Question 1

Charles is a sociologist studying a population of gay fathers in the United States.He interviews 200 men in his data collection.These 200 men constitute what researchers call a:
A) census.
B) selection bias.
C) sample.
D) participant observation.

Accepted Answer

The 200 men interviewed by Charles constitute a sample, which is a subset of the larger population of gay fathers in the United States. A census would involve collecting data from every member of the population, which is often impractical or impossible. Selection bias refers to a bias that arises when the selection of individuals into a study or sample is not random and does not represent the entire population. Participant observation involves observing and participating in the daily activities of a group or population, which is not described in this scenario.

Question 2

Ethnographer Mitchell Duneier spent five years hanging out with booksellers on the streets of Manhattan.His role as both researcher and participant provides a great example of the importance of:
A) maintaining firm boundaries between the role of researcher and the role of participant.
B) staying true to the ethical principles of the scientific method in our research.
C) critically assessing how our role as researchers may affect the people we study.
D) maintaining distance from those we study so that our results are not contaminated.

Accepted Answer

Duneier's work demonstrates the importance of critically assessing how our role as researchers may affect the people we study. By immersing himself in the world of the booksellers and becoming a participant as well as a researcher, he was better able to understand their experiences and perspectives. However, he also had to be mindful of how his presence and actions may have affected their behavior and attitudes, and take steps to mitigate any negative effects. This highlights the need for reflexivity and ethical considerations in research. A, B, and D are not as relevant to this particular example.

Question 3

A qualitative researcher who assumes everything he observes would have happened exactly the same way if he wasn't there observing lacks:
A) generalizability.
B) reflexivity.
C) validity.
D) sympathy.

Accepted Answer

Reflexivity is the awareness of the researcher's influence on the research process and outcomes. Assuming everything would happen the same way without the researcher's presence indicates a lack of reflexivity.

Question 4

Which of the following might be an advantage of participant observation research?
A) The researcher has considerable control over the conditions of the research.
B) The researcher can uncover what people do rather than simply what they say they do.
C) The research itself is often limited in scope-which is important to sociological research.
D) It is a useful method for studying large and diverse populations.

Accepted Answer

Participant observation research allows the researcher to observe the behavior of people in their natural setting, enabling them to uncover what people do instead of relying solely on self-report data, which may not be entirely accurate. This is an advantage of this method over other forms of research, such as surveys or experiments.

Question 5

The subset of a population from which a researcher collects data is known as a:
A) census.
B) selection bias.
C) sample.
D) survey.

Accepted Answer

A sample is a subset of a population that is selected for research purposes. A census attempts to collect data from the entire population, which can be time-consuming and expensive. Selection bias refers to a bias that occurs when the selection of participants into a study does not reflect the true characteristics of the target population. A survey is a method of collecting data, but it does not necessarily refer to the subset of the population that is being studied.

Question 6

Although qualitative studies are rich in detail and offer an in-depth look at a particular population and/or phenomenon,due to their limited scope they sometimes suffer from low:
A) validity.
B) generalizability.
C) representativeness.
D) reliability.

Accepted Answer

Qualitative studies are not designed to be generalizable to larger populations or settings, as the focus is on gaining a deep understanding of a specific group or situation. Therefore, the low generalizability is an inherent limitation of qualitative research. Validity, representativeness, and reliability can also be concerns with qualitative research, but they are not necessarily lower than in quantitative research and may be addressed through different strategies.

Question 7

Cole was involved in a research study to find out if a particular medicine was safe and could help prevent meningococcal disease in healthy teenagers.Some of the study participants received a shot with no medicine in it (a placebo),while other participants received a shot containing the medicine.Neither the doctor nor Cole would know what shots were being administered or whether Cole was in the experimental or control group.This type of study is known as a(n):
A) experimental study.
B) double-blind study.
C) placebo study.
D) case study.

Accepted Answer

A double-blind study is one in which neither the participants nor the researchers know who is receiving the treatment or the placebo, which helps to eliminate bias.

