Question 1

A social science research team presented arguments explaining which factors it regards as relevant and exactly why each of the factors is potentially relevant to the hypothesis being investigated. This explanation represents which step in the scientific investigation?
A) Design a procedure to ensure that the data gathered will reveal the full range of possible observations.
B) Conduct the study or the experiment and gather the data.
C) Critique the findings.
D) Identify all the factors related to the hypothesis and the phenomenon of interest that it will be important to measure, control, or monitor.

Accepted Answer

Identifying all the relevant factors related to the hypothesis and phenomenon of interest is a crucial step in the scientific investigation. It helps ensure that the study will gather all necessary data to test the hypothesis thoroughly.

Question 2

A social science research team presented an explanation of the design of its study. The team plans to divide participants into two groups, one will be the experimental group and the other the control group. The team demonstrates, using a power analysis as explained in the chapter on Empirical Reasoning, that it has enough subjects to permit the proper statistical analyses to be run. This explanation represents which step in the scientific investigation?
A) Design a procedure to ensure that the data gathered will reveal the full range of possible observations.
B) Conduct the study or the experiment and gather the data.
C) Critique the findings.
D) Identify all the factors related to the hypothesis and the phenomenon of interest that it will be important to measure, control, or monitor.

Accepted Answer

The explanation provided by the research team about dividing participants into experimental and control groups, and ensuring they have enough subjects for statistical analysis, pertains to designing a procedure that will allow for comprehensive data collection. This is crucial for revealing the full range of possible observations related to their study.

Question 3

Which factor are social scientists focusing on when they record, ask about, or analyze demographic data, such as age, place of birth, education, and income?
A) Participants
B) Situation
C) Actions
D) Motivation

Accepted Answer

Demographic data like age, place of birth, education, and income are related to the characteristics of participants in a study, not their situation, actions, or motivations.

Question 4

What name do we give to the systematic empirical inquiry into the patterns, structures, and functions of human behavior, individually or in groups, within society?
A) Philosophy
B) Communication
C) Management Information Systems
D) Natural Science
E) Social Science

Accepted Answer

The field described involves the study of human behavior in a social context, which falls under the umbrella of social science. Philosophy focuses on theoretical concepts and principles, while communication studies specific aspects of human communication. Management Information Systems is a field focused on technology and business processes. Natural science typically refers to the study of the natural world and its physical processes, which is not relevant to the field described.

Question 5

In the social sciences, the threshold for statistical significance is generally that the chances of the observed finding having happened by random chance are ________________.
A) zero
B) 1 in 1,0000
C) 1 in 1,000
D) 1 in 20
E) 1 in 5

Accepted Answer

In the social sciences, the threshold for statistical significance is commonly set at a p-value of 0.05, which means that the chances of the observed finding having happened by random chance are 1 in 20.

Question 6

Social science research is best described as the scientific study of ______________.
A) all natural phenomena and their causes
B) ideals and principles that guide human behavior
C) semantic structure of language that supports valid inference
D) divinely inspired spiritual teachings and moral guidance of sages
E) human society and interpersonal relationships

Accepted Answer

Social science research is concerned with the study of human society and the relationships between individuals, groups, and institutions. It involves the use of empirical methods to gather data and test hypotheses about various aspects of human behavior and social organization. This includes the study of topics such as politics, economics, sociology, psychology, anthropology, and communication. Social science research aims to understand and explain the patterns and processes of social life, often with the goal of influencing social policy and improving human well-being.

Question 7

A social scientist asks, "What are the costs, benefits, risks, and opportunities of closing the homeless shelter in this community?" Which critical thinking skill does this question manifest, and what aspect of the phenomena under investigation does this question consider?
A) Interpretation - Participants
B) Analysis - Actions
C) Evaluation - Situation
D) Explanation - Motivation

Accepted Answer

The question is asking for an evaluation of the situation, specifically looking at the costs, benefits, risks, and opportunities of closing the homeless shelter. This demonstrates the critical thinking skill of evaluation, which involves assessing the evidence and making judgments about the quality, relevance, and credibility of information. The question is not focused on interpreting the behavior of individual participants, analyzing specific actions, or explaining the motivations behind the phenomena being studied.

