Chapter 2: Sociological Research

Which of the following statements about finding information for a research report are true?

1) Begin with the materials closest at hand, such as textbooks. 2) Make use of your library's online catalog.

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 and analyze data. 5) Report the results

Technology's impact on sociological research

1) Has allowed researchers to handle larger amounts of data. 2) Locate useful information via the internet

Graphs and tables are used by sociologists to?

1) Help develop conclusions 2) Display data

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

1) It allows sociological researchers to evaluate the findings of others and assess their credibility. (WHY): This ensures maximum objectivity and consistency in researching a problem. 2) It offers a methodology through which researchers can obtain useful data. (WHY): Without such precise preparation, research data might be inaccurate.

Which of the following describes the scientific method?

1) It is designed to search for cause and effect between variables. 2) It is an organized, step-by-step process. 3) It is systematic

Sociologists use statistics to improve their understanding of social behavior in which of the following ways?

1) To identify a pattern or central tendency 2) To analyze how attitudes have changed 3) To provide support for legistaion

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

1) To identify patterns in long lists of numbers 2) To save time analyzing data

When the students in a class took a quiz, they got the following scores: 10,10,9,9,98,7,6,6,6,6,4. The mode is?

6

An educated guess that a researcher makes about the relationship between two or more variable is called?

A hypothesis

What is the term for the American Sociological Association's specific standards in conducting research?

Code of ethics

What is a term for the systematic coding and objective recording of data that is guided by some rationale?

Content analysis

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?

Entire categories of people do not listen to those programs, and only some listeners call in. (WHY): It would be an unrepresentative sample, and the findings would be useless.

Subjects in an experiment who are exposed to an independent variable are known as what type of group?

Experimental

True or false: Because sociologists are ethically obligated to protect the 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 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)

Interview

Define Hypothesis

Is a speculative statement about the relationship between two or more factors known as variables.

Experiments are useful because?

They allow researchers to manipulate variables

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

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

Validity

What's the term for the degree to which a measure or scale truly reflects the phenomenon under study?

Validity

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?

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?

Visual sociology

Examples of variables

income, Religion, Occupation, and Gender

In general, feminist researchers tend to do which of the following more than other researchers?

1) Make use of legal studies 2) Raise public consciousness 3) Influence policy

Which of the following statements are part of the American Sociological Association's Code of Ethics?

1) Preserve confidentiality (WHY): Most sociological research would be difficult or impossible to accomplish if subjects were not assured of confidentiality. For this reason preserving confidentiality is considered important by all sociologists. 2) Acknowledge research collaboration and assistance. (WHY): Acknowledging collaboration and assistance is a basic principle of ethics in all sciences, including sociology. 3) Maintain objectivity and integrity in research. (WHY): Objectivity (avoiding bias) and integrity (honesty) are cornerstones of scientific research.

After completing your research, which of the following are useful tips for preparing a report for your class?

1) Read the report aloud (WHY): Reading the report out loud is a great way to notice any writing errors. 2) Cite information from all sources. (WHY): If you do not cite all your sources you are guilty of plagiarism (taking credit for others' ideas). 3) Take time to develop an outline. (WHY): Taking the time to develop an outline will lead to a paper that is better organized and easier to read and grade.

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 a research technique?

1) Researchers must remain detached to some degree from the subjects under study. (WHY): Researchers must be careful that personal involvement with the subjects does not influence the conclusions of the study. 2) Researchers must be careful not to develop friendships to influence the subjects' behavior.

Which of the following statements in agreement with Max Weber's ideal of value neutrality?

1) Sociologists need to be free to report data showing the benefits of government policy. 2) Sociologists need to be free to report data that might embarrass the government. 3)Sociology should not be overly influenced by any part of society.

Which of the following are research designs that sociologists regularly use?

1) Surveys 2) Experiments 3) Ethnography

Surveys can be administered in which of the following ways?

1) Telephone interviews 2) Personal interviews 3) Web-based questionnaires

When conducting research, sociologists always review literature

1) To gain insights about other factors that might pertain to their study. 2) To analyze other relevant studies about the same problem they are researching to gain additional insights.

When researchers talk about a mean, they are referring to?

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

What is the term for the midpoint or number that divides a series of values into two groups of equal numbers of values?

Median

When the data collected does NOT support the hypothesis,

The researchers must accept the results and report them in their conclusions. (WHY): Researchers must always report the results, even when the results are not at all what they expected to find.

An independent variable

Causes the change to another variable.

In causal logic the independent variable influences the dependent variable. match the independent variable int he left column to the dependent variable in the right column.

1) X=Y (WHY): X is used to indicate the independent variable; Y is used for the dependent variable. 2) Availability of affordable housing=Level of homelessness (WHY): The availability of affordable housing affects the level of homelessness; however, the level of homelessness does not affect the availability of affordable housing. 3) Parents' church attendance=Children's church attendance (WHY): Parents' church attendance affects children's church attendance; however, children's attendance does not affect parents' attendance. 4) Occupation=Income level (WHY): Occupation affects the income level; however, the income level does not affect one's occupation.

Percentage is the term for a measure that shows

A portion of 100

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

A random sample of the population (WHY): This method is the only way to find out what everyone might be thinking.

A control variable is a factor that is held constant in order to test the relative impact of?

An independent variable

Which of the following statements is true about operational definitions?

An operational definition serves as a useful explanation of an abstract concept.

When people use sociology for practical applications to help people and organizations, they are practicing what discipline?

Applied sociology

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 a beginning

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

It must be simple and clear.

If you add a series of values and then divide that number by the number of values, what kind of measurement do you find?

Mean

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

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

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

Method

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

Midpoint (WHY): The median is the point between the highest and lowest value in a set of numbers.

The use of historical evidence or legal studies shows the willingness of feminist researchers to use what kind of approach?

Multidisciplinary

The approach used by sociologists who join a group to enhance their study of it is called _______ observation.

Participant

_______ research provides rich information from sources such as field observations and in-depth interviews.

Qualitative

Define Validity

Refers to the degree to which a measure or scale truly reflects the phenomenon under study. (Further Explanation): If a question is written unclearly, however, the resulting data might not be accurate.

Example of Validity

Respondents to an unclear question about income might report their parents' or spouse's income instead of their own.

The _______ refers to the way sociologists go about researching a problem in the most objective, consistent way possible.

Scientific method

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

Secondary

Max Weber defined value neutrality as?

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

The major source of funding for sociologists research in the United States is?

The Federal Government

If the presence of researchers affects the behavior of the subjects being studied, this is known as?

The Hawthorne effect

Define Variable/Variables

as a measurable trait or characteristics that is subject to change under different conditions.

Correlation is a relationship in which a change in one variable _______ a change in the other variable.

coincides with