Question 8

What does reflexivity mean with regard to social research?
A) when researchers think carefully about how to avoid research
B) solely when researchers maintain flexibility and willingness to change the course/direction of their study
C) when researchers are aware of their role in, and their potential effect on, the behavior of the people they study
D) the effects that researchers themselves have on the research subjects

Accepted Answer

Reflexivity in social research refers to the researcher's awareness of their role in, and potential effect on, the behavior of the people they are studying. It involves acknowledging their own biases, assumptions, and values that may shape their research process and findings. It helps the researcher to critically examine their own positionality and perspective and make necessary adjustments to ensure the validity and credibility of their research. Option A is incorrect as reflexivity is not about avoiding research, but self-awareness. Option B is incorrect as flexibility and willingness to change are important aspects of research, but not the only definition of reflexivity. Option D is partially correct but does not capture the full meaning of reflexivity.

Question 9

Sandra Harding's (1987)three elements of feminist research include all of the following EXCEPT:
A) treating women's experiences as legitimate in the field of sociology, which has always been male dominated.
B) engaging in social science that may lead to policy changes.
C) prioritizing women's and girls' experiences over men's and boys' experiences.
D) taking into account the researcher as much as the overt subject matter being studied.

Accepted Answer

The three elements of feminist research according to Harding are treating women's experiences as legitimate, engaging in social science that may lead to policy changes, and taking into account the researcher as much as the overt subject matter being studied. Prioritizing women's experiences over men's experiences is not one of the elements listed by Harding.

Question 10

All of the following are strengths of the case study method EXCEPT that it is:
A) useful for obtaining very detailed information.
B) a useful starting point for exploring new topics.
C) useful for creating large-scale generalizations.
D) useful for understanding causal mechanisms indicated in large-scale surveys.

Accepted Answer

Case studies are typically focused on a single individual or small group, which limits its ability to make large-scale generalizations. However, it is useful for obtaining detailed information, exploring new topics, and understanding causal mechanisms.

Question 11

Positivist sociologists tend to use which of the following types of measures?
A) quantitative
B) qualitative
C) spurious
D) invalid

Accepted Answer

Positivist sociologists tend to use quantitative measures, since they focus on objective, measurable data that can be statistically analyzed. Qualitative measures, on the other hand, are more subjective and focused on individual experiences and interpretations, which are less compatible with a positivist approach. Spurious measures refer to variables that appear to be related but are not causally linked, and invalid measures refer to measures that do not actually measure what they claim to measure, neither of which would be preferred by positivist sociologists.

Question 12

Which of the following is true regarding value judgments made by sociologists
Conducting research?
A) It is possible for a sociologist to remain value free.
B) It is not important for a sociologist to remain value free.
C) Value judgments and subjectivity lead to better research.
D) Every sociologist makes some value judgments, even about the problems and topics he or she chooses to study.

Accepted Answer

Every sociologist makes some value judgments, even about the problems and topics he or she chooses to study. While it is important for sociologists to strive for objectivity, it is impossible to completely remove all values and biases. Therefore, it is crucial for sociologists to be aware of their own values and how they may impact their research.

Question 13

Because they are an accessible population,sociologists sometimes use undergraduate students in their research.In relation to the concept of generalizability in science,this tendency could represent a potential defect in research because:
A) college undergraduates do not have the right to refuse without suffering negative consequences.
B) the experiences of college undergraduates do not provide a legitimate empirical resource.
C) college undergraduates are not a subset of the general population.
D) college undergraduates are not typical of the public at large.

Accepted Answer

College undergraduates are not typical of the public at large, which could limit the ability to generalize findings to the broader population. While college undergraduates may be an accessible population for research, they are not necessarily representative of the larger population.

Question 14

A double-blind study means that:
A) neither the subjects nor the researchers know who is in the experimental group or the control group.
B) neither the subjects nor the researchers know the "real" reason they are involved in a study.
C) neither the subjects nor the researchers are aware that a study is taking place.
D) the subjects are blind as to whether they are getting the actual treatment under consideration or a simulated treatment.

Accepted Answer

In a double-blind study, both the subjects and the researchers are unaware of who is receiving the experimental treatment and who is in the control group. This is done to eliminate bias and increase the validity of the study's results. Option B is not accurate because the researchers should know the reason for the study, and option C is not practical as subjects cannot participate in a study without being aware of it. Option D refers to a single-blind study where subjects do not know if they are receiving the real or a simulated treatment.

Question 15

Interpretive sociologists examine meanings attached to behaviors.This most commonly leads them to use which of the following measures?
A) quantitative
B) qualitative
C) spurious
D) invalid

Accepted Answer

Interpretive sociologists focus on the meanings and interpretations of behaviors, which are often best captured through qualitative measures such as interviews, observations, and open-ended surveys. Quantitative measures would not necessarily capture the full range of meanings attached to behaviors, and the terms spurious and invalid do not apply to measures themselves, but rather to relationships between variables.

