is

Examining Relationships

In the following distribution of the variable semesters completed, which is the mode: 4, 3, 1, 0, 3, 3, 4, 0, 3, 2? A. 0 B. 4 C. 1 D. 3 E. 2

3

One researcher examined how people greeted one another on the street, by paying careful attention to their verbal exchanges. This type of research is probably:

Conversation Analysis

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 the schedule of preestablished questions d. Don't try to halt your respondent's line of discussion even if it's not on topic e. All of these choices provide GOOD advice

Do not deviate from the schedule of preestablished questions

Elijah Anderson's Code of the Street (1999) is an example of what type of qualitative analysis? A. Content analysis B. Ethnomethodology C. Narrative analysis D. Qualitative comparative analysis E. Ethnography

Ethnography

Frequency distributions indicate the number of times that variables are observed. T/F

False

Netnographies have no similarities to traditional ethnographies. T/F

False

The type of evaluation research that determines if a new social program is needed or an old social program is still needed is called an impact assessment. T/F

False

Writing memos is a linear process that begins with data collection and ends with data analysis T/F

False

0 out of 1 points Which of the following is NOT a disadvantage of focus groups? a. Focus group moderators require special skills. b. Focus group data are easy to analyze. c. Focus groups are often difficult to assemble. d. Focus groups afford the researcher less control than individual interviews. e. All of these choices are disadvantages of focus groups.

Focus group data are easy to analyze

Professor Miller planned to tape six focus groups to examine citizens' attitudes toward park development. As a research methods student, you told Miller that an advantage of the focus group method is(are) that a. high face validity b. differences between the groups, should they occur, are easily explained c. moderators require little specialized skill d. moderators easily control the focus group's discussion e. data tapes are easily analyzed

High Face Validity

An example(s) of the complete participant role is(are)a. joining a sorority or fraternity to study initiation rituals without revealing your identity as a researcher b. standing at a street corner and watching whether males or females are more likely to jay-walk c. telling a motorcycle gang that you are a researcher and would like to ride with them for a year to understand their interaction patterns d. being a newspaper reporter who interviews union workers to learn about recent strike efforts e. all of these choices are examples of the complete participant role

Joining a sorority or fraternity to study initiation rituals without revealing your identity as a researcher

When performing a content analysis, looking at what is suggested or insinuated is performing a. manifest coding b. subversive coding c. latent coding d. concrete coding e. technical coding

Latent Coding

To interpret text literally, what must a researcher focus on? A. Frequency of certain key words B. How his or her orientation shapes research C. How meaning is constructed in text D. Actual content and form E. The subtext, or implied meaning

Actual Content and Form

Which of the following explains why qualitative analysis is different from quantitative analysis? A. Focus on meanings rather than on quantifiable phenomena B. Collection of data on a few cases C. Study in depth and detail D. Sensitivity to context E. All of the above

All Choices

Quasi-experimental designs are the preferred method for proving that a program created (or caused) a desired effect. T/F

False

To study natural social processes, a research should choose which form of qualitative analysis?A. Field research B. Grounded theory C. Ethnography D. Narrative analysis E. Ethnomethodology

Field Research

What type of research method uses field notes and transcribed interviews as the primary source of data? A. Qualitative B. Survey C. Experimental D. Content analysis E. Unobtrusive measures

Qualitative

Evaluability assessments tend to rely on: A. Experimental designs B. Qualitative methods C. Surveys D. All of the above E. None of the above

Qualitative methods

Logical reasoning and replication are used to handle the problem of validity in the analysis of existing statistics. T/F

True

Max Weber's concept of "verstehen" means that the researcher should fully understand the people he or she is studying. T/F

True

Impact analyses typically use quantitative data. T/F

True

The College of Arts and Science at Delta University has nine departments. The number of faculty in each department is shown below. What is the mean number of faculty in the College of Arts and Science? 8, 12, 9, 15, 17, 11, 13, 14, 7 a. 17 b. 12 c. There is no mean for these data d. 11.8 e. 10.7

11.8

Given the following age distribution, the mean is 18, 33, 7, 32, 6, 5, 4 a. 7 b. 15 c. cannot compute from the information given d. 4 e. 32

15

Which of the following topics would be appropriate for evaluation research? a. Examining whether fee reductions at the local swimming pool increases pool use. b. Examining whether women who get mammograms detect breast cancer earlier than women who do not. c. Examining whether changes in speed limits influence traffic fatalities. d. Examining whether the use of mediation in divorces results in "fairer" settlements. e. All of these choices are appropriate topics for evaluation research

All Choices

The complete participant must always be a genuine member and participate in what he or she is studying. T/F

False

When analyzing quantitative data, you can increase the detail of a variable collected at a more general level via coding T/F

False

Which of the following is not a typical input in social programs? A. Cases B. Customers C. Clients D. Participants E. Feedback

Feedback

Which of the following statements is most appropriate when discussing the grounded theory method? : a. It is a deductive technique b. It requires significant preparation before beginning observations c. It is similar to case-oriented analysis d. It is similar to variable-oriented analysis e. It is similar to cross-case analysis

