Chapter 2 Assessment: Sociological Research

What is the term for the degree to which a measure or scale truly reflects the phenomenon under study? A. validity B. causal C. correlation D. reliability

A. validity

When people use sociology for practical applications to help people and organizations, they are practicing what discipline? A. manual sociology B. applied sociology C. digital sociology D. theoretical sociology

B. applied sociology

True or false: Because sociologists are ethically obligated to protect the confidentiality of a person who is part of their research, the law clearly supports their right in court cases to withhold the name of anyone they interview.

False The answer is not true because the legal status is unclear, as illustrated by a court case involving Rik Scarce, who was jailed for contempt of court while protecting the confidentiality of a person involved in a group he was researching.

What is the term for the midpoint or number that divides a series of values into two groups of equal numbers of values? A. man B. median C. meridian D. motion

median

Because of its strict standards for determining whether claims are accurate, the scientific _______ is useful for evaluating assertions of fact.

method

When the students in a class took a quiz, they got the following scores: 10, 10, 9, 9, 9, 8, 7, 6, 6, 6, 6, 4. The ____ is 6.

mode

A speculative statement that a researcher makes about the relationship between two or more variables is called ______. A. a conclusion B. a theory C. a correlation D. a hypothesis

D. a hypothesis

An independent variable ______. A. may or may not exist in the researchers' hypothesis B. is independent of any other variables and needs to be analyzed on its own merits C. depends on the influence of another variable D. causes the change to another variable

D. causes the change to another variable

Sociologist R.C. Morris used data about the U.S. prison population and a Big Brothers Big Sisters mentoring program to study which of the following groups? A. children of incarcerated parents B. children born in prison C. juvenile inmates D. LGBTQ prisoners

A. children of incarcerated parents

Scientists use the scientific method to ensure which two things? A. consistency B. objectivity C. subjectivity D. fallacy

A. consistency B. objectivity

What is a term for the systematic coding and objective recording of data that is guided by some rationale? A. content analysis B. context C. content building D. psychoanalysis

A. content analysis examining cultural, economic, and political documents, including newspaper, periodicals, radio and television tapes, the Internet, scripts, diaries, songs, folklore, and legal papers

Technology's impact on sociological research ______. (Choose every correct answer.) A. has allowed researchers to conduct studies independent of grants and institutions B. is only valuable if everyone has access to the Internet C. has allowed researchers to work from home but only if they have a grant D. has helped researchers to access larger amounts of data

A. has allowed researchers to conduct studies independent of grants and institutions D. has helped researchers to access larger amounts of data

In the following series of numbers: 10, 5, 4, 4, 2, the average, or ______, is 5. A. mode B. percentage C. median D. mean

D. mean

If the number of drinks consumed by each member of a small group is 4, 4, 6, 7, and 8, the number 6 would be the _______ for that group. A. mean B. mode C. percentage D. median

D. median

If researchers produce data that accurately reflect the phenomenon being studied, they are demonstrating ______. A. a correlation B. reliability C. validity D. a hypothesis

C. validity

List the steps of the scientific method in order from first to last, with the first step at the top.

1. define the problem 2. review the literature 3. formulate a testable hypothesis 4. select a research design and collect an analyze data 5. report the results

In general, feminist researchers tend to do which of the following more than other researchers? (Choose every correct answer.) A. maintain the status quo B. use less historical evidence C. raise public consciousness D. influence policy

C. raise public consciousness D. influence policy

For sociologists to reach general conclusions about society, their research findings need to be ______. A. verified by independent sources B. randomly generated C. representative of all members of society D. politically neutral

C. representative of all members of society

The _______ refers to the way sociologists go about researching a problem in the most objective, consistent way possible. A. Hawthorne effect B. secondary analysis C. scientific method D. control variable

C. scientific method

Various research techniques that make use of previously collected and publicly accessible information and data is known as ______. A. content analysis B. unethical analysis C. secondary analysis D. causal logic

C. secondary analysis

Which of the following are research designs that sociologists regularly use? (Choose every correct answer.) A. correlations B. utopias C. surveys D. experiments E. cartography F. ethnography

C. surveys - provides information about how people think or act D. experiments - artificially created situation that allows a researcher to manipulate variables F. ethnography - study of an entire social setting through extended systematic fieldwork

