30 Questions
Which question does exploratory research primarily address?
'What'
What is the primary goal of exploratory research?
To formulate more precise questions for future research
What is the focus of descriptive research?
Describing how things are
Which data gathering techniques are commonly used by descriptive researchers?
Field research
What is the outcome of a descriptive study?
A detailed picture of the subject
Which type of researchers are less wedded to a specific theory or research question according to the text?
Exploratory researchers
What is the main purpose of explanatory research?
To find out 'why' something occurs
Which type of research is usually the simplest and least costly?
Cross sectional research
What is the main disadvantage of cross sectional research?
It cannot capture social processes or change
Which type of longitudinal research follows exactly the same people across time periods?
Panel study
What does cohort analysis focus on in longitudinal research?
Observing a category of people with similar life experiences
Why is longitudinal research considered more powerful than cross-sectional research when studying social change?
It captures social processes effectively
What is the primary focus of social research according to the text?
All of the above
Which of the following is NOT mentioned as a source of knowledge in the text?
Intuition
What is the primary characteristic of knowledge?
It is a product of its social context
Which statement best describes quantitative research according to the text?
Both A and C
Which of the following is NOT a source of knowledge mentioned in the text?
Revelation
What is the purpose of seeking knowledge?
All of the above
What is the main purpose of studying correlations between variables?
To identify patterns and associations between variables
Which statement best describes a spurious relationship?
It is a coincidental correlation caused by a third variable
If there is a positive relationship between two variables, what does it mean?
As one variable increases, the other variable also increases
Which pattern of relationship indicates that knowing the value of one variable provides no information about the other variable?
No relationship
If inflation and unemployment are correlated, what can be inferred?
They move in the same direction, but causation is unknown
What is the relationship between the number of fire engines responding to a fire and the amount of damage done?
A spurious relationship
What does internal validity refer to?
The quality of measuring precisely what one intends to measure
What is precision in measurements?
The quality of measuring precisely what one intends to measure
Which statement best describes external validity?
The extent to which study findings can be generalized beyond the sample
What does accuracy refer to in measurements?
The closeness of a measured value to a standard or known value
In research, what is the unit of analysis?
The major entity being analyzed in a study
Can you be very precise but still inaccurate in your measurements?
Yes, because precision and accuracy are independent of each other.
Study Notes
Definition of Social Research
- Social research is a scientific analysis of social phenomena to formulate broad principles and concepts.
- It involves exploring, analyzing, and conceptualizing social life to extend, correct, or verify knowledge.
Sources of Knowledge
- Social life is based on a shared sense of reality, which is based on knowledge.
- Knowledge is a product of its social context and varies from one context to another.
- There are five sources of knowledge:
- Common Sense: relying on general knowledge and assumptions.
- Tradition: knowledge based on cultural practices and beliefs.
- Authority: knowledge based on expert opinions and authority.
- Personal Experience: knowledge gained through observations and experiences.
- Scientific Activity: knowledge derived through systematic and scientific procedures.
Dimensions of Research
- Quantitative research involves numerical representation and manipulation of observations to describe and explain phenomena.
- Purposes of Research:
- Exploration: formulating questions and gathering preliminary data.
- Description: presenting a detailed picture of a situation or phenomenon.
- Explanation: identifying causes and reasons for a phenomenon.
Types of Relationships
- Correlation: an empirical relationship between two variables, where changes in one are associated with changes in the other.
- Spurious relationship: a coincidental statistical correlation between two variables caused by a third variable.
- Patterns of relationships:
- No relationship: lack of association between variables.
- Positive relationship: increase in one variable is associated with an increase in the other.
The Time Dimension in Research
- Cross-sectional research: observing a phenomenon at a single point in time.
- Longitudinal research: observing a phenomenon over multiple time points.
- Types of longitudinal research:
- Time series research: collecting data on a group of people or units across multiple time periods.
- Panel study: observing the same people or units across multiple time periods.
- Cohort analysis: observing a category of people who share a similar life experience in a specific time period.
Research Concepts
- Internal validity: the extent to which the effects detected in a study are a true reflection of what is real.
- External validity: the extent to which study findings can be generalized beyond the sample used.
- Precision: the closeness of two or more measurements to each other.
- Accuracy: the closeness of a measured value to a standard or known value.
- Unit of Analysis: the major entity being analyzed in a study, such as individual voters or college students.
Explore the nature and purpose of social research with quotes from Gopal and Mary Stevenson. Learn about the systematic method used to analyze social life and develop scientific concepts.
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