60 Questions
Which research strategy emphasizes the use of numerical data to describe a social phenomenon, explain its causes, and infer which variable causes variation observed in the other variable?
Quantitative research
Which research strategy emphasizes the exploration of meanings and understanding how and why things happen in particular ways, under what circumstances, or through what processes?
Qualitative research
Which approach to research involves the formulation of hypotheses based on existing theories and testing them through the collection and analysis of data?
Deductive approach
Which approach to research begins with concepts that give a general sense of what to look for, but tends not to be restricted by fixed concepts?
Inductive approach
Which type of research is more concerned with testing hypotheses, causality, generalizability, and replicability?
Quantitative research
What is the emphasis of research on generalizability?
Application to wider populations
What is the relationship between reliability and validity?
Reliability depends on validity
What is construct validity?
The extent to which a measure reflects and helps capture the idea or concept it is supposed to be denoting
Which of the following is a challenge in ensuring that findings from different cultures are directly comparable?
Variations in the way questions are asked
What is the purpose of a literature review in social research?
To identify unresolved issues and/or research gaps
What is the role of conceptualization in social research?
To explicitly define a concept
What is the purpose of identifying relevant informants for a study?
To define the scope of the study and ensure relevant data collection
Which of the following is a potential limitation of experimental designs?
Many independent variables of interest cannot be manipulated.
What is a potential problem with the pre-test in experimental designs?
The pre-test could influence how participants respond to the post-test.
Why are qualitative researchers less likely to use experimental designs?
Experimental designs do not allow for in-depth exploration of meanings and contexts.
What is the panel conditioning effect?
The influence of participating in a panel study on subsequent responses.
Which one of these statements accurately describes the difference between a working definition and a standardized definition of a concept?
A working definition is specific and unambiguous, while a standardized definition is formed based on the utility of a particular conceptualization and operationalization.
Is open-endedness more obvious in conceptualization and operationalization in qualitative research?
Yes, open-endedness is more obvious in conceptualization and operationalization in qualitative research because qualitative research often involves exploring new or complex phenomena that may not have clear definitions or measures.
What is the purpose of sampling in research?
To select a suitable population for the research question(s) and inform the choice/design of research instrument and the decision about the administration of a research instrument.
What is the relationship between sample size and sampling error?
A larger sample size decreases sampling error, but cannot guarantee precision or be 100% error-free.
What are the advantages of using a self-administered questionnaire for data collection?
Low response rates; Less influenced by interviewer effects; More controlled and standardized research process
What are the limitations of using a self-administered questionnaire for data collection?
Respondents cannot clarify what they do not understand; Respondents may not give answers as instructed; Respondents can get tired and give up questions which they do not perceive as salient; Questions may not be answered in the intended order; Question order effects could manifest when the questionnaire is read as a whole before questions are answered; Respondents not targeted by the research could be involved in completing the questionnaire
What are the advantages of using a structured interview for data collection?
Higher response rates; Better quality data; Ability to clarify questions and probe for more information
What are the limitations of using a semi-structured interview for data collection?
Heavy dependence on interviewees' capacity to remember and verbalize; Researchers tend to have more fleeting contact with research participants; Access to vulnerable populations, deviant and hidden activities is not as well facilitated when compared to observational methods
Which of the following is the purpose of designing a survey instrument?
To collect personal information
What are filter questions in a survey instrument?
Questions that filter out participants who do not meet certain criteria
What is the difference between open-ended and closed-ended questions?
Open-ended questions allow for a range of responses, while closed-ended questions provide a limited set of options for participants to choose from.
What is an advantage of open-ended questions?
They allow respondents to provide their own answers and express their thoughts in their own terms, which can lead to more accurate and insightful responses.
What is a disadvantage of open-ended questions?
They require greater effort from respondents and generate answers that take a long time to code.
What is an advantage of closed-ended questions?
They filter out participants who do not meet certain criteria, such as age, gender, or income level.
Which one of the following is a key preoccupation of quantitative research?
Explaining causes of variation
Which one of the following is a key preoccupation of qualitative research?
Understanding how a social phenomenon unfolds over time in context
Which one of the following is NOT a consideration when formulating a research question?
Feasibility of research procedures
What is the purpose of a literature review in social research?
To provide theoretical grounding and identify gaps in knowledge
Which of the following best describes the purpose of a literature review in social research?
To identify unresolved issues and research gaps
What does a theory do in social research?
It represents a perspective to look at things
Which research strategy emphasizes the exploration of meanings and understanding how and why things happen in particular ways?
Qualitative research
What is the role of theory in social research?
To help explain social phenomena
Which of the following accurately describes the purpose of a literature review in social research?
To differentiate the quality of different sources of literature
What is the process of explicitly defining what is meant by a particular concept called?