What does reliability refer to in the context of scientific research? A. that the data been analyzed and adjusted B. that there is a true representation of the sample population C. that measurements produce consistent results D. that little or no data have been lost

C. that measurements produce consistent results

If the presence of researchers affects the behavior of the subjects being studied, this is known as ______. A. cause and effect B. content analysis C. the Hawthorne effect D. secondary analysis

C. the Hawthorne effect

In conducting an experiment on prison violence, researchers randomly placed cameras in certain cells. The results showed unusually low incidents of conflict between prisoners in areas where cameras were present. This change in the prisoners' behavior as a result of being observed is known as A. ethnography B. secondary analysis. C. the Hawthorne effect. D. participant observation.

C. the Hawthorne effect. presence of a social scientist or other observer may affect the behavior of the people being studied unintended influences that observers can have on their subjects

True or false: Accepting money from an agency that stands to benefit from the research findings is an example of a potential conflict of interest.

True Reason: If an agency gives money to researchers and will benefit if the researchers find evidence to support that agency, then the objectivity and integrity of the results of a study can be called into question because of a potential conflict of interest.

Researchers have an ethical obligation to accept and report research findings even when the data go against their own personal beliefs or biases.

True Researchers have an ethical obligation to accept and report research findings even when the data do not support their own opinions and/or widely accepted beliefs.

To be certain that they are not invading their subjects' privacy, sociologists assure subjects that their information will remain A. destroyed B. on the Internet C. confidential D. publicized

C. confidential

Subjects in an experiment who are not exposed to an independent variable are known as what type of group? A. experimental B. analytical C. control D. hypothetical

C. control

When researchers decide how to collect data, they use a(n) ______, a detailed plan for gathering data scientifically. A. operational definition B. random sample C. dependent variable D. research design

D. research design

What is term for a type of analysis that does NOT influence a person's behavior? A. hyperactive B. reactive C. retroactive D. nonreactive

D. nonreactive

The ethnographic approach that sociologists use when they join a group to enhance their study of the group is called ________ observation.

participant

By ______, researchers refine the problem under study, clarify possible techniques to be used in collecting data, and eliminate or reduce avoidable mistakes. A. reviewing the literature B. defining the problem C. formulating the hypothesis D. selecting the research design and then collecting and analyzing data E. developing the conclusion

A. reviewing the literature

Researchers who want to gather information about how people think would probably ______. A. perform an experiment B. engage in secondary analysis C. administer a survey D. conduct an observational study

C. administer a survey

Which of the following statements best characterizes an experiment? A. any method that is considered by the scientific community to be both unethical and unscientific (good experiment is ethical and scientific) B. a series of identical questions asked of a large number of participants (survey) C. an artificially created situation that allows researchers to manipulate variables D. the collection of information through direct participation or by closely watching a group or community (observation)

C. an artificially created situation that allows researchers to manipulate variables

Scientific studies do not aim to answer all the questions that can be raised about a particular subject. Therefore, the conclusion of a research study represents ______. A. all that can be known about the topic B. that the study was flawed and needs to be repeated C. both an end and a beginning D. a failure

C. both an end and a beginning

Correlation is a relationship in which a change in one variable ______ a change in the other variable. A. is independent of B. causes C. coincides with D. negates

C. coincides with

Which of the following statements is true about operational definitions? A. An operational definition serves as a useful explanation of an abstract concept. B. The goal of a research project is to falsify its operational definitions. C. A study cannot contain more than one operational definition. D. An operational definition must be vague so that its meaning can be adjusted as needed.

A. An operational definition serves as a useful explanation of an abstract concept. status: membership is exclusive clubs worth getting higher education: education and earnings

Observation is a form of qualitative research, but it can have some challenges for researchers. Which of the following are challenges in using observation as a research technique? (Choose every correct answer.) A. Researchers must remain detached to some degree from the subjects under study. B. Researchers do not need to gain acceptance from the group, just respect (Researchers must gain acceptance from the group to gain valuable data) C. Researchers must try their best to attach to members of the group. D. Researchers must be careful not to develop friendships to influence the subjects' behavior.