It is similar to cross-case analysis

Although the volume of data collected in qualitative analysis can overwhelm an inexperienced researcher, Chambliss and Schutt recommend which of the following to keep control of your data? A. Discard unused data after the conceptualization stage B. Hire professional transcribers C. Keep personal feelings and impressions separate from field notes D. Review field notes and transcriptions only after the observation period has finished E. Maintain a disciplined transcription schedule

Maintain a disciplined transcription schedule

Professor Jefferson is interested in studying the dynamics and processes of three local hospitals? a. Groups and Cliques b. Practices c. Settlements and Habitats d. Organizations e. Subcultures and Lifestyles

Organizations

When conducting a study of grassroots movements that organized to keep big box stores out of their neighborhood, Wendy agreed to serve as the secretary for that group. What role did she take in the field? A. Complete participant B. Covert participant C. Participant observer D. Investigative observer E. Complete observer

Participant observer

Computer software packages designed to analyze qualitative data includes all but which of the following: a. MAXqda b. Ethnograph c. Qualrus d. SPSS e. Nvivo

SPSS

The "Convert" is more likely to run the risk of "going native" than the "Martian." T/F

True

Which of the following is not a guideline for constructing graphs? A. The two axes should be of approximately equal length. B. When possible, use graphics instead of bars. C. Always use bars of equal width. D. Avoid "chart junk" that clutters the graph. E. Begin the graph of a quantitative variable at zero on both axes.

When possible, use graphics instead of bars.

Visual sociology may use photographs and film as text. T/F

True

Qualitative methods refer to the following distinctive research designs: A. Participant observation, focus groups, and field experiments B. Participant observation, intensive interviewing, and survey research C. Focus groups, field experiments, and survey research D. Field experiments, intensive interviewing, and survey research E. Participant observation, intensive interviewing, and focus groups

Participant observation, intensive interviewing, and focus groups

Qualitative researchers DO NOT use the computer to a. qualitative researchers use the computer to do all these choices b. record and store data c. "find" or "search" text for passages containing key words d. analyze data e. typing code words alongside passages in your notes so that they can later search for those keywords.

All choices

Applied research is a form of evaluation research. T/F

False

Tape recorders alter the willingness of key informants to be truthful so much that they are rarely used in intensive interviewing.T/F

False

Creating new measures for variables in evaluation research has the advantage of a. greater possible relevance and validity to the study b. known degrees of reliability and validity c. more precision d. being less time-consuming than using an already devised measure e. greater possible reliability to the study

Greater possible relevance and validity to the study

_______ combines a naturalist approach with a positivist concern for a "systematic set of procedures" in doing qualitative research. a. The extended case method b. Ethnomethodology c. Grounded theory d. Ethnographies e. All of these choices

Grounded Theory

A community hires a researcher to determine whether a community center would be a benefit, in terms of reducing delinquency, promoting community service, and developing networks. To provide an answer, the researcher would conduct what sort of evaluation on community services? A. Needs assessment B. Process evaluation C. Efficiency analysis D. Evaluability assessment E. Impact analysis

Needs Assessment

Who is eliminated from the research process in appreciative inquiry? A. Sponsors B. Staff C. Professional researchers D. IRB E. Stakeholders

Professional Researchers

Computer simulations are based on mathematical equations describing the relationships that link variables. T/F

True

Narrative analysis codes the narrative as a whole, rather than coding different elements within the narrative. T/F

True

Outliers may render a range useless for determining the distribution of a variable. T/F

True

The search for the intentional or unintentional meanings attached to signs is called semiotics. T/F

True

Unobtrusive measures reduce the impact of the researcher on the phenomena being studied. T/F

True

Variable-oriented research is similar to the nomothetic model of explanation T/F

True

Whereas univariate analysis and subgroup comparisons focus on the descriptions of the people under study, the focus of bivariate analysis is on the relationships among the variables themselves. T/F

True

The end product of the coding process in quantitative analysis refers to a. the transfer of variables to the computer b. the conversion of data items into numerical codes c. the assignment of a variable to a computer column d. the assignment of a number or numeral to each questionnaire item e. the conversions of an attribute to a variable

the conversion of data items into numerical codes

A codebook is a guide for locating variables and interpreting codes in one's data file. T/F

True

A node is an established code in terms of NVivo. T/F

True

Always include the number of cases omitted from a bivariate analysis because of missing data in the table. T/F

True

An emic focus represents a setting in the participants' terms. T/F

True

Another name for the experimental stimulus in evaluation research is program intervention. T/F

True

The grounded theory method begins with a. theory b. hypotheses or patterns or observations or theory; it does not matter c. patterns d. observations e. hypotheses

observations

Which of the following is(are) illustrative of unobtrusive observations? a. Examining the floor tiles at a museum to determine which exhibits are the most popular b. Examining the number of beer cans in the university garbage collections to determine beer consumption patterns c. Examining the wear on the tires of squad cars to determine the extent of police patrols d. Examining the radio dial settings of cars brought in for oil changes to determine the popularity of radio stations e. All of these choices illustrate unobtrusive observations

All Choices

Which of the following levels of measurement(s) may be employed in content analysis? a. nominal b. ratio c. interval d. ordinal e. all of these choices are correct

All Choices

It is as important to identify the standardized unit for coding in qualitative analysis as it is in quantitative analysis. T/F

