BESC 3020 EXAM 1 Questions and
Answers (Chapter 1-5)
1. Identify the major sources of knowledge. - Answer-a. Personal experience
b. Traditional or existing knowledge
c. Authority or expert
2. What kind of truth are we looking for in science and social research? - Answer-a. Relative
3. What are the major causes of errors and biases? - Answer-a. Inaccurate observations
b. Over generalizations
c. Selective observation
d. Illogical Reasoning
5. Define and find examples of independent and dependent variables. - Answer-a. Independent- Cause
b. Dependent- Effect
c. Babies and accidents, drinking and drunkenness
, 6. How many values does a constant have? - Answer-a. 1. It is the opposite of a variable
7. What does a theory refer to? - Answer-a. Theory are concepts that can be measurable or
immeasurable
8. What does social science research attempt to address? - Answer-a. Deals with logical aspects of
science, provides systematic explanations, whereas data collection deals with observational aspects.
There is no philosophy in social science research. We find research through patterns. Explore, explain,
and describe
9. Define and find examples of over-generalization. - Answer-a. The smaller the sample size, the larger
margin of error
12. What are the major purposes of social research? - Answer-a. To explore, describe, and explain
13. What are the two pillars of science? - Answer-a. Logical and empirical evidence
15. Define and find examples of a variable and its attributes. - Answer-a. Attributes describe a variable.
Variable must be measurable either by numbers or categories and has to constantly change.
Discrete - Answer-Has no number and has two or more logically related attributes or categories
(Occupation, gender, religion, race, and countries)
Continuous - Answer-May have many values, the value increases continually in tiny fractions (age,
income, height, weight)
Qualitative - Answer-Non numerical data. Uses words to describe the data, uses patterns.
Quantitative - Answer-Numerical data, only can be used for statistical research. Can be replicated
Answers (Chapter 1-5)
1. Identify the major sources of knowledge. - Answer-a. Personal experience
b. Traditional or existing knowledge
c. Authority or expert
2. What kind of truth are we looking for in science and social research? - Answer-a. Relative
3. What are the major causes of errors and biases? - Answer-a. Inaccurate observations
b. Over generalizations
c. Selective observation
d. Illogical Reasoning
5. Define and find examples of independent and dependent variables. - Answer-a. Independent- Cause
b. Dependent- Effect
c. Babies and accidents, drinking and drunkenness
, 6. How many values does a constant have? - Answer-a. 1. It is the opposite of a variable
7. What does a theory refer to? - Answer-a. Theory are concepts that can be measurable or
immeasurable
8. What does social science research attempt to address? - Answer-a. Deals with logical aspects of
science, provides systematic explanations, whereas data collection deals with observational aspects.
There is no philosophy in social science research. We find research through patterns. Explore, explain,
and describe
9. Define and find examples of over-generalization. - Answer-a. The smaller the sample size, the larger
margin of error
12. What are the major purposes of social research? - Answer-a. To explore, describe, and explain
13. What are the two pillars of science? - Answer-a. Logical and empirical evidence
15. Define and find examples of a variable and its attributes. - Answer-a. Attributes describe a variable.
Variable must be measurable either by numbers or categories and has to constantly change.
Discrete - Answer-Has no number and has two or more logically related attributes or categories
(Occupation, gender, religion, race, and countries)
Continuous - Answer-May have many values, the value increases continually in tiny fractions (age,
income, height, weight)
Qualitative - Answer-Non numerical data. Uses words to describe the data, uses patterns.
Quantitative - Answer-Numerical data, only can be used for statistical research. Can be replicated
