Sociology 251: Exam One Questions and Verified
Answers
Altruism Correct Answer: the principal or practice of unselfish concern for the welfare of others
(opposed to egoism)
Experiments Correct Answer: most common in psychology
Surveys Correct Answer: most common in sociology
Available Data Correct Answer: most common in history, used in the Suicide study
Field Research Correct Answer: most common in anthropology, ethnography
Concepts Correct Answer: are abstractions communicated by words or other signs that refer to common
properties among phenomena (one word, constructs), must be tied to a tangible object, useful
Explanations Correct Answer: attempts to satisfy curiosity
Empirical Generalizations Correct Answer: are derived from observations
Hypothesis Correct Answer: have been proposed but not tested
Scientific Law Correct Answer: propositions are the concepts that have been repeatedly verified and are
widely accepted
Scientific Theory Correct Answer: a set of interconnected propositions that have the same form, as laws
but are more general or abstract
Causal Relationship Correct Answer: a relationship in which a change in one event causes a change in
another event
Knowledge Correct Answer: "is understood to be the best understanding that we have been able to
produce thus far, not a statement of what is ultimately real"
Deductive Reasoning Correct Answer: the conclusion is certain if the evidence is true (general →
specific)
, Inductive Reasoning Correct Answer: the conclusion is uncertain even if the evidence is true because its
content goes beyond the evidence (specific → general)
Empiricism Correct Answer: a way of knowing or understanding the world that relies directly or
indirectly on what we experience through our senses: sight, hearing, taste, smell and touch.
Objectivity Correct Answer: is never truly possible
Intersubjective Testability Correct Answer: it must be possible for two or more independent observers
working under the same condition to agree that they are observing the same thing or event.
Control Correct Answer: an attempt within the produces to prevent confounding variables
Serendipity Pattern Correct Answer: unanticipated findings occur that cannot be interpreted
meaningfully in term of prevailing theories and that give rise to new theories
Ethics Correct Answer: is both a subject matter and a discipline. The subject matter consists of standard
of right and wrong; ethics tells us how to act in moral and responsible ways.
Research Ethics Correct Answer: involves the application of ethical principles to scientific research.
Research ethics comes from two sources: society at large and research professions.
Research misconduct Correct Answer: unethical actions in the conduct of research, examples are
fabrication, falsification, and plagiarism.
Fabrication Correct Answer: consists of making up data and reporting them
Falsification Correct Answer: the most common form, manipulating data so that recorded results do not
accurately represent actual findings
Plagiarism Correct Answer: appropriating another person's ideas, results or words without giving proper
credit
Debriefing Correct Answer: it should occur in all studies with human participants, not just in those
studies involving deception. Researchers may gain valuable information about subjects' interpretations of
research procedures; by understanding the nature of the study; subjects can gain a greater appreciation
for their research experience. If subjects are deceived, then the debriefing becomes critically important.
The researcher must explain the true purpose of the study and why deception occurred.
Informed Consent Correct Answer: subjects must understand that their participation is voluntary, they
must also be given enough information about the research to make an informed decision about whether
to participate.
Answers
Altruism Correct Answer: the principal or practice of unselfish concern for the welfare of others
(opposed to egoism)
Experiments Correct Answer: most common in psychology
Surveys Correct Answer: most common in sociology
Available Data Correct Answer: most common in history, used in the Suicide study
Field Research Correct Answer: most common in anthropology, ethnography
Concepts Correct Answer: are abstractions communicated by words or other signs that refer to common
properties among phenomena (one word, constructs), must be tied to a tangible object, useful
Explanations Correct Answer: attempts to satisfy curiosity
Empirical Generalizations Correct Answer: are derived from observations
Hypothesis Correct Answer: have been proposed but not tested
Scientific Law Correct Answer: propositions are the concepts that have been repeatedly verified and are
widely accepted
Scientific Theory Correct Answer: a set of interconnected propositions that have the same form, as laws
but are more general or abstract
Causal Relationship Correct Answer: a relationship in which a change in one event causes a change in
another event
Knowledge Correct Answer: "is understood to be the best understanding that we have been able to
produce thus far, not a statement of what is ultimately real"
Deductive Reasoning Correct Answer: the conclusion is certain if the evidence is true (general →
specific)
, Inductive Reasoning Correct Answer: the conclusion is uncertain even if the evidence is true because its
content goes beyond the evidence (specific → general)
Empiricism Correct Answer: a way of knowing or understanding the world that relies directly or
indirectly on what we experience through our senses: sight, hearing, taste, smell and touch.
Objectivity Correct Answer: is never truly possible
Intersubjective Testability Correct Answer: it must be possible for two or more independent observers
working under the same condition to agree that they are observing the same thing or event.
Control Correct Answer: an attempt within the produces to prevent confounding variables
Serendipity Pattern Correct Answer: unanticipated findings occur that cannot be interpreted
meaningfully in term of prevailing theories and that give rise to new theories
Ethics Correct Answer: is both a subject matter and a discipline. The subject matter consists of standard
of right and wrong; ethics tells us how to act in moral and responsible ways.
Research Ethics Correct Answer: involves the application of ethical principles to scientific research.
Research ethics comes from two sources: society at large and research professions.
Research misconduct Correct Answer: unethical actions in the conduct of research, examples are
fabrication, falsification, and plagiarism.
Fabrication Correct Answer: consists of making up data and reporting them
Falsification Correct Answer: the most common form, manipulating data so that recorded results do not
accurately represent actual findings
Plagiarism Correct Answer: appropriating another person's ideas, results or words without giving proper
credit
Debriefing Correct Answer: it should occur in all studies with human participants, not just in those
studies involving deception. Researchers may gain valuable information about subjects' interpretations of
research procedures; by understanding the nature of the study; subjects can gain a greater appreciation
for their research experience. If subjects are deceived, then the debriefing becomes critically important.
The researcher must explain the true purpose of the study and why deception occurred.
Informed Consent Correct Answer: subjects must understand that their participation is voluntary, they
must also be given enough information about the research to make an informed decision about whether
to participate.