False

Your field notes should record what you know happened NOT what you think happened. T/F

False

Thomas is concerned that in his content analysis he is misclassifying observations to support his emerging hypothesis. He turns to you for help. Which of the following suggestions would be POOR advice? a. If there are a sufficient number of cases, select some at random from each category to avoid picking those that best support the hypothesis b. Give at least three examples in support of every claim that you make about the data c. Ask others who are not involved in your research to review your analytic interpretations to see if they agree d. Realize that few social patterns are 100 percent consistent and so don't worry about reporting inconsistencies e. All of these choices are good advice

Realize that few social patterns are 100 percent consistent and so don't worry about reporting inconsistencies

Existing statistics can be used appropriately to prove or disprove theory T/F

True

If evaluation findings will be used to help shape and refine a social program, it is known as a formative evaluation. T/F

True

In the case of historical research corroboration is analogous to replication T/F

True

To lessen the potential detrimental impact of social programs, researchers should do all of the following, except: A. Test just parts of new programs, rather than the entire program B. Vary treatments among settings rather than among individuals within a setting C. Use the minimum sample size required to adequately test the results D. Minimize the number in the untreated control group E. Compare the presence and absence of treatments, rather than those that vary in intensity

Compare the presence and absence of treatments, rather than those that vary in intensity

Which of the following modes of observation does NOT require the researcher to intrude to some degree on whatever he or she is studying? a. Experiments b. Survey research c. Complete participant observation d. Content analysis e. All of these choices require the researcher to intrude

Content Analysis

In which of the following analyses is content analysis LEAST likely to be useful? a. themes in newspaper editorials b. dating patterns among high school seniors c. the theme of love as discussed in song d. the wording of this exam e. topics covered in class lectures

dating patterns among high school seniors

Means are affected by skewness, while medians are not. T/F

True

Content analysis can be used on any product of human communication T/F

True

Which of the following is not useful for assessing the quality of qualitative analysis? A. Does the analysis illuminate the phenomenon as a lived experience? B. Is the study historically and relationally grounded? C. Does the study produce generalizable findings? D. Is the analysis thickly contextualized? E. Does the researcher describe the research process?

Does the study produce generalizable findings?

Which of the following would best illustrate marital status in a diagram as explained in the text? A. Histogram B. Bar chart C. Box plot D. Frequency polygon E. Pie chart

Bar Chart

The process of checking data for errors after the data has been entered in a computer file is called error cleansing. T/F

False

What statistic is used to determine whether a significant relationship exists between two variables in a crosstab? A. Epsilon B. Gamma C. Beta D. Alpha E. Delta

Gamma

Qualitative field research differs from other forms of observation in that it is both a data-collecting and a theory-generating activity. T/F

True

Qualitative researchers should take notes and record events as soon as possible to ensure the greatest accuracy. T/F

True

In comparison to experiments and surveys, field research has a. can't tell without more information about the particular study b. greater reliability and greater validity c. less reliability and less validity d. greater reliability and less validity e. less reliability and greater validity

less reliability and greater validity

Crosstabulations show relationships between ____________, while elaboration considers _____________. A. categoric variables, numeric variables B. nominal variables, ratio variables C. two variables, three or more variables, D. one variable, two variables E. independent variables, independent and dependent variables

two variables, three or more variables

You are conducting a study of how effective a midnight basketball program is on reducing inner city juvenile crime. You measure the number of crimes reported to the police before and after the program is instituted, and you compare your findings to the crime rates in another city of similar size that does not have such a program. What sort of evaluation design are you using? a. the posttest-only control group design b. the multiple time-series c. the nonequivalent control group design d. the one-shot case study e. the time-series

the nonequivalent control group design

Certain guidelines should be kept in mind when coding. Among these is(are) the following: a. the coding scheme should be appropriate to the analysis intended in the study. b. the coding scheme should be appropriate to the theoretical concepts being examined. c. the reliability of the coder(s) should always be verified. d. code categories should be both mutually exclusive and exhaustive e. all of these choices are correct

Code Categories should be both mutually exclusive and exhaustive

When a researcher is conducting interviews and enhances them by using systematic measuring techniques, the researcher is: A. Employing quantitative analyses only B. Masking quantitative analysis as qualitative C. Being a good researcher D. Combining qualitative methods E. Combining qualitative and quantitative methods

Combining qualitative and quantitative methods

When a researcher is conducting interviews and enhances them by using systematic measuring techniques, the researcher is: A. Combining qualitative and quantitative methods B. Employing quantitative analyses only C. Being a good researcher D. Masking quantitative analysis as qualitative E. Combining qualitative methods

Combining qualitative and quantitative methods

One researcher examined how people greeted one another on the street, by paying careful attention to their verbal exchanges. This type of research is probably: A. Qualitative comparative analysis B. Oral history C. Narrative analysis D. Ethnography E. Conversation analysis

Conversion Analysis

The economic value of a social program when compared to the costs of that program is established in a: A. Cost-benefit analysis B. Needs assessment C. Summative assessment D. Process analysis E. Cost-effectiveness analysis

Cost Benefit Analysis

Cost-benefit analyses and cost-effectiveness analyses are both what kind of evaluation research? A. Evaluability assessment B. Impact analysis C. Process evaluation D. Efficiency analysis E. Needs assessment

Efficiency Analysis

A famous example of applying unobtrusive measures to great success is: a. Stanley Milgram's human obedience research b. Khayatt's "compulsory heterosexuality" study c. The Minneapolis Domestic Violence Experiment d. Laud Humphries "tearoom" study e. Emile Durkheim's study of suicide

Emile Durkheim's study of suicide

One important difference between evaluation research and other social scientific research is: A. Evaluation research is not widely respected by academics. B. Evaluation research is often guided by politics. C. Evaluation research rarely uses qualitative research. D. Evaluation research is conducted by professional researchers. E. Evaluation research rarely uses quantitative research.

