RSC2601
Exam Papers Bundle
2011-2020
Past Exam Papers
Contains Questions ONLY
, RSC2601
OCT/NOV 2020
QUESTION 1
Ego involvement as a possible error in scientific inquiry is guarded against by
researchers …
(a) doing a thorough literature review.
(b) involving a sufficiently large sample of observations.
(c) rigorously testing hypotheses.
(d) sharing research results with fellow scientists.
(1) (a)
(2) (a) (b)
(3) (a) (b) (c)
(4) (c) (d)
QUESTION 2
Which one of the following statements is INCORRECT regarding norms of scientific
research?
(1) Research results must be made available so that the scientific community can review
and criticise them.
(2) The purpose of organised scepticism is to ensure that scientific knowledge can be
subjected to close examination.
(3) In evaluating research reports reviewers should rely both on the stature of the
researcher and the scientific merit of the research.
(4) Scientists are slow to reject a theory even when new evidence invalidates it, but
eventually they are willing to adopt a better theory.
(5) The norms of scientific inquiry are only likely to be upheld if the institutional context in
which research takes place is conducive to it.
QUESTION 3
Identify the epistemological statement.
(1) Social reality and natural reality can be studied in the same way.
(2) Social reality is inherently meaningful.
(3) Human beings are reflexive.
(4) Patriarchy is common in traditional societies.
(5) Hidden structures mask the true nature of social reality.
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Page 2 of 21
, RSC2601
OCT/NOV 2020
QUESTION 4
Which two of the following statements best describe methodology?
Methodology …
(a) is what social scientists discover about the nature of reality.
(b) studies the characteristics of knowledge.
(c) is the logic on which research is based.
(d) provides social scientists with the necessary know-how for research.
(1) (a) (b)
(2) (b) (c)
(3) (c) (d)
(4) (a) (c)
(5) (b) (d)
QUESTION 5
The approach to research that criticises notions of certainty and rationality as a
foundation of knowledge is known as …
(1) feminist research.
(2) positivist social science.
(3) critical social science.
(4) interpretive social science.
(5) postmodernism.
QUESTION 6
Value freedom implies …
(1) that one is free to construct ones’ own scientific values when conducting research.
(2) complete subjectivity whilst conducting research.
(3) that scientific inquiry should not be influenced by values that scientists hold dear.
(4) that scientific inquiry will inevitably be influenced by the scientist’s values.
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[TURN OVER]
Page 3 of 21
, RSC2601
OCT/NOV 2020
QUESTION 7
Identify the statement(s) that has/have the potential to be a social law.
(a) If we exert less force on an object, it will move slower.
(b) The suicide rate decreases as the level of social integration increases.
(c) Men are sexist.
(d) Intelligence is an inherited attribute.
(1) (a) (b)
(2) (c) (d)
(3) (a) (b) (d)
(4) (c)
(5) (b)
QUESTION 8
Indicate the correct sequence of events during the initial stage of a research project.
(a) Conducting a literature review
(b) Decide on a topic to research
(c) Operationalising concepts
(d) Specifying a research question
(e) Framing a hypothesis
(1) (a)→ (b)→ (c)→ (d)→ (e)
(2) (b)→ (a)→ (d)→ (e)→ (c)
(3) (e)→ (b)→ (a)→ (d)→ (c)
(4) (b)→ (d)→ (e)→ (c)→ (a)
QUESTION 9
Identify the statements that are correct in relation to theory in the social sciences.
(a) Theory is a conceptual framework that explains certain occurrences or phenomena.
(b) By suggesting what evidence is required, theory provides an inquiry with focus.
(c) Theories are often proven to be universally true.
(d) The relationship between two variables is known as a theory.
(e) Theories are predictions of phenomena.
CONFIDENTAIL
Page 4 of 21
Exam Papers Bundle
2011-2020
Past Exam Papers
Contains Questions ONLY
, RSC2601
OCT/NOV 2020
QUESTION 1
Ego involvement as a possible error in scientific inquiry is guarded against by
researchers …
(a) doing a thorough literature review.
(b) involving a sufficiently large sample of observations.
(c) rigorously testing hypotheses.
(d) sharing research results with fellow scientists.
(1) (a)
(2) (a) (b)
(3) (a) (b) (c)
(4) (c) (d)
QUESTION 2
Which one of the following statements is INCORRECT regarding norms of scientific
research?
(1) Research results must be made available so that the scientific community can review
and criticise them.
(2) The purpose of organised scepticism is to ensure that scientific knowledge can be
subjected to close examination.
(3) In evaluating research reports reviewers should rely both on the stature of the
researcher and the scientific merit of the research.
(4) Scientists are slow to reject a theory even when new evidence invalidates it, but
eventually they are willing to adopt a better theory.
(5) The norms of scientific inquiry are only likely to be upheld if the institutional context in
which research takes place is conducive to it.
QUESTION 3
Identify the epistemological statement.
(1) Social reality and natural reality can be studied in the same way.
(2) Social reality is inherently meaningful.
(3) Human beings are reflexive.
(4) Patriarchy is common in traditional societies.
(5) Hidden structures mask the true nature of social reality.
CONFIDENTAIL
Page 2 of 21
, RSC2601
OCT/NOV 2020
QUESTION 4
Which two of the following statements best describe methodology?
Methodology …
(a) is what social scientists discover about the nature of reality.
(b) studies the characteristics of knowledge.
(c) is the logic on which research is based.
(d) provides social scientists with the necessary know-how for research.
(1) (a) (b)
(2) (b) (c)
(3) (c) (d)
(4) (a) (c)
(5) (b) (d)
QUESTION 5
The approach to research that criticises notions of certainty and rationality as a
foundation of knowledge is known as …
(1) feminist research.
(2) positivist social science.
(3) critical social science.
(4) interpretive social science.
(5) postmodernism.
QUESTION 6
Value freedom implies …
(1) that one is free to construct ones’ own scientific values when conducting research.
(2) complete subjectivity whilst conducting research.
(3) that scientific inquiry should not be influenced by values that scientists hold dear.
(4) that scientific inquiry will inevitably be influenced by the scientist’s values.
CONFIDENTAIL
[TURN OVER]
Page 3 of 21
, RSC2601
OCT/NOV 2020
QUESTION 7
Identify the statement(s) that has/have the potential to be a social law.
(a) If we exert less force on an object, it will move slower.
(b) The suicide rate decreases as the level of social integration increases.
(c) Men are sexist.
(d) Intelligence is an inherited attribute.
(1) (a) (b)
(2) (c) (d)
(3) (a) (b) (d)
(4) (c)
(5) (b)
QUESTION 8
Indicate the correct sequence of events during the initial stage of a research project.
(a) Conducting a literature review
(b) Decide on a topic to research
(c) Operationalising concepts
(d) Specifying a research question
(e) Framing a hypothesis
(1) (a)→ (b)→ (c)→ (d)→ (e)
(2) (b)→ (a)→ (d)→ (e)→ (c)
(3) (e)→ (b)→ (a)→ (d)→ (c)
(4) (b)→ (d)→ (e)→ (c)→ (a)
QUESTION 9
Identify the statements that are correct in relation to theory in the social sciences.
(a) Theory is a conceptual framework that explains certain occurrences or phenomena.
(b) By suggesting what evidence is required, theory provides an inquiry with focus.
(c) Theories are often proven to be universally true.
(d) The relationship between two variables is known as a theory.
(e) Theories are predictions of phenomena.
CONFIDENTAIL
Page 4 of 21
