Test Bank for Researching Society and Culture 5th Edition by Seale ISBN: 9781529628982
Researching Society and Culture 5e Seale Test Bank
Researching Society and Culture (5th) ISBN 9781529628982 | Chapter 2 Total Questions: 16
Multiple Choice (10) Q1. [Multiple Choice]
Why did Karl Popper think falsificationism was desirable in science? a) Because he wanted to rule out mistakes b) Because he thought false information would lead to errors c) Because falsifiable statements were characteristic of best scientific practice ✓ correct d) Because he wanted to prove Marx was wrong Q2. [Multiple Choice]
Which of these terms refers to the use of human senses to gather data about the world? a) Epistemology b) Empiricism ✓ correct c) Naturalism d) Phenomenology Q3. [Multiple Choice]
What is the difference between deduction and induction? a) Induction is positivist whereas deduction is interpretivist b) Induction involves using multiple observations to create generalisations, whereas deduction involves inferring a thing if a pre-existing premise is true. ✓ correct c) Induction means you take a relativist approach whereas deduction is absolutist. d) Induction is an ontological statement whereas deduction is not. Q4. [Multiple Choice]
What does it mean to say that the social world is socially constructed? a) People gather together to make things. b) Everything is relative. c) The social world is a product of human interaction ✓ correct d) Social scientists have the same relationship to the social world as natural scientists have to the physical world. Q5. [Multiple Choice]
Which of the following is a central tenet of positivism? a) The methods of the natural sciences are methods that social scientists should use ✓ correct b) People will get positive benefits from participating in research c) Positive correlations are better than negative ones d) Social scientists should seek to uncover the socially constructed nature of the social world Q6. [Multiple Choice]
User-led research means that a) Research is more objective b) People who fund research use its results, so take the lead in planning it c) Users of services plan, carry out and participate in research projects ✓ correct d) Research brings about scientific revolutions
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Researching Society and Culture 5e Seale Test Bank
Q7. [Multiple Choice]
Philosophical idealism involves the belief that a) the world exists only in people’s minds ✓ correct b) the purpose of philosophy is to bring about an ideal state of affairs c) ideas take precedence over values d) social scientists are unrealistic if they think their activities are really scientific Q8. [Multiple Choice]
What did Schutz say about subjectivity? a) There is no point in trying to be objective, so we might as well accept that all science depends on subjective points of view b) Only qualitative methods can study subjectivity c) Research subjects are insufficiently active d) It is possible to study subjectivity objectively ✓ correct Q9. [Multiple Choice]
Standpoint epistemology is the view that a) ontological statements are examples of subtle realism b) different social positions produce different experiences and therefore lead to different types of knowledge. ✓ correct c) verificationist approaches are wrong d) there is very little difference between positivism and interpretivism Q10. [Multiple Choice]
Scientific revolutions are moments when a) a theory is falsified b) paradigms are overthrown and replaced by new ones ✓ correct c) scientists overcome oppression through action research d) postmodern approaches replace modernist approaches to social research Short Response (6) Q11. [Short Response]
Describe some key differences between positivism and interpretivism Suggested answer: Positivism emphasises objective, observable phenomena and seeks to uncover universal laws through empirical observation and experimentation. Interpretivism, on the other hand, focuses on subjective meanings and social constructions, emphasising understanding through context and interpretation rather than quantifiable data. Q12. [Short Response]
What was Karl Popper’s view about how science can be demarcated/differentiated from non-science? Suggested answer: Karl Popper proposed the falsifiability criterion, suggesting that scientific theories must be falsifiable, meaning they can be tested and potentially disproven through empirical evidence. He argued that science distinguishes itself from non-science by its willingness to subject hypotheses to rigorous testing and potential falsification. Q13. [Short Response]
What is the hypothetico-deductive method, and how does it differ from induction? Suggested answer: The hypothetico-deductive method involves formulating hypotheses based on existing theories, then testing these hypotheses through empirical observation and experimentation. Unlike induction, which involves deriving general principles from specific observations, hypothetico-deductive reasoning starts with general principles and tests them against empirical evidence.
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Researching Society and Culture 5e Seale Test Bank
Q14. [Short Response]
What are the problems that falsificationism purports to address? Does it tackle them satisfactorily? Suggested answer: Falsificationism aims to address issues of scientific progress by emphasising the importance of testing theories through falsifiability rather than verification. It contends that theories should be judged by their ability to withstand attempts at falsification. Q15. [Short Response]
Can a science of society be objective? Should it be? Suggested answer: The objectivity of social science is debated. While some argue that social research can strive for objectivity by minimising bias and adhering to rigorous methodologies, others contend that complete objectivity is unattainable due to the subjective nature of social phenomena. Whether it should be objective depends on philosophical perspectives and research goals. Q16. [Short Response]
What are the arguments for and against the view that social research should be controlled and directed by research participants? Suggested answer: Arguments for participant control in social research include empowering marginalised voices, ensuring ethical research practices, and producing more relevant and accurate data. Arguments against participant control include concerns about bias, loss of researcher autonomy, and methodological rigour.
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Researching Society and Culture 5e Seale Test Bank