Sociology 251 Quiz Questions and Verified
Answers
The textbook describes science as both a product and a process. The process consists of Correct Answer:
The continuous interaction of theory and research
Which of the following is not one of the four basic research strategies covered in the text? Correct
Answer: Ethnomethodology
In contrast to deductive reasoning, inductive reasoning Correct Answer: Involves conclusions that are
more or less probable
There are two basic approaches to social research; experiments and surveys Correct Answer: False
The principal goal of science is understanding Correct Answer: True
According to the text, Milgram's research on obedience violated current ethical guidelines because
Correct Answer: Milgram did not obtain subjects' informed consent to be placed in a stressful, conflict
situation.
Research ethics pertain to all except which of the following? Correct Answer: how research questions are
selected
Deception in social research is Correct Answer: commonly used.
Currently, the principal argument against the use of deception in social research is that... Correct
Answer: its known use makes subjects suspicious, which may affect how they act in an experiment.
Research on the effects of deception and debriefing indicates that Correct Answer: deceived subjects may
report a more positive research experience than subjects who were not deceived.
In studies in which research participants' identities are known to the researcher, such as participation
observation research, the principal way to protect their privacy is to Correct Answer: ensure
confidentiality.
Reporting fraudulent results hurts only the individual scientist who did the reporting. Correct Answer:
False
Some social scientists strongly oppose the use of deception in social research. Correct Answer: True
, With self-administered questionnaires, anonymity secures subjects' right to privacy. Correct Answer:
True
The ecological fallacy warns researchers to be cautious when drawing conclusions about Correct Answer:
individual behavior based on data representing groups or larger social units.
To examine whether the rate of unemployment was related to rates of welfare and imprisonment, Mark
Colvin gathered data from a random sample of 184 urban, industrial counties in the United States.
Among the several measures for each county were unemployment rate, welfare payments per recipient,
and crime rate. Colvin's unit of analysis is Correct Answer: Counties.
The Common Rule Correct Answer: Refers to the Code of Federal Regulations, which applies to research
at all institutions that receive federal funding.
It is hypothesized that among first-year students, women attend class more frequently than men. Class
attendance is a(n) _____ variable, and class standing (first-year, second-year, etc.) is a(n) ____ variable.
Correct Answer: Dependent; control
According to the text's discussion of institutional review boards (IRBs), Correct Answer: They are
mandated by federal regulations to review research proposals involving human subjects.
The researcher's personal values seldom, if ever, affect topic selection in the social sciences. Correct
Answer: false
An independent variable in one study may be a dependent variable in another study. Correct Answer:
true
A negative correlation between variables means that the variables are not causally related. Correct
Answer: False
According to Howard Becker, the best way for individual researchers to deal with personal and political
sympathies is to acknowledge whose side they are on. Correct Answer: true
According to the text, scientists should restrict the dissemination of findings in order to avoid potentially
unethical application Correct Answer: False
Sampson and Laub studied the effect of childhood deviance on adult crime. They found that children
who had been committed to a correctional school for persistent delinquency were much more likely to
have committed crimes as adults. Which criterion(a) for establishing causality is (are) satisfied in this
study? Correct Answer: association & direction of influence
Answers
The textbook describes science as both a product and a process. The process consists of Correct Answer:
The continuous interaction of theory and research
Which of the following is not one of the four basic research strategies covered in the text? Correct
Answer: Ethnomethodology
In contrast to deductive reasoning, inductive reasoning Correct Answer: Involves conclusions that are
more or less probable
There are two basic approaches to social research; experiments and surveys Correct Answer: False
The principal goal of science is understanding Correct Answer: True
According to the text, Milgram's research on obedience violated current ethical guidelines because
Correct Answer: Milgram did not obtain subjects' informed consent to be placed in a stressful, conflict
situation.
Research ethics pertain to all except which of the following? Correct Answer: how research questions are
selected
Deception in social research is Correct Answer: commonly used.
Currently, the principal argument against the use of deception in social research is that... Correct
Answer: its known use makes subjects suspicious, which may affect how they act in an experiment.
Research on the effects of deception and debriefing indicates that Correct Answer: deceived subjects may
report a more positive research experience than subjects who were not deceived.
In studies in which research participants' identities are known to the researcher, such as participation
observation research, the principal way to protect their privacy is to Correct Answer: ensure
confidentiality.
Reporting fraudulent results hurts only the individual scientist who did the reporting. Correct Answer:
False
Some social scientists strongly oppose the use of deception in social research. Correct Answer: True
, With self-administered questionnaires, anonymity secures subjects' right to privacy. Correct Answer:
True
The ecological fallacy warns researchers to be cautious when drawing conclusions about Correct Answer:
individual behavior based on data representing groups or larger social units.
To examine whether the rate of unemployment was related to rates of welfare and imprisonment, Mark
Colvin gathered data from a random sample of 184 urban, industrial counties in the United States.
Among the several measures for each county were unemployment rate, welfare payments per recipient,
and crime rate. Colvin's unit of analysis is Correct Answer: Counties.
The Common Rule Correct Answer: Refers to the Code of Federal Regulations, which applies to research
at all institutions that receive federal funding.
It is hypothesized that among first-year students, women attend class more frequently than men. Class
attendance is a(n) _____ variable, and class standing (first-year, second-year, etc.) is a(n) ____ variable.
Correct Answer: Dependent; control
According to the text's discussion of institutional review boards (IRBs), Correct Answer: They are
mandated by federal regulations to review research proposals involving human subjects.
The researcher's personal values seldom, if ever, affect topic selection in the social sciences. Correct
Answer: false
An independent variable in one study may be a dependent variable in another study. Correct Answer:
true
A negative correlation between variables means that the variables are not causally related. Correct
Answer: False
According to Howard Becker, the best way for individual researchers to deal with personal and political
sympathies is to acknowledge whose side they are on. Correct Answer: true
According to the text, scientists should restrict the dissemination of findings in order to avoid potentially
unethical application Correct Answer: False
Sampson and Laub studied the effect of childhood deviance on adult crime. They found that children
who had been committed to a correctional school for persistent delinquency were much more likely to
have committed crimes as adults. Which criterion(a) for establishing causality is (are) satisfied in this
study? Correct Answer: association & direction of influence
