SOC 3900 Final Exam 2025 Graded A+ Get Fully
Updated & Verified Study Answers!
What are good justifications for proposing a research project? -
primary source - An original document containing the observations, ideas, and conclusions of an
individual. It is a firsthand account presented by someone present or actively participating in the
event. Examples include manuscripts, photographs, oral histories, and personal journals.
secondary source - A second-hand account of an event or a retelling of another person's
observations written by someone who did not witness or participate in the events. Includes sources
that combine, synthesize, and or interpret information from primary sources. Examples include
encyclopedias, textbooks, and reviews.
tertiary source - a compilation of primary and secondary sources
What is the difference between an argument and a theory? - argument is a fact or statement used to
support a proposition; a reason while theory is (obsolete) mental conception; reflection,
consideration.
What is the best strategy for moving from a lot of interesting topics to a single researchable
question? - brainstorm & research
What is the first step in any sociological research project? - define the problem
What is a sample? - A subset of a population, often taken to make inferences about the population.
We calculate statistics from samples.
What are different sampling procedures? - simple random sampling, stratified sampling, cluster
sampling, multistage sampling, and systematic random sampling
What is the difference between
probability and nonprobability sampling? - nonprobability sampling does not involve random
selection and probability sampling does
, What is meant by bias in social research? - scientists performing the research influence the results
What is meant by level of analysis? - a more or less integrated set of relationships
What is meant by unit of analysis? - the major entity that is being analyzed in a study. It is the 'what'
or 'who' that is being studied
What is operationalization? - the process of assigning a precise method for measuring a term being
examined for use in a particular study
Why are reliability and validity important for conducting social research - important in analysing the
appropriateness, meaningfulness and usefulness of a research study
Are interval variables attributes that we can rank in order, such as social class, education
attainment, and prejudice? - No
Does informed consent mean informing the participants in our study that we've obtained consent
from the Institutional Review Board to carry out our study? - No
What is the dependent variable in the following statement? Eating a lot of food and not
exercising makes one gain weight. - gaining weight
What is the independent variable in the following statement: Smoking a lot makes one ill - smoking
What is validity? - accuracy of a measure
What is reliability? - consistency of measurement
If you question the generalizability of a study that uses only males, you are suggesting that there
is a(an) ____________ between gender and the independent variable. - interaction
A relationship between or among variables is predicted by what? - hypothesis
Updated & Verified Study Answers!
What are good justifications for proposing a research project? -
primary source - An original document containing the observations, ideas, and conclusions of an
individual. It is a firsthand account presented by someone present or actively participating in the
event. Examples include manuscripts, photographs, oral histories, and personal journals.
secondary source - A second-hand account of an event or a retelling of another person's
observations written by someone who did not witness or participate in the events. Includes sources
that combine, synthesize, and or interpret information from primary sources. Examples include
encyclopedias, textbooks, and reviews.
tertiary source - a compilation of primary and secondary sources
What is the difference between an argument and a theory? - argument is a fact or statement used to
support a proposition; a reason while theory is (obsolete) mental conception; reflection,
consideration.
What is the best strategy for moving from a lot of interesting topics to a single researchable
question? - brainstorm & research
What is the first step in any sociological research project? - define the problem
What is a sample? - A subset of a population, often taken to make inferences about the population.
We calculate statistics from samples.
What are different sampling procedures? - simple random sampling, stratified sampling, cluster
sampling, multistage sampling, and systematic random sampling
What is the difference between
probability and nonprobability sampling? - nonprobability sampling does not involve random
selection and probability sampling does
, What is meant by bias in social research? - scientists performing the research influence the results
What is meant by level of analysis? - a more or less integrated set of relationships
What is meant by unit of analysis? - the major entity that is being analyzed in a study. It is the 'what'
or 'who' that is being studied
What is operationalization? - the process of assigning a precise method for measuring a term being
examined for use in a particular study
Why are reliability and validity important for conducting social research - important in analysing the
appropriateness, meaningfulness and usefulness of a research study
Are interval variables attributes that we can rank in order, such as social class, education
attainment, and prejudice? - No
Does informed consent mean informing the participants in our study that we've obtained consent
from the Institutional Review Board to carry out our study? - No
What is the dependent variable in the following statement? Eating a lot of food and not
exercising makes one gain weight. - gaining weight
What is the independent variable in the following statement: Smoking a lot makes one ill - smoking
What is validity? - accuracy of a measure
What is reliability? - consistency of measurement
If you question the generalizability of a study that uses only males, you are suggesting that there
is a(an) ____________ between gender and the independent variable. - interaction
A relationship between or among variables is predicted by what? - hypothesis