A. Researchers must remain detached to some degree from the subjects under study. D. Researchers must be careful not to develop friendships to influence the subjects' behavior.

What is the term for a measurable trait or characteristic that is subject to change under different conditions? A. a variable B. an operational definition C. a literature review D. a hypothesis

A. a variable

When researchers talk about a mean, they are referring to ______. A. an average that is calculated by adding a series of values, then dividing by the number of values B. the midpoint that divides a series of values into two groups of equal numbers of values (median) C. the portion of 100 (percentage) D. the single most occurring value in a series of values (mode)

A. an average that is calculated by adding a series of values, then dividing by the number of values

When conducting research, sociologists review literature in order to do which of the following? (Choose every correct answer.) A. analyze other relevant studies about the same problem they are researching to gain additional insights B. gain insights about other factors that might pertain to their study C. duplicate other sociologists' work and to write the results exactly as the other sociologists did without giving them credit D. look for mistakes that other researchers have made and report them to the appropriate agency

A. analyze other relevant studies about the same problem they are researching to gain additional insights B. gain insights about other factors that might pertain to their study

Which of the following approaches best represents a "veiled reporting" technique? A. asking respondents a sensitive question among other less sensitive ones B. shielding the identities of the researchers from the test subjects C. using an ethnically diverse control group D. selecting interview questions at random

A. asking respondents a sensitive question among other less sensitive ones

If researchers want to have an effective survey question, the survey question must ______. A. be easily understandable by the respondents B. lead the respondents to the answer that the researchers want to validate their hypothesis (Even though open-ended questions are phrased to solicit the type of information desired, they are not intended to affect the interpretation of data by the researchers) C. give respondents a reason to answer the question, such as a monetary incentive D. be as general as possible (The survey question must be specific so that the question is not misinterpreted)

A. be easily understandable by the respondents

Information found on the Internet is often incorrect. Which of the following approaches help ensure web-based research is valid? A. confirming Internet research results with established, reputable sources B. avoiding web pages with an obvious bias C. choosing websites from the top of search engine results D. using highly trafficked, professional-looking websites

A. confirming Internet research results with established, reputable sources B. avoiding web pages with an obvious bias

One type of summary sociologists use, ______, is a table that shows the relationship between two or more variables. A. cross-tabulation B. content analysis C. percentage D. hypothesis

A. cross-tabulation (shows relationship between two or more variables)

When sociologists conduct research and test hypotheses, they do not necessarily need to collect new data all the time. They can also make use of ______. A. data that were collected for use in another manner, such as census data. B. information from Wikipedia without having to verify it. C. gossip, innuendo, and "he said, she said." D. anything they want as long as it supports their hypothesis.

A. data that were collected for use in another manner, such as census data.

Subjects in an experiment who are exposed to an independent variable are known as what type of group? A. experimental B. control C. hypothetical D. analytical

A. experimental

Graphs and tables are used by sociologists to do which of the following? A. help develop conclusions B. make a study less scientific C. solicit data D. display data

A. help develop conclusions D. display data

The type of survey in which a researcher gets information by questioning a person directly, such as during a face-to-face meeting, is called a(n) ______. A. interview B. review C. questionnaire D. quiz

A. interview

Which of the following describe the scientific method? (Choose every correct answer.) A. it is systematic B. it leaves room for subjectivity C. it is base on personal opinion D. it is an organized, step-by-step- process

A. it is systematic D. it is an organized, step-by-step- process

In order for research to be both valid and reliable, it has to ______. A. measure what it says it is going to measure and produce consistent results B. measure things in general and give an overview of results C. contain clearly written questions and measurements that give variable results, thus producing independent and dependent variables D. have variables that influence other variables

A. measure what it says it is going to measure and produce consistent results

The use of historical evidence or legal studies by feminist researchers shows their willingness to use what kind of approach? A. multidisciplinary B. homogeneous C. gender-biased D. singular

A. multidisciplinary

When applying the scientific method to research a project, social science researchers have to develop a(n) ______ of each concept that is being studied. A. operational definition B. independent variable C. dependent variable D. casual logic

A. operational definition

______ research provides rich information from sources such as field observations and in-depth interviews. A. qualitative B. hypothetical C. anecdotal D. quantitative (produces large quantities of numerical data, whereas qualitative research provides deeper information from smaller numbers of sources)

A. qualitative

Which of the following statements about finding information for a research report are true? A. Use books instead of periodicals. B. Begin with the materials closest at hand, such as textbooks. C. Use academic journals and reference works but exclude government documents. D. Make use of your library's online catalog.