Question 16

A(n)____________ is an in-depth look at a specific phenomenon or situation in a particular social setting and is common in qualitative research.
A) experiment
B) case study
C) survey
D) participant observation

Accepted Answer

A case study is a research method that involves an in-depth analysis of a particular phenomenon or situation within a specific social setting. It is a common qualitative research method used to investigate complex social issues in their natural context. In contrast, an experiment involves manipulating one or more variables to test a hypothesis, a survey involves collecting data from a large number of respondents using a standardized questionnaire, and participant observation involves observing and participating in social situations to better understand the social phenomena being studied.

Question 17

What is the meaning of the term white coat effects in social research?
A) the structuring of a research project to maintain total anonymity
B) the impact researchers have on the people/relationships they study
C) the change in a subject's behavior when researchers wear white coats
D) when researchers "put on the charm" to get compliance from their subjects

Accepted Answer

White coat effects refer to the influence that researchers may have on the participants or the dynamics of the relationships they are studying, often due to their presence or perceived authority.

Question 18

If Juanita practices ____________ in her research,she carefully considers how her role as researcher may affect those whom she studies (the researched).
A) reflexivity
B) selective attention
C) empathy
D) common sense

Accepted Answer

Reflexivity is the practice of reflecting on how one's own biases, assumptions, and positionality influence research. In this scenario, Juanita is considering how her role as researcher may affect those she studies, which is an example of reflexivity. Selective attention refers to the tendency to attend to certain aspects of a situation while ignoring others, empathy refers to the ability to understand and share the feelings of others, and common sense refers to practical intelligence gained from experience and observation.

Question 19

Sandra is doing research on cheating among students at Duke University.The student body at Duke will serve as her:
A) sample.
B) population.
C) random sample.
D) fieldwork.

Accepted Answer

The student body at Duke University represents the entire group of interest for Sandra's research, so they are the population. A sample would be a smaller group taken from the population for the purpose of research. Random sample refers to a sample that is chosen randomly from the population, and fieldwork refers to the process of going out into the field to collect data.

Question 20

If a sociologist studies one high school in a study of the effectiveness of its Parent-Teacher Association,he or she is using which of the following research methods?
A) an experiment
B) a case study
C) a panel study
D) content analysis

Accepted Answer

A case study involves studying a specific individual, group, or organization in-depth, which is what the sociologist is doing in this scenario by studying one particular high school and its PTA.

Quiz 2: Methods

Charles is a sociologist studying a population of gay fathers in the United States.He interviews 200 men in his data collection.These 200 men constitute what researchers call a:

Ethnographer Mitchell Duneier spent five years hanging out with booksellers on the streets of Manhattan.His role as both researcher and participant provides a great example of the importance of:

A qualitative researcher who assumes everything he observes would have happened exactly the same way if he wasn't there observing lacks:

Which of the following might be an advantage of participant observation research?

The subset of a population from which a researcher collects data is known as a:

Although qualitative studies are rich in detail and offer an in-depth look at a particular population and/or phenomenon,due to their limited scope they sometimes suffer from low:

What does reflexivity mean with regard to social research?

Sandra Harding's (1987) three elements of feminist research include all of the following EXCEPT:

All of the following are strengths of the case study method EXCEPT that it is:

Positivist sociologists tend to use which of the following types of measures?

Which of the following is true regarding value judgments made by sociologists Conducting research?

Because they are an accessible population,sociologists sometimes use undergraduate students in their research.In relation to the concept of generalizability in science,this tendency could represent a potential defect in research because:

A double-blind study means that:

Interpretive sociologists examine meanings attached to behaviors.This most commonly leads them to use which of the following measures?

A(n) ____________ is an in-depth look at a specific phenomenon or situation in a particular social setting and is common in qualitative research.

What is the meaning of the term white coat effects in social research?

If Juanita practices ____________ in her research,she carefully considers how her role as researcher may affect those whom she studies (the researched) .

Sandra is doing research on cheating among students at Duke University.The student body at Duke will serve as her:

If a sociologist studies one high school in a study of the effectiveness of its Parent-Teacher Association,he or she is using which of the following research methods?