Question 8

Social science is self-corrective and open to independent replication and evaluation. Nevertheless, the critical thinking skill of self-regulation cannot help self-monitor and self-correct for which of the following?
A) Biased thinking, erroneous snap judgments, and misapplication of cognitive heuristics.
B) Initially interpreting an observed phenomenon or test result with an insufficient attention to detail.
C) False positives (finding what is not there) and false negatives (not finding what is there) in the results.
D) Failure to take into account all of the factors which influence the phenomenon under investigation.
E) Social media reactions by people who may be offended, upset, or angry with the findings.

Accepted Answer

Social media reactions by people who may be offended, upset, or angry with the findings are not something that can be self-regulated by the researcher or scientist. While they can anticipate potential backlash and attempt to mitigate it, they ultimately cannot control the reactions of others.

Question 9

A social scientist asks, "What additional information about the security personnel and their objectives do we need to know?" Which critical thinking skill does this question manifest, and what aspect of the phenomena under investigation does this question consider?
A) Inference - Participants
B) Analysis - Actions
C) Evaluation - Situation
D) Self-Regulation - Motivation

Accepted Answer

The answer of A social scientist asks, "What additional information...

Question 10

Which factor are social scientists focusing on when they record, ask about, or analyze the physical, social, and cultural circumstances or surroundings that define the phenomena being investigated?
A) Participants
B) Situation
C) Actions
D) Motivation

Accepted Answer

Social scientists focus on the situation, which includes the physical, social, and cultural circumstances or surroundings that define the phenomena being investigated. This context is important in understanding and analyzing human behavior and social phenomena.

Question 11

Social science inquiry is characterized by which kind of reasoning?
A) Heuristic
B) Comparative
C) Empirical
D) Valid
E) Ideological

Accepted Answer

Social science inquiry relies on empirical reasoning, which involves collecting and analyzing data to develop hypotheses or draw conclusions. Heuristic reasoning is a method of problem-solving that involves trial-and-error, while comparative reasoning involves examining similarities and differences between different cases. Valid reasoning refers to arguments that are logically sound, but not necessarily rooted in empirical evidence. Ideological reasoning involves applying a particular set of beliefs or values to a situation, which can be subjective and unscientific. Therefore, the best choice for social science inquiry is empirical reasoning.

Question 12

A social scientist asks, "In the minds of the students, does getting a good grade justify cheating?" Which critical thinking skill does this question manifest, and what aspect of the phenomena under investigation does this question consider?
A) Interpretation - Participants
B) Self-Regulation - Actions
C) Analysis - Situation
D) Explanation - Motivation

Accepted Answer

The question is focused on understanding the motivation behind cheating behavior, which relates to the Explanation critical thinking skill. The question is not concerned with the interpretation of data, self-regulation of behavior, or the analysis of situational factors.

Question 13

If the arguments presented are sound, then the conclusions reached by social scientists using narrative analyses or using statistical analyses can be evaluated as ________________.
A) tautological
B) valid
C) warranted
D) questionable
E) absurd

Accepted Answer

If the arguments presented are sound, the conclusions reached by social scientists using narrative analyses or using statistical analyses can be considered warranted, meaning they are justified and supported by evidence.

Question 14

A social science research team identifies and describes the limitations of the completed study. Identify and describe any limitations of the completed study. The team goes on to describe how these might be handled in a future study and why the additional research would be valuable in its own right. This represents which step in the scientific investigation?
A) Design a procedure to ensure that the data gathered will reveal the full range of possible observations.
B) Conduct the study or the experiment and gather the data.
C) Critique the findings.
D) Identify all the factors related to the hypothesis and the phenomenon of interest that it will be important to measure, control, or monitor.

Accepted Answer

The step described in the question is critiquing the findings and identifying limitations of the completed study. This is typically done after the data has been gathered and analyzed, which eliminates choices A, B, and D as possible answers.

Question 15

Which of the following is a social science question?
A) Should our state decriminalize casino gambling and off-track betting?
B) Ought parents to permit their teenage children to gamble online?
C) Is it morally acceptable for a low-income family to buy lottery tickets instead of milk for the children?
D) What motivates people to engage in these different forms of gambling: lottery, casino, and online?
E) If lottery revenues are intended to enhance education funding, is it legal to reallocate these funds for highway and bridge improvements?

Accepted Answer

This question asks about the motivations behind gambling, which is a social science inquiry. A, B, and C are ethical or policy questions, and E is a legal question.

