RESEARCH METHODS EXAM 1 EXAM
SCRIPT 2026 COMPREHENSIVE
QUESTIONS AND VERIFIED SOLUTIONS
◉ nomothetic
Answer: an approach to explanation in which we seek to identify a
few casual factors that generally impact a class of conditions or
events. Imagine the two or three key factors that determine which
colleges students choose-- proximity, reputation, and so forth
◉ induction
Answer: The logical model in which general principles are
developed from specific observations. Having noted the Jews and
Catholics are more likely to vote democratic than Protestants are,
you might conclude that religious minorities in the US are more
affiliated with the Democratic party and then your task is to explain
why- that is an example.
◉ Epistemology
Answer: The science of knowing- systems of knowledge
◉ Methodology
,Answer: The science of finding out- procedures fro scientific
investigation
◉ Agreement Reality
Answer: those things we know as part of the culture we share with
those around us
◉ tradition
Answer: knowledge based on shared cultural understandings
◉ authority
Answer: knowledge based on the status of the discoverer
◉ Preventing Over generalizations
Answer: -Large and representative samples are a safeguard against
over generalization
-Replication: repeating a research study to test and either confirm or
question the findings of an earlier study
◉ Selective overservations
Answer: -avoid looking for deviant cases
◉ Illogical reasoning
,Answer: -Gambler's Fallacy: if something happens more frequently
than normal during some period, it will happen less frequently in
the future, or that, if something happens less frequently than normal
during some period, it will happen more frequently in the future
-Use system of logic consciously and explicitly
◉ Half-Life of Facts
Answer: -How long today's scientific facts survive re-
conceptualization, retesting, and new discoveries
-The fact that scientific knowledge is constantly changing points to a
strength of scientific scholarship.
◉ Scenario:
Your friend notices that after two coworkers take a sick day, their
work hours are cut in the following weeks. Your friend concludes
that management punishes all workers who take sick days.
Answer: -Your friend has committed the error of overgeneralization.
Your friend had only observed the cases of two coworkers, but
extended this observation to all coworkers.
-If your friend really wants to investigate this issue, a relatively large
and representative sample of all workers should be gathered.
◉ Foundations of Social Science
Answer: Logic and Observation
, ◉ Theory
Answer: A systematic explanation for the observations that relate to
a particular aspect of life
◉ Theory, Not Philosophy or Belief
Answer: -Social theory has to do with what should be, not with what
is.
-Science cannot be used to settle value debates.
-Social science can help know what is and why.
◉ Social Regularities
Answer: -Social research aims to find patterns of regularity in social
life.
-The Charge of Triviality:Documenting the obvious is a valuable
function of any science.... The obvious all to often turns out to be
wrong.
◉ Exception and Social Regularities
Answer: Just because there are exceptions to a social regularity does
not mean the regularity is unreal or unimportant.
◉ Social Regularities: People could interfere
SCRIPT 2026 COMPREHENSIVE
QUESTIONS AND VERIFIED SOLUTIONS
◉ nomothetic
Answer: an approach to explanation in which we seek to identify a
few casual factors that generally impact a class of conditions or
events. Imagine the two or three key factors that determine which
colleges students choose-- proximity, reputation, and so forth
◉ induction
Answer: The logical model in which general principles are
developed from specific observations. Having noted the Jews and
Catholics are more likely to vote democratic than Protestants are,
you might conclude that religious minorities in the US are more
affiliated with the Democratic party and then your task is to explain
why- that is an example.
◉ Epistemology
Answer: The science of knowing- systems of knowledge
◉ Methodology
,Answer: The science of finding out- procedures fro scientific
investigation
◉ Agreement Reality
Answer: those things we know as part of the culture we share with
those around us
◉ tradition
Answer: knowledge based on shared cultural understandings
◉ authority
Answer: knowledge based on the status of the discoverer
◉ Preventing Over generalizations
Answer: -Large and representative samples are a safeguard against
over generalization
-Replication: repeating a research study to test and either confirm or
question the findings of an earlier study
◉ Selective overservations
Answer: -avoid looking for deviant cases
◉ Illogical reasoning
,Answer: -Gambler's Fallacy: if something happens more frequently
than normal during some period, it will happen less frequently in
the future, or that, if something happens less frequently than normal
during some period, it will happen more frequently in the future
-Use system of logic consciously and explicitly
◉ Half-Life of Facts
Answer: -How long today's scientific facts survive re-
conceptualization, retesting, and new discoveries
-The fact that scientific knowledge is constantly changing points to a
strength of scientific scholarship.
◉ Scenario:
Your friend notices that after two coworkers take a sick day, their
work hours are cut in the following weeks. Your friend concludes
that management punishes all workers who take sick days.
Answer: -Your friend has committed the error of overgeneralization.
Your friend had only observed the cases of two coworkers, but
extended this observation to all coworkers.
-If your friend really wants to investigate this issue, a relatively large
and representative sample of all workers should be gathered.
◉ Foundations of Social Science
Answer: Logic and Observation
, ◉ Theory
Answer: A systematic explanation for the observations that relate to
a particular aspect of life
◉ Theory, Not Philosophy or Belief
Answer: -Social theory has to do with what should be, not with what
is.
-Science cannot be used to settle value debates.
-Social science can help know what is and why.
◉ Social Regularities
Answer: -Social research aims to find patterns of regularity in social
life.
-The Charge of Triviality:Documenting the obvious is a valuable
function of any science.... The obvious all to often turns out to be
wrong.
◉ Exception and Social Regularities
Answer: Just because there are exceptions to a social regularity does
not mean the regularity is unreal or unimportant.
◉ Social Regularities: People could interfere