Evaluation research is often guided by politics.

A researcher using official government documents need not be concerned about the reliability of those records. T/F

False

Axial coding is the most common and most frequently used form of qualitative data coding T/F

False

Because it is usually inductive, qualitative research cannot use theoretical sampling. T/F

False

Computer simulation has mostly removed the need to conduct actual evaluation research T/F

False

Concepts and analytic insights are usually derived from field notes and interviews after the observation period has ended. T/F

False

Content analysis and relational analysis are synonymous with one another T/F

False

Elaboration analysis demonstrations the distribution of variables on x and y axes. T/F

False

Ethnomethodology is the study and systematic recording of human cultures T/F

False

In content analysis the units of observation must be the same as the unit of analysis. T/F

False

In data collection and analysis, the determination of the unit of analysis occurs after sampling. T/F

False

In multivariate analysis a second dependent variable is added. T/F

False

In participant observation, researchers do not reveal their true identities to their subjects until after the research is complete. T/F

False

Only official government documents should be used in historical analyses T/F

False

Qualitative analysis requires the conversion of social research data into a numerical format. T/F

False

Qualitative research is undertaken for descriptive purposes never for explanatory purposes. T/F

False

Quantitative evaluations can yield only quantitative results. T/F

False

Quantitative research with a single researcher need not construct a codebook. T/F

False

Researchers should always emphasize a strict social science orientation when conducting evaluation research. T/F

False

Researchers who assume the role of the complete participant are unlikely to affect what they are studying.T/F

False

Standard probability sampling techniques should NOT be used in content analysis. T/F

False

The investigation of how a social program works is called a mechanism evaluation. T/F

False

Ultimately, the criteria of success and failure is a mathematical formula. T/F

False

Ultimately, there is only one way to properly code a variable. T/F

False

When using qualitative data analysis software, the results are as inarguable as quantitative data analysis T/F

False

Which of the following is NOT a disadvantage of focus groups?a. Focus groups are often difficult to assemble. b. Focus groups afford the researcher less control than individual interviews c. Focus group data are easy to analyze. d. Focus group moderators require special skills. e. Focus groups allow for multiple viewpoints to be heard.

Focus groups allow

To examine the social interactions of online role-playing gamers, a relatively new social phenomena, Kyoko 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 Kyoko use? a. participatory action approach b. ethnomethodology c. case study d. grounded theory e. the extended case method

Grounded Theory

Theory driven evaluation does which of the following? A. Guides the investigation of a program process B. Suggests which outcomes should be measured C. Determines the generalizability of a program D. Designates the most theoretically significant outcome E. Assesses the relative costs of a social program

Guides the investigation of a program process

The focus of ethnomethodologists is: A. How researchers affect their own research B. How the similarity between the researcher and subject affects research results C. How people form identities D. How people create reality E. How people engage in interaction

How people create reality

Which of the following is NOT a fundamental assumption of conversation analysis? : a. Conversation is a socially structured activity b. Conversations include established rules of behavior c. Conversation must be understood contextually d. It is important to understand that the same utterance should have the same meaning in a different context for communication to take place e. All of these choices are fundamental assumptions of conversation analysis

It is important to understand that the same utterance should have the same meaning in a different context for communication to take place

The presence of outliers suggests what about the shape of a variable's distribution? A. It is unimodal B. It is multimodal C. It is bimodal D. It is skewed E. It is normal

It is skewed

According to Berg, which of the following statements is FALSE regarding negative case testing? a. It can be used as a technique for qualitative hypothesis testing b. It begins with an examination of the data to find a general hypothesis c. It requires you to search your data to find all the cases that contradict your initial hypothesis d. It requires you to reexamine all the cases that led you to form the initial hypothesis e. All of these choices are TRUE

It requires you to reexamine all the cases that led you to form the initial hypothesis

Tacit knowledge is best defined as: A. Careful considerations of the role of the qualitative researcher in influencing the field site B. Initial responses to observations, made when analyzing field notes C. Hypotheses taken from field research that can be tested in future research D. Information that key informants deliberately withhold from intensive interviews E. Largely unarticulated, contextual understandings of social processes

Largely unarticulated, contextual understandings of social processes

There are three ways to read any text for analysis: A. Etically, emically, and reflexively B. Tacitly, etically, and emically C. Intersubjectively, objectively, and subjectively D. Interpretively, objectively, and subjectively E. Literally, reflexively, and interpretively