B. Begin with the materials closest at hand, such as textbooks. D. Make use of your library's online catalog.

What is the most important factor to consider when writing a survey question? A. It must be elegant and grammatically correct. B. It must be simple and clear. C. It must make the researchers' opinions obvious. D. It must be vague and ambiguous.

B. It must be simple and clear. questions must be understandable

Summarizing other people's ideas without giving them credit is called ______. A. citation (giving credit to the original authors) B. libel (making untrue claims about others) C. plagiarism D. slander

C. plagiarism

Which of the following is an example of a potential conflict of interest? A. Researchers who are studying addiction decide to expand their research to include their new interest, teen pregnancy. B. Researchers accept money from a company that will profit if they find evidence to support the company's business. C. Researchers refusing money from businesses who want favorable research to increase their business. D. Researchers who voted Republican in the last election want to study patterns of voting behavior (not a true conflict of interest because the researchers did not gain or lose anything regardless of the election results)

B. Researchers accept money from a company that will profit if they find evidence to support the company's business. The potential conflict of interest comes if researchers find evidence to the contrary. They might have to decide between giving up the money or falsifying their results. A conflict of interest refers to an ethical violation where researchers may benefit by falsifying research results

After completing your research, which of the following are useful tips for preparing a report for your class? A. Wait until the last possible moment to write the report. B. Take time to develop an outline. C. Make the report as broad as possible to cover many different topics (make your topic as specific as possible so that you can actually do a good job on that one topic. The more broad the report is the less informative it will be) D. Cite all your sources. E. Read the report aloud.

B. Take time to develop an outline. D. Cite all your sources. E. Read the report aloud (great way to notice errors)

It is important for students to understand the scientific method, even if they will never do sociological research, so they can ______. A. never read newspapers or watch TV news again B. differentiate between facts, errors, and fiction C. impress their friends with their knowledge D. perform experiments on their own children

B. differentiate between facts, errors, and fiction

What is the study of an entire social setting through extended systematic fieldwork? A. geology B. ethnography C. cartography D. biology

B. ethnography

Which of the following are statistical summary measures used by sociologists? A. questionnaires B. modes C. means D. medians E. interviews

B. modes C. means D. medians

Which of the following is the best term for describing a study in which 43 of 50 students surveyed preferred multiple-choice questions over an essay exam? A. independent B. quantitative C. anecdotal D. qualitative

B. quantitative

Max Weber defined value neutrality as ______. A. nonsociologists doing the research so that they are not biased by their sociological knowledge (never a good idea to have untrained people doing research) B. sociological researchers reporting research findings even if the findings run against their own feelings or common sense beliefs C. sociological researchers allowing their personal opinions to shape their interpretation of the data D. sociological researchers working according to biases they may bring to their research

B. sociological researchers reporting research findings even if the findings run against their own feelings or common sense beliefs

Why do sociologists use percentages, means, modes, and medians to conduct their research? A. to make reports shorter B. to identify patterns in long lists of numbers C. to make their studies more complicated D. to save time analyzing data

B. to identify patterns in long lists of numbers D. to save time analyzing data

When researchers' findings run against their own personal views or widely accepted beliefs, the researchers have an ethical obligation to accept their findings. This demonstrates their commitment to A. establish exceptions to a pattern. B. value neutrality. C. change their research methods to prove their hypothesis. D. hold their hypothesis up to a higher standard.

B. value neutrality.

Surveys can be administered in which of the following ways? A. secondary analysis B. web-based questionnaires C. personal interviews D. telephone interviews E. observation from a distance

B. web-based questionnaires C. personal interviews D. telephone interviews

Which of the following statements about developing the conclusion of a scientific study is true? A. Reaching a conclusion in a scientific study means future study is no longer viable or necessary. B. No part of a scientific study can be considered to reach a conclusion. C. The conclusion of a scientific study functions as both an end and a beginning. D. Sociologists study very focused subjects in order to be able to answer all questions about it.

