Chapter 2 Questions

Graphs and tables allow sociologists to

use pictures to represent data for ease of understanding display data

What are some of the ways to cite references in a report?

using footnotes inserting references into the text

Why would monitoring callers to a radio talk show not be a good way to gather information about the general population's feeling on a specific issue

...

Researchers who want to gather comparable data from a large number of people would probably

Administer a survey

The research design chosen by researchers guides the way they will _____ their data.

Collect and analyze

When data collected does not support the hypothesis,

The researchers must accept the results and reports them in their conclusions

If a sample is representative, this means

The sample reflects the test population

Researchers are not practicing _____ when they allow their personal feelings to affect the interpretation of data.

value neutrality

List the scientific method

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

the following scores on a 10-point quiz are 10, 10, 9, 9, 9, 8, 7, 6, 6, 6, 6, 4. the mode is

6

An hypothesis is

A conjecture by the researcher about the connection between multiple fluctuating factors

If sociological researchers want to collect data on the American population's opinion on all political issue related to guns, which method will yield the most accurate results?

A random sample of the population

Correlation is a relationship in which a change in one variable ______ a change in other variable.

Coincides with

If researchers want to have an effective survey question, the survey question must

Be easily understandable by the respondents

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

Both an end and beginning

Which states have a high educational level and a high educational household income?

Califonia, Minnesota, Virginia

It is important for students to understand the scientific method, even if they will never do sociological research, so they can

Differentiate between facts, errors, and fiction.

Of the four theoretical approaches to sociology, with methodology has had the greatest impact on the current generation of social researchers?

Feminist Perspective

In order for research to both valid and reliable, it has to

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

If you are involved in a research project and you are not exposed to the independent variable, you are

In the control group

When researchers want to study possible cause-and-effect relationship, they may conduct experiments.

Independent variable - hypothesized to cause or influence another variable Vaiable - measureable trait Dependent variable - influenced by another variable

When research reveals a correlation between two or more variables, this

Indicates that causality may or may not be present

Which of the following is characteristic of a dependent variable?

Influenced by the independent variable

The scientific method is important to research for which of the following reasons?

It allows sociological researchers to evaluate the findings of others and assess their credibility. It offers a methodology through which researchers can obtain useful data. .

Which of the following pertain to an operational definition?

It is a specific explanation about a concept It explains an abstract concept

Which of the following describes the scientific method?

It is designed to search for cause and effect between variables It is systematic It is an organized, step - by- step process

What is the most important factor to consider when writing a survey question?

It must be simple and clear

The median approximates the ___ between the highest and lowest values in a set of scores.

Midpoint

When applying the scientific method to research a project, social science researchers have to develop a(n) ______ of each concept that is being studied.

Operational definition

______ research provides rich information from sources such as field observation and in-depth interviews

Qualitative

Which of the following is an example of potential conflict of interest?

Researchers accept money from a company that will profit if they find evidence to support the company's business.

Observation is the most common form of qualitative research, but it can have some challenges for researchers. Which of the following are challenges in using observation as research techniques?

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

When researchers are present and behavior of the subjects is affected, this phenomenon is known as

The Hawthorne Effect

Casual logic is best defined as

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

Researchers choose observation as their method to collect information when

They want to examine behaviors that cannot be investigated through any other means.

When conducting research, sociologists always review literature

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

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

True

If researchers produce accurate data that is right on target, they are demonstrating

Validity

x availability of affording housing parents' church attendance occupation

Y level of homelessness children's church attendance income level

Percentage is the term for a measure that shows

a portion out of 100

statements are part of the American sociological Association's Code of Ethics?

acknowledge research collaboration and assistance preserve confidentiality maintain objectivity and integrity in research disclose all sources of researcher funding

When researchers talk about mean, they referring to

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

an educated guess about the relationship researchers might find between two or more variables is

an hypothesis

To be certain that htey are not invading their subject's privacy, sociologists assure subjects of anonymity and promise to keep personal information _____.

confidential

One type of summary sociologist use, _____, is a table that shows the relationship between two or more variables.

cross-tabulation

When sociologists conduct research and test hypothesis, they do not necessarily need to conduct new data all the time. They can make use of

data that was collected for use in another manner, such a census data

The more broadly you search a topic, the better results you will get for your subject

false

Technology's impact on sociological research

has allowed researchers to handle larger amount of data locates useful information via the internet

Which of the following are statistical summary measures used by sociologists?

means, modes, medians

If the number of drinks consumed by a small group is 4, 4, 6, 7, and 8, the number 6 would be the _____ for that group.

median

Surveys can be administered in which of the following ways?

personal interviews telephone interviews web-based questionnaires mailed questionaires

Summarizing other people's ideas without giving them credit is called______.

plageiarism

Researchers rely on computers to deal with quantitative data, but electronic technology is also assisting them with_____ data.

qualitative

If every member of an entire population that is being studied has the same chance of being selected to participate in the study, this is called a

random sample

When researchers decide how to collect data they use a _____ ______, a detailed plan for gathering data scientifically

research design

Researchers do ______ _______ when they use previously collected information and data in their research.

secondary analysis

When sociologists conduct research and test hypothesis, they do not originally intended, this is called

secondary analysis

When sociologists use previously gathered data in a way that is not originally intended, this is called

secondary analysis

It is important to maintain value neutrality in sociological research

so sociologists will report findings even when those findings go against their own personal views.

Max Weber defined value neutrality as

sociological researchers reporting research finding even if the findings run against their own feelings or common sense beliefs sociological researcher working to overcome any biases they may bring to their research.

After completing your research, which of the following are useful tips given by the textbook in writing a report for your class?

take time to develop an outline read the report aloud cite information from all sources

If researchers measure something and determine that it is valid, this means

the measure or scale truly reflects the objects under study

Experiments are useful because

they allow researchers to manipulate

sociologists use statics to better understand social behavior in which of the following ways?

to identify a pattern or central tendency to provide support for legislation to analyze how attitudes have changed

Why do sociologist use percentages, means, modes, and medians to conduct their research?

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