Literally, reflexively, and interpretively

Researchers Glaser and Strauss have advocated that which part of a research study should be eliminated when following the tenets of grounded theory? a. Conclusion b. Conclusion c. Analysis/discussion d. Literature Review e. Methodology

Literature Review

Evaluation research that investigates the process of service delivery is known as: A. Process evaluation B. Impact analysis C. Efficiency analysis D. Needs assessment E. Evaluability assessment

Process Evaluation

Progressive focusing involves: A. Coding and then recoding qualitative data in electronic (computerized) format B. Using inductive methods to generate general propositions C. The process by which a person selects a field site D. Refining the study focus by interacting with data during the study period E. Reputational methods to determine informal leadership in a natural setting

Refining the study focus by interacting with data during the study period

Understanding the sometimes ambiguous relations between concepts linked together in secondary analysis is known as a. historical research b. content analysis c. existing statistics d. comparative research e. relational analysis

Relational Analysis

To be ethical in qualitative research, attend to all of the following except: A. Expunge any identifying information from final reports B. Debrief subjects as needed C. Protect the reputation of informants D. Researcher must disclose identity in all contexts E. Have concern for the informants' feelings

Researcher must disclose identity in all contexts

When performing evaluation research, the benefit of creating one's own measure of an important variable has all but which of the following benefits? a. saves time and resources b. increased validity c. can be perfectly tailored to your project d. allows unresearched variables to be measured e. greater relevance to project

Saves time and resources

When researchers analyze data that they did not collect, such as the General Social Survey, they are conducting what type of research? A. Repetition B. Primary research C. Secondary research D. Historical research E. Data cleaning

Secondary Research

Mikhael is examining the symbolic elements of a standard police encounter, such as the behaviors and clues an officer encounters that could signify danger. What sort of qualitative research is he performing? a. coding b. concept mapping c. memoing d. grounded theory e. semiotic analysis

Semiotic Analysis

What orientation to evaluation research expects researchers to be responsive primarily to the people involved with the program? A. Client approach B. Integrative approach C. Social science approach D. Academic approach E. Stakeholder approach

Stakeholder approach

Professor Wang wonders whether all grandparents act alike or whether there are different roles associated with grandparenting. According to Lofland et. al., Wang should focus on _________ in order to determine whether there are different types of grandparenting roles. a. causes b. case-oriented analysis c. processes d. frequencies e. structures

Structures

Observations can take the form of quantitative design due to: A. Field experiment B. Covert participation C. Ethnography D. Systematic observation E. Participant observation

Systematic Observation

If we wanted to determine whether states that pass clean air legislation (no smoking in public areas) are more likely to enact laws requiring motorcyclists to wear helmets than are states that had not passed clean air legislation, the unit of analysis would be a. the individual states b. states that passed clean air legislation c. the clean air legislation d. the individual act of legislation e. passage or nonpassage of the clean air legislation

The individual states

Which of the following statements about the Sabido methodology is FALSE? a. The methodology has used television shows to promote literacy and family planning b. The methodology pays attention to the kinds of characters portrayed in tv shows c. The methodology can be used to evaluate social programs d. The methodology is not used to construct or develop social programs e. All of these statements are TRUE

The methodology is not used to construct or develop social programs

After examining the FBI Crime Reports for a 30-year period, Professor Hall claimed that the incidence of rape has increased. After examining the same reports, Professor Shine claimed that the reporting of rape, not the incidence of rape, has increased. This illustrates a. pretesting b. the ecological fallacy c. the problem of validity in using existing statistics d. the need to replicate existing statistics e. the problem of reliability in using existing statistics

The problem of reliability in using existing statistics

In a study that examined whether the use of mediation in divorces resulted in "fairer" settlements, the intervention is a. the use of mediation b. the actual divorce c. the courtroom d. the "fairer" settlement e. the judge's decision

The use of mediation

In a study of gang behavior, Jankowski (1991) included several different ethnic gangs, as well as large and small gangs, and gangs from different cities and regions of the country. This process of selecting different types of gangs represents what kind of sampling procedure? A. Simple random sampling B. Stratified sampling C. Theoretical sampling D. Snowball sampling E. Quota sampling

Theoretical sampling

. An ideal type is a conceptual model composed of the essential characteristics of social phenomena. T/F

True

As a mode of observation, content analysis is essentially a coding operation. T/F

True

Case studies may be descriptive or explanatory. T/F

True

Concept mapping is appropriate for both qualitative and quantitative analysis. T/F

True

Data collection, analysis, and theory are more intimately intertwined in qualitative analysis than in quantitative analysis. T/F

True

Developing supportive relations with stakeholder groups will increase the odds that the political process will not undermine the evaluation process. T/F

True

Evaluation research developed in tandem with government expansion during the Great Depression and World War II.T/F

True

Evaluation research refers to a research purpose rather than a specific research method. T/F

True

Histograms are used to display the distribution of quantitative variables that vary along a continuum. T/F

True

With a black box evaluation study, understanding how a program works is not important. T/F

True

Intensive interviewing and focus groups should be conducted until: A. The researcher must disclose his or her identity to respondents B. The researcher obtains relevant tacit knowledge from respondents C. Field observation has been completed D. All relevant informants have consented to participate E. A saturation point is reached

A saturation point is reached

What does statistical significance mean with regard to the association between two variables? A. Association is likely to be due to chance. B. Association is likely to be due to a third variable. C. Association is not likely to be due to a third variable. D. Association exists and is deemed to be strong. E. Association is not likely to be due to chance.

