RSC2601
EXAM PACK
Solutions, Explanations, workings, and references
+27 81 278 3372
,This paper comprises 21 pages. Pocket calculators are not required for this exam.
Please complete the attendance register on the back page, tear it off and hand it to the
invigilator.
VERY IMPORTANT
1. You are about to answer 60 multiple-choice questions. If you are sure of the answer
to an item, mark it as explained in the instructions. If you are not sure of the answer,
you can either try to answer or omit the item:
(a) if you answer correctly, you will receive a mark; and
(b) If you answer incorrectly, you will not receive a mark. Since there is no penalty
for wrong answers, you should try to answer every item in order to obtain the
highest possible score.
2. Read the instructions on the examination mark-reading sheet and follow these
instructions carefully. After completing the examination, you must hand in the
following:
(a) one mark-reading sheet; and
(b) THIS EXAMINATION PAPER.
CONFIDENTAIL
[TURN OVER]
Page 1 of 21
, 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
EXAM PACK
Solutions, Explanations, workings, and references
+27 81 278 3372
,This paper comprises 21 pages. Pocket calculators are not required for this exam.
Please complete the attendance register on the back page, tear it off and hand it to the
invigilator.
VERY IMPORTANT
1. You are about to answer 60 multiple-choice questions. If you are sure of the answer
to an item, mark it as explained in the instructions. If you are not sure of the answer,
you can either try to answer or omit the item:
(a) if you answer correctly, you will receive a mark; and
(b) If you answer incorrectly, you will not receive a mark. Since there is no penalty
for wrong answers, you should try to answer every item in order to obtain the
highest possible score.
2. Read the instructions on the examination mark-reading sheet and follow these
instructions carefully. After completing the examination, you must hand in the
following:
(a) one mark-reading sheet; and
(b) THIS EXAMINATION PAPER.
CONFIDENTAIL
[TURN OVER]
Page 1 of 21
, 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
