Question 1

Why is it important to review the literature about previous research on your topic?

Accepted Answer

Reviewing the literature helps refine your understanding of the topic, identify gaps, and build on existing knowledge.

Question 2

The method in which researchers study variables such as the portrayals of girls and boys or people of varying races and ethnicities in samples of books, magazines, television shows, etc. is called

Accepted Answer

Content analysis is a research technique used to systematically analyze the content of communication media through the coding and counting of various aspects of the media content, such as the portrayal of different genders and ethnicities.

Question 3

In sociology, predictability is

Accepted Answer

Predictability in sociology is difficult because human behavior is complex and influenced by a multitude of factors, making it challenging to predict with certainty.

Question 4

If two variables are correlated and one occurs earlier in time than the other, then we can conclude

Accepted Answer

Correlation does not imply causation, but if one variable occurs earlier in time than the other, it suggests the possibility (but not certainty) that the earlier variable might be the cause of the later variable.

Question 5

One of the criteria for determining whether variable X causes variable Y is that

Accepted Answer

For variable X to cause variable Y, it must precede Y in time. This temporal precedence is a fundamental criterion for establishing a causal relationship, ensuring that the cause happens before the effect.

Question 6

Being able to reasonably guess human behavior in particular situations is referred to as

Accepted Answer

Predictability refers to the ability to forecast or anticipate the future behavior or actions of individuals or systems based on current or past data. In the context of human behavior, predictability allows for the estimation of how individuals might act or react in specific situations.

Question 7

Sociologists are conducting fewer ________ now than they once did.

Accepted Answer

Sociologists are conducting fewer experiments now than they once did because experiments can be difficult to control in social settings and may raise ethical concerns.

Question 8

A(n) __________ predicts a relationship between independent and dependent variables.

Accepted Answer

A hypothesis predicts a relationship between independent and dependent variables, proposing an expected outcome based on theoretical or empirical grounds.

Question 9

What is true about interview studies?

Accepted Answer

Interview studies often involve smaller, more focused sample sizes, making it difficult to generalize findings to a larger population. This is because the depth and detail sought in interview studies limit the number of participants that can be feasibly included.

Question 10

A variable with possible responses ranging from Strongly Disagree to Strongly Agree is called a

Accepted Answer

A variable that ranges from Strongly Disagree to Strongly Agree is typically measured on a scale, often used in surveys to assess attitudes or opinions.

Question 11

In a random sample,

Accepted Answer

In a random sample, every member of the population has an equal chance of being selected, ensuring that the sample is representative of the population.

Question 12

Why is peer review of your project important?

Accepted Answer

Peer review is important to ensure that your research meets the appropriate standards of quality, validity, and reliability before it is published or presented.

Question 13

In sociological research, we approach the truth by addressing two issues:

Accepted Answer

The answer of In sociological research, we approach the truth...

Question 14

If people know they are being studied, they may change their behavior and even attitudes. This is called

Accepted Answer

The observer effect refers to changes in behavior or attitudes of individuals who are aware they are being observed or studied.

Question 15

In a study of the effects of gender and race on academic success, you decide to use Grade Point Average (GPA) for the dependent variable. With this decision, you have

Accepted Answer

Operationalization is the process of strictly defining variables into measurable factors. By deciding to use Grade Point Average (GPA) as the dependent variable to study the effects of gender and race on academic success, you have operationalized the concept of "academic success" into a quantifiable measure, which is GPA in this context.

Question 16

The text points out that where there are more storks, there are more babies. In this example, for which reason can we NOT establish a causal link?

Accepted Answer

The presence of an extraneous variable, such as the rural/urban area, can influence both the number of storks and the number of babies, leading to a spurious correlation without a direct causal link between storks and babies.

Question 17

At what point in the research process are hypotheses developed?

Accepted Answer

Hypotheses are developed after reviewing the literature to build on existing knowledge and identify gaps that the new research can address. This ensures that the research is grounded in the context of what is already known.

Question 18

Analyzing your data

Accepted Answer

Analyzing data involves different techniques depending on the research design, as both qualitative and quantitative research have their own methods of data analysis.

Question 19

Every person who is pregnant must be female. Therefore, being female is a __________ cause of pregnancy.

Accepted Answer

Being female is a necessary cause of pregnancy because it is a required condition for pregnancy to occur, but being female alone is not enough to cause pregnancy without other factors being present.

Question 20

Seventeenth-century philosopher Auguste Comte, the founder of sociology, believed that ________.

Accepted Answer

Auguste Comte, a foundational figure in sociology, posited that societies evolve through definite phases governed by certain laws, suggesting that human society follows permanent, unchangeable laws.

Quiz 4: How Do We Know What We Know the Methods of the Sociologist