Association is not likely to be due to chance.

What does statistical significance mean with regard to the association between two variables? A. Association is not likely to be due to chance. B. Association is likely to be due to a third variable. C. Association exists and is deemed to be strong. D. Association is not likely to be due to a third variable. E. Association is likely to be due to chance.

Association is not likely to be due to chance.

In order to develop and maintain relationships in the field, Chambliss suggests all of the following except: A. Be somewhat laid back B. Be especially mindful of interaction early in research C. Be prepared to fake a social similarity with subjects D. Don't fully immerse yourself in the field E. Develop a plausible and honest explanation for yourself and your study

Be prepared to fake a social similarity with subjects

Michael is spending three months living in a commune doing participant observation in order to fully understand and document the lives of the people who reside there. What is the likely result of Michael's research? a. Case study b. Unstructured interview c. Ethnography d. Extended case study e. Structured interview

Ethnography

The "centerpiece" of the qualitative analysis process is: A. Documentation B. Examining relationships C. Reflexivity D. The role of the researcher E. Holism

Examining Relationships

Professor Cay notes that respondent Mary Ginger is a 54 year old grandmother who has two grandchildren living in her household. Neither of the grandchildren's parents live with them although Mary is the maternal grandmother. Cay also learns that Ginger had to quit her job in order to stay home with the young grandchildren because Ginger feared leaving the two youngsters with a baby-sitter or in child care. Two of Ginger's friends were dealing with similar situations and a third friend was considering whether to obtain custody of her grandchild. Thus, Cay learned that Ginger wasn't feeling "alone" in caring for her grandchildren. Using this information alone, it sounds like Professor Cay is doing a. a variable-oriented nomothetic analysis b. a case-oriented idiographic analysis c. a case-oriented nomothetic analysis d. a cross-case analysis e. a variable-oriented idiographic analysis

a case-oriented idiographic analysis

Which of the following is(are) aimed primarily at explanation? a. only multivariate and bivariate analyses are aimed at explanation b. multivariate analysis c. bivariate analysis d. univariate, multivariate, and bivariate analyses all are primarily aimed at explanation e. univariate analysis

only multivariate and bivariate analyses are aimed at explanation

A measure of dispersion describes a. which data are appropriate for analysis b. where the data are clustered c. how spread the data are around some central value d. discrete data only e. which data are the most important

how spread the data are around some central value

In reading a table that someone else has constructed, the rule of thumb is a. if the table is percentaged down, read across, and if the table is percentaged across, read down b. if the table is percentaged down, read down c. if the table is percentaged across, read across d. if the table is percentaged down, read down and if the table is percentaged across, read across e. all of these choices are good rules of thumb for reading a table that someone else constructed

if the table is percentaged down, read across, and if the table is percentaged across, read down

Among the advantages of field research is(are) that it a. ethnomethodology b. ethnography c. institutional ethnography d. case study e. participatory action research

institutional ethnography

A friend of yours assigned a code of 1 to "male" and a code of 2 to "female" on the variable sex. Your friend asked the computer to compute the average score on sex. The computer printout contained the following information: mean=1.38, standard deviation=.43, median=1.4, and mode=1.0. You advise your friend that the best measure(s) of central tendency to report is(are) the a. standard deviation b. the mean, the median, and the mode are equally appropriate c. median d. mode e. mean

mode

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. all of these choices are advantages of field research

social processes can be studied over time

Which of the following would NOT be a potential unit of analysis in unobtrusive research? a. textbooks b. internet forum posts c. police departments d. magazines e. historical correspondence

Police Departments

Coding in content analysis involves a. conceptualization and operationalization b. inductive methods c. selecting a level of measurement d. deductive methods e. all of these choices are involved in coding in content analysis

All choices

Which of the following is NOT one of the four stages of the constant comparative method? a. Comparing incidents applicable to each category b. Integrating categories and their properties c. Delimiting the theory d. Writing theory e. All of these choices are stages in the constant comparative method

All choices

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. quota sampling c. base counting d. the ecological fallacy e. manifest content coding

Manifest content coding

Which of the following is not a measure of variation? A. Mean B. Range C. Standard deviation D. Normal distribution E. Variance

Mean

A type of descriptive statistic that summarizes the strength of an association: A. Measure of Significance B. Measure of Central Tendency C. Measure of Variation D. Measure of Association E. None of the above

Measure of Association

In Project New Hope, 677 low-income adults were offered jobs, childcare, and healthcare, while others were offered none of these things. In the end, only 27% of those who were offered jobs stuck with it long enough to lift themselves out of poverty. Levels of depression did not decrease, nor did self-esteem increase. However, the classroom performance of male the participants' male children increased. This example demonstrates the importance of: A. Measuring multiple outcomes B. Efficiency analysis C. Process evaluation D. Stakeholders' perceptions E. Theory-driven evaluation

