Question 1

A case study is a cursory investigation of a particular event in order to gain limited understanding of the event.

Accepted Answer

A case study is a detailed and in-depth analysis of a particular event or situation in order to gain a comprehensive understanding of it. It involves collecting data, analyzing it, and drawing conclusions or recommendations based on the findings.

Question 2

If people are allowed to volunteer for the experiment, then the experimental and control groups might not be representative of the population as a whole.

Accepted Answer

If people self-select to participate in the experiment, they may have certain characteristics or motivations that differ from those who choose not to participate. This can lead to biased results and make it harder to generalize findings to the larger population.

Question 3

A fact in the social sciences is always considered absolute.

Accepted Answer

A fact in the social sciences is not always considered absolute because the social sciences deal with human behavior and social systems, which are complex and variable. The findings in social sciences may be influenced by cultural, historical, and contextual factors, so it is important to consider the limitations and biases in research.

Question 4

The scientific method is descriptive, explanatory, and normative.

Accepted Answer

The scientific method is descriptive and explanatory, but it is not normative. Normative statements involve value judgments, while the scientific method focuses on objective observation and explanation.

Question 5

The halo effect is the tendency of respondents to give "good-citizen" responses to pollsters, whether they are truthful or not.

Accepted Answer

The halo effect refers to the tendency of individuals to give positive responses or evaluations to people or things that they already have a positive impression of. This can affect the validity of polling results as respondents may be influenced by this bias and give socially desirable responses rather than truthful ones.

Question 6

The sample is chosen in a way that ensures that the group is representative of the universe. The universe is the partial group about whom the information is desired.

Accepted Answer

The universe, in this context, refers to the entire group about whom information is desired, not a partial group. The sample is chosen to represent this entire universe accurately.

Question 7

Causation is a significant relationship wherein the presence of one variable (the dependent variable) causes changes in another variable (the independent variable).

Accepted Answer

In causation, the independent variable causes changes in the dependent variable, not the other way around.

Question 8

Random sampling reduces the likelihood that the responses obtained from the sample would be the same as those obtained from the universe if everyone were questioned.

Accepted Answer

Random sampling aims to reduce bias and ensure that every individual in the population has an equal chance of being selected, thereby increasing the likelihood that the sample's responses will accurately reflect those of the entire population.

Question 9

A theory is a set of interrelated concepts at a low level of generality.

Accepted Answer

A theory is actually a set of interrelated concepts at a high level of generality, providing a comprehensive framework for understanding a phenomenon or set of phenomena.

Question 10

Ethnography is the systematic description of a society's customary behaviors, beliefs, and attitudes.

Accepted Answer

This is the definition of ethnography.

Question 11

The scientific method cannot test the validity of values, norms, or feelings.

Accepted Answer

The scientific method involves testing hypotheses through empirical observations and data analysis. Values, norms, and feelings are subjective and cannot be measured in the same way as quantitative data. Therefore, the scientific method cannot test the validity of these subjective experiences.

Question 12

A probabilistic is a fact, just like a universal statement.

Accepted Answer

The answer of A probabilistic is a fact, just like...

Question 13

A correlation is a significant statistical relationship found in data.

Accepted Answer

This statement is true. Correlation refers to the degree to which two variables are related or move together, and a significant correlation indicates a strong relationship between the variables being studied.

Question 14

The scientific method develops and tests theories about how observable facts or events are related in order to explain them.

Accepted Answer

This statement accurately describes the purpose and process of the scientific method.

Question 15

The control group does not undergo the treatment and is used for comparison.

Accepted Answer

This statement is true. The control group is an important component of experimental research and serves as a comparison group to measure the effect of the treatment or intervention being studied. Without a control group, it is difficult to determine if any changes observed in the experimental group are actually due to the intervention or simply due to other factors such as placebo effects or natural variation.

Question 16

Salient issues are those that people think about most and about which they hold weak and changeable opinions.

Accepted Answer

Salient issues are those that people think about most and about which they hold strong and more stable opinions.

Question 17

Field research often involves participant observation, during which the researcher both observes and participates in the society being studied.

Accepted Answer

Field research often involves participant observation, during which the researcher both observes and participates in the society being studied. This allows the researcher to gain a deeper understanding of the culture or society they are studying.

Question 18

A null hypothesis is the statement that the program or treatment had no effect.

Accepted Answer

A null hypothesis states that there is no significant difference between two groups or variables, implying that the program or treatment had no effect.

Question 19

Hypotheses are tentative statements about a relationship between facts or events that should be derived from the theory and should be testable.

Accepted Answer

Hypotheses are statements that propose a relationship between facts or events that can be tested through observations or experiments. They should be derived from a theoretical framework and provide a tentative explanation for a phenomenon. The testable nature of hypotheses allows for the scientific method to be applied, where observations or experiments are conducted to either support or refute the proposed relationship.

Question 20

A relationship that is likely to have occurred by chance is said to be significant.

Accepted Answer

A relationship that is likely to have occurred by chance is not considered significant, so the statement is false. Significance is determined by the probability that the relationship occurred by chance, with a lower probability indicating a more significant relationship.

Quiz 2: Social Sciences and the Scientific Method