Methods of Social Inquiry Test Preparation
Course Introduction
Methods of Social Inquiry introduces students to the fundamental approaches and techniques used in conducting research within the social sciences. The course covers both qualitative and quantitative methodologies, emphasizing the design of research questions, data collection, analysis, and interpretation. Students will explore a variety of methods including surveys, interviews, participant observation, case studies, and content analysis. Through hands-on exercises and critical discussions, the course aims to develop students abilities to assess research validity, reliability, and ethical considerations, equipping them with essential skills for independent investigation and informed evaluation of social phenomena.
Recommended Textbook
Making Sense of the Social World Methods of Investigation 4th Edition by Daniel F. Chambliss
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12 Chapters
707 Verified Questions
707 Flashcards
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Chapter 1: Science, Society, and Social Research
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59 Verified Questions
59 Flashcards
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Sample Questions
Q1) Using the General Social Survey, a researcher finds that of all the religious groups in the United States, Catholics are the single largest group, but combined Protestant denominations outnumber Catholics. This is an example of what kind of research?
A) Exploratory
B) Descriptive
C) Explanatory
D) Evaluation
E) Qualitative
Answer: B
Q2) The everyday error that involves unjustifiably concluding that what is true for some cases is true for all cases is called:
A) Overgeneralization
B) Selective observation
C) Inaccurate observation
D) Illogical reasoning
E) Resistance to change
Answer: A
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Page 3
Chapter 2: The Process and Problems of Social Research
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59 Verified Questions
59 Flashcards
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Sample Questions
Q1) After data have been collected, researchers sometimes find patterns that are unexpected, but nonetheless surprising and exciting. These types of patterns are known as:
A) Empirical
B) Generalizable
C) Descriptive
D) Inductive
E) Serendipitous
Answer: E
Q2) A variable that is hypothesized to vary depending on the influence of another variable is called a(n):
A) Control variable
B) Dependent variable
C) Independent variable
D) Dichotomous variable
E) Extraneous variable
Answer: B
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Chapter 3: Ethics in Research
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Sample Questions
Q1) Which of the following are issues with obtaining informed consent?
A) Consent form must be clear and understandable.
B) Consent form should be sufficiently long and detailed to explain what will actually happen in the research.
C) Some participants cannot truly give consent.
D) Must be aware of vulnerable populations.
E) All of the above
Answer: E
Q2) Institutions seeking federal funds for research involving human subjects must have a group that reviews research proposals.
A)True
B)False
Answer: True
Q3) The researcher who conducted famous studies on obedience was Stanley Milgram. A)True
B)False
Answer: True
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Chapter 4: Conceptualization and Measurement
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Sample Questions
Q1) Codes can be created by using key words from the text that is being analyzed.
A)True
B)False
Q2) Which of the following is not a type of unobtrusive measure?
A) Archives
B) Contrived observation
C) Indexes
D) Physical trace evidence
E) Simple observations
Q3) What is triangulation? Why is triangulated measurement superior to single forms of measurement?
Q4) Reliability is a prerequisite for measurement validity.
A)True
B)False
Q5) Concepts that do not vary are known as constants.
A)True
B)False
Q6) A scale is an index in which different items are given different weights.
A)True
B)False
Page 6
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Chapter 5: Sampling and Generalizability
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Sample Questions
Q1) A list of registered voters in City X show that 30% of the population is registered Democrat, 50% is registered Republican, and 20% is registered Independent/Other. Which of the following would be closest to a proportionate stratified random sample of 100 voters in City X?
A) 33 Democrats, 33 Republicans, and 34 Independent/Others
B) 40 Democrats, 40 Republicans, and 20 Independent/Others
C) 50 Democrats, 30 Republicans, and 20 Independent/Others
D) 30 Democrats, 50 Republicans, and 20 Independent/Others
E) 50 Democrats, 50 Republicans, and 0 Independent/Others
Q2) When magazines and websites create surveys that readers or visitors to the website can choose to complete, what type of sampling method is used?
A) Simple random
B) Availability
C) Purposive
D) Quota
E) Stratified random
Q3) How does a simple random sample differ from an availability sample? Which is better for social research and why?
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Chapter 6: Causation and Experimental Design
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Sample Questions
Q1) Two types of before-and-after experimental designs in which multiple pretest and posttest observations are made of the same group are:
A) Solomon four group designs and panel designs
B) Panel designs and repeated measures panel designs
C) Repeated measure panel designs and time series designs
D) Time series designs and nonequivalent control group designs
E) Nonequivalent control group designs and Solomon four group designs
Q2) The common feature of all before-and-after designs is:
A) Deliberate assignment is used to determine control and experimental groups
B) All cases receive the experimental treatment
C) Pretests are given to only half of the subjects
D) Group assignment occurs through matching
E) Multiple groups are used as experimental and control groups
Q3) Why aren't experiments very generalizable? What can be done to improve the external invalidity of experiments?