Measuring multiple outcomes

For the last 15 years Jenny tracked the divorce and marriage rates in the United States. Jenny is doing a a. monitoring study b. a needs assessment c. a cost-benefit analysis d. a logistical study e. none of these choices is correct

Monitoring Study

Rebecca was hired to determine what types of recreational programs teenagers wanted and would use in the town of Methods, U.S.A. Rebecca was hired to conduct a a. cost-benefit study b. monitoring study c. needs assessment study d. time-series study e. all of these choices are correct

Needs assessment study

Professor Dahl was using Nvivo for an analysis of relationships. Dahl created a node called "friendship" and then created a node called "same-sex" and another node called "opposite-sex" under "friendship." Dahl was creating a. memoing b. axial codes c. nodes d. semiotic analysis e. concept mapping

Nodes

An example of unobtrusive data collection is(are) a. an interview with college freshmen to determine why they selected a particular school b. a laboratory experiment designed to learn whether people really prefer Pepsi or Coke c. a mailed survey designed to discern students' attitudes toward a planned change in the school's calendar d. a researcher who joins a fraternity to understand its rituals e. none of these choices are unobtrusive

None of these

Pregnant women planning to deliver their baby in hospital A were given a poison control test. After the delivery of their baby, the new moms attended a two hour training session on poison control. One week later, at the baby's one-week check-up exam, the new moms retook the poison control test. Located in the same city, pregnant women planning to deliver their baby in hospital B were given a poison control test. One week later, at the baby's one-week check-up exam, these new moms retook the poison control test. What design is being used? a. Nonequivalent control group b. Multiple time-series c. Cross-sectional design d. Time-series e. Pretest-posttest control group

Nonequivalent control group

Which of the following is a common form of text used in qualitative analysis? A. Transcripts B. Field notes C. Pictures D. Conversation E. All of the above

Pictures

Social indicators research combines a. the analysis of existing data with the comparative/historical approach b. evaluation research with the analysis of existing data c. the analysis of existing data with questionnaires d. evaluation research with the comparative/historical approach e. evaluation research with interviewing

evaluation research with the analysis of existing data

A friend of yours was interested in determining whether the news media picked up on campus events. Your friend decided to do a content analysis of the local paper. Your friend counted each story that mentioned his university's name. At the end of two months, 136 events had been counted. Your friend asked for your comments on his research. You told your friend a. he did manifest coding and he should have recorded the base b. he did latent coding c. he should have recorded the base d. he did manifest coding e. he did latent coding and he should have recorded the base

he did manifest coding and he should have recorded the base

In comparison to coding the manifest content of communication, coding the latent content a. has a disadvantage in terms of validity b. has an advantage in terms of reliability c. is better designed for tapping the underlying meaning of communication d. has an advantage in terms of specificity e. all of these choices are true

is better designed for tapping the underlying meaning of communication

A potential shortcoming of using computer simulation in the field of social indicators research is: a. it can only be used for physical, not social variables b. it can save organizations significant costs c. the cost of a computer capable of running simulations is extremely high d. it will eliminate the need for external researchers, eliminating important jobs e. people are unpredictable, and thus the results of simulations are not necessarily guaranteed

it will eliminate the need for external researchers, eliminating important jobs

You examined the IQ scores of children at several high schools. You finally select two high schools where the children appear similar in terms of IQ scores, family income, family religion, and the like. You match two classes from each grade (9 to 12) from each high school. In one high school you plan to offer a course on study skills in the selected classes and in the other high school you plan to have students follow their "normal" curriculum. After obtaining permission from the principals, parents, and children to do your research, you arrive at the first school to begin the study skills class. You find that the classes you had selected are on field trips and that the principal assigned a different class at the same grade level to you. This illustrates the problem(s) of a. logistics only b. logistics and administrative control only c. administrative control only d. logistics, administrative control, and ethics e. ethics only

logistics, administrative control, and ethics

A friend of yours is doing a term paper to compare the infant mortality rates in the United States, Japan, Bolivia, and Pakistan. You tell your friend that a good source to check is a. the Gallup poll b. the Almanac c. the Statistical Abstract of the United States d. Common Cause e. the Demographic Yearbook

the Demographic Yearbook

You are interested in doing a content analysis on the characteristics people seek in a partner by examining the personals section of three newspapers. Your unit of analysis is: a. the person who wrote the ad b. the three newspapers c. the individual ads d. the characteristics desired in a partner e. the personals section of the paper

the characteristics desired in a partner

You are interested in doing a content analysis on the characteristics people seek in a partner by examining the personals section of three newspapers. Your unit of analysis is: a. the personals section of the paper b. the characteristics desired in a partner c. the person who wrote the ad d. the three newspapers e. the individual ads

the characteristics desired in a partner

Producers of TV shows that depict violence often ignore the studies that indicate that children who watch violence are more likely to be aggressive, have fewer friends, and have poorer relationships with their parents than children who do not watch violent shows. The producers of the violent TV shows probably ignore the research because a. they did not understand the researcher b. logistical problems c. the findings contradict deeply held beliefs d. administrative control interferes e. the findings conflict with the producers' vested interests

the findings conflict with the producers' vested interests

A new law has been enacted increasing the penalty for drunk driving in order to reduce the number of alcohol related traffic fatalities. The number of fatalities one year before and after the law was enacted is measured, as well as a count of the number of high profile accidents. The experimental stimulus in this project would be: a. the rate of traffic fatalities before the law began b. the number of traffic fatalities after the law was enacted c. the new law d. the number of arrests for driving under the influence after the law began e. the number of high profile traffic accidents

the new law

Although some research indicates that the depiction of violence on TV has no effect on children, many parents still screen their children's TV selections to prevent the selection of violent programs. From a methodologist's perspective, parents probably ignore the implication of this research because a. they may not understand the research b. the research may contradict deeply held beliefs c. logistical problems enter d. they may not understand the research and/or the research may contradict deeply held beliefs e. administrative control interferes

they may not understand the research and/or the research may contradict deeply held beliefs