Conceptualization
Which of the following accurately describes the purpose of operationalization in social research?
To measure a concept in a precise and defined manner
Which research strategy emphasizes the exploration of meanings and understanding how and why things happen in particular ways, under what circumstances, or through what processes?
Qualitative research
Which of the following research designs is most commonly used in medical and health-related research?
Experimental design
Which of the following is a strength of experimental designs?
Strong internal validity
Which of the following is a limitation of experimental designs?
Low ecological validity
Which of the following research designs shares some characteristics of experimental designs, but does not involve random assignment of participants to experimental and control groups?
Quasi-experimental design
Which of the following is a potential limitation of cross-sectional design?
Lower internal validity when compared to experimental design
Which of the following is a strength of comparative design?
Allows for the study of causal effects of variables
Which of the following is a limitation of longitudinal design?
Time-consuming and costly
Which of the following is a type of longitudinal design?
Panel study
Which research design is concerned with illuminating social change and improving the understanding of causal influences over time?
Panel study
What is the purpose of a cohort study?
To ascertain age effects
Which unit of analysis is most commonly used in social research?
Social relations
What is the purpose of a case study?
To generate theory
What is the main limitation of using a case study for research?
External validity
Which research strategy emphasizes the exploration of meanings and understanding how and why things happen in particular ways?
Qualitative research
What is the main difference between quantitative and qualitative research?
Quantitative research focuses on explaining social phenomena through numbers and correlations, while qualitative research seeks to explore how people develop meanings of the social world in specific contexts.
What is the main assumption of quantitative research?
All of the above assumptions are correct.
What is the main assumption of qualitative research?
Social life cannot be studied in the same way as we study the natural world.
What is the main focus of quantitative research?
To describe and ascertain causality.
Study Notes
Research Strategies
- Quantitative research emphasizes the use of numerical data to describe a social phenomenon, explain its causes, and infer which variable causes variation in another variable.
Approaches to Research
- Deductive approach involves the formulation of hypotheses based on existing theories and testing them through the collection and analysis of data.
- Inductive approach begins with concepts that give a general sense of what to look for, but tends not to be restricted by fixed concepts.
Characteristics of Research
- Quantitative research is more concerned with testing hypotheses, causality, generalizability, and replicability.
- Generalizability in research refers to the ability to apply the findings to other contexts or populations.
- Reliability and validity are related concepts, where reliability is the consistency of a measure, and validity is the extent to which a measure measures what it is supposed to measure.
- Construct validity is the extent to which a measure measures the concept it is supposed to measure.
Research Design
- Experimental designs are concerned with testing hypotheses, causality, generalizability, and replicability.
- A limitation of experimental designs is the artificiality of the laboratory setting.
- Panel conditioning effect refers to the phenomenon where participants in a study change their behavior due to repeated testing.
- Qualitative researchers are less likely to use experimental designs because they focus on understanding meanings and processes.
Conceptualization and Operationalization
- Conceptualization is the process of defining what is meant by a particular concept.
- Operationalization is the process of explicitly defining how a concept will be measured.
Sampling and Data Collection
- The purpose of sampling is to select a subset of the population that is representative of the entire population.
- Sample size and sampling error are related, where a larger sample size reduces sampling error.
- Self-administered questionnaires are advantages in terms of cost and time, but may have low response rates.
- Structured interviews have the advantage of being more efficient and allowing for standardization, but may lack depth.
- Filter questions in a survey instrument are used to determine whether respondents should answer subsequent questions.
Question Types
- Open-ended questions allow respondents to provide detailed responses, but may be time-consuming to analyze.
- Closed-ended questions are more efficient, but may limit respondents' answers.
- The purpose of a literature review is to identify gaps in existing knowledge and to contextualize the research question.
Theories and Hypotheses
- A theory provides a framework for understanding a phenomenon and making predictions.
- The role of theory in social research is to provide a framework for understanding and making predictions.
Research Designs
- Cross-sectional design is a type of research design that studies a sample of the population at a single point in time.
- Longitudinal design is a type of research design that studies a sample of the population over a long period of time.
- Case study is a type of research design that focuses on an in-depth examination of a single case or a small number of cases.
- Cohort study is a type of longitudinal design that studies a group of people who share a common characteristic or experience.
Qualitative and Quantitative Research
- Qualitative research emphasizes the exploration of meanings and understanding how and why things happen in particular ways.
- Quantitative research is concerned with testing hypotheses, causality, generalizability, and replicability.
- The main difference between qualitative and quantitative research is their focus and methodology.
This quiz explores the differences between self-administered questionnaires, structured interviews, and semi-structured interviews. Discover how each method can be affected by respondents' tendencies to provide socially desirable responses, and how this can impact the reliability of the data collected. Test your knowledge and understanding of these research tools in this informative quiz.
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