SOC 3900 Midterm

In her research on educational inequality, Laura found that contrary to her theoretical expectations, per pupil expenditures and teacher salaries were higher in poor, urban school districts than in wealthy suburban ones. Laura's finding is an example of: A. Spuriousness B. An independent variable C. A trend study D. An anomalous finding E. A null hypothesis

E. A null hypothesis

In a simple random sample of 100 people from a population of 500, what is the probability that any given element will be selected? A. .10 B. .50 C. .40 D. .30 E. .20

E. .20

To measure school spirit in the school, a principal asked all students to complete a short questionnaire (and luckily there were no refusals and no absences that day!). The principal's sampling technique could be characterized as: A. Random B. Convenience sampling C. Non-probability sampling D. Purposive E. A census

E. A census

(T/F) The ability to generalize from findings about one group, population, or setting to other groups, populations, or settings is called cross-population generalizability.

True

(T/F) The deductive research strategy begins by deriving a hypothesis from an existing theory.

True

(T/F) The famous "obedience" experiments by Stanley Milgram were started at Yale University in 1960.

True

(T/F) The nominal level of measurement is considered to be a qualitative level of measurement

True

(T/F) The social world consists of experiences and orientations of people other than viewer.

True

(T/F) Internal validity refers to the truthfulness of an assertion that A causes B.

True

(T/F) Non-probability sampling methods are used most frequently in qualitative and exploratory research

True

(T/F) Philip Zimbardo organized the Prison Simulation Study in the early 1970s.

True

(T/F) Probability sampling methods use a chance, or random, selection procedure for choosing elements to study.

True

(T/F) Quota sampling requires that the researcher know the distribution of some characteristics of the population in advance.

True

(T/F) Sample generalizability refers to how a sample is selected from a population.

True

(T/F) Social scientists must be careful that their personal biases do not influence research conclusions.

True

In a proportionate stratified random sample of 100 people from a population of 1000 where 70% are female and 30% are male, what will be sample size of men be? A. 30 B. 50 C. 10 D. 70 E. 60

A. 30

In the 1980s, the band Judas Priest was sued by parents whose teenagers had been Judas Priest fans and committed suicide. Social scientists are skeptical of the argument that listening to heavy metal music causes young people to commit suicide. The parents' argument could be critiqued for having low: A. Causal validity B. Measurement validity C. Cross-population validity D. Sample generalizability E. External validity

A. Casual Validity

Happiness can mean different things to different people. This is because happiness is a: A. Concept B. Theory C. Operation D. Variable E. Indicator

A. Concept

Dave begins his research project with a set of interviews with animal rights activists, hunters, and wildlife management professions to understand the controversy over bear hunting. What research strategy is he using: A. Inductive B. Longitudinal C. Cross-sectional D. Survey E. Reactive

A. Inductive

An index is useful in research because it combines answers to several questions, thereby: A. Lessening idiosyncratic variation B. Establishing a new concept C. Fulfilling a condition of experimental design D. Removing the element of chance in measurement E. Ensuring measurement validity

A. Lessening idiosyncratic variation

Social science can be defined as the investigation of social reality using methods that are: A. Logical and systematic B. Fair and exploratory C. Textual and critical D. Accepted and informed E. Disciplined and deterministic

A. Logical and systematic

The most important distinction that needs to be made about samples is whether they are based on a: A. Nonprobability or probability sampling method B. Sampling frame that contains all elements or not C. Single or multi-stage procedure D. Large or small fraction of the population E. Population that is easy or difficult to find

A. Nonprobability or probability sampling method

Which of the following reinforces a commitment to thoughtful discourse on research ethics? A. the act of publication B. the focus on achieving valid results C. the act of being open and honest about research methods and findings D. the act of maintaining confidentiality E. the act of avoiding deception

A. The act of publication

A researcher obtains a list of all Little League coaches in the state. He draws a random sample of 100 of the coaches on the list. He then interviews the coach to learn about his or her background, approach to coaching, and team record. This research used what kind of sampling method? A. simple random B. stratified random C. purposive D. multi-stage cluster E. systematic random

A. simple random

What is the independent variable in the following statement: in general, people with a college degree earn more money than people who have not graduated from high school A. People with a college degree B. Level of education C. Income D. Money E. People who have not graduated from high school

B. Level of education

Every institution that seeks federal funds for research on human subjects must have a body that reviews research proposals called an: A. EEG B. IRB C. ASA D. IMF E. AMA

B. IRB

The everyday error that involves prematurely jumping to conclusions or arguing on the basis of invalid assumptions is called: A. Inaccurate observation B. Illogical reasoning C. Resistance to change D. Selective Observation E. Overgeneralization

B. Illogical reasoning

Respondents in a survey are asked whether they agree or disagree with ten statements designed to assess self-esteem. When their scores on the items are summed and averaged, the result is a composite measure termed: A. A constant B. An index C. Secondary data D. A concept E. A dichotomy

B. Index

(T/F) Split halves reliability refers to providing alternate forms of survey instrument to each half of a sample.

