Qualitative Methods in Sociology
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Course Introduction
Qualitative Methods in Sociology introduces students to the theoretical foundations and practical techniques used to study social phenomena through non-numerical data. This course covers key methodologies such as ethnography, in-depth interviewing, participant observation, and content analysis. Students will learn how to design qualitative research projects, collect and interpret qualitative data, and critically assess the strengths and limitations of various qualitative approaches. Emphasis is placed on understanding the ethical considerations involved in research and developing skills in data coding, thematic analysis, and effective communication of qualitative findings.
Recommended Textbook Making Sense of the Social World Methods of Investigation 4th Edition by Daniel F. Chambliss
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Chapter 1: Science, Society, and Social Research
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Q1) Overgeneralizations occur when people conclude that what is true for some cases is true for all cases.
A)True
B)False
Answer: True
Q2) Both explanatory and evaluation research studies are concerned with the causes and effects of social phenomena. The difference between them is that evaluation research focuses on the:
A) Effect of particular policies or programs
B) Meanings that people give their actions
C) Description of the social phenomena of interest
D) Consideration of the impact of social context
E) How people get along in the setting under study
Answer: A
Q3) Cross-population validity determines whether the findings based on a sample can be generalized to a different population than the one from which it was drawn.
A)True
B)False
Answer: False
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Chapter 2: The Process and Problems of Social Research
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Q1) Attrition in panel studies refers to which of the following?
A) Over time, the population changes.
B) Panel members begin to tire of repeated questioning and give thoughtless, stock answers during interviews.
C) The process of sample selection must remain the same at time 1 and time 2.
D) Some members of the panel may drop out of the study.
E) The process of re-interviewing a panel of informants at multiple points in time.
Answer: D
Q2) In a review of the average teacher salaries across school districts, Flo found a range from $35,000 to $65,000, with teachers in urban school districts generally earning more than those in rural and suburban school districts. Flo has done what:
A) Made an empirical generalization
B) Constructed a theory
C) Tested a theory
D) Constructed a hypothesis
E) All of the above
Answer: A
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Chapter 3: Ethics in Research
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Q1) The Belmont Report established three basic ethical principles for the protection of human subjects.
A)True
B)False
Answer: True
Q2) The simple answer to the question "What is ethical research practice?" is:
A) Never using deception
B) Only using children in an obviously ethical manner
C) Making sure no harm is caused to subjects
D) Being sure to compensate human subjects for their participation
E) There is no simple answer
Answer: E
Q3) If deception is used in an experiment, the researcher must ________ the participants afterwards, in order to conduct ethical research.
A) debrief
B) advise
C) disclose
D) notify
E) none of the above
Answer: A
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Chapter 4: Conceptualization and Measurement
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Q1) Propose a study using direct observations and unobtrusive measures for measuring conspicuous consumption among college students. Identify several measures that you might use in this study. Discuss how using direct observation and unobtrusive measures has advantages and disadvantages relative to surveys for measuring conspicuous consumption.
Q2) Concepts have meanings that are understood well by almost all members of a population.
A)True
B)False
Q3) Nominal and ordinal level closed-ended questions must be mutually exclusive and exhaustive.
A)True
B)False
Q4) Samples of individuals who use social media such as Facebook are representative of the whole population.
A)True
B)False
Q5) What are the advantages and disadvantages of using single questions rather than multidimensional index scores to measure concepts?
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Chapter 5: Sampling and Generalizability
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Q1) In what circumstances are non-probability sampling methods appropriate? What are the limitations of using non-probability sampling methods?
Q2) A subset of the population used to study the population as a whole is known as a(n):
A) Target population
B) Sampling frame
C) Sample
D) Element
E) Sampling unit
Q3) Which of the following is not a common type of probability sampling?
A) Simple random sampling
B) Systematic random sampling
C) Haphazard sampling
D) Cluster sampling
E) Stratified random sampling
Q4) How does a simple random sample differ from an availability sample? Which is better for social research and why?
Q5) Should the U.S. Census be replaced by a survey of a random sample? Evaluate the arguments for and against this change.
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Chapter 6: Causation and Experimental Design
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Q1) Which of the following are particularly useful for studying the impact of new laws or social programs that affect large numbers of people?
A) Multiple group before-and-after design
B) Time series design
C) Repeated measures panel design
D) Ex post facto design
E) Test design
Q2) Before-and-after experimental designs lack control groups.
