Research Methods in Sociology

The term interpretive framework can be defined as:

• A basis for which sociologists determine whether their independent and dependent variables reflect the results.

• A sociological research approach that seeks in-depth understanding of a topic or subject through observation or interaction; this approach is not based on hypothesis testing.

• An established scholarly research method that involves asking a question, researching existing sources, forming a hypothesis, designing and conducting a study, and drawing conclusions.

• Specific explanations of abstract concepts that a researcher plans to study

A class of third graders is told that the assistant principal will be visiting their class to confirm their teacher’s reports of bad behavior. When the principal visits, the students behave perfectly. This is an example of ________.

• The Authority Effect

• The Regressive Effect

• The Hawthorne Effect

• The Cognizant Effect

In order to better understand the sorority pledging process at her university for her sociology thesis, Carmen pledges with a popular sorority. This is an example of _____.

• Literature review

• Participant observation

• Secondary data analysis

• Dependent variables

Which of the following is an example of an unethical sociological research practice?

• Conducting a literature review prior to conducting an experiment

• Drawing conclusions from a study which the hypothesis did not predict

• Observing study participants without their consent

• Using a control group and an experimental group during observation

John wants to study whether a larger number of laptops available to students at his school lead to higher grades. Choose the independent and dependent variable.

• Independent variable: Grades; Dependent variable: Number of laptops

• Independent variable: John; Dependent variable: Grades

• Independent variable: Grades; Dependent variable: John

• Independent variable: Number of laptops; Dependent variable: Grades

The term value neutrality is defined by the text as:

• A practice of remaining impartial, without bias or judgment during the course of a study and in publishing results.

• The study of evolving ethics and morals in relation to sociological research.

• A systematic approach to record and value information gleaned from secondary data as it relates to the study at hand.

• A study’s participants being randomly selected to serve as a representation of a larger population.

Alexis wants to research the 1960’s feminist movement. She reads articles from the time period, watches documentaries, reads scholarly journals on the topic, and interviews influential women from the movement. What kind of research method is Alexis using?

• Ethnography

• Surveys

• Experiments

• Secondary data analysis

What is the importance of interpretive framework?

• It leads to in-depth knowledge of a participant’s social world.

• It eliminates the need for a literature review.

• It relies on statistics to determine causal relationships.

• It prevents researchers from making unethical decisions.

Kyle is collecting newspaper clippings from his grandfather about the American public’s perception of World War II. This is an example of ______.

• Tertiary data

• Interactive data

• Primary data

• Secondary data

Reliability is defined by the text as:

• How well the study measures what it was designed to measure.

• How long a study is expected to remain relevant and influential.

• How close the study’s results come to the experimenter’s hypothesis.

• A measure of a study’s consistency that considers how likely results are to be replicated if a study is reproduced.