True

Inaccurate and selective observation is overcome in social science research through: A. Systematic observation B. Systematic measurement C. Evaluation of methods by others D. Representative samples E. All of the above

B. Systematic measurement

Jen gets a list of all 100 employees at Business R and selects every fifth name from the list to be in her sample. What is her sampling frame? A. Business R B. The list of employees C. 100 D. 5 E. 20

B. The list of employees

All of the following are probability sampling methods EXCEPT? A. simple random B. quota C. stratified D. disproportionate stratified E. systematic

B. quota

In a proportionate stratified random sample of 100 people from a population of 1000 where 70% are female and 30% are male, what will be sample size of women be A. 30 B. 60 C. 70 D. 50 E. 10

C. 70

All of the following are ethical principles involved in the protection of human subjects EXCEPT: A. Achieving valid results B. Maintaining confidentiality C. Evaluating research from a personal moral standpoint D. Avoiding deception E. Avoiding harming research participants

C. Evaluating research from a personal moral standpoint

Observers attend a local church and rate the social cohesion of members. The observers do not discuss their ratings. Later, it turns out that the observers' ratings are different from each other in most cases. This indicates what kind of problem with the ratings: A. Intra-observer reliability B. Test-Retest reliability C. Inter-observer reliability D. Alternate-forms reliability E. Split-halves reliability

C. Inter-observer reliability

In order of mathematical precision from least to most precise, the levels of measurement are: A. Ordinal, nominal, ratio, interval B. Ratio, ordinal, interval, nominal C. Nominal, ordinal, interval, ratio D. Nominal, interval, ratio, ordinal E. Interval, nominal, ordinal, ratio

C. Nominal, ordinal, interval, ratio

Which of the following is a variable measured at the ordinal level? A. Number of players on a team B. Team mascot C. Order in which players bat D. Position on a baseball team (e.g., catcher, pitcher) E. The ratio of balls thrown to strikes

C. Order in which players bat

The everyday error that involves unjustifiably concluding that what is true for some cases is true for all cases is called: A. Selective observation B. Illogical reasoning C. Overgeneralization D. Resistance to change E. Inaccurate observation

C. Overgeneralization

Because only chance determines which elements are included in the sample, probability sampling methods eliminate A. Choice B. Error C. Systematic Bias D. Technique E. Agency

C. Systematic Bias

Social scientists take great effort to make sure that their research accurately reflects the social world. In other words, they are very concerned about: A. Operationalization B. Generalizability C. Validity D. Conceptualization E. Reliability

C. Validity

(T/F) Survey research creates few ethical problems.

True

Christine found that as one's marital happiness increased, so did one's overall happiness. She knows now that marital happiness and overall happiness have: A. An idiographic relationship B. A spurious relationship C. A causal relationship D. A positive direction of association E. All of the above

D. A positive direction of association

Which of the following are basic ethical principals for the protection of human subjects? A. Respect for persons B. Beneficence C. Justice D. All of the above E. None of the above

D. All of the above

Steve defines happiness in his study as an index of the following questions: are you very, somewhat, or not very happy 1) in general; 2) at work; 3) with your social life; and 4) with your marriage. What has Steve done: A. Conceptualized his variables B. Operationalized his variables C. Measured his variables D. B and C E. All of the above

D. B and C

Every year, the sociology department contacts a sample of its graduates from one, five, and ten years previous to find out how these alumni have used their sociology degrees. What research design is being used? A. Cross-sectional B. Trend C. Panel D. Cohort E. Repeated cross-sectional

D. Cohort

Good social research questions should meet the following criteria: (p. 22-23) A. Social activity, individual importance, and scientific relevance B. Feasibility, innovation, and selectivity C. Funding, social importance, and intellectual change D. Feasibility, social importance, and scientific relevance E. Feasibility, objective definition, and scientific relevance