A)True
B)False
Q3) When parents are registering their children for kindergarten, they are given the opportunity to enroll their children in an experimental music program that researchers hope will improve overall learning. What experimental design is being used?
A)Experiment
B) Non-equivalent control group
C) Before and after
D) Time Series
E) Solomon Four Group
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Chapter 7: Survey Research
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Q1) What guideline does the following question violate in terms of guidelines for writing questions: Do you disagree that there should not be an exam on Chapter 6?
A) Avoid double negatives
B) Avoid double-barreled questions
C) Minimize risk of biased words
D) Avoid making disagreement or agreement disagreeable
E) Minimize fence sitting and floating
Q2) Why would the presence of an interviewer make it difficult for respondents to give honest answers?
A) Respondent may want to please the interviewer
B) Respondent may not want to talk about socially undesirable behavior
C) Respondent may be affected by the attitude of the interviewer
D) Both a and b
E) All of the above
Q3) An omnibus survey does not need a specific research focus.
A)True
B)False
Q4) Discuss the principal ethical problems in surveys. Why are surveys generally regarded as having fewer ethical dilemmas?
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Chapter 8: Elementary Quantitative Data Analysis
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Q1) A frequency polygon contains solid bars separated by spaces.
A)True
B)False
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) Chi square is an inferential statistic.
A)True
B)False
Q4) Nominal variables should be displayed on:
A) Bar charts
B) Histograms
C) Frequency polygons
D) Both a and b
E) All of the above
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Chapter 9: Qualitative Methods: Observing, Participating, Listening
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Q1) When conducting a study of grassroots movements that organized to keep big box stores out of their neighborhood, Wendy agreed to serve as the secretary for that group. What role did she take in the field?
A) Complete observer
B) Participant observer
C) Complete participant
D) Covert participant
E) Investigative observer
Q2) In participant observation, researchers do not reveal their true identities to their subjects until after the research is complete.
A)True
B)False
Q3) Writing field notes:
A) Occurs while actively observing in the field
B) Usually takes at least three times as long as observation
C) Involves separating the researchers' impressions and feelings from what was actually observed
D) Can occur anytime within a month of the observation period
E) Is the same thing as writing jottings
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Chapter 10: Qualitative Data Analysis
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Q1) When a researcher is conducting interviews and enhances them by using systematic measuring techniques, the researcher is:
A) Combining qualitative methods
B) Combining qualitative and quantitative methods
C) Employing quantitative analyses only
D) Masking quantitative analysis as qualitative
E) Being a good researcher
Q2) The "centerpiece" of the qualitative analysis process is:
A) Reflexivity
B) Holism
C) Examining relationships
D) Documentation
E) The role of the researcher
Q3) What is a case study? Why is it used?
Q4) A researcher should always be reflexive and know his or her own biases before entering the field.
A)True
B)False
Q5) What is the relationship between narrative analysis and ethnomethodology?
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Q6) How is oral history similar to and different from narrative analysis?
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Chapter 11: Unobtrusive Measures
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Q1) The more complex the social problem, the more value that qualitative methods can add to the evaluation process.
A)True
B)False
Q2) What steps can be taken to lessen the potential detrimental impact of social programs on participants? What other ethical issues should evaluation researchers consider, both in terms of social science ethics and federally mandated criteria?
Q3) When is it appropriate to use qualitative methods for evaluation research?
A) To uncover how different individuals react to treatment
B) For quick comparisons of categories
C) For systematically tracking change
D) For comparing outcomes between an experimental and a control group
E) None of the above
Q4) Based on the information in Chapter 11, how would you evaluate the success of the DARE program? Explain your answer fully.
Q5) How and why did evaluation research develop? How does it differ from other types of social science research?
Q6) Why is evaluation research more political than other forms of social research?
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Chapter 12: Evaluation Research
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Q1) Experimental designs are strongest for testing causal hypotheses.
A)True
B)False
Q2) Outline the sections of a research proposal. Explain the purpose of each section.
Q3) A research proposal would not include:
A) A literature review
B) A methodological plan
C) A statement of limitations
D) A summary of findings
E) Pilot study results
Q4) The author's reputation and previous articles should have no bearing on how you assess the findings of a journal article.
A)True
B)False
Q5) What is the difference between an abstract and a conclusion in terms of content?
Q6) Melbin "Night as Frontier" study (1978) used field experiments to test their hypotheses.
A)True
B)False
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