C. The conclusion of a scientific study functions as both an end and a beginning.

When research reveals a correlation between two or more variables, this ______. A. indicates that there is a causation between two variables B. tells us that there is no need for further investigation C. indicates that causality may or may not be present D. means that the hypothesis is wrong and the study should end

C. indicates that causality may or may not be present

Which of the following is characteristic of a dependent variable? A. causes other variables to act or react (dependent variable is influenced by the independent variable) B. has little to do with the independent variable C. influenced by the independent variable D. predicts change (independent variable is associated with and/or causes change in the dependent variable)

C. influenced by the independent variable

The most frequently occurring number in a series of numbers is the ______. A. average B. mean C. mode D. percentage

C. mode

What is the ethnographic technique of closely watching a group or organization through direct participation? A. survey B. control group C. observation D. quantitative

C. observation

Causal logic is best defined as ______. A. the design of a research project B. a change in one variable coinciding with a change in the other variable(correlation) C. the relationship between a condition and a consequence, with one leading to the other D. a speculative statement about the relationship between two or more factors known as variables (hypothesis)

C. the relationship between a condition and a consequence, with one leading to the other

If a sample is representative, this means ______. A. the measurement that was used provided consistent results B. the researchers' hypothesis can be supported C. the sample reflects the test population D. nothing, because all data can be validated

C. the sample reflects the test population

Researchers who allow their personal feelings to affect the interpretation of data are not practicing ______. A. statistical analysis B. common sense C. value neutrality D. qualitative research

C. value neutrality

People have used photographs of the Civil War to analyze the society of that time. What is the name for this kind of study? A. linear geometry B. applied physics C. visual sociology D. macroeconomics E. organic chemistry

C. visual sociology

Why would monitoring callers to a radio talk show not be a good way to gather information about the general population's feelings on a specific issue? A. Radio programs alter people's opinions, which would make the callers' views inaccurate. B. It is unethical to listen to radio programs and to use the answers for research purposes. C. The people who call in are typical Americans. D. Entire categories of people do not listen to those programs, and only some listeners call in.

D. Entire categories of people do not listen to those programs, and only some listeners call in. It would be an unrepresentative sample, and the findings would be useless. We cannot leave entire categories of people from the population

A hypothesis is ______. A. a lie that needs to be exposed by researchers and is independent of the variables (the hypothesis is always about the relationship between variables) B. a truth that needs to be proven by researchers and is dependent on the variables C. a proven explanation for the relationship between known variables (A hypothesis is a guess about what researchers might find. Explanations for the relationship between known facts are called theories) D. a conjecture by the researcher about the connection between multiple fluctuating factors (the hypothesis is the educated guess by researchers and the research will either confirm (support) or disprove (deny) that hypothesis. Either way, we know something that we did not know before the research was done)

D. a conjecture by the researcher about the connection between multiple fluctuating factors

The median approximates the ______ between the highest and lowest values in a set of scores. A. average (the average (mean) is all the values added together and divided by the number of values) B. bottom (smallest number in a set of values) C. odd number D. midpoint (the median is the point between the highest and lowest value in a set of numbers)

D. midpoint

The single most common value in a series of values is known by what term? A. mass B. percentage C. average D. mode

D. mode

The type of survey in which a researcher gets information from the responses a person makes to questions on a printed form is called a(n) ______. A. interview B. review C. quiz D. questionnaire

D. questionnaire

In conducting an experiment on prison violence, researchers randomly placed cameras in certain cells. The results showed unusually low incidents of conflict between prisoners in areas where cameras were present. This change in the prisoners' behavior as a result of being observed is known as A. ethnography. B. secondary analysis. C. participant observation. D. the Hawthorne effect.

D. the Hawthorne effect.

Experiments are useful because ______. A. they cause increased productivity within the control group and the experimental group (Increased productivity is neither a goal of an experiment or a common outcome of most experiments. It just happened to be a side effect of the Hawthorne studies) B. they tend to attract significant external funding C. sociologists know exactly what the outcomes will be D. they allow researchers to manipulate variables

D. they allow researchers to manipulate variables