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BESC 3020 Study Guide Test 1
Questions with 100% Correct Answers
| for Specific Exam Mail
Identify the major sources of knowledge.
Ans: 1. Personal experience (small portion of knowledge)
2. Tradition or existing knowledge (don't need to start from
scratch with inherited knowledge)
3. Authority or experts (trust the judgement of the experts)
What kind of truth are we looking for in science and
social research?
Ans: Relative truth because things can change
What are the major causes of errors and biases?
:
vPretest - Stuvia US
,2
Ans: -Inaccurate observations (human or equipment
error)
-Over-generalization (internal vs. external validity, ex:
unrepresented sample, small samples, jumping to
conclusions on few observations)
-Selective observation (major source of bias, only see
what we want to see)
-Illogical reasoning (off the mark to absurd)
Bias is intentional, error is unintentional
Differentiate between continuous and discrete variables.
Ans: Continuous: Can have many values and increases
continually in tiny fractions ex: age, income, height, shoe
size, etc.
Discrete: Two or more logically related attributes or
categories. Ex: Occupation can be professor, plumber,
farmer, etc. or traditional students/non-traditional
Define and find examples of independent and
dependent variables.
:
vPretest - Stuvia US
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Ans: Independent: Cause
Dependent: Effect
Explain why something happens. Ex: Babies and
accidents, drinking and drunkenness
How many values does a constant have?
Ans: One
What does a theory refer to?
Ans: What is and why they happen, not what should be.
(No values, imagination, beliefs or speculation. Just facts
and logic)
What does social science research attempt to address?
Ans: Find a theory, social regularities (patterns). Why
something happens (groups, not individuals).
Define and find examples of over-generalization.
:
vPretest - Stuvia US
, 4
Ans: Over-generalization (internal vs. external validity, ex:
unrepresented sample, small samples, jumping to
conclusions on few observations)
Define and find examples of idiographic and nomothetic
explanations.
Ans: -Idiographic: explains a single situation peculiar to
an individual in great detail. Case studies, comparative
and historical research, and field research typically follow
this approach.
-Nomothetic: seeks to explain a class of situations or
events rather than a single one, using one or just a few
explanatory factors (or variables), and seeking a partial
rather than full explanation. This is the approach social
sciences use the most.
Define and find examples of induction and deduction.
:
vPretest - Stuvia US
BESC 3020 Study Guide Test 1
Questions with 100% Correct Answers
| for Specific Exam Mail
Identify the major sources of knowledge.
Ans: 1. Personal experience (small portion of knowledge)
2. Tradition or existing knowledge (don't need to start from
scratch with inherited knowledge)
3. Authority or experts (trust the judgement of the experts)
What kind of truth are we looking for in science and
social research?
Ans: Relative truth because things can change
What are the major causes of errors and biases?
:
vPretest - Stuvia US
,2
Ans: -Inaccurate observations (human or equipment
error)
-Over-generalization (internal vs. external validity, ex:
unrepresented sample, small samples, jumping to
conclusions on few observations)
-Selective observation (major source of bias, only see
what we want to see)
-Illogical reasoning (off the mark to absurd)
Bias is intentional, error is unintentional
Differentiate between continuous and discrete variables.
Ans: Continuous: Can have many values and increases
continually in tiny fractions ex: age, income, height, shoe
size, etc.
Discrete: Two or more logically related attributes or
categories. Ex: Occupation can be professor, plumber,
farmer, etc. or traditional students/non-traditional
Define and find examples of independent and
dependent variables.
:
vPretest - Stuvia US
,3
Ans: Independent: Cause
Dependent: Effect
Explain why something happens. Ex: Babies and
accidents, drinking and drunkenness
How many values does a constant have?
Ans: One
What does a theory refer to?
Ans: What is and why they happen, not what should be.
(No values, imagination, beliefs or speculation. Just facts
and logic)
What does social science research attempt to address?
Ans: Find a theory, social regularities (patterns). Why
something happens (groups, not individuals).
Define and find examples of over-generalization.
:
vPretest - Stuvia US
, 4
Ans: Over-generalization (internal vs. external validity, ex:
unrepresented sample, small samples, jumping to
conclusions on few observations)
Define and find examples of idiographic and nomothetic
explanations.
Ans: -Idiographic: explains a single situation peculiar to
an individual in great detail. Case studies, comparative
and historical research, and field research typically follow
this approach.
-Nomothetic: seeks to explain a class of situations or
events rather than a single one, using one or just a few
explanatory factors (or variables), and seeking a partial
rather than full explanation. This is the approach social
sciences use the most.
Define and find examples of induction and deduction.
:
vPretest - Stuvia US