Question 16

With ever more powerful explanatory theories, social scientists are seeking explanations that fulfill the standards that all scientific theories strive to meet. Specifically large explanatory social science theories strive to be: Consistent, Testable, Comprehensive, Parsimonious, and ________________.
A) Affordable
B) Balanced
C) Heuristic
D) Productive
E) Idealistic

Accepted Answer

The answer of With ever more powerful explanatory theories, social...

Question 17

Which factor are social scientists focusing on when they record, ask about, or analyze the behavior people display in the situation under investigation?
A) Participants
B) Situation
C) Actions
D) Motivation

Accepted Answer

Social scientists focus on the behavior people display, which refers to the actions individuals take in a situation.

Question 18

Good investigators always start with a _______________. They use their critical thinking skills to decide what kinds of evidence in a fair-minded, systematic, and accurate way.
A) budget
B) data gathering techniques
C) question
D) statistical test
E) research method

Accepted Answer

Good investigators always start with a question to guide their investigation and hypothesis. They use their critical thinking skills to decide what kinds of evidence in a fair-minded, systematic, and accurate way. A budget, data gathering techniques, statistical tests, and research methods are all important in the investigation process but would come after the question has been determined.

Question 19

Social scientists are critical thinkers engaged in social science inquiry generating ________________ that, in turn, can be applied to real-world problems and can support professionals in many fields.
A) new knowledge
B) historical records
C) spiritual insights
D) budget deficits
E) comparative arguments

Accepted Answer

Social scientists generate new knowledge through their research and analysis, which can be applied to practical problems and inform professionals in various industries. Historical records and spiritual insights may be used by some social scientists, but they are not the primary focus of social science inquiry. Budget deficits and comparative arguments are not directly related to the work of social scientists.

Question 20

Which factor are social scientists focusing on when they record, ask about, or analyze the desires, goals, or intentions that impelled people to behave as they did?
A) Participants
B) Situation
C) Actions
D) Motivation

Accepted Answer

Social scientists focus on motivation when they record, ask about, or analyze the desires, goals, or intentions that impelled people to behave as they did. Motivation is a crucial factor in understanding human behavior, as it can influence both the actions individuals take and the outcomes they achieve.

Quiz 18: Critical Thinking in the Social Sciences

A social science research team presented arguments explaining which factors it regards as relevant and exactly why each of the factors is potentially relevant to the hypothesis being investigated. This explanation represents which step in the scientific investigation?

Which factor are social scientists focusing on when they record, ask about, or analyze demographic data, such as age, place of birth, education, and income?

What name do we give to the systematic empirical inquiry into the patterns, structures, and functions of human behavior, individually or in groups, within society?

In the social sciences, the threshold for statistical significance is generally that the chances of the observed finding having happened by random chance are ________________.

Social science research is best described as the scientific study of ______________.

A social scientist asks, "What are the costs, benefits, risks, and opportunities of closing the homeless shelter in this community?" Which critical thinking skill does this question manifest, and what aspect of the phenomena under investigation does this question consider?

Social science is self-corrective and open to independent replication and evaluation. Nevertheless, the critical thinking skill of self-regulation cannot help self-monitor and self-correct for which of the following?

A social scientist asks, "What additional information about the security personnel and their objectives do we need to know?" Which critical thinking skill does this question manifest, and what aspect of the phenomena under investigation does this question consider?

Which factor are social scientists focusing on when they record, ask about, or analyze the physical, social, and cultural circumstances or surroundings that define the phenomena being investigated?

Social science inquiry is characterized by which kind of reasoning?

A social scientist asks, "In the minds of the students, does getting a good grade justify cheating?" Which critical thinking skill does this question manifest, and what aspect of the phenomena under investigation does this question consider?

If the arguments presented are sound, then the conclusions reached by social scientists using narrative analyses or using statistical analyses can be evaluated as ________________.

Which of the following is a social science question?

Which factor are social scientists focusing on when they record, ask about, or analyze the behavior people display in the situation under investigation?

Good investigators always start with a _______________. They use their critical thinking skills to decide what kinds of evidence in a fair-minded, systematic, and accurate way.

Social scientists are critical thinkers engaged in social science inquiry generating ________________ that, in turn, can be applied to real-world problems and can support professionals in many fields.

Which factor are social scientists focusing on when they record, ask about, or analyze the desires, goals, or intentions that impelled people to behave as they did?