Q4) Is it possible to determine whether a treatment led to a change in the value of cases on the dependent variable in an experiment in which there was no pretest? Explain your answer.
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Page 8
Chapter 7: Survey Research
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Sample Questions
Q1) Face-to-face social interaction occurs between researcher and respondent only in:
A) Mailed surveys
B) Web surveys
C) Phone surveys
D) In-person surveys
E) E-mail surveys
Q2) Web surveys are becoming popular due to their flexibility and inexpensiveness.
A)True
B)False
Q3) If a respondent is forced to choose an answer from a list of responses, but the respondent doesn't really know anything about the question, the person who designed the survey has taken which of the following into consideration:
A) Context
B) Floaters
C) Double-barreling
D) Bias
E) Fence-sitting
Q4) Outline the procedure for pretesting a survey.
Q5) Describe in detail how response rates can be improved for mailed surveys.
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Chapter 8: Elementary Quantitative Data Analysis
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Sample Questions
Q1) Which of the following would best illustrate marital status in a diagram as explained in the text?
A) Histogram
B) Frequency polygon
C) Box plot
D) Bar chart
E) Pie chart
Q2) Crosstabulations show relationships between ____________, while elaboration considers _____________.
A) one variable, two variables
B) two variables, three or more variables,
C) independent variables, independent and dependent variables
D) categoric variables, numeric variables
E) nominal variables, ratio variables
Q3) Describe circumstances in which mean, median, and modes are best used as measures of central tendency, providing at least two concrete examples for each.
Q4) Data cleaning occurs before data entry.
A)True
B)False
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Chapter 9: Qualitative Methods: Observing, Participating, Listening
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Sample Questions
Q1) Which role makes it difficult for researchers to get information because they cannot ask questions that will around suspicion about themselves:
A) Complete observer
B) Participant observer
C) Covert participant
D) Intensive interview
E) Focus group leader
Q2) Covert participation is a form of complete observation.
A)True
B)False
Q3) Intensive interviewing with key informants should continue until new interviews yield little new information.
A)True
B)False
Q4) Taking and analyzing field research notes is a time-consuming and interactive process, in which the field researcher develops ideas from analyzing notes that then guide the next round of note-taking. Describe this approach and discuss its advantages and disadvantages.
Q5) How is an intensive interview different from a survey?
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Chapter 10: Qualitative Data Analysis
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Sample Questions
Q1) Although the volume of data collected in qualitative analysis can overwhelm an inexperienced researcher, Chambliss and Schutt recommend which of the following to keep control of your data?
A) Discard unused data after the conceptualization stage
B) Maintain a disciplined transcription schedule
C) Hire professional transcribers
D) Review field notes and transcriptions only after the observation period has finished E) Keep personal feelings and impressions separate from field notes
Q2) Visual sociology may use photographs and film as text.
A)True
B)False
Q3) It is beneficial for researchers always to stick with one qualitative method and not use several together.
A)True
B)False
Q4) Outline the general phases of qualitative data analysis, beginning in the field and ending with a research report.
Q5) What is the relationship between narrative analysis and ethnomethodology?
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Chapter 11: Unobtrusive Measures
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Sample Questions
Q1) The services delivered or new products produced by a social program are program:
A) Process
B) Outputs
C) Theory
D) Participation
E) Evaluation
Q2) To find out if a new program is needed in a community, conduct a:
A) Process evaluation
B) Evaluability assessment
C) Impact analysis
D) Needs assessment
E) Efficiency assessment
Q3) The preferred method for maximizing internal validity in impact analysis is:
A) Process theory
B) Stakeholder orientation
C) Black box orientation
D) Experimental design
E) Qualitative methods
Q4) How and why did evaluation research develop? How does it differ from other types of social science research?
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Chapter 12: Evaluation Research
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Sample Questions
Q1) When critiquing the methods of published research, which two elements are most important to assess?
A) Independent and dependent variables
B) Measurement approach and sampling strategy
C) Date of publication and length of article
D) Model tested and variables used
E) Hypothesis and Conclusion
Q2) Describe the strengths and weaknesses of experimental designs, surveys, and qualitative methods. Provide concrete examples of research questions that are appropriate for each type of research method.
Q3) When critiquing prior research, which of the following should not be considered?
A) Are there any grammatical errors or improper sentence structures?
B) How was the report reviewed prior to the publication or release?
C) What is the author's reputation?
D) Who funded and sponsored the research?
E) All of the above should be considered
Q4) What is the difference between an abstract and a conclusion in terms of content?
Q5) How does your audience affect the way that you will write up a research report?
Q6) What is the purpose of a literature review in a proposal and a research report?
Q7) Outline the sections of a research report. Explain the purpose of each section.
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