Introduction to Social Science Research

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Questions and Answers

What is the basis of knowledge according to social science research?

Street experience and casual observation

Historical interpretation and myth

Agreement and belief (correct)

Personal rationale and opinions

What two criteria must an assertion meet before being accepted by scientists?

Logical coherence and empirical support (correct)

Subjective interpretation and anecdotal evidence

Peer approval and academic endorsement

Cultural acceptance and traditional wisdom

How does tradition contribute to human inquiry?

It eliminates biases from the inquiry process.

It encourages questioning established beliefs.

It provides an accumulated base of knowledge. (correct)

It promotes independent thinking and innovation.

What is a disadvantage of relying on authority in human inquiry?

Experts may speak outside their area of expertise. Signup and view all the answers

What does epistemology explore?

The science of knowing and systems of knowledge. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following describes causal reasoning?

Recognizing that future events are influenced by present conditions. Signup and view all the answers

What advantage does tradition provide to human inquiry?

It acts as a foundational understanding for further knowledge. Signup and view all the answers

What is meant by probabilistic reasoning?

Understanding that effects occur more regularly with causes present. Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary focus of inductive theory construction?

Developing generalizations from specific observations Signup and view all the answers

Which purpose of social research involves describing situations and events?

Description Signup and view all the answers

What does the nomothetic model aim to achieve in social research?

Finding a few causes for many variations in a phenomenon Signup and view all the answers

What is the significance of theory in conducting social research?

It helps understand societal mechanics, aiding practical solutions. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is a risk associated with bias in research?

Allowing theory to overshadow research results Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes the exploration purpose in social research?

To investigate new insights on a topic Signup and view all the answers

David Takeuchi's study on marijuana smoking exemplifies which type of research construction?

Inductive theory construction Signup and view all the answers

What is a potential limitation of exploratory studies in social research?

They usually do not answer specific research questions satisfactorily. Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary goal of a research question?

To create a concise and answerable inquiry. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a step in the process of formulating a research question?

Reviewing prior research methodologies. Signup and view all the answers

What is meant by 'conceptualization' in research?

Establishing agreement on the meaning of terms. Signup and view all the answers

Which type of measurement involves careful observations of objects and events?

Measurement. Signup and view all the answers

In the context of research questions, what does 'inductive reasoning' typically refer to?

Generating theories based on specific observations. Signup and view all the answers

What is a necessary characteristic for a hypothesis in research?

It must be testable through empirical investigation. Signup and view all the answers

Which step should be taken after brainstorming research questions?

Check whether there are sub-questions. Signup and view all the answers

What is a key characteristic of quota sampling?

It matches a set of characteristics predetermined by the study. Signup and view all the answers

What are direct observables in scientific measurement?

Observable phenomena that can be easily measured. Signup and view all the answers

Which type of sampling relies solely on the researcher's judgment?

Purposive sampling Signup and view all the answers

In nonprobability sampling, which method uses existing subjects to gather additional subjects?

Snowball sampling Signup and view all the answers

Which statement about convenience sampling is true?

It involves selecting participants based on their availability. Signup and view all the answers

What is one major drawback of nonprobability sampling methods?

They often lack control over representativeness. Signup and view all the answers

What is the key feature of a sampling frame?

It is a pre-determined list of individuals being considered for sampling. Signup and view all the answers

How does quota sampling ensure diversity in participant selection?

By establishing fixed proportions of selected characteristics in the sample. Signup and view all the answers

What determines the characteristics used in quota sampling?

The demographics relevant to the study's objectives. Signup and view all the answers

What is the main advantage of stratification in sampling?

It ensures representation of homogeneous groups in the sample. Signup and view all the answers

How is the sampling interval, k, calculated in systematic sampling?

By dividing the population size by the desired sample size. Signup and view all the answers

What is a potential risk associated with systematic sampling?

It can lead to bias if the list has periodicity. Signup and view all the answers

Which type of sampling involves selecting groups and then subsampling members from those groups?

Cluster sampling Signup and view all the answers

In simple random sampling, how are units selected from the population?

By assigning numbers and generating random numbers. Signup and view all the answers

Why must lists be randomized before systematic sampling?

To eliminate biases caused by periodicity. Signup and view all the answers

What distinguishes multistage cluster sampling from regular cluster sampling?

It includes additional sampling stages. Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of stratification in the sampling process?

To improve representation of key variables. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Scientific knowledge is founded on agreement, direct experience and observation, logic, and empirical support.
Agreement reality is what we "know" through shared cultural understanding.
Epistemology is the science of knowing, while methodology is the science of finding out.

Chapter 1: Beginning Principles

Knowledge is often acquired through tradition and authority, which offers advantages but also potential drawbacks.
Causal reasoning assumes future events are caused by present ones, while probabilistic reasoning suggests effects occur more often when causes are present.
Inductive reasoning generalizes from specific observations, while deductive reasoning starts with a theory and draws conclusions.
The links between theory and research are crucial for understanding society and developing solutions to its problems.
Researchers must be aware of their biases while conducting research.

Chapter 4: Structuring a Research Project

Research projects can be exploratory, descriptive, or explanatory.
Exploratory research seeks to understand a topic better, test feasibility, and develop methods.
Descriptive research aims to describe situations and events accurately.
Explanatory research attempts to understand and explain phenomena, using either a nomothetic (general) or idiographic (specific) approach.
A research question should be feasible, specific, ethically sound, concise, clear, and answerable.
Hypothesis is a testable statement about relationships between variables.

Measurement is the careful observation of the real world to describe objects and events.
Conceptualization involves agreeing on the meaning of terms, resulting in a concept.
Three categories of things scientists measure are direct observables, indirect observables, and constructs.
Sampling frames are lists of individuals in a population.
Quota sampling selects individuals based on known population characteristics.
Nonprobability sampling methods include reliance on available subjects, purposive sampling, snowball sampling, and quota sampling.
Probability sampling methods assure each element in the population has a known non-zero probability of being selected.
Simple random sampling assigns numbers to population units and randomly selects based on generated numbers.
Systematic sampling selects every kth unit from a list.
Stratification divides a population into homogeneous groups before sampling.
Cluster sampling involves multistage sampling of natural groups.

Sampling Methods

Nonprobability sampling:
- Reliance on available subjects: uses readily accessible individuals, but is risky for generalization.
- Purposive sampling: selects subjects based on their relevance to the research question.
- Snowball sampling: relies on referrals from existing participants.
- Quota sampling: matches sample characteristics to those known about the population.
Probability sampling:
- Simple random sampling: every element has an equal chance of being selected.
- Systematic sampling: selects every kth element from a list.
- Stratified sampling: ensures proportionate representation of subgroups.
- Cluster sampling: samples groups and then selects individuals within those groups.

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Description

This quiz covers the foundational concepts of social science research, focusing on epistemology, methodology, and the significance of various reasoning methods. It examines how knowledge is formed through cultural understanding and the critical relationship between theory and research. Enhance your understanding of the principles that guide social science inquiry.