D. Feasibility, social importance, and scientific relevance

Which of the following distinctions can be made when a variable is measured at the ordinal level: A. Variation of fixed units B. Approval and disapproval C. Difference in ratio numbers D. Greater than and less than E. Kind and quality

D. Greater and less than

Consistency of operations is determined through an assessment of: A. Conceptualization B. Construct validity C. Measurement validity D. Reliability E. Operationalization

D. Reliability

When a researcher is unwilling to change their ideas even after they are exposed to new information, we call this: A. Reluctance to change B. Unwillingness C. Hesitancy D. Resistance to change E. Aversion to change

D. Resistance to change

Kristen hypothesized that teachers in suburban school districts will have more years of experience than urban schoolteachers. What is her dependent variable? A. Suburban or urban B. School districts C. Schools D. Years of experience E. Teachers

D. Years of experience

A hypothesis is defined as: A. A working definition with which to carry out research B. A set of proofs about which competing propositions are labeled true and false C. An organization of theories from credible to less credible D. A set of interrelated propositions about the social world E. A tentative statement that involves a relationship between variables

E. A tentative statement that involves a relationship between variables

In contrast to everyday reasoning, science and social science rely on what to build knowledge? A. Systematic observation B. Systematic measurement C. Evaluation of methods by others D. Representative samples E. All of the above

E. All of the above

If a researcher uses deception in an experiment, s/he must ______ the participants after the study is complete. A. demote B. deceive C. detain D. de-stress E. debrief

E. Debrief

A study seeks to find out whether the Federal wetlands protection programs have significantly slowed the destruction of wetlands. This is an example of what kind of research? A. Descriptive B. Qualitative C. Exploratory D. Evaluation E. Explanatory

E. Explanatory

Which of the following is a variable measured at the nominal level? A. High school GPA B. High school class: first-year, sophomore, junior, senior, other C. Rank in GPA compared to other students in class D. Number of students in high school class E. Name of high school attended

E. Name of high school attended

Who conducted an experiment with the Minneapolis police department to look at police responses to domestic violence? A. Zimbardo B. Humphreys C. Sherman and Berk D. Milgram E. Sherman and Mills

E. Sherman and Berk

Rachel sends a link to an internet based survey to every student at her university and encourages each to send the link on to everyone in their e-mail directories. In the end, over 5000 people complete the survey. What sampling technique did she use? A. Purposive B. Availability C. Quota D. Simple random E. Snowball

E. Snowball

Errors in everyday observations and reasoning include all of the following EXCEPT: A. Overgeneralization B. Illogical Reasoning C. Selective observation D. Resistance to change E. Testing hypotheses

E. Testing hypothesis

Which four major stages are represented in the research circle: A. Theory, validation, empiricism, replication B. Question formulation, theory, hypothesis, hypothesis testing C. Deduction, induction, replication, implementation D. Theory, hypothesis, data, replication E. Theory, hypothesis, data, empirical generalization

E. Theory, hypothesis, data, empirical generalization

(T/F) A longitudinal study design collects data only at one point in time.

False

(T/F) A repeated cross section design collects data from the same individuals at multiple points in time

False

(T/F) Another name for the ecological fallacy is reductionism.

False

(T/F) In a census, the probability of selection for each element is 0.5.

False

(T/F) Institutional Review Boards (IRBs) must include members with the same disciplinary background, to ensure all members understand the area in which research is to be conducted.

False

(T/F) It's not always necessary for scientists to be open and honest about their research methods and findings.

False

(T/F) Open-ended questions have explicit responses from which to choose.

False

(T/F) Simple random sampling guarantees proportionate representation of elements across strata.

False

(T/F) Social media and digital technologies do not complicate ethical problems in research and are treated the same as any other research venue.

False

(T/F) The Code of Responsibility in Social Sciences (1997) covers the ethical guidelines researchers must follow to ensure no harm will come to a subject.

False

(T/F) When designing research, social scientists do not consider the practical feasibility of study design.

False

(T/F) A common type of interval variable in social research is an index.

True

(T/F) Children cannot legally give consent to participate in research.

True

(T/F) Concepts may refer to either constant or variable phenomena.

True

(T/F) Formal procedures for the protection of participants in research grew out of egregious human rights violations exposed after the Nuremburg War Crime Trials and the Tuskegee Syphilis Study.

True