SOC 220 - EXAM 1 QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
How do we know things? - Answer -experience
tradition
authority
insight
scientific knowledge
What is experience, in terms of sociological research? - Answer -direct observation or
personal familiarity
something we see or "experience" ourselves
What did Asch (1952) contribute to sociology? - Answer -found that he could lead a
third of subjects to make the wrong choice every other time (on average)
What is group conformity? - Answer -stemmed from Asch's finding, in which people will
conform to their peers, even strangers, which can cause our experience to be led astray
What is tradition, in terms of sociological research? - Answer -relying on the experience
of others, many of whom lived before us
never allows for change
(by definition, tradition =) status quo
What is the issue with relying on authority in research? - Answer -expertise is usually
narrow
mistakes can happen
bias interpretations
can result in loss of capacity for critical thought and subsequent growth
What is insight, in terms of sociological research? - Answer -may come from an
authority who is speaking beyond expertise
may strike a novice
very rare, hard to formalize
What are the different types of scientific knowledge? - Answer -empirical
theoretical
systematic
probabilistic
provisional
What is empirical knowledge? - Answer -knowledge based on direct observation
What is theoretical knowledge? - Answer -knowledge that attempts to explain "why"
, What is systematic knowledge? - Answer -knowledge that, by following the same steps,
any other researcher should arrive at the same conclusion
(aka replication)
What is probabilistic knowledge? - Answer -what is likely to occur
What is provisional knowledge? - Answer -research conclusions are always open to
change
(if a new theory follows all of an old theory, and provides something new, we want the
new theory)
(provisional = temporary; serving for the time being only until permanently or properly
replaced)
Is the scientific method skeptical, cynical, both, or neither? - Answer -skeptical
What is skepticism? - Answer -suspicious of evidence, suspending acceptance of claim
to test evidence
What is disconformity? - Answer -looking for evidence to overturn a claim
What is cynicism? - Answer -suspicious of motives, logical fallacy that distracts from
argument claims
What is conformity? - Answer -only allows evidence that supports a previously
accepted conclusion
What are the problems with relying solely on interpretations? - Answer -ecological
fallacies
individualistic fallacies
selection bias
vested interests
What is an ecological fallacy? - Answer -to attribute the characteristics of a group to an
individual
What is an individualistic fallacy? - Answer -to attribute the characteristics of an
individual to an entire group
(close to stereotyping)
What is selection bias? - Answer -generalizing from a non-representative sample
What is a vested interest? - Answer -interpreting one's experience for their own benefit
What are the types of sociological analysis? - Answer -quantitative
How do we know things? - Answer -experience
tradition
authority
insight
scientific knowledge
What is experience, in terms of sociological research? - Answer -direct observation or
personal familiarity
something we see or "experience" ourselves
What did Asch (1952) contribute to sociology? - Answer -found that he could lead a
third of subjects to make the wrong choice every other time (on average)
What is group conformity? - Answer -stemmed from Asch's finding, in which people will
conform to their peers, even strangers, which can cause our experience to be led astray
What is tradition, in terms of sociological research? - Answer -relying on the experience
of others, many of whom lived before us
never allows for change
(by definition, tradition =) status quo
What is the issue with relying on authority in research? - Answer -expertise is usually
narrow
mistakes can happen
bias interpretations
can result in loss of capacity for critical thought and subsequent growth
What is insight, in terms of sociological research? - Answer -may come from an
authority who is speaking beyond expertise
may strike a novice
very rare, hard to formalize
What are the different types of scientific knowledge? - Answer -empirical
theoretical
systematic
probabilistic
provisional
What is empirical knowledge? - Answer -knowledge based on direct observation
What is theoretical knowledge? - Answer -knowledge that attempts to explain "why"
, What is systematic knowledge? - Answer -knowledge that, by following the same steps,
any other researcher should arrive at the same conclusion
(aka replication)
What is probabilistic knowledge? - Answer -what is likely to occur
What is provisional knowledge? - Answer -research conclusions are always open to
change
(if a new theory follows all of an old theory, and provides something new, we want the
new theory)
(provisional = temporary; serving for the time being only until permanently or properly
replaced)
Is the scientific method skeptical, cynical, both, or neither? - Answer -skeptical
What is skepticism? - Answer -suspicious of evidence, suspending acceptance of claim
to test evidence
What is disconformity? - Answer -looking for evidence to overturn a claim
What is cynicism? - Answer -suspicious of motives, logical fallacy that distracts from
argument claims
What is conformity? - Answer -only allows evidence that supports a previously
accepted conclusion
What are the problems with relying solely on interpretations? - Answer -ecological
fallacies
individualistic fallacies
selection bias
vested interests
What is an ecological fallacy? - Answer -to attribute the characteristics of a group to an
individual
What is an individualistic fallacy? - Answer -to attribute the characteristics of an
individual to an entire group
(close to stereotyping)
What is selection bias? - Answer -generalizing from a non-representative sample
What is a vested interest? - Answer -interpreting one's experience for their own benefit
What are the types of sociological analysis? - Answer -quantitative