The adage that you must walk a mile in another person's shoes before you can understand the views and feelings of that person is similar to the sociological concept(s) of a. historical/comparative analysis b. verstehen c. content analysis d. ideal types e. the ecological fallacy

verstehen

In the following distribution of the variable semesters completed, which is closest to the mean: 4, 3, 1, 0, 3, 3, 4, 0, 3, 2? A. 0 B. 3 C. 2 D. 4 E. 1

2

Given a mean of 12 and a standard deviation of 2, we can conclude: a. all of our data is between 10 and 14 b. 68 percent of cases are between 10 and 14 c. 95 percent of cases are between 10 and 14 d. 95 percent of cases are between 11 and 13 e. not enough information to make any conclusions

68 percent of cases are between 10 and 14

In a normal curve, about what percent of all cases falls within plus or minus two standard deviations? A. 95% B. 10% C. 25% D. 68% E. 50%

95%

Dr. Fielding is interested in the stratification system in the United States and how it is perpetuated through time. Fielding decides to examine the experiences of minority students who seek college counseling in high school. He interviews minority students in four high schools to learn whether their personal experiences tell him something about stratification in the U.S. After interviewing the minority students Fielding interviews non-minority students, school administrators, guidance counselors, teachers, parents, and social workers at the same four high schools.. Fielding is probably using a/an approach. a. institutional ethnography b. ethnography c. ethnomethodology d. participatory action research e. case study

Institutional Ethnography

Which of the following is false about standard deviations? A. It is a measure of central tendency. B. It is the preferred measure of variability when a variable in normally distributed. C. It is the square root of the variance. D. It tells how wide the variation of any set of cases is. E. It is the square root of the average squared deviation of each case from the mean.

It is a measure of central tendency.

In intensive interviewing, active listening involves all of the following except: A. Suspending judgment on what respondent is saying B. Just being quiet C. Probing for in-depth responses D. Asking for explanations E. Showing a genuine curiosity

Just being quiet

When summarizing heavily skewed data, the best measure of central tendency is: a. mode b. median c. mean d. standard deviation e. correlation

Median

Which summary statistic should be used for nominal variables? A. Range B. Mode C. Mean D. Variance E. Median

Mode

Examining relationships between concepts is important in qualitative analysis because it allows the researcher to: A. Identify key variables for future research B. Authenticate findings C. Generalize findings D. Move from description to explanation E. Validate findings

Move from description to explanation

Jenny wants to do research that tells the stories of rape victims. She wants to tell "their stories" the way they "really are." Jenny is using a paradigm. a. Participating action research b. Naturalist c. Case study d. Grounded theory e. Ethnomethodology

Naturalist

Which of the following is the best example of 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. None of these choices exemplify a breaching experiment

Opening an umbrella on a beautiful day.

Julie studies an Overeaters Anonymous group for several years. In her book on the subject, she mentions the location of the meetings. This violates which one of the main ethical issues in field research:a. ethnography b. participatory action research c. ethnomethodology d. case study e. institutional ethnography

Subjects' confidentiality

To study natural social processes, a research should choose which form of qualitative analysis?a. Interpretation of results b. Difference in research paradigms c. Data analysis d. Testing social theory e. Units of analysis

Testing social theory

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

The members of the diet group might alter their lifestyles

Bivariate and multivariate analyses are aimed primarily at explanation. T/F

True

In distributions with an even number of cases, the median is computed by taking the arithmetic average between the two middle cases. T/F

True

In field research, public figures are often best approached using direct methods, such as writing a letter introducing yourself and your research agenda.T/F

True

Intensive interviewing with key informants should continue until new interviews yield little new information.T/F

True

Jeremy was born in 1948 and grew up during the 1960s. He was sent to Vietnam in 1967. In Vietnam he was horrified by what he saw and when he returned home he suffered sleepless nights and nightmares. He began to work at a bank but often fell asleep during the day. He met Mary, another bank employee, in 1980 and they married in 1981. They divorced in 1983. Mary could not cope with Jeremy's nightmares, bouts of depression, and bouts with alcohol. After the divorce, Jeremy's depression increased and began to drink even more heavily. He was fired from his job in the latter part of 1983. An explanation for Jeremy's job loss could be termed A. idiographic and case-oriented analysis b. idiographic and variable-oriented analysis c. nomothetic and variable-oriented analysis d. cannot tell from the given information e. nomothetic and case-oriented analysis

idiographic and case-oriented analysis