Question 1

When utilizing correlations to assess variables related to human behavior, the researcher will seldom find either a perfect positive correlation or a perfect negative correlation.

Accepted Answer

It is rare to find a perfect positive or negative correlation in human behavior as there are a multitude of factors that can influence behavior. Most correlations will have some degree of variability or error involved.

Question 2

Researchers are violating people's privacy when gathering information from Facebook because the Internet is technically a private domain.

Accepted Answer

The Internet is actually a public domain, not a private one. While users may have privacy settings on their social media accounts, the information they share on these platforms is technically public and can be accessed and used by researchers. However, ethical considerations must be taken into account when gathering and using this information.

Question 3

Not knowing who gathered the data or which research methods were employed to gather them are major issues to consider when using secondary analysis as a research method.

Accepted Answer

Not knowing the source of the data and the research methods used to gather them can lead to questions about the validity and reliability of the data, making it difficult to draw accurate conclusions.

Question 4

Studying the level of whiskey consumption in a "dry" town by counting the number of empty whiskey bottles in trashcans is an example of research that uses unobtrusive measures.

Accepted Answer

Unobtrusive measures refer to research methods where the researcher does not interfere with the participants or their environment, and instead relies on indirect measures such as counting empty whiskey bottles in trash cans to infer levels of whiskey consumption.

Question 5

The first step in the research model is to formulate a hypothesis.

Accepted Answer

The first step in the research model is typically to identify a problem or develop a research question. Formulating a hypothesis usually comes after the research question has been defined.

Question 6

When an instrument measures what it is intended to measure, it is considered to possess the quality of reliability.

Accepted Answer

When an instrument measures what it is intended to measure, it is considered to possess the quality of validity, not reliability. Reliability refers to the consistency of the measurement.

Question 7

If two variables have a perfect correlation, they will be represented by a correlation coefficient of zero.

Accepted Answer

If two variables have a perfect correlation, they will be represented by a correlation coefficient of either +1 or -1, depending on whether the correlation is positive or negative. A correlation coefficient of zero means there is no relationship between the two variables.

Question 8

"Research bias" and "research fraud" are concepts that can be used interchangeably because they are virtually identical.

Accepted Answer

Research bias and research fraud are similar but not interchangeable concepts. Research bias refers to unintentional errors or distortions in the research process, while research fraud involves intentional deception or manipulation of data. Both can have serious consequences for the validity and reliability of research findings, but they are not identical concepts.

Question 9

For an independent variable to be the cause of an event, it must precede that which is changed (the dependent variable).

Accepted Answer

This is because causation implies a temporal relationship, with the cause occurring before the effect.

Question 10

The mean is commonly the most representative measure of the average when comparing scores in a distribution.

Accepted Answer

The answer of The mean is commonly the most representative...

Question 11

A correlation simply means that two or more variables are present together.

Accepted Answer

A correlation refers to a statistical relationship between two or more variables where a change in one variable is associated with a change in another variable. It doesn't necessarily imply a cause-and-effect relationship between the variables.

Question 12

Commonsense ideas are the best topics to choose for sociological research, because they represent "what everyone knows."

Accepted Answer

Commonsense ideas may seem like good topics for sociological research, but they can often be misleading or incomplete. Sociological research involves investigating and analyzing social patterns and structures that may not be immediately apparent or intuitive. Therefore, it is important to approach research with an open mind and consider multiple perspectives.

Question 13

Interviewer bias may occur because of a researcher's sex, race, or perceived ethnicity.

Accepted Answer

Interviewer bias can occur due to a researcher's personal characteristics, including their sex, race, or perceived ethnicity, which can influence their perceptions and behavior during the interview process. This can lead to biased responses from the interviewees or skewed interpretation of the data collected.

Question 14

In order to establish rapport with a sample while researching sensitive and personal issues, the researcher should begin by asking emotional and personal questions so he or she can relate to the respondents.

Accepted Answer

To establish rapport with a sample while researching sensitive and personal issues, the researcher should begin by asking more neutral and non-threatening questions. It is important to build trust and make the respondents feel comfortable before delving into more personal topics.

Question 15

The individuals that are intended to represent the population to be studied are referred to as the sample.

Accepted Answer

The sample is a subset of the population that is chosen to represent the larger group in a research study.

Question 16

While marketing tools such as face-recognition cameras at kiosks that classify people by age and sex in order to post targeted ads to customers can be considered unobtrusive measures for collecting data, they raise ethical issues of invasion of privacy.

Accepted Answer

The statement correctly identifies that the use of face-recognition cameras at kiosks for targeted advertising raises ethical concerns about invasion of privacy, making option A the correct answer.

Question 17

Access to resources, access to subjects, purpose of the research, and training of researchers are the four primary factors that affect which research method to use.

Accepted Answer

These four factors are key considerations in deciding which research method to use. Access to resources can include financial resources, equipment or facilities, and access to participants or data. Access to subjects refers to the availability and willingness of individuals or groups who can serve as research participants. Purpose of the research refers to the research question or objective, and may influence the choice of method based on the type of data needed to answer the question. Training of researchers refers to their skills and expertise in different research methods, which can affect the quality and validity of the research.

Question 18

One of the liabilities in using the participant observation as a research method is that findings are difficult to generalize.

Accepted Answer

Participant observation involves studying a particular group or community in detail, which means that the findings may not necessarily apply to other groups or communities. Therefore, the results are not easily generalizable to a larger population.

Question 19

On the micro level, sociologists study matters such as race relations and multinational corporations; on the macro level, they study human interactions, such as the behavior seen on street corners and in doctor-patient relationships.

Accepted Answer

On the micro level, sociologists study human interactions, such as the behavior seen on street corners and in doctor-patient relationships; on the macro level, they study broader social processes and structures, such as race relations and multinational corporations.

Question 20

A multiple-choice exam is an example of a test structure composed of closed-ended questions.

Accepted Answer

A multiple-choice exam typically requires selecting one correct answer from a limited set of options, making it a closed-ended question format.

Quiz 5: How Sociologists Do Research